Neva (Henson) Wade, 102, passed away July 19, 2016, at her home in Houston, Mo.
Neva was the daughter of Frank and Emma (Neal) Henson and was born Oct. 14, 1913, on a farm between Roby and Plato, Mo. She spent all but 10 years of her life in Texas County. As a teenager she became a Christian and was baptized as a member of the Plato Christian Church. When she moved to Houston in 1973, she soon joined the Brown Hill Baptist Church and served as treasurer for decades.
She graduated from Plato High School in 1934. She had attended the one-room country school at Roby and walked three miles to school each day. Her first job after graduating from high school was teaching at the Black Bird School, which was located where the Van Zyverden farm is today. She married Howard Wade and moved to Manes, Mo., for 10 years and then lived on a farm near Upton, Mo. She worked on the farm and after several years, went to work at the Quartermaster Laundry at Ft. Leonard Wood, where she was a supervisor and retired from there.
Neva loved working for her church and the community. She started volunteering at the Senior Center in Houston on Feb. 17, 1975 and continued to do so for over 40 years. She served as treasurer until she was 100 years old. She continued on the board and was an active volunteer until her death. She was a member of the National Association of Federal Employees (NARFE) and served as its secretary for over 20 years. Neva continued as an active member until her death. She received many honors from her place of employment and from the volunteer organizations of which she was a part. On her 100th birthday, she received certificates from Willard Scott, the Governor of Missouri, the President, and Sen. Claire McCaskill as well as special recognition from the Senior Center, Brown Hill Church and the NARFE.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Emma Henson; husband, Howard Wade; son, Dwain Wade; grandson, Chad Wade; son-in-law, Joe Cox; and sister, Ethel (Henson) Williams.
She is survived by her daughter, Joan (Wade) Cox of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; grandsons, Larry Wade and wife, Tammy, Shane Wade and wife, Sheri, all of Houston Mo., and Wade Cox and wife, Chrystal, of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; great-grandchildren, Dillon Wade and wife, Shawna, Preston Wade and wife, Tory, Darin Wade and wife, Kalli and Lauren Wade, all of the Houston area and Jordan and Melody Cox of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; great-great grandchildren, Cadence, Aspen, Presley and Bodee Wade; nieces and nephews; and a host of friends from around the country.
Funeral services are 10 a.m. Friday, July 22, 2016, at Evans Funeral Home with Dr. Howell Burkhead and Pastor Lynn Gayer officiating. Burial was in Brown Hill Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home. Pallbearers were Jordan Cox, Dillon Wade, Preston Wade, Darin Wade, Mike Wade and Doug Wade. Honorary pallbearers were Danny Carter, Noel Carpenter, Keith White and John McCloud.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her honor to the Houston Senior Center, Brown Hill Cemetery or Texas County Hospice of Care. To send an online condolence to the family, please go to www.evansfh.com.
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