Lona May Hook (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Lona May Hook was born on July 6, 1923 in Salem, Mo and departed her earthly life on October 30, 2015 at the age of 92 years 3 months and 24 days. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at a young age and was never far from her Bible which she studied daily. She led a faith-filled, Christian life and continued to be an influence to many people throughout her life.
Lona May was born at Salem, Mo and moved with the family to Lowery City, Mo where she attended elementary through high school. During high school she received a scholarship to and attended Southwest Baptist University, then a two year college, graduating with a teaching degree. She married her first husband, Earl Peninger and located in the Bolivar area where her first teaching job was in a one-room schoolhouse in the Polk County area where she taught first, second, third and fourth grades. For much of her life she worked at Stephens Photography which was owned by Gerald and Helen Stephens. Lona was a photography editor and artwork colorist and worked for Stephens for 31 years. She did all of her artwork on the photographs, "everything was in black and white back then." She added color to many portraits during this era including many senior students in area high schools.
Welcoming Lona in heaven are the love of her life, husband Adrain Hook, parents Robert Everett and Lela Genetia "Nettie" Coleman, four brothers, Charles, Louis, Milton Eugene, and Robert Andy. Her only sister Margaret passed October 3 of this year at 91 years old. Also preceding her in death was one granddaughter, Denise Peninger Rock of Eldorado Springs.
Celebrating her life are one son, Dennis Earl Peninger of Prairie Home Care Center in Buffalo, one daughter Carol Frances Peninger Bartlett of Bolivar, and one step daughter, Shirley Hook Albright and husband Larry of Webb City. She leaves one sister-in-law Vurva Coleman, wife of her brother Robert Andy, she also leaves one daughter-in-law Nora Johnson and husband Frank. Her grandchildren are Diane Caye Peninger Ross of Athens, Texas, David Paul Grider of Topeka, KS. Mark Joseph Grider of Chicago, IL , Stephen Earl Peninger and wife Kathy of Bolivar, Mo and step grandsons Alan James Albright and wife Shelly, Justin Ray Albright and wife Krystal all of Webb City. Great grandchildren are Charlie Peninger, Ayden Albright and Ethan Quinn Albright. She also leaves many nieces and nephews who called her "Aunt May." A host of other relatives, friends and care givers will mourn her passing.
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