Vonna Faye Douglass-Hilt, daughter of the late George “Junior” and Wilma (Spurgeon) Duey, was born Oct. 11, 1947 and departed this life Feb. 7, 2024 at 76 years of age. When Vonna and her sister Donna were born, their parents were not expecting twins and had only one bassinet prepared; when their father went to town for another, all he could find was an apple basket, and according to the girls, they never knew who slept in which. Vonna grew up on the family farm near Dawson and attended North Camel school until she moved to Mountain Grove High School, where she became a cheerleader and member of the drum core. It was while attending Mountain Grove that she met William “Bill” Douglass Jr., and in 1964 they were married. The two raised their four children in the Mountain Grove area and spent 39 years together until Bill’s passing in 2004. She served as a Parents as-Teachers educator for many years, and her grandkids could always find books or puzzles in the backseat of her car. She spent her early years at Friendship Baptist Church and as her family grew, attended First Baptist Church of Mountain Grove where, in her beloved Sunday school class, she was blessed with numerous treasured friendships. She could often be found on Saturdays at Jerry’s Menswear or Parker’s Shoe Store, where she had as many visitors as customers. Later in life, she enjoyed getting to travel and visit family, and in 2011, she found love again with Jerald Hilt, and the two were married just shy of a decade when he passed in 2021.
She is survived by her children, Steven (Denise), Lynda (Karl), Leslie (Mike) and Robyn (Steve); her grandchildren, Christian, Seth (Treasure), Taylor (Jason), Elizabeth, Chase, Winston, Ty and Lexie; three great-grandchildren, Oakley, Jax and Winslow; her sister, Donna (Kirk); as well as many other family members and friends who will miss her dearly. Visitation for Vonna Douglass-Hilt will be held Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, from 1-2 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Mountain Grove. Funeral services will follow the visitation at 2 p.m., also at the church, with Duane Crewse officiating. Obituary and other readings will be by daughter, Lynda Quinn and grandchildren, Christian Douglass, Elizabeth Quinn and Chase Cornelison. Song selections will be “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” sung by Becky Link and Jo Beth Lisby and “What A Day That Will Be” sung by Becky Link. Congregational song, “In The Sweet By And By” will end the service. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery under the direction of Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mountain Grove. Memorial contributions may be made to The Oaks Cottage in Ozark c/o the funeral home. Online condolences: www.craighurttfuneralhome.com.
