Dora Elizabeth (Morris) Gaydou passed away on September 25, 2020, from injuries sustained in a fall on August 28, 2020.
Dora was born in the Pierce City, Missouri area on April 11, 1930, to Clayton and Inez Morris. Dora graduated from Pierce City High School in 1948 and then married Neal Gaydou on July 4, 1948. They were parents of six children who survive, Gary (Jean) Gaydou, Monett; Judy (Gary) Wampler, Carthage; Ellis (Debbie) Gaydou, Wentworth; Beverly (Gary) Jenkins, Bolivar; Donna (Charlie) Willis, Harrisonville; and Joyce (David) Shaw, Carthage. Also surviving are ten grandchildren; Monica Coursey, Clinton Gaydou, Amy Wampler Campbell (Chad), Erin Wampler, Michelle Gaydou Womack (John), Jennifer Gaydou Brisco (Chris), Megan Jenkins Smith (Dwayne), Paige Jenkins Parrack (David), Brian Thayer (Micalah), and Elizabeth Thayer (Sebastian Paez) and thirteen great-grandchildren: Chassie Frank, Eddie Gaydou, Sydney & Drew Campbell, Carson & Emme Womack, Isaiah, Jadon & Sydney Brisco, Barrett Smith, Nora Parrack, and Levi & Eden Thayer. Dora is also survived by three brothers. Olen (Bernice) Morris, Monett, MO; Paul Ray (Diane) Morris, Fremont, NE; Lonnie (Frances) Morris, Skiatook, OK; and one sister, Janice Morris Hill; Greenfield, MO. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Dora was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Neal Gaydou, her parents, brothers; Glenn, Rolland Dale and Gene Morris and sister, Bonnie Morris Simmons.
Neal and Dora raised their family on a farm in the Wentworth-Pierce City area. Dora was a homemaker, farmer’s wife, gardener, seamstress and a loving mother. She loved to quilt and blessed her children and others with beautiful hand-pieced and hand-quilted treasures.
After Neal passed, she started embroidering quilt blocks and gifted quilts to her children, grand and great-granddaughters and to her brothers and sister. She always said, “I have to have something to keep my hands busy.”
Neal and Dora retired to Carthage, MO in 2006. After Neal’s death in 2011, Dora lived and maintained her home where the family continued to gather for monthly Sunday and holiday dinners.
Dora entered assisted living in December 2017 and to skilled nursing at St. Luke’s in Carthage, MO in September 2020.
An open viewing will be held on Wednesday, September 30, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2020, at Liberty Cemetery North of Monett. John Mouton, Minister, will officiate. Contribution may be made to the Liberty Cemetery Association in care of Buchanan Funeral Home, 301 Euclid Ave, P.O. Box 424, Monett, MO 65708.
The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to the nurses and caregivers at St. Luke’s Nursing Center in Carthage for their kind, gentle and compassionate care given to Mom. Also, we want to thank the nurses from Avalon Hospice for helping Mom through her end-of-life journey.
