Obituary for Emma DeVore (Brown) Mrs. Emma Isabel (Brown) DeVore, 97, passed away on March 14, 2018, surrounded by her three children to join the love of her life, Elwyn, in the home of their heavenly Father. Mrs. DeVore was born on July 3, 1920, to Homer and Chloe Brown in Maryville. Her father died when she was 6 years old, and Mrs. Brown raised Emma Isabel and her sister Mary Ruth (Appleby) through the Great Depression, where they took in boarders to help make ends meet.
Mrs. DeVore graduated from Maryville High School in 1938 and Northwest Missouri State Teachers’ College in 1942. On April 5, 1942, she and Elwyn DeVore were married in St Joseph. During World War II, when Elwyn would be stationed state-side, Emma would join him and work clerical jobs to help supplement their income.
They were stationed in Pittsburgh, Kansas; San Antonio and Wichita Falls, Texas. Mrs. DeVore taught 4th grade at Horace Mann Elementary School. Mrs. DeVore was an avid golfer and served as president of the Maryville Country Club Women’s Golf Association.
She and Betty Loch partnered in many golf tournaments in Maryville, St. Joseph, and many other clubs. She also was active in the fund-raising efforts for the new St. Francis Hospital. A cancer survivor, she was unable to donate blood but led blood drives in Nodaway County for a number of years.
Prior to her husband’s retirement, and then following that retirement, Dr. and Mrs. DeVore loved to travel. They traveled on many cruises, and visited most countries in Europe, and spent many wonderful trips at Lake Okaboji with Erman and Bev Bird. Mrs. DeVore is survived by three children: Mark (Sherry) DeVore, Branson, Missouri; Jean Ann (Wayne) Mertens, Omaha, Nebraska; Mary Sue Tompkins, Sacramento, California.
She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Major Jarrod (Charlotte) DeVore, USMC: Dathan DeVore; Adrien Erickson; Jase (Heather) Johnson; Keegan (Cyndi) Johnson; Jenna (Kevin) Townsend: Kimberly (Kevin) McNamara; six great-grandchildren, Sayers and Keaton Johnson; Breckin and Josie Townsend; and Brynn and Elowyn McNamara. She is also survived by her sister, Mary Ruth Appleby and niece, Candy (Appleby) Quillen. In addition to her husband, Elwyn, she was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Dwight Tompkins, and her niece, Damien Appleby.
Mass of Christian Burial 11am Monday, March 19th at St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic Church. Burial St. Mary Cemetery, Maryville, Missouri. The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:00pm Sunday evening at St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dr. Elwyn DeVore Scholarship in care of Northwest Missouri State University Foundation.
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