WANDA (GRANNY) W. SOWARDS

Wanda (Granny) W. Sowards, 85, Theodosia, MO, passed away August 17, 2009 in Baxter Regional Medical Center, Mountain Home, AR. The youngest of three children, she was born October 24, 1923 on the farm in Protem, MO to Yancy O. and Bessie N. (Hunter) Watson.

She married Garland Sowards on February 16, 1940; they had two daughters, Vonna and Shirley. They were later divorced and she moved to Ocie, MO to work with her parents in their county store. She continued running the store after their deaths and was Granny to everyone that knew her. Granny always made bologna sandwiches for anyone she thought might be hungry because she hoped someone would feed her kids if they needed it. She loved it when people gathered around the old potbellied wood stove in the back of the store to warm on winter day or on the front porch in the summer just to visit. She enjoyed planting a big garden out behind the store to can and give away to her neighbors. In 2000 she finally closed the doors for the final time to "retire" but she spent a lot of time baking (lots of homemade cinnamon rolls), crocheting, and reading, but mainly keeping up on news from her grandkids. Good-night John Boy always echoed through her house at night when her kids were home followed by her response of Good-night Mary Ellen. Granny was a Christian and always believed "a little hard work never hurt anyone." She was proud to tell people "all her kids turned out good" and that she had survived 5 girls and Elvis Presley. She prayed for God to let her live independently at home and to see her great-great granddaughter born, and He did. For that we will always be thankful.

Granny is survived by her daughters Vonna Myers and husband Hershel of Theodosia, MO and Shirley Strom of New Hope, MN; grandchildren Jo Stehle and Richard of Theodosia, MO, Joyce Jefferson and Mike Jones of LaVergne, TN, Robin Parson and Doug of Crystal, MN, Kevin Strom and Cindy of Brooklyn Park, MN, and Chuck Myers and Amy of Theodosia, MO; great grandchildren Tate Stehle and Lauren, Tessa and Tori Myers, Carli Parson, Eric and Evan Strom; great-great grandchild Kami Stehle; and sister-in-law Mildred Watson of Ava, MO.

She was preceded in death by her parents Y.O. and Bess Watson; her brothers Calvin and Earl Watson and her son-in-law Brian Strom.

Services for Wanda will be 11:00 AM on Thursday, August 20, 2009 in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville, MO with Wendell Daugherty officiating. Interment will be in the Lutie Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 10:00 AM to service time at the funeral home. The family asks memorials be made to Lutie Cemetery.