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 husband Billy of Stillwell, Oklahoma, Jennifer Hewin and husband Greg of Claremore, Oklahoma, Stephen Sponsler and wife Kristie of Edmond, Oklahoma, Darren Widner and wife Peggy of Harrisonville, Missouri, Carla Malone and husband Lee of Norwood, Missouri, Darla Quessenberry and husband Lance of Springfield, Missouri, Kendra Dame and husband John of Fair Grove, Missouri, and Leslie Bragg and husband Quentin of Willard, Missouri; seventeen great-grandchildren; as well as a 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 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.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, November 14, 2008 in Bado Community Church, Ben Davis, Missouri. Burial will follow in the Bado Cemetery, under the direction of the Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Hartville. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until time of service Friday in the church.
Memorials may be made to the Bado Cemetery in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 236, Hartville, Missouri, 65667.
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