Lorraine Hazel (Eakins) Spears Stevens, 87 of Lancaster, Missouri passed away on Monday, November 8, 2021 at the Kirksville Manor Care Center in Kirksville, Missouri.
The daughter of Everett James and Verla Mae (Hendricks) Eakins, she was born on February 28, 1934 in Ottumwa, Iowa. She was a graduate of the Ottumwa High School in Ottumwa, Iowa. On May 15, 1953 she was united in marriage to William Henry Spears and to this union two children, Cyndy and William were born. She was later united in marriage to Charles Stevens on October 16, 1992.
Survivors include her daughter, Cyndy Ellis and significant other, Chuck Pearson of Knoxville, Iowa; one special friend, Lori Spears Campbell of Centerville, Iowa; three grandchildren, Loutrisha Dawn Fernandez and husband, Israel of Kirksville, Missouri, Jesse Spears of Waco, Texas and Jason Spears of Centerville, Iowa; four step grandchildren, Arthur Ellis, Jr. of Princeton, North Carolina, Torri Groseclose of Kirksville, Missouri, Natasha Groseclose of Coatsville, Missouri and James Groseclose of Kirksville, Missouri; four great grandchildren, Jasmine and Emory Fernandez, Jakob and Isaac Hollon all of Kirksville, Missouri; two sisters, Becky Eklofe of Ottumwa, Iowa and Sharon Parcel of Ottumwa, Iowa; one brother, Donnie Denniston of Oskaloosa, Iowa; one sister-in-law, Linda Spears of Davenport, Iowa; two furry grandpuppies, Sissy and Pooter Ellis; other family members and many good friends.
Lorraine is preceded in death by her parents; her grandmother, Hattie Bailey who raised Lorraine; her first husband, William Henry Spears on October 20, 1990; her second husband, Charles Stevens on March 27, 2014; one son, William James Spears on December 29, 2016; one granddaughter, Hollie Stufflebeam on March 12, 1976; one grandson, William Casey Spears on September 4, 2007; one son-in-law, Arthur M. Ellis, Sr. on May 17, 2004 and a very special friend, Vernon Cox on June 16, 2018.
Lorraine attended the United Methodist Church in Lancaster, Missouri as long as her health permitted. She worked at the Schuyler County Nutrition Site and the Schuyler County Food Room for a number of years and enjoyed seeing her friends on a regular basis but most of all she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren! She loved to bake pies and cookies and loved to give them to other people. She also enjoyed the animals who made her happy!
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 11, 2021 at the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Missouri at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Leanna VanZandt Nauman officiating. Special musical selections of “Amazing Grace”, “In The Garden” and “Because He Lives” will be performed by Barbara Berry, soloist and Joni Newland, pianist. Pallbearers will be Chuck Pearson, John Farrell, Jon Antal, Israel Fernandez, Randy Antal and Jason Spears. Honorary pallbearers will be Norman Garr, Sissy and Pooter Ellis. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Memorials have been established for the Schuyler County Nutrition Site and Schuyler County Food Room. Online condolences may be expressed to the family by logging on to normanfh.com. Burial will be in the Hilltown Cemetery, west of Coatsville, Missouri. Arrangements are under the direction of the Norman Funeral Home of Lancaster, Missouri.