Vera Pearl Arnold

Vera Pearl Arnold, age 96, of Schell City, Mo., the daughter of Nelson Hammond and Edna Elizabeth (Davis) True, was born March 15, 1912, in Fair Haven Springs, Mo., and passed from this life on Wednesday, May 21, 2008, at the Moore-Few Care Center, in Nevada.

Vera attended the Coal Creek School and then graduated from Nevada High School. It was while living in the area that she met and married Leland Arnold. Leland's work took him and Vera to Illinois for several years before they relocated back to Vernon County. For many years Vera worked as a seamstress at Junior House, in Nevada, until her retirement in 1969. Her hobbies included the Schell City Christian Church, a member of the Coal Creek Helping Hands Club, Harwood Senior Citizens and the Belvior Club.

Survivors include her very special family, Shirley Gayman, of Schell City, and Shirley's family: Mike, Rona, Austin and Cole, of Joplin.; Lisa Mike Lindsey and Logan, of Tulsa; and Steve Errica, Austin and Tyler, of Schell City; several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. Vera was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Vern, Virgil and Russell; three sisters, Glessner, Bessie and Louise; three half-brothers, Ora, George and Roy; and of special mention, her very special "son" Duane Gaymen, who passed away in 2003.

Funeral services for Vera Pearl Arnold were held at 10:30 a.m., today, at the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home, in Schell City, with brother Howard McPeak officiating. Musical seletions were provided by Diane Eslinger and Kelly Davis. Pallbearers were Mike Gayman, Steve Gayman, Harvey Gerster, Jim Goodman, Terry Smith and Ervin Goodman. Interment was in the Green Lawn Cemetery, in Schell City.

Memorials are suggested to the Schell City Christian Church or the church's youth group. Funeral arrangements for Mrs. Arnold were entrusted to the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home.