GOLDA GROVES

Golda Oleta Groves, 89, daughter of Elza and Effie Bailey Willis, was born Feb. 17, 1916, near Eunice. She died Sept. 28, 2005, at her home near Plato following a lengthy illness.Mrs. Groves spent most of her life in Texas County, where she graduated from Houston High School.After graduation, she worked at the Freeland Hotel and Piney Inn Cafe for two years for $3 a day. In later years, she worked with her husband on Groves Angus Farm near Plato. They won awards as the largest producers of registered Angus beef cattle in Missouri.Mrs. Groves enjoyed caring for her home, garden and hummingbirds.The Groves visited every state and capitol in the continental U.S. and visited and photographed every courthouse in the state.She was a member of the Cedar Bluff Baptist Church and taught Sunday School for 20 years.She was preceded in death by her parents; one daughter, Linda Powell Elliott; and one son, Charles Robert “”Bob”” Powell.Surviving are her husband of the home; two sons, Gary Powell of Plato and Marvin Powell of Springfield; one daughter, Norma Sue Powell of Bothell, Wash.; two brothers, Lloyd Willis of Houston and Leman Willis of Williston, N.D.; one sister, Lorene Coleman of Yakima, Wash.; 11 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.Services were Oct. 1 at the Cedar Bluff Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Tallant officiating. Burial was in the Cedar Bluff Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home. “