Ava E. Grannemann

Ava Estes Payne Pitts Grannemann, age 97 of Bolivar, MO, passed away after a short illness, on January 16, 2018, in Jefferson City, MO. Ava was born on January 1, 1921, in the community of Star Ridge in Polk County Missouri. She was the second daughter of Jesse Russell and Grace Elva (Estes) Payne. Ava was a long time member of Louisburg Baptist Church and a member of Bolivar First Baptist Church at the time of her death. After graduating from Louisburg High School, she attended State Teachers College (MSU) in Springfield, MO, graduating in 1942. She taught in several MO school districts: Cole Camp, Buffalo, Halfway, Skyline, Polk and Bolivar. She taught Biology, Home Economics, and Science in High School and Junior HS. She was the principal at Polk Grade School, and later taught at Bolivar Elementary School where her last position was remedial math which she found the most rewarding of her long teaching career. Ava was an avid gardener and would rather be outdoors, often barefooted in her flower beds, than anywhere else. She was an expert in plant identification, including wildflowers, garden flowers, vegetables, trees, and weeds. Ava was a warrior against Japanese beetles, Army worms, and noxious weeds, especially thistle. Ava didn’t leave teaching opportunities just to the classroom. She applied her vast knowledge everyday, whether it was a walk in the woods turned into a botany, geology, “flora and fauna” lesson, or life lessons on how to make bread, bait a hook, or shelling black eyed peas. She considered every moment a teaching opportunity. On November 27, 1943, Cecil Otto Pitts and Ava Estes Payne were united.in marriage in Bolivar, MO. They raised cattle and farmed many years in the Star Ridge Community. She was preceded in death by her husband Cecil in 1985, her infant brother Marvin, her parents, her sister Roa, her step-mother Mildred, a step-brother Herman, and 2 step sisters Fern and Martha. In 1986 Ava was united in marriage to Marvin E Grannemann of Tulsa, OK. He preceded her in death in December 1993. Surviving Ava are her three daughters and their spouses, Mary and Walter Shank of Jefferson City, MO, Grace and Robert Rogers of Jefferson City, MO, and Sara and Steve (Bud) Shadwick of Springfield, MO. Also surviving her are 2 sisters, Eva Voris of Bolivar, MO and Iva Rust of Rolla, MO (formerly of Houston, MO, her step-sister Ruth Jones of Bolivar, MO. In addition, she is survived by her step-children Mike and Jim Grannemann , their sister Linda, and their children. Ava is survived by 5 grandchildren, Christopher Rogers of Jefferson City, MO, Amy Westfall and her husband John of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Jonathan Shank and his wife Debbie of Stoughton, WI, Jennifer Lindsey and her husband Rusty of Polk, MO and Stephanie Shadwick and her significant other Nicholas Cloyd of Springfield, MO. She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren, David Rogers, Hannah, Emma, and Nicholas Westfall, Elliana, Malachi, Myra, and Adelina Shank, and Antigone Shadwick, Cyprus, and Elijah Lindsey. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives also survive. Visitation for Ava will be Saturday, January 20, 2018 from 10 to 11:00 a.m. with Services to follow at 11:00 at Butler Funeral Home, Bolivar, Missouri. Memorial Contributions to Care to Learn.

Ava E. Grannemann

January 1, 1921 - January 16, 2018