FLORENCE "ANNA" HALFORD

F. Anna Halford, age 93, Boonville, MO, passed away April 9, 2017, Cooper County Memorial Hospital Extended Care, Boonville, MO.


Anna was born July 16, 1923, to Tommy and Helen (Allison) Dye, Larissa community. She grew up in the Sweden Community with her sister, Thelma, where they were surrounded by many cousins, aunts & uncles. On June 4, 1941, she was united in marriage to Vernie Halford and they enjoyed 61 years together. Their home was always filled with music, the aroma of delicious food and love. After graduating high school in 1941, Anna took her first teaching job in the one-room Evans School house. Anna taught grades 1-8 including her son Tom who inadvertently spent 3 years in the first grade! Anna continued her education and earned a Masters Degree in Education from Drury College, Springfield, MO. She retired after 46 years of teaching in 1987; her favorite class was teaching junior high math. After Vernie's death in 2003, Anna moved to Boonville, MO to be closer to her son, Tom and beloved grandchildren.

Anna is survived by a son, Tom, (Sandy), Boonville, MO; grandchildren: Megan, (Brad Bauer), Ashland, MO; Michael, (Ashley), Ashland, MO; Matthew, (Jana), Columbia, MO; great-grandchildren: Katie, Rhys, Brooke, Lilah, Zane, Vander & Ezekiel; and sister, Thelma Chism, Ava, MO. Anna also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
Anna will be remembered as an excellent teacher and a loving wife, mother & grandmother.

Visitation will be in Ava, MO at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 13, 2017 at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home with the Reverend Oren Alcorn officiating. Graveside services and interment will follow at Ava Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Ava General Baptist Church, 231 SE 3rd St, Ava, MO, 65608 or Hometown Hospice, 101 Furr Street, Fayette, MO, 65248.