Neva Lois Snodgrass Rouse

Neva Lois Snodgrass Rouse was born on June 29, 1912, and departed this life on April 26, 2013, at the age of 100 years, 9 months, and 26 days. She was born to Walter Herbert Snodgrass and Ina Alice Bowman Snodgrass at Verdella, Mo., and at the age of six, she moved with her family to Liberal, Mo. Except for 15 years in Nevada, she spent her life in Liberal until declining health made it necessary for her to move into residential care facilities in Camdenton and Centralia, and eventually to Katy Manor Nursing Facility in Pilot Grove, Mo.

Neva graduated from Liberal High School and was valedictorian of her class. She attended Southwest Missouri teacher college, now MSU, Springfield, Mo., where she received her "Lifetime Certificate" to teach, graduating with honors. Her first schoolhouse was Shiloh, in Barton County, where work responsibilities included teaching eight grades as well as the janitorial work. She also taught at Oskaloosa, Liberal, Moundville, and Bronaugh.

While raising her family and teaching at Moundville and Bronaugh, Neva attended college and received her bachelor of science and specialist degrees from Kansas State Teachers College at Pittsburg. She worked with students needing remedial tutoring until her retirement from Liberal schools.

Neva was a very creative person. She loved to prepare her own versions of a recipe, she loved to sew and crochet, and above all, she loved to piece quilts. Neva's family was always very important to her. She was devoutly faithful to the Methodist Church never missing a service when she could provide her own transportation or had the availability to attend.

Neva was united in marriage to Jesse Elmer Rouse in 1936, and four children were born to this union. She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years; her parents; one sister; three brothers; one grandson; one granddaughter; and one great-granddaughter. She is survived by two daughters, Sue Hopkins of Columbia, Mo., and Lou Woods (Bill) of Independence, Mo.; two sons, Gene Rouse (Amy) of Skowhegan, Maine, and Robert Rouse (Judy) of Houston, Mo.; 15 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren.

Visitation was held from 6-8 p.m., Monday, at Konantz Warden Funeral Home, Lamar, Mo. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 30, at the Liberal Methodist Church, Liberal, Mo., with the Revs. Larry Linville and Roger McKee officiating. Interment will be in the Liberal City Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Neva Rouse Attendance Award Fund at Liberal High School in care of Lou Woods.

Arrangements are under the direction of Konantz Warden Funeral Home.

Condolences may be left online at www.konantzwarden.com