Leola Jeanne Heinlein, 83

Leola Jeanne Heinlein passed away March 11, 2012 in Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare Center.

She was born March 2, 1929, daughter of Benjamin Wesley Everett and Nora (Miller) Everett, the fifth child of nine children.

Jeanne graduated from Ava High School in 1945 at the age of 16 and soon after became the teacher in a one room school house in rural Douglas County. Jeanne Everett and Loy Heinlein were united in marriage April 7, 1953 by Reverend James Russell in Mansfield, Mo. Shortly afterward they moved to Kansas City where she worked in the office for Montgomery Ward.

In 1963 they purchased the family farm west of Ava and moved back to the Ozarks, bringing with them their three children. Jeanne enjoyed living on the farm and took an avid interest in the great outdoors. Her garden provided an abundance of produce for her family and friends; her treks into woods in the spring resulted in sacks of morels, then gooseberries, later blackberries, and in the fall an occasional turkey or deer.

Jeanne also worked outside the home at various times throughout the years in Ava, including assistant secretary of the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association as well as in the office for the Douglas County Collector.

Jeanne became a Christian at an early age, and remained deeply devoted to her faith. She enjoyed teaching Sunday school and playing the piano. She was a founding and loyal member of Faith Rock Church.

Preceding Jeanne in death were her husband, Loy; three brothers, Dual Everett, Dorn Everett and Verlin Everett; and three sisters, Ivona Hannaford, Yvonne Carpenter and Voyledean Bradshaw.

She is survived by two sons, Tim Heinlein and wife, Bunny, and Kevin Heinlein and wife, Rondi; one daughter, Gayla Fravel; two sisters, Lila Beardsley and husband Roy, and Lyndell Beardsley and husband Harold; eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and a host of family and friends.

Jeanne’s family was very important to her, and she cared for them dearly. She will be greatly missed by all.

Graveside services for Jeanne will be Thursday, March 15, at 2 p.m. at the Ellison Cemetery, west of Ava. Visitation was Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, Mo. Officiating will be Rev. Betty Hesterlee. In lieu of flowers, family has requested memorials to Ellison Cemetery or to the donor’s choice of charity.

Online condolences may be made at www.clinkingbeardfuneral home.com.