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Willetta Mae Neher

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Willetta Mae Neher was born Dec. 12, 1929, the fifth of 12 children to the late Guy and Mayme (Blacksher) Halliburton, and passed away Jan. 5, 2022, in Broken Arrow, Okla. She was 92 years and 24 days of age. Willetta was raised in Mountain Grove and attended school there graduating with the Mountain Grove High School Class of 1947. She was united in marriage to Harvey Lee Neher on Feb. 15, 1948. They resided in Mountain Grove, where they raised two children, Janice and Leland. Willetta and Harvey attended Greenwood Church of the Brethren for many years, where she taught the primary children’s Sunday School class. In addition, they attended the Mountain Grove South Street Church of God, where she was a member of WCG and presented the children’s story during worship on Sundays. For several years, Willetta also volunteered her time with Jeanette Dalton and opened her home to the children’s Good News Club that was organized for after school Bible study.  Willetta loved entertaining family and friends in her home. As an accomplished quilter, Willetta gave away or sold numerous quilts. In May of 1987, the town of Mountain Grove presented Willetta’s trapunto quilt to Vice President George H.W. Bush during the dedication of the town square. Besides her parents, Willetta was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey Neher; and five sisters, Thelma Stambaugh, Naomi Chandler, Marcella Smith, DeEtt Meadors and Elsie Keyes. Willetta is survived by her daughter, Janice Bean and husband, Charlie, of Broken Arrow, Okla.; son, Leland Neher, of Ashland; three grandchildren, Jana Bean, Stock Neher and Max Neher; six sisters, Estia Arnold, Ruth Carter and husband, Walton, Lenora Ferguson, Marian Alean Manasco, Mary Ann Coats and husband, Kenneth, and Katherine Ripka; and a host of other relatives and friends who will miss her dearly. Visitation for Willetta Neher was held on Saturday Jan. 8, 2022, from 1-2 p.m. at Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home – Mountain Grove. Funeral Services followed visitation at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Edwin Carter officiating. Song selections were “How Great Thou Art” sung by Joe Golden and “I Can Only Imagine.” Max Neher, Kevin Keyes, Tom Coats, Dick Bethel, Charles Douglas, Chester Douglas, John Douglas and Darrell Neher served as pallbearers. Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery under the direction of Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home – Mountain Grove. Online condolences: www.craighurttfuneralhome.com.