Juanita Stretch

Juanita Colleen (McLey) Stretch, 87 years and 10 months old of Bolivar, MO and formerly of Gallatin, MO passed away in the early morning hours of August 21st, 2024, in her room at Citizen Memorial Health Care Facility in Bolivar after a battle with pneumonia brought on by her COPD.

Juanita was born on October 13th, 1936, at home in the small farming community of Farmersville located south of Trenton, MO.  She was the daughter of Roy and Cora (Saul) McLey. She attended the McClung and Goodbar one-room country schools near Jamesport.  She graduated from Gallatin High School and then on to Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar and attended Central Missouri College in Warrensburg.  She began her elementary teaching career in Cowgill, MO at the age of nineteen.  She also taught at the New York School near Hamilton, MO and the Gallatin Elementary School making a total of thirty-three years in the field of education.

On Tuesday, December 25th, 1956, Harold Stretch and Juanita were married in the Pilot Grove #2 Baptist Church which was connected to the cemetery where she will be buried next to Harold. They had been married for sixty-one years.

She was a member of First Baptist Church of Bolivar, where she and Harold made their home after moving from Gallatin in 2005 to be near their son, Leroy (Nancy) and his family: Dylan (Mandy) Stretch, Lynetta (Jeremy) Couch, Ryan Stretch and Nycholas (Hannah Grace) Stretch. She also had eight great-grandchildren Emmy Stretch, Isaiah Stretch, Amelia Stretch, Gideon Stretch, Gabriella Stretch, David Couch, Savannah Couch and Zoey Stretch.

Juanita was preceded in death by her husband Harold in 2018, their parents, her brother Ivan R. McLey, half-sister Julia Romaine McLey Troupe, a brother Roy McLey, half-brother Herbert Wayne McLey, half-sister Amy Marie McLey and Alta Mae McLey.

Juanita is survived by her son and his family of Bolivar. Many nieces, nephews and friends also survive.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Pilot Grove #2 Cemetery in care of the funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, August 24, 2024, at Stith Funeral Home in Gallatin. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Friday, the evening prior, also at the funeral home. Burial will follow the services at Pilot Grove #2 Cemetery, near Jamesport. Arrangements entrusted to the care and direction of Stith Funeral Home in Gallatin. (660) 663-2117. Online guestbook at www.stithfamilyfunerals.com

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