Velma Lear

Velma Louise Brizendine Lear was born on June 14, 1931 in Jamestown, MO to Herbert Lee and Bertha Marie Small Brizendine. She passed away peacefully after a brief illness on March 25, 2024 surrounded by her loving family. She was a loyal friend and a famous cook who was best known for her kindness to everyone she met and her devotion to her beloved husband of 73 years, Stanley Lear. The two met when she was playing cards at a relative’s home in Hickory County and he was visiting from Minnesota. Stanley noticed this tall blonde beauty sitting on a cream can and the two were inseparable almost from then on. They married on January 7, 1951. Velma was a longtime employee of the sale barn in Humansville and of Lear Insurance. For more than 30 years, her evenings included seeing to the needs of aging parents and other relatives. When she got home around 10 pm, she started baking. She adored all of her and Stanley’s large extended family and most weekends included preparing huge meals for company at their house, entertaining her grandchildren, or traveling to visit relatives. Everyone loved sitting at her kitchen bar amazed at the spread she could produce in no time. Her peach cobbler was without equal, her peanut brittle was newspaper thin and she could throw together her “hot dish” in minutes to feed a crowd of any size. She made all of this look effortless and always looked like a million bucks. No wonder she never had any trouble sleeping! She is survived by Stanley, her two children, Steve (Charla) Lear and Kimberly (Don) McKee both of Bolivar. She has three grandchildren, Stephanie (Shawn) Bone of Alexandria, VA, Jarett (Sarah) Lear of Lenexa, KS, and Dustin (Jess) McKee of Auburn, AL. Granny V also treasured her three great grandchildren, Ainsleigh and Kieran Bone and Steven Lear. Velma was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Nellie Hauffle and Wanda Herman, as well as many other beloved relatives on both sides of her and Stanley’s family. Visitation will be at Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar, MO at 10 am Friday, March 29, 2024 and then a Celebration of Life service at 11 am. Burial will follow at Antioch Cemetery in Pittsburg, MO. Services are under the care and direction of Butler Funeral Home of Bolivar.

Velma Lear

June 14, 1931 - March 25, 2024