Grace Irene Stark, 89, daughter of Charlie and Ellen (Spencer) Crabtree, was born Feb. 16, 1925, in Hartshorn, Mo. She passed away Dec. 3, 2014 at Houston House, Houston, Mo.
Grace grew up and attended school in the Hartshorn area.
She married Hershel Stark on Dec. 23, 1942. They were married 59 years and to this union 10 children were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Hershel; one son, Hershel Dale Stark; one daughter, Grace Ethle; five sisters, Carrie, Beatrice, Stella, Loretta and Pauline; four brothers, Rufus, Floyd, Lloyd and Arvel; and three sons-in-law, Russell Sisco, Les Palmer and Mike McLaury.
She is survived by two sons, Earnest and wife, Georgia Stark, of Humansville, Mo., and Rickey and wife, Nathann Stark, of Raymondville, Mo.; six daughters, Jean Palmer and husband, Paul, of Decatur, Ark., Mary Palmer of Raymondville, Mo., Nancy McLaury of Mountain View, Mo., Patricia Sisco of Licking, Mo., Sue Breedlove and husband, Keith, of Lynchburg, Mo., and Faye Wallace and husband, Bob, of Licking, Mo.; 16 grandchildren, Paul, Jr., Jason, Danial, Clifford Lee, Steven Lee, Melinda, Michael, Christopher, Sarah, Carla, Randy, Amelia, Kimberly, BJ, DJ, and Jeremy; 24 great-grandchildren; several step-grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great-granchildren; one brother, Jessie Crabtree; and numerous other relatives.
Grace worked at the Lee Factory for 17 years and Rawlings for eight years. She was always working on the farm, helping Hershel with the ever ongoing chores that needed to be done. She loved gardening and always grew a large garden, which supplied an ample amount of food for the large family they had and even some left over for neighbors and friends. She enjoyed beautiful flowers and always had them growing in her yard. She was a seamstress and did embroidery work, which was often given as gifts to her family. Being outdoors was a part of her and Hershel’s life, so camping trips were done often with their kids.
Grace loved to cook and did a wonderful job. Many recipes were in her head and she just put a cup of this and a pinch of that and turned out delicious meals. What fun it was to go to her home and have a meal. Family gatherings were the highlight of her day. She loved her family and especially those grandchildren! She could spoil them and laugh and get away with it, and then of course send them home!
She was a wonderful wife, Mother, Grandmother, sister and friend and will be missed by all who knew her.
Services were 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, at Evans Funeral Home with Brother Darren Morris officiating. Pallbearers were Randy Sisco, Paul Palmer, Jr., Danial Palmer, Clifford Stark, Steven Stark, Jeremy Wallace, DJ Breedlove and Chris Palmer. Honorary pallbearers were Jason Palmer, BJ Breedlove and Mike Palmer. Burial was in Antioch Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Antioch Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.evansfh.com.
PAID
