Linna Belle Durington (Buffalo)'s Obituary
Linna Belle Durington (93) passed away peacefully on March 13, 2023. She was born on July 3, 1929 in Goodson, Missouri to Harrel and Bethel (Meadors) Spencer. Linna grew up in a farming community surrounded by family: Grandparents, uncles and aunts. She was the first grandchild soon to be joined by two brothers and many cousins. She graduated from Urbana High School and attended Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar. She went to college in the summers and taught at one room schools during the school year.
Linna was united in marriage to Joseph William (Bill) Durington on November 2, 1949. They were happily married for 57 years. Bill and Linna raised three children: Gary, Brenda and Jeff. They started married life as Dairy farmers. Eventually living in California, Kansas and finally to Neosho, Missouri. Linna enjoyed raising her children, always involved in their activities while being an active member of Calvary Baptist Church and various organizations.
In the late 1960’s Linna was offered the opportunity to go to work at Kraft Foods. After thinking about it… she realized Jeff was about to go to Kindergarten, Brenda was ready for college and Gary was in the military. So, she went to work and retired from Kraft Foods eighteen years later.
In retirement they moved back to Buffalo and built a new home on the same farmland where they started married life. They felt very fortunate to travel and were able to visit the continental 48 states. Linna continued to be an active member of The Christian Church in Buffalo. She was an accomplished quilter: Always busy hand piecing quilt tops or hand quilting a quilt. She loved any kind of handiwork: knitting, crocheting, and embroidery. Linna was a founding member of the Hillcrest Quilt Club and was pleased to renew her membership when she returned to Buffalo.
Linna was an excellent cook and always enjoyed decorating cakes for weddings, birthdays and other special occasions. Bill and Linna both enjoyed entertaining family and friends. They were always ready to make a gallon of homemade ice cream or cut an ice cold watermelon in the summer. Winter evenings often friends gathered for a lively game of pitch. She loved to have her children and their family home for weekend visits. She never tired of cooking and cleaning up, but would always find the time and energy for a shopping trip.
Linna is survived by two children, Brenda and her husband David Roberts and Jeff Durington; six grandchildren, Janelle Durington, Joy King, Christina Butler, Dave Roberts, Sara Svehla and Samantha Durington; fourteen great-grandchildren; one brother, Erval Spencer; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Linna was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph William Durington; her parents; brother, Claude Thomas (C.T.) Spencer; son, Gary and daughter-in-law Becky Durington; and one great-grandson, Oliver King.
Linna will be greatly missed by Brenda and Jeff, her grandchildren, friends, neighbors, relatives and everyone who knew her.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at the Cantlon-Otterness & Viets Funeral Home in Buffalo, Missouri with Pastor Miller officiating. Interment will follow at the Riverview Sweaney Cemetery in Long Lane, Missouri. Escorts will be Val Durington, David Durington, Danny Durington, Joe Spencer, Kevin Spencer, and Thomas Spencer. Honorary Escorts will be Rex Durington, Brett Durington, Bill Miller, Andy Svehla, Steve Mutert, and David Roberts. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Riverview Sweaney Cemetery.
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