Vera Charlene Small

Vera passed away on Dec. 24, 2010 at Salt River Community Care in Shelbina, Mo. She had been a resident there for more than 6 years. Her former home was in Lancaster, Missouri where she was an active member of the Lancaster Baptist Church, She was born in Douglas County Missouri on August 24, 1919 to Cecil and Maude Hicks. Vera lived and taught School in the Ozarks until 1951. Vera graduated from Ava, Missouri high school and then attended Southwest Baptist College in Boliver, MO and completed her education in Kirksville, MO at Northeast Missouri State Teachers-College, now known as Truman State University. During her 41 years of teaching, she touched the lives of many and kept a list of her students. After her retirement, she enjoyed buying and selling antiques from her shop in Lancaster.
Vera was preceded in death by her husband Len Small; her first husband Amos Massey; her parents; one sister Willa Burnice and brothers Vernon, Clyde, Cecil, Tommy, Frank, and Charles Hicks.
Among her survivors are her daughter, Carolyn Massey (Richard) MacDonald, Eden Prairie, MN; Grandson Rick (Gena) MacDonald of Phoenix, AZ; brother Delmar (Gail) Hicks of Mountain Grove, MO; Sisters- In-Law, Jewell Hicks of Shelbina , Joyce Hicks and Ruth Tague of Edina. Vera was very fond of the many nieces and nephews that survive.
A special thank you to the family members and staff at Salt River Community Care who gave her much love and care. One of Vera’s life passions were the family cemeteries.
In lieu of flowers please send memorials for the Hicks Family Cemeteries to Susan Cave , 4920 N Farm Rd #159, Springfield, Mo. 65803.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, on Friday, December 31, 2010, at the Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home in Kirksville, MO, with burial to follow at the Park View Memorial Garden in Kirksville. Visitation will be held at the Funeral Home in Kirksville from 10:00 to 11:00 am on Friday.