Lillian Current

Ava, MO

Lillian Imogene Current, 92 years, 4 months and 7 days old, died on July 4, 2016 at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare of Broken Heart Syndrome, 36 days after losing her life partner, John Curtis Current.

Lillian was born February 27, 1924 in Oil City, Pennsylvania to Laura Bell Boyd Downing and Charles Douglas Downing. She was one of eight children.



On August 11, 1947, Lillian and John Curtis Current were united in marriage in Oakland, California and to this union two daughters, Penny Sue and Mary Ann were born.


Lillian served in the Woman's Army Air Corp during WWII and was stationed in California where she met John Current. Soon after marrying the young couple returned to Texas, which was John's home, to live.

Lillian worked as a comptometer operator for the next 20 years at Montgomery Ward and finally at a local dairy. In later years, Lillian worked at a daycare taking care of 3 year old children. This was the work that brought joy to her life and she thrived in teaching and caring for the youngsters.

In 1981 Lillian and John moved to Ava, MO which was their home for the next 35 plus years. Retirement years were full and rich with church activities, family gatherings, gardening, music festivals, and friends. Lillian attended the First Southern Baptist Church and later Brushyknob Church. She was known to many as the writer of the Brushyknob news, a weekly news article about happenings in the area. She loved to write and penned several poems for family members and friends.

Her last days were spent at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare which truly became home to her. She was loved and loved so many caregivers and residents at her new home. Life was rich for her and she thrived, taking part daily in activities provided, visiting and making new friends, playing bingo, attending Bible studies and church services, getting her hair done, getting her nails done, working out in the therapy room, going on field trips, sitting outside in the sunshine and visiting with the many visitors who flocked to her bedside. Family members sat with her at several holiday meals provided at the home at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and Mother's Day and a good time was shared by all. These are the final memories that her family and friends will cherish.


Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Douglas Downing and Laura Bell Boyd Downing, her beloved husband, John, two sisters, five bothers, one step-sister and one step-brother.



Lillian is survived by her two daughters and sons-in-law, Penny Sue and Wesley Roberson of Ava, MO, and Mary Ann and Bob Wells of Newark, TX, three grandchildren, Rick Roberson, John Wesley Roberson, and Heather Leigh Headley, two great-grandsons, two great-granddaughters and one great-great grandson.


Private family services will be held for Lillian and John at a future date this summer followed by burial at Brushy Knob Cemetery. Cremation services conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, MO. Memorials may be made to Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare.

Thank you, mother, for giving me the gift of life. I will try to live my life in such a way that you will be proud of me and that I will bring honor to you and your life.