Mary Clingingsmith

Mary Dell Clingingsmith

Mary Dell Clingingsmith, 90, of Oak Ridge passed away Friday, Nov. 14, 2008, at Independence Care Center in Perryville, Mo.

She was born Dec. 11, 1917, near Old Appleton, daughter of Oscar and Roxie Kurre Lang. She and Adrian Miller Clingingsmith were married Aug. 8, 1951, in Old Appleton. He passed away Oct. 16, 1997.

Mary Dell was a lifelong member of Zion United Methodist Church in Old Appleton. She began a teaching career after graduating high school; she taught at Buckeye School, a one-room schoolhouse in north Cape Girardeau County. She graduated with a teaching degree from Southeast Missouri College. Mary Dell retired from teaching in 1979 at Oak Ridge R-VI, where she taught home economics and occasionally art. She sponsored the Future Homemakers of America chapter at Oak Ridge R-VI, which, at the time of her retirement, was the largest and most active organization at the school. She was a member of the Cheerful Country Doers, an FCE chapter, from 1973 until her death. Mary Dell was a SEMO District Fair judge and active with 4-H until her health prevented her continued participation. She was also a Missouri Retired Teacher Association member. Mary Dell dedicated her life to education in the church, the public school system and the community.

Loving survivors include her two sons, Alan (Glenna) Clingingsmith of Hays, Kan., and Perry (Carlene) Clingingsmith of Oak Ridge; six grandchildren, Rachel (Don) Larsen of Perryville, Brent Clingingsmith of Lawrence, Kan., Ashley Clingingsmith of Jackson, Gregory Clingingsmith of Albuquerque, N.M., Adria (Mark) Polson of Wichita, Kan., and Deidra Clingingsmith of Chaffee, Mo.; six great-grandchildren, Riley, Brock, Carlaena, Chase, Autumn and Landon Perry; and two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Robert (Beulah) Lang of Idaho and Mrs. Isadore (Trula) Halpern of Arizona. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 46 years; two sisters, Margaret Leimer and Leona Tuschhoff; and four brothers, Virgil, William, Byron and Robert Lang.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Janet Hopkins and James Brice officiating. Interment will be in Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery at Old Appleton.

Memorials may be made to Zion United Methodist Church in Old Appleton or your charity of choice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www. mccombsfuneralhome.com.