Mary Lou Hambelton, 81

Graveside services for Mary Lou Hambelton, 81, of Dora, were held Jan. 29, 2021, at the Ball Cemetery south of Dora. Mrs. Hambelton died Jan. 24 at her home.

She was born June 28, 1939, at Mount Ararat, Missouri, the daughter of Owen and Mae Loring Reed. On July 27, 1957, in Hernando, Mississippi, she married Gerald Hambelton. Mrs. Hambelton was the owner and operator of Crossroads General Store for a number of years. She joked that she loved to fish on every day ending in a Y. She dearly loved her grandkids and great-grandkids and enjoyed teaching them to fish. She also enjoyed gardening and bird watching. She loved to cook and was well known for her noodles, fried chicken, coconut cream pie and strawberry pie. 

Mrs. Hambelton was a long-time member of Ball Church of Christ.

She is survived by three children, Debbie Perryman and husband Gary, and Roger Hambelton and wife Carolyn, all of Dora, and Brenda Uhlmann and special friend Rick Pendergrass of Eldridge, Missouri; six grandchildren, Andy Lawson, Kristin Lowther and husband Justin, Derrick Uhlmann, Devon Uhlmann and wife Kayla, Dustin Hambelton, and Danielle Gunnell and husband Brandon; five great-grandchildren, Colton and Rhett Lawson, Blake and Hudson Uhlmann and Corbin Gunnell; one brother, John Reed and wife Sandy, and one sister, Joy Rieger and husband Joseph, all of West Plains; two sisters-in-law, Josephine Reed of Dora and Joan Nash of Gainesville; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, who died Jan. 26, 2000; and two brothers, Jerald Loring and Donald Reed.

Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, West Plains, directors.