Kathryn Lenore (Fowler) Spraggins, 97, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Kirksville Manor Care Center.

Kathryn was born August 13, 1919 in Martinstown, Missouri, the daughter of Melvin Lambert and Ruby Edwina (Timmons) Fowler.

She was preceded in death her husband, William Joseph Spraggins on October 20, 2012. by one son, Billy Spraggins, two brothers, Howard and James Fowler, and two sisters, Louise Hart and Mary Jane Hirsch.

Kathryn is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Carol Ertel of Kirksville, MO, and Martha and Greg Unruh of Divide, CO; one brother, Brye Fowler of South Dakota; one sister, Dora Tate of Purdin, MO; four grandchildren, Ginger Ertel of Greentop, MO, Billie Snyder (Cooper) of Columbia, MO, Joseph Chase Unruh of Colorado Springs, CO, and Morgan Elmore (Drew) of Denver, CO, and two great-grandchildren, Joseph McCuskey and Grace June Snyder.

Kathryn was born and raised in the Martinstown community of eastern Putnam County. The second oldest of seven children she often told stories of the adventures and pranks she and her siblings shared while growing up on the farm. She learned hard work at an early age.

After high school, she attended Kirksville Beauty School and learned how to cut, pin-curl, style and perm hair. She was an example of a female entrepreneur in the early 1940's. Kathryn would cut your hair for 25 cents, give you a shampoo and style for 35 cents or a perm for $1.00. She recorded every transaction in her daily record books which she still possessed at the time of her death.

In 1944, she traveled with a younger sister by train to California to visit yet another sister who lived there. It was there that she had many memorable experiences, one of which was having her dropped handkerchief picked up and returned to her by movie star HopAlong Cassidy on Hollywood Boulevard.

But the most important event was meeting her future husband Bill at a USO dance on Catalina Island. They danced to the big bands of Glen Miller and Jimmy Dorsey. Bill and Kathryn were married in Bill's home state of Arkansas on December 11, 1945. After the ceremony, Bill returned to California to finish his army assignment and Kathryn returned to her beauty shop in Unionville.

After Bill's discharge from the Army, they moved to Bethany MO. where they owned and operated several grocery stores. It was there their three children were born. For health reasons, they moved from Bethany to a farm near Martinstown where they lived until retirement. They spent their retirement traveling in their RV to all the western and southern states, Alaska and Mexico. Many friends were made and stories told from their adventures.
Kathryn was not the traditional wife and mother. In many ways, she was a woman before her times. A business entrepreneur who could fix your hair or fix a fence. She would rather have cleaned a barn than a house. A stubborn silent streak ran deep in her. She was not afraid to try anything and not afraid of anybody. Kathryn was a wild card player making huge bids and usually making them. You went on quite a ride if you were her card partner.

Her strong stubborn spirit will live on in her two daughters, three granddaughters and her great granddaughter. Her grandson and great grandson have inherited her quiet love of family.

Kathryn was a beautiful woman with sparkling blue eyes, she lived a long, full life filled with hard work and adventure. Kathryn exhibited a tough persevering spirit up until her final days. She will be remembered and missed by all who knew her.

Public visitation will be held Friday, February 10, 2017 with family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 11, 2017 at Travis-Noe Funeral Home, with Darl Davis presiding. Music selections will be provided by Carolyn Vincent and Lloyd Allen. Interment will follow the service at Pleasant Home Cemetery, west of Worthington, Missouri.

Pallbearers will be Chase Unruh, Greg Unruh, Cooper Snyder, David Padgett, Drew Elmore, and Paul Kimmel.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Kathryn Spraggins may be made to Martinstown School Community Building. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.