Neva Mae Agee, 84, died June 15, 2016.

Visitation will be 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, June 22, at Sweeney-Phillips Funeral Home in Warrensburg. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. with burial at Warrensburg Memorial Gardens.

Neva was the eldest of five children. Born at dawn on Aug. 7, 1931, at 4 pounds, she was so small she had to be carried about on a pillow.

Neva attended Frederick Douglass Elementary School in Triplett, Missouri, and later graduated from Dalton Vocational High School in Dalton, Missouri. There, at the age of 14, she met the love of her live, Earl Wayne Agee, of Brunswick, Missouri. Often, they both served detention for smooching in the stairwells at school. All that smooching resulted in marriage, and Earl and Neva were wed on Jan. 19, 1952, at Earl’s mother’s home, beneath an archway in the living room doorway. Earl and Neva were married for 59 years. Earl died in 2011 after Neva faithfully watched over him for 10 years, making her way to “the home” to feed Earl his daily meals. Upon Earl’s Death, Neva moved to Columbia to be closer to her daughter, son-in-law, and family.

During the time Earl was in the Air Force the family lived in Colorado Springs. Neva loved to see Pike’s Peak out of the living room window. From Colorado Springs, Earl’s tour of duty took the family to Wiesbaden, Germany, where Neva learned to speak German and learned about German cuisine. Earl’s time in the Air Force also meant time lived in Wambach, Germany; Houston, Texas; and Great Britain; finally returning to the U.S. to Whiteman Air Force Base near Knob Noster, Missouri. While in Great Britain Neva found and was baptized into the Jehovah’s Witness faith. She remained a devout member, visiting with people, participating in door-to-door evangelizing, congregational activities, and Bible-based holidays and celebrations.

In addition to deep devotion to her family, Neva was a maker of pies that always bubbled over. She loved to make strawberry cake. She loved birds and at one time had 20 canaries. She loved dogs, two of her favorites being Schatzie, and Girly, a miniature collie.

Neva’s mother, Gustavia Elizabeth Curren Payne Agee, and her stepfather, D.D. Payne, also delighted in her daughter Deb and husband Odie’s family, Neva’s grandchildren, LeeAnn, Odie Jr., and Jared. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Ava, Javen, Olivia, Asher, Norah and Emerie; sister, Janet Payne; brothers, Terry and Richard Agee; and friend and neighbor, Mary Frann. In addition to her husband, Neva was preceded in death by her sister, Vivian Payne Teverbaugh.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society and can be left in care of the funeral home.