December 24, 1915 – September 25, 2009

Mildred E. Stapleton, 93 of Orrick, Mo., died Friday, September 25, 2009 at the Ray County Memorial Hospital.

Mildred was born in Terre Haute, Ind., on December 24, 1915 to Edward and Fedica Ward. She moved to Missouri as a child in a covered wagon from Terree Haute. She had lived in Orrick since 1959.

Mildred was united in marriage on August 24, 1933 to Thomas Aaron Stapleton in a ceremony in Kingston, Mo.

Mildred was a homemaker and was a member of the Orrick Baptist Church. Mildred loved to work crossword puzzles and playing pitch. She also liked to sit on her front porch and visit with the neighbors and watch the neighborhood children playing. She especially liked time spent with her family and she loved her children very dearly.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Fredica Ward; her husband, Thomas Aaron “Red” Stapleton on April 25, 1976; two brothers, Robert Ward and George Ward and a sister, Gertrude; two grandsons, David Stapleton and Ernest Lee; and a son-in-law, Jerry “Bud” Lee.

Survivors include her children, Robert “Bob” Stapleton and wife, Pat, of Creighton, Mo., Thomas Stapleton and wife, Donna, of Republic, Mo., and Phillip “Boss” Stapleton and Jonita, of Phillip, S.D., daughters, Patricia Lee and Sandra Stapleton, of Orrick, Mo., and Mary Ann Holt and husband, Ray, of Richmond, Mo.; 21 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 29 at the Gowing Funeral Home in Orrick, with the Reverend Mike Shane officiating. Burial in South Point Cemetery near Orrick.

The family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.

Condolences

My sincere condolences to the family for your loss. Mildred was my neighbor for many years. She was like a grandmother to my kids as well as most of the kids that played on West Pine street.
May God bless and keep each of you during this time of great personal sorrow.
Larry Thompson

Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. Words cannot even begin to express our sorrow. May your memories give you strength. You are in our prayers.
Marcia (Mansell) Cull, Elton Mansell, Michelle (Mansell) Ross & Kristy (Mansell) Sanders

Grandma, you will be missed dearly and loved so much! You gave great life to many and the children that looked up to you. You are now in the Lords hands in a better place called home.
Mike & Debbie Stapleton

I am a good friend of Phil’s. Wanted to express my sympathy from my husband and myself. He talked so highly of his Mother often and know she was a wonderful lady. May God Bless and we’ll keep the whole family in our prayers.
Love, Vicki & Larry Kindred