Kermit Schofield, 79


Kermit Schofield, 79

Kermit Schofield, 79, of Dugginsville, died Tuesday, June 16, 2020, at his home. 

He was born Feb. 8, 1941, in Marion County, Arkansas, the son of Purl and Frances Schofield. When he was a young boy, his family moved to the land near Theodosia that his great-grandmother, Laura Ann Schofield, had homesteaded with her husband, Ellis Schofield, in 1882. The land was passed down to their son Jim, and then his son, Purl, who passed it on to Kermit and his brother, Carl. 

On Sept. 26, 1959, in Lutie, he married Sandy Stewart at the home of pastor Mont Reich, who officiated.

He lived on a piece of his family’s homestead land all his life, working alongside his wife on the farm that he loved and also operating a successful herb and ginseng business that kept them close to the land. 

Besides being a farmer and naturalist, Mr. Schofield was a storyteller, a sage, a mentor to many and “Pops” to many, many children in the area. He loved to play music on his mandolin, and he loved the land. 

He grew up fishing and trapping on the Little North Fork of the White River. He remembered riding with his dad to take their corn to the mill in Theodosia to have it ground into meal. The Schofield family wasn’t happy when the river was impounded to create Bull Shoals Lake because it took their farm’s bottomland. But Mr. Schofield adapted and later became a fishing guide on the lake. He also continued to be a fur trader for several years while also working at various times as a bulldozer operator and cement finisher. 

He loved his Lord.

He is survived by his wife, Sandy; one son, Dale Schofield and wife Cecilia of Dugginsville; a nephew, Loren Schofield of Dugginsville, and Loren’s son Elijah; and many friends and relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Carl Schofield.

In accordance with his wishes, on the same day he died he was buried at Hart Cemetery in Dugginsville in a pine box built by his son.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hart Cemetery Fund at Century Bank of the Ozarks, PO Box 68, Gainesville, MO 65655. 

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423