Eva Margaret Voris (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Eva Margaret (Payne) Voris, age 101, passed away on October 24, 2023, at Citizens Memorial Healthcare Facility in Bolivar, Missouri.
Eva was born on a farm in Polk County near Goodson on July 3, 1922, to Jesse R. Payne and Grace (Estes) Payne. She attended a one-room school near the farm and graduated from Louisburg High School in 1938 as valedictorian. She then went to Southwest Missouri State College (now MSU), graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She taught briefly at Brooks one-room school north of Halfway.
Eva married Paul T. Voris on September 12, 1943, in Polk, Missouri. To this union three children were born: Paul Raymond, Russel Earl, and Judy Margaret.
Eva’s career spanned over 30 years, teaching in elementary schools in Lebanon, Buffalo, Cameron, and Jefferson City, Missouri. After Paul and Eva retired, they moved to Bolivar in 1986. Paul died in 1989.
Eva was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bolivar, and a former member of Alpha Delta Kappa teaching sorority, the Martha Sunday School class, and the Bolivar Garden Club.
She was an excellent cook, gardener, and nurturer. Her students over the years have expressed how kind, patient and loving Mrs. Voris was. For many, she was their favorite teacher.
Eva is preceded in death by her husband Paul, son Russel, granddaughter Leah Grace, sisters Roa Wainscott, Ava Grannemann, Iva Rust and their husbands; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law David and Ruth Gallivan, David and Rosie Dunseth, Buster Voris, and Lendell and Pat Voris; and daughter-in-law Jackie Voris.
She is survived by son Paul R. Voris and friend Lois Walden of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and daughter Judy McElwain and husband Warren of Maysville, Missouri. She is further survived by grandchildren, Laura, Michele, Carol, and David; great-grandchildren, Audrey, Grace, Quinten, Katie, Zachary, and Jessica; and great-great-grandchildren Liam, Quinn, and Piper.
Also mourning Eva’s death is her very special friend Louise Wimberly. She will be missed by her sister-in-law Barbara Voris and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Funeral services for Eva will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar.
A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM.
Burial will follow at Reed Cemetery in Halfway, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Bolivar, or to Reed Cemetery.
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