Millie Anita Gatewood Pennington was born July 2, 1935, in the community of Oak Mound, MO, in Ozark County near Pottersville, and passed on September 22, 2024, in Springfield, MO.

She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Keith; two sons, Stephen Pennington and David, with his wife Ronda Pennington; and three grandchildren: Jace, with his wife Emily and son Rhett; Janessa, with her husband Kent England and daughter Adeline; and Dalton Pennington, with his wife Holly. She is also survived by two sisters, Patty, with her husband Bob Mosley of Millington, TN, and Wilma Elliott of Turlock, CA. She had several close nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Shelly Louis and Mary Alice McMaster Gatewood; her sister, Bonnie May Gatewood; her grandson, Jarrett Harris Pennington; her grandparents, James and Jessie Gatewood, and Jim and Edna Cluck; her stepmother, Edith Gatewood Fox; and two brothers-in-law, Bill Stroup and Morrison Elliott.

Anita was educated in Cabool, Houston, and Willow Springs, MO, where she graduated with the Class of '53. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and English, as well as a Master's Degree in Learning Disabilities, from Southwest Missouri State. She taught primary grades and learning disabilities for 26 years in Springfield, middle school for three years in Willow Springs, and Special Education for one year in Lawrence, Kansas, before retiring in 1991.

She enjoyed many activities, including Delta Kappa Gamma and Kappa Kappa Iota, singing in the choir, teaching, homebound visitation, participating as both a student and teacher in Sunday School classes, and involvement with the Well of Life. Anita also loved golf, bridge, swimming, motorhome travels with the Ozarks Prairie Sooners and friends, meeting monthly with the girls from the Class of '53, and emailing. She took great pleasure in visiting with out-of-town friends and family, collecting nativity scenes, gardening, and tending to her flowers.

Anita gave her life to Christ at the age of twelve and continues to find her greatest joy in this relationship.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Willow Springs Alumni Scholarship Club, P.O. Box 484, Willow Springs, MO 65793, or the Springfield First Baptist Benevolent Fund at 525 South Ave, Springfield, MO 65806.

Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church in downtown Springfield (525 South Ave, Springfield, MO) on Thursday, September 26, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. in the church. Burial will take place in the Willow Springs City Cemetery after the service.