Violet Overton

Violet Alexander was born Dec. 8, 1927, in St. Clair County, Mo., near Tiffin, Mo., to Chester and Beulah (Hart) Alexander. They moved to the Walker area about 1930, and she spent her entire life in Vernon County until moving to Bolivar about 1994. She died Feb. 16, 2007, at St. John's hospital in Springfield, Mo.

Violet was a graduate of Walker High School in 1946. She attended college at Warrensburg, but after an illness she was forced to return home. She attended summer classes at Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar and became a teacher in the Vernon County schools, her first at Mobley from 1947-'48. She taught at Green Springs 1948-'49, and at Flat Rock from 1949-'53. Violet was the secretary at Schell City schools for several years, the clerk for the Nevada Baptist Association, and retired as payroll clerk at the Nevada Regional Medical Center.

On Feb. 11, 1950, she married Dale Overton. They farmed in the Schell City area. They had one daughter, Phyllis Ann. Phyllis and her husband, Bob Garrison, have two sons, Tyler and Shawn, who were the loves of her life.

Violet was a member of the Schell City Baptist Church before moving to Nevada, after which they joined the First Baptist Church. At the time of her death she was a member of the Fair Play Baptist Church.

Violet remained quietly active during her retirement years. She enjoyed freelance writing having written several articles for various publications. In addition to her article, Violet compiled a book recording the history of the Fair Play School District, where her daughter and son-in-law were teachers and her grandsons attended school.

Violet was devoted to her family, especially her grandsons. She spent many enjoyable hours going to Tyler's auctions and watching Missouri University ballgames with Shawn. Even as her health declined she stayed determined to attend all the activities they were involved in.

Violet is survived by her daughter, Phyllis and her husband, Bob Garrison; grandsons, Tyler and Shawn Garrison; one sister, Neoma Foreman, Walker; several nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Chester and Beulah Alexander; her husband, Dave Overton; and her sister, Annie Haynes, who died one day before she did.

Funeral services were at 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 18, at Sheldon Chapel, El Dorado Springs, with the Revs. John Nichols and David Stunkel officiating.

Musical selections were "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow," "Amazing Grace," " One Day At A Time." Pallbearers were Chuck Foreman, David Foreman, Fred Allen Durnell, Chet Foreman, Eddie Haynes and Steve Whisler.

Interment was in Green Lawn Cemetery, Schell City.