Zona Varnell Meadors

Zona Varnell (Abel) Meadors, 91, of Bolivar, Missouri, left this earthly home on October 13, 2024, at Citizens Memorial Health Care Facility to join our lord in Heaven. Zona was the baby of 11 children of Fred Olin and Loah Claude (McReynolds) Abel born on June 22, 1933, in Violet, Missouri. Coming two months early earned her the nickname “Tot” and explains all her sass. She was saved in October 1947 and was a member at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church until her passing. She attended school in Halfway and graduated in 1951. She met Kenneth Ray Meadors at a basketball game. He kept pulling her hair. When she told him to stop, he told her that she better get used to it because “I’m marrying you.” While she told him no at the time, it was inevitable. They were married on February 18, 1951. To this union four children were born: Olin Ray Meadors, Jay L. Meadors, Zelda Mae Meadors and Catulpa Varnell Meadors. Kenneth and Zona shared 56 years together before his passing in 2007. Zona devoted her life to being a caregiver for her family and helped with their auction service. She loved to play games, do word searches and jigsaw puzzles. She was a most loving daughter, wife, mom, Nanny, and aunt to her family and the family she gained at the nursing home. She was a kindhearted marvelous person full of unconditional love. She was also a supporter of Freedom of Road Riders Local 27. She would spend a lot of her time the past few years speaking of “Mama and Daddy” and old stories she remembered. While she had started forgetting who people were, she loved them all dearly. She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Meadors, two great grandchildren Michael and Harley, her parents Fred and Loah Abel, 3 brothers, 7 sisters and their spouses. Zona is survived by her four children; Olin, Jay, Zelda and Catulpa; ten grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and 9 great-great grandchildren with two more on the way. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Friday, October 18, 2024, at Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar. Funeral services will take place at 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to CMHCF Activities Fund or to CMH Hospice.

Zona Varnell Meadors

June 22, 1933 - October 13, 2024