Jewell E Wollard

Jewell Wollard, 97, of Bolivar went on to her heavenly home at 8:55 PM, Monday, August 6, 2012 at CMHCF after a short illness. Jewell Eunice Stewart was born in Polk County on May 22, 1915 to Ben and Ola McKim Stewart. When Jewell was 7 her mother passed away leaving Jewell in charge of household duties and the care of her brothers until her father remarried. Jewell and Leland R. Wollard were married on March 16, 1935, in Buffalo, Missouri by a Justice of the Peace. To this union, four children were born, Lela, Deryal, Don, and Judy. Married for 54 years until Leland's death in 1989, they raised beef cattle and hogs, milked, farmed, and sold graded chicken eggs to Edwards Hatchery in Springfield. She worked right along with the rest of the family as she and Don would milk cows, while the rest of the family tended other chores. Jewell always had a huge garden "canning" everything from fruit jams to beef. The grandkids always wanted "Grandma's famous beef stew" for lunch when staying with her and "Pa" on summer days, and the pies she could make...she was definitely one of the best cooks around. Her first child, Lela passed away with pneumonia in 1936. Brother Little presented the eulogy at the funeral, and told Jewell if she ever wanted to see her baby again she needed to get saved and start serving the Lord. Jewell was saved later that year at Union School. In 1948, she and Leland joined Bolivar Assembly of God and from that time forward the church became a big part of their lives. Jewell never cut her hair again after she was saved, as she believed this to be part of what the Bible required. Jewell taught the Nursery II Sunday School class for over 50 years. Children were just naturally drawn to her and her to them. She was involved in the 4-H club with her children as they grew up. She was a member of the Women's Ministries group, who sewed quilts for others, and she participated in Friday visitation as a witness for the unsaved. Every Friday morning you would find her and many other ladies of the church in prayer for the lost in the community, then that afternoon the ladies would go out into the community and homes to invite people to church and witness about the love of Jesus to others. Vacation Bible School at the church, each summer was always a highlight for Jewell. She loved serving homemade cookies and making that "just right slushy" koolaid all the kids loved. When the church membership voted to move the church facility and build a new sanctuary, she and Leland mortgaged their farm to help secure the bank loan. Jewell continued to live on the farm until the passing of her husband, Leland, in 1989 and then moved to Bolivar in 1990. She lived independently in her own home until 2008 when health problems forced her to move into CMHCF, where she continued to witness to the employees and residents about Jesus. She lived a full life and became a wonderful Christian example to her family as well as everyone with whom she came in contact. She was preceded in death by her husband Leland, a daughter Lela, and two sons, Deryal and Don. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Norman Johnson of Bolivar, two daughters-in-law, Trillma Wollard and Linda Wollard, both of Bolivar; seven grandchildren, Brenda Wollard, Sharon Rooffener and husband Lindsey, Connie Dearman, Angi Nord and husband Mark, Randall Johnson and wife Julie, Amy McHolland and husband Mike, and Jared Wollard, eight great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed as the cornerstone of the family, but we celebrate a grand homecoming for her as she is with her Lord and loved ones that have gone on before her and we rejoice in the fact that all her pain is gone and all her tears are dried. Funeral services will be held 10 AM Friday, August 10th, at the First Assembly of God, Bolivar with burial to follow in Salem Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM Thursday at Murray Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations/memorials may be made to Abundance Ministries which is a 501 (c)3 tax deductible organization in care of Murray Funeral Home. PDF Printable Version

Jewell E Wollard

May 22, 1915 - August 5, 2012