Claressa Rhoads

Claressa May Rhoads, 70 of Kirksville passed away unexpectedly Friday (Sept. 23, 2011) at the Northeast Regional Medical Center CCU.

The daughter of Robert Claire and Sylvia Mae (Collins) Goldsberry, she was born April 29, 1941 in Ottumwa, Iowa. On October 3, 1981 in Kirksville she married James Albert “Jim” Rhoads.

Claressa is survived by her husband, Jim; one daughter, Roxanne Wilkins Stockdale and husband Kelly of Jewell, IA; two grandchildren, Trenton and Kaden Stockdale; four brothers, Larry Goldsberry and wife Sharon of Le Claire, IA, Dennis Goldsberry and wife Kathy of Red Oak, TX, Keith “Butch” Goldsberry and wife Linda of Rock Island, IL and Ronnie Martin of Fairfield, IA; several nieces and nephews; her beloved dog, Pretty Girl and a close friend, Olive Reiser.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Darlene Martin and Karen Kay Goldsberry and an infant daughter, Theresa.

Claressa grew up in Ottumwa, IA and graduated from the Ottumwa High School. She operated several restaurants in southeast Iowa and then owned and operated grocery stores in Lancaster and Glenwood, MO. She worked at the Schuyler County Schools before moving to Kirksville in 1981 where she worked in housekeeping at the Gutensohn Clinic. She also did housekeeping for several physicians in the Kirksville area. She would always bring meals and cookies to the physicians and would offer the medical students a place in her home for the holidays if they didn’t have anywhere to go.

She enjoyed cooking, gardening, spending time with her family, had a great love for roller skating where she participated in numerous dance competitions. She never missed an episode of Dr. Phil and watched every courtroom drama available on her television. She had an unwavering love for all animals, especially dogs and cats, was known as “Grandma Puppies” to her grandsons, as “Bones” to her brothers and was never afraid to tell anyone what she thought about any subject matter.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday (Sept. 28, 2011) at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home with Pastor Sonny Smyser officiating. Burial will be in the Fort Madison Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Todd Goldsberry, Tracy Goldsberry, Eddie Flynn, Royce Martin, Earl McCabe and Fred Lanham.

Visitation with the family will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home, 2100 E. Shepherd Ave., Kirksville, MO 63501 660-665-2233

Memorials in memory of Claressa are suggested to a fund for the continuing education of her Grandsons.