Stella Sponsler's Obituary
Stella Alice Boyer Sponsler, daughter of William F. and Artie Lee (Rensch) Boyer, was born June 5, 1917, in Springfield, Missouri. She departed this life Wednesday, November 12, 2008, in St. John’s Regional Health Center, Springfield, Missouri, at the age of ninety-one years, five months, and seven days. On April 11, 1937, in Bendavis, Missouri, Stella was united in marriage to Loyd Vernon Sponsler and to this union one son and two daughters were born. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband Loyd, on August 15, 1987. On September 12, 1992, Stella was united in marriage to Earl Sponsler, who also preceded her in death. She is survived by one son, Hubert Sponsler, and his wife, Louise, of Stillwell, Oklahoma; two daughters, Beverly Widner, and her husband, Carl, of Hartville, Missouri, and Paula Hodges, and her husband, John, of Springfield, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Janice Brunk and her husband, Billy, of Stillwell, Oklahoma, Jennifer Hewin and her husband, Greg, of Claremore, Oklahoma, Stephen Sponsler and his wife, Kristie, of Edmond, Oklahoma, Darren Widner and his wife, Peggy, of Harrisonville, Missouri, Carla Malone and her husband, Lee ,of Norwood, Missouri, Darla Quessenberry and her husband, Lance, of Springfield, Missouri, Kendra Dame and her husband, John, of Fair Grove, Missouri, and Leslie Bragg and her husband, Quentin, of Willard, Missouri; seventeen great-grandchildren; as well as other relatives and many dear friends. Stella moved to the Bendavis area as a young girl during the Great Depression where she attended the Gravel Point School and later graduated from Mountain Grove High School in 1935. After she met and married her first husband, Loyd, they continued to make their home in the Bendavis community. While living in the Bendavis area, they operated a grocery store in the Fairview Community as well as worked on the family farm. In 1946, she and Loyd moved to Hartville where they owned and operated Sponsler Hardware, until selling the store in 1977. Stella had professed her faith in Christ and was a long time member of the Hartville Assembly of God Church, where she played piano and enjoyed visiting with her fellow church members. Her love for the Lord was unmatched and she was a “Prayer Warrior.” Stella also attended Little Creek Baptist Church with her daughter Beverly and had attended the Bado Church. She was a very generous and giving person. She blessed her family and friends with many good memories and taught her children many life lessons. Stella was endowed with the gift of Hospitality; she loved caring for others and was good to her neighbors. In her spare time, Stella enjoyed painting and cooking for her family. She also liked to sew, make quilts and other needle work; she was always busy doing various things and was an avid reader. Stella was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and a strong Christian woman. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her. Services will be held at 2:00 pm Friday November 14, 2008 at the Bado Community Church in Bendavis, Missouri. Burial will be in the Bado Cemetery. Visitation will be 1:00 pm until service time at the church under the direction of the Holman-Howe Funeral Home Hartville, Missouri. A memorial has been established to the Bado Cemetery Care fund. Donations may be made through the funeral home. Return to top
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