Pearl Spence

(From Parker Mortuary)

Pearl Spence, age 84, Neosho, formerly of Joplin, passed away on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at Medicalodge of Neosho.

Pearl was born August 24, 1933, in Anderson, Missouri, one of 13 children of the late Henry P. Reynolds and Dorothy L. Drake Reynolds. She attended school in McDonald County, and was a stay-at-home mother, taking care of her family. Later in life, she began working for Freeman Hospital where she worked for over 20 years in housekeeping. She enjoyed the many friendships she made throughout the years at the hospital. She was also a member of the Church of God, where she devotedly paid tithes even as a single mother of four.

Throughout her life, Pearl made sacrifices to support others—helping her brothers, sisters and parents in her younger years and later raising her four children by herself after the death of her husband. The most important parts of her life were her children and her relationship with God. She always had a song in her heart and continued to sing hymns and other favorite songs until the end. Pearl touched nearly every person she met with her kindness, sincerity and wry sense of humor. Her children believe her to be the best mom in the world.

In addition to her parents, Pearl was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Spence, who passed away in 1972. She was also preceded in death by two granddaughters, Lora Kahl and Leslie Smittle, a great-grandchild, Bryson Kahl, and three brothers, Joe, Kenny, and Henry Reynolds.

Survivors include her children, Connie Myers and husband, Gordon, of Carterville, Missouri, Lisa Fink of Neosho, Pam Huffman and husband, Charlie, also of Neosho, and Darrell Spence of Atlanta, Georgia; grandchildren, Shawn Marsh and wife, Sarah, of Joplin, Ryan Marsh of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Chris Smittle of Joplin, and Chase Myers of Carterville; great-grandchildren, Ethan Kahl, Alexis and Alyssa Smittle; three brothers, Everett Reynolds and wife, Rosalie, Herb Reynolds and wife, Betty, all of Neosho, John Reynolds and wife, Shirley, of Joplin; six sisters, Ruth Smith of Chiefland, Florida, Lucille Boyd and husband, J.D., of Neosho, Ella Mae Smith and husband, Don, of Carthage, Jean Baublitz of Aurora, Missouri, Joyce Malone and husband, Jim, of Neosho, and June Lewis and husband, Ted, of Carthage; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Friday, March 16, 2018, at 10 a.m. at Joplin Family Worship Center with grandson Shawn Marsh officiating. Interment will follow in Center Cemetery near Sarcoxie, Missouri, with family and friends serving as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends at Parker Mortuary on Thursday from 6-7 p.m.