Velma Alice Stearns, 91 of Ozark, MO, formerly from Springfield, MO, passed away at 4:51 pm on Friday, November 8, 2019, surrounded by her family.   She loved her husband, her children and her grandchildren.  She was a charter member of Cherry Street Baptist Church, starting in their garage.

Velma was over the kindergarten department at CSBC for many years and was very active at church; helping with the treasury department, driving the bus for the preschool that CSBC used to have and assisting with church directories and many of the activities with Norma Gillming.

She was very crafty and enjoyed activities with the grandkids.  She and dad made homemade crafts and would sign it with the words LOVES"-LO for Lloyd, VE for Velma and S for Stearns.

Velma was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd H. Stearns, of 71 years; her parents, Elmer Hill and Alice Greer Hill; her daughter, Beverly Cox; her brother, George Hill; and her step-mother, Anne Hill.

She is survived by her son, Vern Stearns and wife, Nancy of Helen, GA; her son-in-law, John Cox, Jr., of Republic, MO; son, Carl Stearns and wife, Gloria, of Willoughby, OH; daughter, Carol Levergood and husband, Bill, of Springfield, MO; daughter, Patty Bosler and husband, James of Decauter, IL; daughter, Cheri Metzger and husband, Bruce, of Ozark, MO; eighteen grandchildren; thirty-eight great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at 9:00 am at Cherry Street Baptist Church with Reverend James Bosler and Bill Levergood officiating, under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home.  Burial will follow at 11:00 am in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery.  Visitation will be Tuesday, November 12, 2019 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm in the funeral home.  Memorials may be made to CSGC, 1201 South Oak Grove Avenue, Springfield, MO 65804.