Skip to content

Celesta Lavere Stone, 89

Celesta Lavere Stone, 89 years, passed away on Dec. 31, 2012 at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare, Ava, Mo., with her family by her side.
Celesta was born Dec. 4, 1923 in Witty, Mo., to Arthur John and Florence (Hammonds) Hodges.
Celesta lived most of her life in Douglas County. She was a housewife and had been a school teacher at Turkey Flat. On Jan. 5, 1944 Celesta and George Charles Stone were united in marriage in St. Joseph, Mo., and to this union five children were born.
She was a Christian and always attended church until her health started failing. Celesta enjoyed sewing, cooking, gardening and reading her Bible. Her joy in life was taking care of all her family.
Celesta was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George; a daughter, Connie Stone; one sister, Edith Curtis; and one brother, Delmar Hodges.
Celesta is survived by four sons and their spouses, “Butch” and Dawn Stone, Ava, Mo., David “Mutt” Stone, Drury, Mo., Mike and Debbie Stone and Danny Stone all of Ava, Mo.; one grandson, Darren Stone; six step grandchildren; 11 step great-grandchildren; one brother, Norman Hodges, St. Joseph, Mo.; many nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Graveside services for Celesta will be Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, at noon  at the Yates Cemetery east of Ava. Visitation will be Thursday from  10 to 11 a.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, Mo. Officiating will be Pastor Tom Hodges.
Memorials may be made to Yates Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneral home.com.