Kathleen S. Noe (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Kathleen Sue VanHooser was born January 14, 1940, the second child and first daughter of Perry and Grace VanHooser. Her early childhood years were spent on the High Prairie near Lebanon, MO. Her adventures on the High Prairie were enhanced by her big brother, J.W., her little brother, Larry, and her younger sister, Rita. They were a close family with a rich legacy of faith in Jesus Christ, commitment to building a strong family, hard work, and deep investment in the Lebanon community.
Kathleen went to school in the one room High Prairie School until 8th grade. She graduated a devoted Lebanon Yellowjacket in 1958 and continued her education at Southwest Baptist College. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics at the University of Missouri in 1962 and later earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Drury College in 1991.
On June 19, 1964, Kathleen was married to Rex Leon Noe. Rex’s dear Uncle Kenny and a number of high school students from the couple’s differing school districts played a part in their introduction to each other.
She lived a life full of love based on her relationship with Jesus Christ. That love flowed out from her into all of her other relationships. Her love for her spouse Rex of 54 years produced her 3 girls: Kristine husband Jeff, Janene husband Mike, Nyla husband Art, and her son Kendall wife Heather. The overflow of Christ’s love flowed naturally and intentionally to her grandchildren, Lindsey, Taylor, Hannah, Adam, Micah, Jess, Abby, Grace and Sarah. She created a second home for her grandchildren where love was shared including singing, game playing, sewing, walking down the orange road, popsicle eating, all year Easter Egg hunts, exploring the high prairie, retelling her childhood adventures there, and lots of food.
Kathleen loved people, especially the people of Southern Heights Christian Church, where she served as a youth sponsor, VBS director, Women’s ministry leader, Sunday school teacher, Moms in Touch leader, teen choir director, and in many other ministries. She loved her community by serving to protect the unborn and teaching abstinence and responsibility to youth through the Pregnancy Support Center as a crisis counselor. She was a prayer warrior that fervently prayed for her family, community, and met weekly to pray over the area schools. She loved her students and taught them how valuable they were while teaching home economics for 28 years.
A nine year journey with dementia, galvanized Kathleen’s love for Rex as he cared for her through many stages of change and regretfully removed them from being able to frequently connect with those they loved. This journey brought a loving caregiver, Lundie Cavazos, that allowed Kathleen to finish her race at home on the high prairie on February 19th, 2018.
Kathleen’s love for her Lord and Savior expressed itself daily in her love for people, her active prayer life, and through her avid Bible study. Her legacy of prayer will outlive her life. Kathleen finished her race, kept the faith, and is receiving her reward. Her fervent prayer would be for each of us that follows to remember how loved you are and do the same.
Memorial contributions to the Pregnancy Support Center, may be made through the funeral home.
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