Alma Stickler (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Alma Louise Vernon Stickler, daughter of Owen and Exie Adkins Vernon, was born August 7, 1917, in Globe, Arizona. She departed this life Thursday, September 30, 2010, in St. John’s Hospital, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of ninety-three years, one month, and twenty-three days.
On December 22, 1946, she was united in marriage to Jack Ernest Stickler, and to this union two daughters and one son were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jack, on July 31, 1987; a son, Edward Vernon Stickler; and two brothers, Charles Owen and Edgar Clyde Vernon.
Alma is survived by two daughters, Mary Rippy, and her husband, Mike, and Shirley Morgan, and her husband, Gerald, all of Lebanon, Missouri; four grandchildren, Lisa Boyd, and her husband, Rick, Sheila Snow, and her husband, Brian, Lori Stanton, and her husband, Ivar, and Kenneth Morgan; seven great-grandchildren, Whitney Jones, Austin Boyd, Dylan Jones, Kirsten Snow, Colton Snow, C.J. Stanton, and Tyler Morgan; a sister, Ruth Ray, of the State of California; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
She was born in Arizona, and then moved with her family to the Lebanon, Missouri area when she was a child. After graduating from Lebanon High School in the Class of 1934, she attended Draughn’s Business College in Springfield. She worked for Farm Security, a civil service position, located in the Laclede County Courthouse for several years, and received numerous appointments to Washington, D.C. Each time she received an appointment, her boss, Mr. Painter, would tell her that she was getting a raise so she stayed in Lebanon. She often wondered what her life would have been like had she accepted one of the appointments. Once Alma and Jack were married, she became a “stay-at-home mom” and a dedicated homemaker until her son, Ed, left for college. She then began working as a civil service employee at Fort Leonard Wood until retiring in 1976. Later, she did tax preparations for senior citizens at no charge. She did so as part of the Senior Tax Credits Program as a service to the community.
Alma accepted Jesus as her Savior early in her life. She and her family were members of First Baptist Church, but joined with a group of mission-minded believers in becoming charter members of Hillcrest Baptist Church, where Alma was a longtime active member. She held the office of church clerk for twenty years, and was presented a plaque at a special service for her upon her retirement. Through the years, she had held various positions within the church including, Sunday school teacher, department head, Vacation Bible School teacher, WMU leader, and January Bible Study leader.
She was a member of the Laclede County Historical Society and enjoyed traveling with her friends. She loved the St. Louis Cardinals, and when attending ball games in St. Louis, she would buy a score sheet and keep statistics of the game so that afterward she could recall exactly what happened at what point in the game. She liked playing cards, especially rummy and Skip-bo. For many years, her Monday nights included dinner with her cousins, Howard and Reva Tribble and Margaret Viles, at KFC followed by a spirited game of cards. After moving to the Terraces at the age of 89, Alma enjoyed playing spinner and Skip-bo with the other residents. Her family was always very important to her and she especially enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Alma was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, and was a kind and caring neighbor and friend. One of the nicest compliments ever given to Alma was from a lifelong friend and member of her church who described her as “Steady”. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and know that her family and friends will cherish the wonderful memories she created for them throughout the years.
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