Fay Bernice Housley

Fay Bernice Housley, daughter of the late John and Bercha (Robson) Yeager, was born Dec. 10, 1926, in Hartville, and departed this life April 2, 2025, at Autumn Oaks Caring Center in Mountain Grove, at 98 years of age. Fay graduated from Hartville High School with the class of 1944. She attended Southwest Missouri State (SMS) and was involved in continuing education in connection with tax accounting. She began tax accounting on a part-time basis and later operated a full-time tax accounting office until her retirement at 85 years of age.   Fay was saved at Coon Creek Church near Hartville, at 14 years of age. She attended Hartville Free Will Baptist Church for about 10 years and then joined First Free Will Baptist Church in Mountain Grove, where she was an active and faithful member for the remainder of her life. She began teaching Sunday School around 1950 and continued teaching well into her 80s. Some of Fay’s hobbies included gardening, cooking, and sewing. Her favorite memories were traveling with her husband, Leroy, in their camper. They especially loved taking trips with their grandchildren to the Missouri State Fair. Fay was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt. We celebrate her life and accomplishments and will cherish the wonderful memories she has created for her family and friends.
Fay was preceded in death by her parents, John and Bercha Yeager; her loving husband, Leroy Housley; her sister, Shirley Yeager; and her nephew whom she raised as a son, Terry Conley. She is survived by her son, John Housley and wife, Robin; her niece, whom she raised as a daughter, Janet Schwertfeger and husband, Mark; four grandchildren, Lucinda Luetkemeyer and husband, Tony, Lydia Anderson and husband, Brett, John Mark Schwertfeger and wife, Shonda, and Liz Dowden and husband, Caleb; eight great-grandchildren, Graham and Maggie Anderson, Santana, Jace, and Brooks Schwertfeger, Oakley and Cooper Leroy Dowden and baby boy, Luetkemeyer, coming in July; close relative, Sherry Conley; many great-nephews and great-nieces; and many neighbors and friends who will miss her. Visitation and funeral service for Fay Housley were held Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mountain Grove, with the Rev. Gary Fry and the Rev. Mark Schwertfeger officiating. Music was by Ray and Teresa Bradley. Pallbearers were John Mark Schwertfeger, Caleb Dowden, Lavoid Jennings, Radell Emerson, Gene Taylor and David Splain. Honorary pallbearers were Max Walker, Jimmy Kiser, Tom Padgett, Joel Lancaster, Mark Holt and Ron Sanders. Burial was at Hillcrest Cemetery, Mountain Grove. Memorial contributions may be made to Mountain Grove Christian Academy or The Gideons in care of the funeral home.