Sara Jo Whiteaker, 47, of Springfield, passed away in her home July 2, 2013. She was born February 9, 1966 to Raymond Eads and Jo Etta Seeley Whiteaker. She graduated from Glendale High School in 1984 and held undergraduate and graduate degrees from MSU in Psychology. In Sara's early adult life she was most passionate about southwest Missouri history while working as Office Manager and Event Organizer for the Center for Ozarks Studies at MSU; and loved her days involved with Springfield Little Theater. More recently, Sara had been working with USAA Services Fraud Department. Sara was preceded in death by her mother, infant sister, Jean Louise Whiteaker, sister, Jennifer Whiteaker, and partner, Linda Lee Manzer. She is survived by parents, Raymond E. and Leah Whiteaker and Jane and Jim McKinney, Springfield; five siblings, Janie Poe (Matt), Lawrence, KS; Betsey Streuli (Ted) of Edmond, OK; Tammy James (Eddie), Prairie Village, KS; Molly McKinney; Scott McKinney (Shari), Springfield; six nephews; one niece; and many aunts and uncles who treasured her. Funeral services will be Friday, July 5, 2013 at 10 am in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home with The Honorable Charles Curless officiating. Visitation will be from 9am until service time in the funeral home. Burial will follow in Hazelwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Jennifer Elizabeth Whiteaker Scholarship Fund at Glendale, or Southwest Missouri Humane Society.