Mary Ellen Liter

Mary Ellen Liter, 105, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Wednesday, March 4, 2015, at Freeman West Hospital, in Joplin, Mo. Mary Ellen was born on July 28, 1909, in Milo, Mo., to Wilson Ethelbert and Mary Martha (Bobzin) Spayd. She was united in marriage to William "Bill" Henry Liter on July 19, 1928, in Fort Scott, Kan., and he preceded her in death on July 23, 1995.

Mary Ellen was raised in Vernon County and attended Nevada High School graduating with the Class of 1928. She worked at the Nevada State Hospital for a number of years before moving to Michigan where she lived from 1941 until 1947. At that time Mary Ellen returned to Nevada and continued working at the Nevada State Hospital.

In 1950, Bill and Mary Ellen started the Nevada Barber Supply Business. In addition to helping Bill with the business she also worked at the ASCS Office in Nevada for 10 years. Mary Ellen volunteered her time to help in the Radiology Department at Nevada City Hospital for 10 years in the late 1960s to early '70s.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church where she was active in the Helping Hands Circle and also helped with the church Bizaar.

Survivors include one daughter, Joyce Ellen King and her husband, Lyle, Joplin, Mo.; one son, Wilson Liter and his wife, Susan, Nevada; grandchildren, Rick Holland, Joplin, Holly Hager and her husband, Will, Lebanon, Tenn., David King and his wife, Laura, Joplin, and Cindy King, Joplin; granddaughter-in-law, Amy Liter Keller and her husband, Steve, Winterset, Iowa; great-grandchildren, Mark Holland and his wife, Lauren, Monett, Mo., Trena Mayfield and her husband, Nick, Midway, Ark., Joshua King and his wife, Shelby, Nixa, Mo., Anna, Kate and Jack Liter Keller, and Gracie and Max Keller, Winterset, Iowa; great-great-grandchildren, Max and Liam Holland, Monett, Presley Mayfield, Midway, Ark., and Kalli and Josiah King, Nixa, Mo.; and other relatives and friends. In addition to her husband, Bill, she was preceded in death by two brothers, William Spayd, and Charles Spayd; one sister, Helen Barr; and one grandson, Mark Liter.

A visitation will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, March 14, at Ferry Funeral Home, in Nevada. Private interment will follow in Newton Burial Park with Mark Holland officiating.

Memorials are suggested in her memory to the United Methodist Women or charity of choice in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to the National Health Center and Freeman Hospital in Joplin for their support over the last few weeks. Also, a special thank you is given to Stephanie Holland for her excellent care of "Grandma" Liter.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.