Willia Richardson

Willia Juanita Richardson

Willia Juanita (Mathes) Richardson of Worthington, Missouri passed away at the Schuyler County Nursing Home in Queen City, Missouri on Monday, March 24, 2014, at ninety-five years of age. She was born May 5, 1918 near Graysville, Putnam County, Missouri, the daughter of William Earl and Flora Edith (Brown) Mathes.

Mrs. Richardson was preceded in death by her husband, Aurville Berdean "A.B." Richardson, who passed away in December 2008. They are parents of three children, all of whom survive: Jean Ellen Richardson, of Columbia, Missouri; Max William Richardson and wife Mary Beverly (Brehaut) Richardson, of Charters Settlement, New Brunswick, Canada; and :Mary Lee (Richardson) Bailey and husband Paul Bailey, Jr. of Queen City, Missouri. They are also survived by two grandsons: Andrew Berdean Richardson of Charters Settlement, New Brunswick, Canada; and William Bradley Richardson and wife, Kendra Marie (Collier) Richardson, of Fort Riley, Kansas.

She was preceded in death by one brother, Junior Mathes. She is also preceded in death by three sisters and their spouses: Rita and Jack Buster, Ruby and Clyde Martin, Dorothy and Ray Butler, all former residents of Putnam County, Missouri. She is survived by one sister-in-law, Ouida Mathes (wife of the late Junior Mathes) of Unionville, Missouri.

Also surviving: Lavena Richardson Mitchell Greentop, Missouri (Robert Mitchell, deceased); Mary Richardson Cowell Coy and William Coy, Apache Junction, Arizona (Edward Cowell, deceased); George and Evelyn Bland Richardson, Kirksville, Missouri; William and Doris Veach Richardson, Unionville, Missouri; Eugene Richardson, Marceline, Missouri (Mable Hatfield, deceased); Genevieve Richardson Butler and Doris Butler (both deceased); Nova and Maxine (Martin) Richardson, both deceased; Noah Richardson and Dorothy Dormer Richardson, both deceased.

Willia attended Ledford and Graysville schools in eastern Putnam County, earning an eighth grade diploma from Graysville in 1933. She and Berdean were married December 21, 1936. They ran a general store at Dean, Iowa, operating it briefly prior to World War II. Berdean was drafted in 1942, serving until mid 1945. In the meantime, Willia gave birth to their first child and looked after the initial acquisition, operation and expansion of their farm and homestead overlooking Worthington, Missouri.

After the War, Willia continued to assist with their farm operation. When the couple purchased and operated a general store in Worthington, Missouri from 1955 through the fall of 1961, she regularly worked in the business despite the burdens of a growing family. She was later employed for several years by Pamida, a Kirksville, Missouri discount store.

Willia was a great cook and an enthusiastic hostess. Their home became a frequent Saturday night gathering place for their teenage nieces and nephews and their dates to share her homemade candies and ice cream and enjoy a game of pitch while listening to the St. Louis Cardinals and the Grand Ole Opry. During the Korean War she sent carefully packed gallon tin buckets of chocolate fudge, Boston cream, divinity, date roll candies and cookies to her brother (Junior) and close friends serving abroad.

Willia was an avid (some unfortunate bugs and weeds would say “Ferocious”) gardner and maintained a peach and apple orchard, and a vineyard. She was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed quilting. She was a member of the Worthington Garden Club.

For her then young Canadian born grandchildren, summertime at the farm with the grandparents was a great adventure and something not to be missed or forgotten.

Funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday (March 29, 2014) at the Dooley Funeral Home with Pastor Roger Bushnell officiating. Burial will be in Martinstown Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Gary Martin, Dana Mathes, Harlan Buster, Douglas Kimmel, William Mitchell and Patrick Richardson.

Visitation with the family will be from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the

Dooley Funeral Home

Queen City, MO 63561   660-766-2241