Upon completion of high school, she attended Central Missouri State in Warrensburg for a couple of years and then moved to Kansas City. In 1967 she moved to Gainesville Florida where she met and married Tom in 1967.
In 1973 she moved to Nevada, Missouri and quickly became involved with the community thru Jaycee’s and Jaycee wives, PTA, room mother for her children and became an active member of the Bushwhacker Committee through 2018.
In the 1970’s she opened a craft shop on the east side of the square where she taught many how to macrame, tole paint and many other crafts. Also served on the Nevada Park Board and was in on the development and building of the Nevada Swimming pool.
Early in the 1980’s she and her husband opened Daylight Donut on the east side of the square where they met many wonderful people that became friends and not just customers.
In 1989 she was asked to be executive director of a new program started by the prosecutor and associate judge. The program was named the Community Service Program of Vernon County, Inc. She held that position until the time of her passing.
In 1994 she went to work for Prosecutor Neal Quitno as a newly formed Victim Advocate position in the prosecutor’s office. This is a job she loved more than anything she had ever done. She left the PA office in 2005 and went to work at the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office until she retired in 2013 and was a certified sheriff’s deputy for 23 years.
When drug court was formed in 2001, she was an original panel member and continued on the panel until the time of her passing. She oversaw community service work for the participants. In 2015 she was asked to serve on the Mental Health Court panel and oversaw community service there for the participants.
She has been an active member with the Nevada Show Choir for many years and was given the title of “Prop Master” by the Community Council of Performing Arts for her many years of service in support of the plays. She spent many hours helping at Community Outreach with Walmart and Woods with donated food items.
Was an original member of the Advisory Board for the Children’s Center in Vernon County and served on that board for 11 years. While doing this she helped raise thousands of dollars for the center to operate and finally build here in Vernon County.
In 2016 she was named Co-citizen of the year with her husband Tom for the countless hours of volunteer work performed in the community. In 2017 she received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the Elks Club for many hours of community service.
Since 2003 she has served as secretary for the Southwest Missouri Major Case Squad and has been on many call outs with the squad.
In 2017 Pete was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and was stable for many years. In September 2021 she was diagnosed with brain cancer – what she referred to as an Intruder – and had a couple months cancer free. In May 2022 the Intruder picked up a Hitchhiker “breast cancer” and she received treatments to tackle this as well.
She is preceded in death by her parents and sister Jan Spinks. Survivors include two sons, Greg, and wife Tammy of Bartlesville, OK., and Doug and wife Keela of Radcliff, KY. Six grandchildren, Drew of Maryland, Kyle of Milo MO., Brady and Emily of Radcliff KY., and Morgan and Elyse of Bartlesville, OK.,. Three great grandchildren, Carleigh, Raeya and Kinsley. One Sister, Bobbie Steinhauser and brother-in-law Larry of Clinton MO. Many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at Fox Theater in Nevada. Committal will follow at 4:00 p.m. at Newton Burial Park.
In lieu of flowers, send memorials to Nevada Show Choir, VCCR or the Children’s Center in Nevada.
In 1973 she moved to Nevada, Missouri and quickly became involved with the community thru Jaycee’s and Jaycee wives, PTA, room mother for her children and became an active member of the Bushwhacker Committee through 2018.
In the 1970’s she opened a craft shop on the east side of the square where she taught many how to macrame, tole paint and many other crafts. Also served on the Nevada Park Board and was in on the development and building of the Nevada Swimming pool.
Early in the 1980’s she and her husband opened Daylight Donut on the east side of the square where they met many wonderful people that became friends and not just customers.
In 1989 she was asked to be executive director of a new program started by the prosecutor and associate judge. The program was named the Community Service Program of Vernon County, Inc. She held that position until the time of her passing.
In 1994 she went to work for Prosecutor Neal Quitno as a newly formed Victim Advocate position in the prosecutor’s office. This is a job she loved more than anything she had ever done. She left the PA office in 2005 and went to work at the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office until she retired in 2013 and was a certified sheriff’s deputy for 23 years.
When drug court was formed in 2001, she was an original panel member and continued on the panel until the time of her passing. She oversaw community service work for the participants. In 2015 she was asked to serve on the Mental Health Court panel and oversaw community service there for the participants.
She has been an active member with the Nevada Show Choir for many years and was given the title of “Prop Master” by the Community Council of Performing Arts for her many years of service in support of the plays. She spent many hours helping at Community Outreach with Walmart and Woods with donated food items.
Was an original member of the Advisory Board for the Children’s Center in Vernon County and served on that board for 11 years. While doing this she helped raise thousands of dollars for the center to operate and finally build here in Vernon County.
In 2016 she was named Co-citizen of the year with her husband Tom for the countless hours of volunteer work performed in the community. In 2017 she received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the Elks Club for many hours of community service.
Since 2003 she has served as secretary for the Southwest Missouri Major Case Squad and has been on many call outs with the squad.
In 2017 Pete was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and was stable for many years. In September 2021 she was diagnosed with brain cancer – what she referred to as an Intruder – and had a couple months cancer free. In May 2022 the Intruder picked up a Hitchhiker “breast cancer” and she received treatments to tackle this as well.
She is preceded in death by her parents and sister Jan Spinks. Survivors include two sons, Greg, and wife Tammy of Bartlesville, OK., and Doug and wife Keela of Radcliff, KY. Six grandchildren, Drew of Maryland, Kyle of Milo MO., Brady and Emily of Radcliff KY., and Morgan and Elyse of Bartlesville, OK.,. Three great grandchildren, Carleigh, Raeya and Kinsley. One Sister, Bobbie Steinhauser and brother-in-law Larry of Clinton MO. Many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at Fox Theater in Nevada. Committal will follow at 4:00 p.m. at Newton Burial Park.
In lieu of flowers, send memorials to Nevada Show Choir, VCCR or the Children’s Center in Nevada.
