Annabel (Higgins) Stober died peacefully at Kirksville Manor Care Center April 24, 2019 in Kirksville, Missouri at the age of 91.
Annabel was born on December 22, 1927 in Brashear, Missouri to George Vincent and Catherine Wiladean (Ludden) Higgins. She graduated from Brashear High School in 1945. She was united in marriage to the love of her life James (Jim) Stober on January 15, 1949 and to this union one daughter was born Brenda. This year Annabel and Jim celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
Annabel is survived by her husband James (Jim) of Kirksville, Mo.; daughter Brenda Eitel of Kirksville, Mo.; granddaughter Ashlea Sidwell (Jason) and great granddaughter Raylea of Centralia, Missouri. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters; Margaret Snell of Kirksville, Mo.; George Higgins (Carolyn) of Greentop, Mo.; Harry Higgins (Doris) of Keokuk, Ia.; and John Higgins of Greentop, Mo. She also left behind her 4 legged fur baby “Casey” that is a 19 year old Jack Russell Terrier.
Annabel started working at the Southwestern Bell phone company in 1947 where she retired as a supervisor after 34 years with the company. After 2 years of retirement she decided to baby sit her granddaughter, her great nieces and nephews and family friends for many many years. Jim and her raised and showed hackney ponies. They traveled everywhere showing their hackney ponies from state fairs to state fairs. They still have one hackney pony left “Hacksaw”. She was a member of Mid-American Hackney Association for 60 years.
Annabel was a grandma to every child that crossed her path. She was known as “Grandma Annie”. She loved her family and would do anything for them. She never missed her granddaughter (Ashlea) activities and she loved attending her great granddaughter (Raylea) dance recitals and T-ball games. She always ran a tight ship and kept everyone in line. She was a walking road atlas. She could get you from point A to point B no matter where you wanted to go. She was the road map while Jim and her traveled across the United States showing their hackney ponies.
She is preceded in death by her son in law (James Eitel), her sister (Mary Hatfield), her brother in laws (Gus Snell and George Hatfield Sr.), her parents (George and Catherine Higgins), her grandparents and her in laws (Jesse and Ida Stober).
Pallbearers will be Hunter Wolf, Paul Eitel, Junior Hatfield, Bruce Flynn, Rayburn Snell and David Higgins. Honorary bearers will be Larry Higgins, Michael Higgins, Jeron Lindsay, Danny Coin and David Sampson.
Visitation will be Sunday April 28, 2019 with family receiving friends from 12:00 to 2:00pm. Funeral service will be held immediately following the visitation on Sunday (April 28th) at 2:00 pm at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, Missouri with Marty Palmero officiating. Burial will be in the Highland Park Cemetery in Kirksville, Missouri.
Memorials are suggested to Kirksville Manor Care in memory of Annabel Stober and may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO.