Agnes Wilson

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Agnes Wilma Lee Wilson, beloved mother, cherished grandmother and great-grandmother, loving sister and aunt, life-long friend and long-time educator, went home to live in heaven with our Lord on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at the age of 94 years. She was born March 9, 1926, as the third child and first daughter of Jacob H. and Hattie Agnes Boyers Hager. She grew up on a farm in Pike Slough, Missouri, with her three brothers and four sisters. She was married to William "Duggie' Wilson in June 1949. He preceded her in death in 2004.

She is survived by her four children, Carol Ann (Randy) Lawson of Hollywood, Maryland; Jerry Lynn (Susan) Wilson of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; Nancy Jo (L. Taylor) Bahn of Cape Girardeau; and Peggy Lee (Dennis) Hankin of Poplar Bluff; 11 grandchildren, Evan, Kinsey and Kierin (Chris) McManaman, Jessica Wilson (Seiji) Shimbo, Davis Wilson, Caitlin Bahn (Kirtley) Weitzel, Jackson (Samantha) Bahn, Carsen Bahn (Gerard) Ardoin, Mellany (Chris) Jung, Kelly O'Connor Klocke and Brandy Kearbey; 14 great-grandchildren, Mary Kate and Ian Myers, Frank Klocke IV, Blakeney and Chason Kearbey, Logan and Levin Jung, Tormey, Keeley and Cullin McMananan, Kiki and Maya Shimbo and Beya and Raphael Bahn. Also surviving are her sisters and brother-in-law, Katie and Dale Evans, Julia Gray and Jeannie Snider; brother and sister-in-law, Leroy and Jean Hager; sister-in-law, Marita Wilson; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, whom she called Duggan; her parents; in-laws, John and Willia Ella Roberts Wilson; two brothers and their wives, Bob and Maureen Hager and Hershel and Mary Hager; a sister and her husband, Thelma and Walter Penrod; brother-in-law, Hershel Gray; brothers-in-law and their wives, Eugene and Kathryn Wilson, Junior and Lola Mae Wilson and James Wilson; and by several cousins, nephews and a niece.

Wilma was a well-known Southeast Missouri educator for 44 years and was instrumental in starting the pre-school program in the Doniphan and Hillview, Missouri, schools. She graduated from Neelyville High School as salutatorian in 1945 and began teaching at Randol School right out of high school. She attended college in the summers and earned a bachelor of science degree in education and a master of arts degree in special education from Arkansas State University in 1961. She served as principal at the two-room Harviell (Missouri) School while teaching grades five through eight in the "big room." She taught students how to play softball and volleyball, and directed many Christmas plays, programs and pie suppers. She was the first teacher in the new special education program for the Neelyville School District. She later became an instructor for the developmentally disabled at the Missouri Regional Diagnostic Clinic in Poplar Bluff, where she retired.

Wilma loved sports and was an excellent athlete. While at Neelyville High School, she was a member of the girls basketball team and later coached the Neelyville girls softball team when many of her students and daughters were playing. She played softball on the Poplar Bluff women's league for many years, remaining fit and active all her life.

Wilma was a Christian and a long-time member of Harviell Baptist Church, where she was a children's and adult women's Sunday school teacher and a Bible school teacher. She also served terms on the Neelyville School Board of Education. Wilma was a member and served as local president of the Missouri Retired Teachers; a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, serving two terms as president, and she served as Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star, among other positions. Wilma and Duggie started "Harviell Day," a reunion day for all past and current residents of Harviell.

She enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, mowing the yard, sewing, farming, refinishing furniture, collecting glassware and coins, and aiding Harviell toward being a thriving community. She remained spunky throughout her life and triumphed over hardships through her faith in Jesus Christ.

Services will be held at Fowler and Sons Funeral Home in Neelyville Wednesday, with visitation starting at 10 a.m. and the funeral beginning at 1 p.m., followed by burial at the Cochran Cemetery.