Myrtle M. Risser,
Sheridan, Missouri

Myrtle May Risser, 94, passed from her earthly body on May 3, 2015. Myrtle was the first child born to Roy and Mable (Ray) Goff in rural Worth County on May 4, 1920. She spent most of her young years around Isadora being baptized in the Isadora River at the age of 15. In 1937, she married Lowell Risser. To this union, one child, Elbert Otto was born.

1920--2015. For Myrtle that dash held a lot of life. In her growing up years, that ‘dash’ was about avoiding the peach limb that momma used for punishment, picking up those nasty pig manure coated corn cobs to keep the wood stove going and playing with her siblings and whatever cousins were close. After marrying Lowell, she moved to the Risser farm and spent her time trying to keep the household running smoothly whether it was cooking and cleaning or helping outside with the threshing machine. When Elbert came along, it was her mission to teach him to love pets as much as she did; she never succeeded.

The big rambling Risser farmhouse was a place to congregate for many—grandchildren, family and friends. When you walked in, you knew you would leave with your belly full of food and your heart full of memories. When the large house became too much to care for, Myrtle moved to the low income housing in Sheridan. She loved that tiny community, sharing her time and her food with so many of her neighbors.

Her final leg of life was spent at Village Care Center in Maryville, MO. Even there, with her health diminishing she made a lot of friends. Myrtle’s legacy is her relationship with her family and her friends; that ‘dash’ is those hundreds of relationships she built over her lifetime.

Myrtle was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lowell, her brother James Goff and sister Etha Pearl Ray, a grandson Kerry Risser and several brothers-in-law. She leaves behind her son Elbert (Doris) Risser of Sheridan, MO, two sisters Margaret Monday of Grant City, MO and Kathleen (Frank) Fletchall of Savannah, MO as well as six grandchildren Chris (Michelle) Risser, Bedford, IA, Gayland (Debbie) Risser, Hermosa, SD, Mike (Teresa) Risser, Bedford, IA, Malinda Nelson, Maryville, MO, Bill (Amy) Straight, Grant City, MO, and Tish (Duane) Warner, Grant City, MO. She also has a host of great grandchildren (some of them ‘step’ but only on paper never in her heart)—Kyle, Kasey and Kaitlin Puckett; Brad, Jeff and Kyle Risser; Lance Perkins, Heather Williams and Raelynne Risser; Shane and Lindsay Nelson; Cody and Colton Straight and Joshua and Keegan Warner. Myrtle also had the privilege of being a great-great-grandmother to Mackenna Risser and Konnor Williams; Jordan, Cadence and Alexis Perkins.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, May 6 from 7-8 pm at the Andrews-Hann Funeral Home in Grant City. The funeral will be Thursday, May 7 at 2 pm at the funeral home with internment to follow at Luteston Cemetery, Sheridan, MO. Jeff Blaine will be officiating. Memorials may go to St Francis Hospice in care of the funeral home.