Jewell Stehlik

JEWELL STEHLIK Lodema Jewell Stehlik, daughter of Franklin "Fred" and Irene McCulloch Jones, was born, October 25, 1899 in Cave Springs, Kansas. She departed this life, Tuesday, July 26, 2011, in the Baptist Home, Ironton, Missouri at the age of one hundred and eleven years, nine months and one day. On April 11, 1925 in Wichita, Kansas, she was united in marriage to William "Bill" Stehlik. Together they shared fifty-six years of marriage before his passing on January 8, 1981. She was also preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Ruby McDaniel. Survivors include several nieces, nephews and cousins, including, Sharon Reimal and husband Brad of Independence, Missouri, Arlene Kolb and husband Garry of Ironton, Missouri, Duane Kitterman of California, Darrell Kitterman of Tennessee, Margie Burr of Salina, Kansas, Peggy McCright and husband Mike of Bothell, Washington and Greg McCright of Chicago, Illinois and many friends. Jewell was raised in the Cave Springs, Kansas area. She attended school in a one-room school house and walked or rode a horse to school each day. Her school teacher boarded at her house. She worked for the Santa Fe - Rock Island Rail Road for many years. It was there that she met her husband Bill. She followed her husband where his job took him and they lived and worked from Oklahoma to Minnesota. She worked in various offices, including legal firms and abstract companies. She did organ repair and also helped sign men up for World War I. Jewell and Bill retired to Camdenton in 1965 from Minneapolis. She moved into the Baptist Home in Ironton in 1996. Jewell made a profession of faith and was a member of First Baptist Church of Camdenton. She was a very active and faithful member of the church and served as the church organist for many years. She had a talent for music. She taught herself to play the organ by ear at the age of five. She and a group started playing for barn dances in her grandfather's barn. She later was a member of the Mello Dees and played at the Missouri State Fair, political events and local festivals. She entertained friends playing piano, organ, accordion and mandolin. At the age of 109, she taught herself how to play the harmonica. She was a loving and a caring person, who loved her Lord and Savior and her family and friends. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and will treasure the memories she created for her family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 29, 2011 in Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home. Private burial will follow in Dale Blair Memorial Cemetery, Camdenton. No formal visitation will be held. A Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 3, 2011 in The Baptist Home, Ironton. Memorial donations may be made to Camdenton First Baptist Church or Arcadia Valley High School Music Department in care of the funeral home. Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Camdenton is assisting the family with arrangements.