Wanda Jean Stafford

Wanda Jean Stafford, 83, Nevada, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007, at Christian Healthcare in Nevada following a brief illness. She was born May 20, 1924, in Weaubleau, Iowa, to Herbert and Marie Smith. She married Gail Stafford on May 9, 1942, in Mexico, Mo., and he preceded her in death on March 13, 1995.

Wanda lived in California for a number of years before moving to Nevada in 1961. She was baptized in the Community Christian Church in Nevada on May 13, 2001. She was a former member of the Nevada Eagles Lodge. Wanda worked at the Nevada State Hospital from 1961 until her retirement in 1981.

Survivors include one daughter, Dixie Thomas and her husband Chuck, Mt. Vernon, Mo.; two sons, Jerry Stafford and his wife Linda, Nevada, and John Stafford and his fiancé Jana Mather, Nevada; 16 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, and one sister, Donna Marland and her husband Elmer, Davenport, Iowa.

In addition to her husband Gail, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Gaila Schooley; one son, Rick Stafford, one brother, Keith Hank, and one sister, Helen Greenhagen.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., on Monday, Nov. 19, 2007, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with the Rev. Wes Anderson officiating. Interment will follow in National Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kan.

Friends may call now and until the hour of service and the family receives friends 6-7 p.m. Sunday evening, Nov. 18, at the funeral home.

Those who wish may contribute in her memory to the Community Christian Church in care of Ferry Funeral Home.