Neva Laverne "Dixie" Lovewell, was born in Collins MO on July 7, 1930 and passed away on March 7, 2017 due to complications of Alzheimer's. She was a resident of the Manor at Elfindale in Springfield MO for the last six years. Her parents were Georgia Ann Cranmer and Charles Lovewell of Springfield. She was a graduate of Springfield High School. She married Cecil C. Smart Jr in June of 1947. She was a military wife for 35 years and raised her four children while traveling across the country and overseas to France and Germany. She worked for various businesses over her lifetime. She was then married to Kenneth Bridgers in March of 1985 for six years.
She was a member of the Order Of The Eastern Star, Peace Chapter in Stuttgart Germany and Wynyah Chapter in Charleston South Carolina and was active in the International Order Of Rainbow For Girls where she served as mother advisor. She was a member of the Methodist church.
She loved dancing and was a member of a senior country dance troupe that performed at various fairs across the country and at Disney World in Florida. She traveled around the country and to several countries overseas performing. She was an avid poetry writer and penned hundreds of poems.
She was preceded in death by her parents Anna and Charles, her first husband Cecil Smart, her niece Floann Kelso of Springfield and her grandson Shaun Thomas of N.H. She is survived by her children: Cecil C. Smart III of Clinton MO, Susan Thomas (Jeff) of Donna TX, Carmen Brashers of Springfield and Nancy Scott of Donna TX, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, her aunt Dottie Grace and nephew Sam Kelso.
Family services will be held Friday, March 10, 2017, from 4 to 6 pm at the Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at Rivermonte. She will be cremated and interred at a private family gathering. Online Condolences may be made at www.klingnerfuneralhome.com
The family wishes to thank the staff of the Manor At Elfindale for taking such special care of Dixie over the last six and a half years and to Haven Hospice for their caring attention the last month of Dixie's life.