Laura "June" Stout (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Laura “June” Stout, daughter of Elmer Levine and Iva Pearl Langford Fox, was born September 11, 1932 in Cane Hill, Missouri, and departed this life Friday, February 24, 2023 in her home near Conway, Missouri, at the age of ninety years, five months and thirteen days.
June was raised in Cedar County and started school when she was four years old because her cousin was the teacher. She graduated from Stockton High School at age sixteen. She attended Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri during the summer after high school, which qualified her to teach in the fall. She got a teaching job where she had to board with a family in that school district. When it was cold, she had to get up early so she could start a fire in the wood stove at school before the students arrived. She taught grades 1-8 in a one-room schoolhouse, which was common in those days. She drove back home on the weekends.
On April 28, 1951, she was united in marriage to Merrill Jemes and to this union, one son, Roger, and two daughters, Rhonda and Rita were born. She moved to Laclede County with Merrill and she began her teaching career. June taught in several districts, including Joel E. Barber, Competition, Waynesville and Conway School District, where she retired after teaching for thirty years.
On October 6, 1967, June was united in marriage to James Kenton Stout and they added three more to the family, Sandy, Mike and Annie and raising their blended family of six children. June liked to call their family ‘The Brady Bunch’!
June graduated from Drury University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She enjoyed staying in touch with many of her former students and they showed their love and respect for her by sending her cards, letters and gifts.
In addition to teaching, June worked on their dairy farm and raising their family. She loved being a mom and was an amazing cook for her family.
At a young age, June accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was a member of Phillipsburg Christian Church. She greatly enjoyed the friendships she made there.
June was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, on March 10, 2010; her parents; a brother, Leland Fox and her sister, Neva Eastman; and two sons-in-law, Ron Beal and Chester Wood; and a sister-in-law, Marilyn Sagar.
She is survived by her son, Roger and his wife, Anna of Conway, Missouri; two daughters, Rhonda Wood and Rita Clinkenbeard and her husband, John, all of Conway, Missouri; two step-daughters, Sandy Beal of Lebanon, Missouri and Annie Welch and her husband, Robin, of Conway, Missouri; a step-son, Mike Stout and his wife, Theresa of Conway, Missouri; seven grandsons, Tony Jemes and his wife, Cindy, Jody Jemes, Daniel Wood and his wife, Stephanie, Matt Beal, Luke Beal, Justin Welch and Kyler Clinkenbeard and his wife, Tracy; seven granddaughters, Melissa Runge and her husband, Alan, Alicia Morgan and her husband, Matt, Laura Rumfelt and her husband, David, Amy Bean and her husband, David, Whitney Dykes and fiancé Matthew Golden, Sara Light and her husband, Scott and Katrina Welch; thirty-two grandchildren and one on the way; seven great-great-grandchildren and two on the way; her siblings, Wilbur Fox of Springfield, Missouri and Eden Phillips of Lockwood, Missouri; several nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
June loved planting flowers and caring for her flower garden. Most of all, June loved spending time with her grandchildren and telling them stories about the ‘good ‘ole days’. She really enjoyed taking her great-grandchildren on golf cart rides and helping them make cookies. She also loved playing ‘Words with Friends’ and ‘Scrabble’ with her special friends on Facebook. She also kept up with family and friends on Facebook.
June was a hard worker and lived a long, full life. She adored and loved her family very much and will be greatly missed. She has left a legacy to her family that will be valued and treasured for years to come.
What’s your fondest memory of Laura?
What’s a lesson you learned from Laura?
Share a story where Laura's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Laura you’ll never forget.
How did Laura make you smile?
