Juanita E. (Gardner) Murphy
Ava, MO



Juanita Elizabeth (Gardner) Murphy, 97 years, died on November 19, 2012 at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare, Ava, MO.

Juanita was born September 15, 1915 in Almartha, MO to Thomas Alexander "Eck" and Matilda Nancy (Nance) Gardner.

Juanita was a resident of the Ava community for several years. She was a retired School Teacher. Juanita graduated from Gainesville High School and then received her B.S. Degree from Southwest Missouri State. She received her Masters Degree from Drury University.

Her life work was teaching which included many years in one-room schools in Ozark County. She retired from West Plains school system.

On April 13, 1976 Juanita and Joe Murphy were united in marriage in Ava, MO. She was a Christian and a member of the Ava General Baptist Church. She also was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Almartha Chapter and the Missouri Retired Teachers Assoc.

Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Joe, two sisters, Fern Erskine and Lena Robinson and a nephew, Douglas Robinson.


Juanita is survived by nephew & wife, Russell & Pat Robinson, Mansfield, MO and a niece, Carlyon Robinson Lane of Kansas City, MO.


Funeral services for Juanita will be Friday, November 23, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, MO with burial in the Souder Cemetery, Wasola, MO. Visitation will be Friday from 1:00 p.m. to service time in the funeral home. Officiating will be Pastor Oren Alcorn. Memorials may be made to Souder Cemetery, c/o E.J. Hampton, HCR 72, Box 406, Wasola, MO 65773.