LuAnn Metcalf

On Saturday, October 24, 2020, LuAnn Mae Metcalf, age 64 passed away peacefully at the Cox South Hospital, Springfield, Missouri. She was born August 13, 1956 in Pampa, Texas to Keith and Ilene Russell. She married Marty Metcalf in April 1978. They divorced in 2011, but remained very close.

LuAnn was very giving. She was always looking for ways to help others and offer support. She often took in additional children and families to help them until their circumstances changed. This would often lead to her doing without things to make sure others were cared for. She was also the kind of woman that was verbal when it came to things that she disagreed with or didn’t like, such as cheese and mushrooms—which she often got teased about especially by her son in law Shane who preceded her in death in 2017.

For many years LuAnn was a short order cook. She could cook anything you threw at her without a recipe and from scratch--a lost art in our world today. She was able to cook things she didn’t like to perfection such as Liver and Onions. It was amazing how she never had to taste things she didn’t like to make sure they were right and yet they turned out perfect. She worked for years at the Corner Café in Caldwell, KS and then at Rosie Joes in Ozark, MO.

LuAnn enjoyed watching the shows in MeTV such as The Rifleman, Gun Smoke and Bonanza. However, her biggest joy was spending time with her grandchildren. She loved being a grandma even more than a mother or aunt. She loved to spoil them and see their faces shine with joy. If a grandchild wanted something they knew grandma would let them have it, even if it was her last bit of money or item. She always seemed to have candy on hand for the grandkids. She loved listening to mostly country and the Oldies Rock such as Elvis. She was not one to bet with as she always won. She had a great smile and laugh and knew how to have fun.

LuAnn was preceded in death by her daughter Carolyn, father Keith, mother Ilene, brothers Lonte and Warren, nephew Jeremy, and son-in-law Shane. She is survived by her ex-husband Marty, three children LuAnna (Steve), Nicola (Harold), Levi (Shelby), eight grandchildren Ashlie, Jericho, Austin, Jodi, Austine, Jericha, Jacob and Payton, three great grandchildren Brayden, Bryson and Isaiah, three sisters Keithetta , Phyllis, Ellen (James), three brothers Monte, Steven (Kathy), Alan and several cousins, nieces and nephews. All of these she loved and touched deeply.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 29th, 2020 at the Ava Family Funeral Home Chapel in Ava, MO at 10:00 am. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 at the Ava Family Funeral Chapel in Ava, MO from 5-7 pm. Burial will follow at Union Grove Cemetery.