Jo Spitzmiller

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Betty Jo Spitzmiller, 81, of Sikeston died Sunday, July 4, 2010, at her residence, following an extended illness.

She was born Nov. 20, 1928, in Advance, Mo., to the late Thomas I. and Clarissa E. Zimmerman Cox.

She was also preceded in death by a brother, Thomas J. Cox.

Mrs. Spitzmiller graduated from Advance High School, where she was a member of the basketball and volleyball teams. She attended Southeast Missouri State University.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, and a longtime committee member of the Methodist Women's Annual Bazaar. She was a member of Sikeston Ladies Golf Association, member and officer of Missouri Women's State Golf Association and also belonged to Sikeston Women's Bowling League.

She had been a Girl Scout leader and a volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America. She donated her time to a variety of charities as well as being a housewife and homemaker.

She married Norman L. Spitzmiller Dec. 26, 1948, in Ironton, Mo. He preceded her in death Feb. 3, 2010.

Survivors include a son, Gene Spitzmiller of Sikeston; four daughters and sons-in-law, Sharon and Gary Gunn and Linda and Danny Bridger of Sikeston, Elizabeth and Neil Corbett of Orlando, Fla., Ellen and Jim Wiss of Vail, Colo.; and a granddaughter, Aria Webber, a student at Clemson University in South Carolina.

She is also survived by special caregivers, Mary Smith, Clara Armstrong and Mary Buckley.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to service time today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. today at the chapel, with the Rev. Geoff Posegate, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery.

Condolences may be made online at nunneleefuneralchapel.com.

The family requests donations be made to Alzheimer's Association, 9370 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132, or First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 682, Sikeston, MO 63801.