Laura J. Rhoads' Obituary
Laura Jane Rhoads, daughter of Boone and Merle Allen McSwain, was born December 8, 1923, near Thornfield, in Ozark County, Missouri. She reached the loving arms of God, while surrounded by her family and friends, on Thursday, May 24, 2007, in St. John’s Hospital, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of eighty-three years, five months, and sixteen days. On March 28, 1945, in Mountain Home, Arkansas, she was united in marriage to Stanford Simon Rhoads, and to this union one daughter and one son were born. Her parents, and a brother, Cecil McSwain, preceded her in death. Laura is survived by her husband of sixty-two years, Stanford, of the home; a son, Steve Rhoads, and his wife, Vicky, of Lebanon, Missouri; a daughter, Jane Guthery, and her husband, Darrell, of Fordland, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Tony Rhoads, of Springfield, Missouri, Anna Guthery, of Rogers, Arkansas, Nicholas Guthery, of Fordland, Missouri, Denny Rhoads, Dustin Rhoads, and Travis Rhoads, all of Lebanon, Missouri, and Deidra Rhoads, of Columbia, Missouri; a sister, Wilma Stanley, and her husband, Hershel, of Springfield, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends. She was born and raised in the Thornfield community, in Ozark County, Missouri. Laura then taught school in Ozark County during World War II. Shortly after she and Stanford were married, they made their home on their farm, north of Diggins, Missouri, on the James River, and lovingly raised their children. In addition to being a devoted homemaker to her husband and family, Laura also helped her husband, in the operation of their dairy farm. Laura gave her life to the Lord early in her life and was a member of the Diggins Baptist Church. In her spare time she enjoyed gardening, sewing, and cooking. Her family was very important to her and she especially enjoyed her grandchildren. Laura was a simple woman who dearly loved God, her church, and her husband, children, grandchildren, sister, and nieces and nephews. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and will treasure the memories she created for her family and friends. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 27, 2007, in the Holman-Howe Funeral Home, Seymour. Burial will be in the Seymour Masonic Cemetery. Visitation will be held Saturday evening from 6 - 7:30 p.m. under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Seymour, Missouri.
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