Neva Rouse

Neva Lois Snodgrass Rouse Neva Lois Snodgrass Rouse was born on June 29, 1912 and departed this life on April 26, 2013, at the age of 100 years 9 months and 26 days. She was born to Walter Herbert Snodgrass and Ina Alice Bowman Snodgrass at Verdella, MO and at the age of six, she moved with her family to Liberal, MO. Except for fifteen years in Nevada, she spent her life in Liberal until declining health made it necessary for her to move into residential care facilities in Camdenton and Centralia, and eventually to Katy Manor Nursing Facility in Pilot Grove, MO. Neva graduated from Liberal High School and was valedictorian of her class. She attended Southwest Missouri teacher college, now MSU, Springfield, MO, where she received her "Lifetime Certificate" to teach, graduating with honors. Her first schoolhouse was Shiloh, in Barton County, where work responsibilities included teaching 8 grades as well as the janitorial work. She also taught at Oskaloosa, Liberal, Moundville, and Bronaugh. While raising her family and teaching at Moundville and Bronaugh, Neva attended college and received her BS and Specialist degrees from Kansas State Teachers College at Pittsburg. She worked with students needing remedial tutoring until her retirement from Liberal Schools. Neva was a very creative person. She loved to prepare her own versions of a recipe, she loved to sew and crochet, and above all, she loved to piece quilts. Neva's family was always very important to her. She was devoutly faithful to the Methodist Church never missing a service when she could provide her own transportation or had the availability to attend. Neva was united in marriage to Jesse Elmer Rouse in 1936, and four children were born to this union. She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years; her parents; one sister; three brothers; one grandson; one granddaughter; and one great granddaughter. She is survived by two daughters, Sue Hopkins of Columbia, MO, Lou Woods (Bill) of Independence, MO; two sons Gene Rouse (Amy) of Skowhegan, ME and Robert Rouse (Judy) of Houston, MO; fifteen grandchildren; six great grandchildren.