Willie Dale Keatts

Willie Dale Keatts, age 93, of Golden City, Missouri passed away May 3, 2019, at Good Shepherd Community Care, Lockwood, MO.Willie Dale was born August 31, 1925 in Billings, MO to Amos E. and Glenn (Ward) Oetker. Willie Dale graduated from Billings High School and attended Teachers College, what is now MSU in Springfield, MO. On August 23, 1947, she married James Henry Keatts in Bentonville, AR and together they raised five children. Willie Dale was an elementary school teacher in rural Marionville, MO, and Republic, MO,  worked at Rice's Feed Store in Golden City, helped start the Barton County Health Department, where she worked for 20 years, retiring in 1988. After retirement she and her husband bought the old Golden City Lumber Yard and converted it into a daycare that she operated for 14 years until she retired again at age 78.  Willie Dale loved to read and play Pitch, but her greatest love was to be with her family. She was a member of the Golden City United Methodist Church.Survivors include three sons, Wayne (Jean) Keatts, Golden City, MO, Max (Vickie) Keatts, Greenfield, MO, Leroy (Joyce) Keatts, Lamar, MO; one daughter, Linda (Ron) Ward, Springfield, MO; a daughter-in-law, Rhonda Keatts, Springfield, MO; a sister, Charlene Burky, Billings, MO; 13 grandchildren, Lacey Davenport, Ashley Newman, Matthew Keatts, Jeffrey Etem, Jill Doke, Tina Stump, Lisa Kinnunen, Michael Keatts, Scott Keatts, Jana Cooper, Jeremy Keatts, Jessica Schwarzkopf, and Jenni Keatts; 27 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.She is also survived by a very special son, Wilbur Rauch, Nixa, MO. Preceding in death were her parents, husband, James Keatts, a son Alan Keatts, a sister, Susie Burky; and a great-granddaughter, Kelly Jo Stump.The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 pm, Monday,  at Daniel Funeral Home, Lamar, MO.  Funeral services will be 11:00 am, Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at Daniel Funeral Home with burial to follow in Rock Prairie Cemetery, Halltown, MO.Contributions are suggested to American Cancer Society in care of Daniel Funeral Home.The family would like to thank Hospice Compassus, and Good Shepherd Community Care for all their special care for our mother, AND to thank Mom’s best friend, Lois Baird, for Always being there for Mom AND for her children.