Ethel May Versaw
Ava, MO



Ethel May Versaw, 74 years, passed to Heaven on December 11, 2012 at her home with her family by her side.

Ethel was born March 14, 1938 in Blanche, MO to William "Bill" Henry and Ethel (Hicks) Riley.

Ethel was a resident of Douglas County and the Ava community for most of her life. She worked in Ava as a baker at Bakery Dinette for years and was a wonderful homemaker.



On Dec. 16, 1955 Ethel and Donald Versaw were united in marriage in Springfield, MO and to this union four girls were born. Ethel was a Christian and her faith was strong in the Lord. She was a faithful member of Mt. Calvary Freewill Baptist Church.



She and Don were quite a team. She supported him in all that he did. She enjoyed fishing, hunting, baking, sewing, and spoiling her grandchildren.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Don, three brothers, Buster, Bill and Robert Riley and two sisters, Ruth Hendrix and Evelyn Bagwell.


Ethel is survived by four daughters, Teresa & Ron Tost, Donna & Tim Anderson, all of Ava, MO, Diana Versaw, Mansfield, MO and Connie & Mancell Cornelison, Ava, MO, five grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, two step grandchildren, five step great grandchildren, six step great great grandchildren, five sisters, Lorene Robertson & Gene, Mansfield, MO, Anna Adams & Bill, Independence, MO, LouZona Hartin, Ava, MO, Delpha Taylor, Mansfield, MO and Beverly Meredith, Independence, MO, one half sister, Shirley Twitty, Ash Grove, MO, one half brother, Carroll Riley, Springfield, MO, many nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.


Funeral services for Ethel will be Saturday, December 15, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, MO with burial in the Ava Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Officiating will be Rev. Marvin Loftin and Rev. Lee Hampton. Memorials may be made to Oxford Hospice, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Neighbor Helping Neighbor.