Loretta Louise Vardell Roach, 92, of Puxico, passed away on October 10, 2022 at Cypress Point Nursing Center in Dexter, MO. She was born November 13, 1929 in Puxico, the daughter of Lonnie and Edna Hughes Vardell.
Loretta had been instrumental in the development of the Stoddard County Ambulance District. She had worked as an EMT; she was the first employee to ever retire from the Stoddard County Ambulance District.
Loretta was known as a professional volunteer for her dedication to the Puxico community. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary #7822, Puxico OES #422, Puhicah Club and the Puxico Senior Citizens Housing Board. She served as a “volunteer grandparent” at Puxico Schools; she enjoyed reading to the students. For several years she wrote the “Puxico Personals” column for the Puxico Press. She had been a long-time Girl Scout Leader and Cub Scout Den Mother. She was a heavily involved member of the Egypt Community Church in Puxico.
Loretta had been a wonderful and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Loretta and John U. Roach, Sr. were united in marriage on August 16, 1952, during the Puxico Homecoming and he preceded her in death on January 19, 2016.
Loving survivors include: four daughters, Loretta “Tootsie” (Douglas) Gerecke of Dexter, Elizabeth “Libby” (Rick) Killmer of Pittsburg, KS. Alice (Rodney) Stevenson of Tuckerman, AR and Sharon (Gary) Simmers of Advance; a son-in-law, Mark Jones of Selmer, TN; a sister, Lucetria Tetley of Overland, MO; 18 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, John “Butch” Roach, Jr.; three daughters, Karon Jones, Lucetria Roach and Dorothy Jean Roach; a grandson, Dillion Jones; two brothers, Brady (Hazel) Vardell and JC (Mavis) Vardell; a sister, Stella (Dwight) Peters and a brother-in-law, Martin Tetley.
Visitation will be held on Friday, October 14, 2022 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance. VFW and OES services will be held at 5 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. at the chapel with Rev. Wayne Burchett and Rodney Stevenson, II officiating. Burial will follow at Puxico Cemetery in Puxico.