Georgia Karen Gilkey

Georgia Karen Gilkey, 70, Rich Hill, Mo., passed away on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, at Mercy Hospital, in Joplin. Georgia was born July 16, 1952, in Oskaloosa, Kan., to James F. and Pearl F. (Scholes) Larson. She was united in marriage to Fred Gilkey on Feb. 28, 2013, in Nevada, and he survives of the home.

Georgia was raised in the Atchison, Kan., area. She attended Atchison High School graduating with the Class of 1971. In the early 1970s, Georgia came to Nevada where she worked at the Nevada State Hospital as a developmental aide until her retirement in 2014. She loved arts and crafts, loved visiting with her family and spending time with her grandchildren, and going to church “wherever she was." She attended the Double Branch Church in Butler and also the Sheldon Baptist Church.

In addition to her husband Fred, whom she dearly loved, she is survived by three children, Wendy Sadler (Brett), Lowry City, Mo., James Reiff (Shauna Fairchild), Nevada, Mo., and Alexa Schnabel, Dodge City, Kan.; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, James McNeely, Lowry City, Mo., Patricia Bishop, Clinton, Mo., Joseph McNeely, Minnesota, Ethel Brower, Lowry City, Mo., Lola Slyter, Spring Hill, Kan., Kela Vaughn, Clinton, Mo., and James Larson, Poplar Bluff, Mo.; a stepbrother and stepsister; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Madeline Sneed; and two brothers, Clarence McNeely and Elvie McNeely.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 24, at Ferry Funeral Home, in Nevada. The family will receive friends from 9 to 10 a.m., at the funeral home prior to the service. Following cremation, a private graveside service will be held at Coal Hill in El Dorado Springs at a later date.

Memorials are suggested in her memory to Sheldon Baptist Church in care of Ferry Funeral Home.

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