Sara Ellen Stone of Springfield, MO passed away Sunday, May 29, 2022, peacefully at home after a yearlong battle with cancer, in the company of her loving family.  She was born April 18, 1939, to William Edward and Zelma Hazel (Whitley) Yates in Springfield, MO.  She attended University of Missouri (Columbia) where she met her husband, Jim.  She moved to Springfield in 1962 and worked as a housewife and mother.  She graduated from Missouri State University in 1994.  She was an avid reader, Mizzou Tiger fan, and tracked the bald eagles of Decorah, Iowa.  She was a parishioner at Saint Agnes Catholic Church for over 50 years, and volunteered there for many years as well.  She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Sara Colleen Stone, and husband of 63 years James Edward Stone.  She is survived by son Jeff (Brenda) Stone of Bentonville, AR, and daughters Michele (Mike) Bonnot of Springfield, MO, Cheryl (Sean) Donegan of Little Rock, AR, Tracy (Jerry) Ripley of Belleville, IL, and Debbie (George) Stone of Las Vegas, NV, and 10 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.  She is also survived by brother William (Penny) Yates of Leawood, KS.

Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at St. Agnes Cathedral.