Virginia Settles Lemar was born on September 7, 1937 in Coleman, Georgia, and departed this life on November 8, 2021, at the Bloomfield Living Center, at the age of 84.

The oldest of three daughters, Virginia was born to Alfred Loraine Settles and Christine Elizabeth Gilmer (Bennett). Virginia was predeceased by her two sisters, Eleanor Adams and Anna “Ruth” Johnson.

Southern born and bred, Virginia’s formative years were spent in Georgia where she met her first husband, Ivan O’Daniell, Jr., then the editor of the Cuthbert Times. On June 21, 1956 in Cuthbert, Georgia, Virginia and Ivan “JR” were united in marriage. Five children were born of this union, June Lawrence (Bud) of Dexter, Missouri, Sherry O’Daniell-Moore (Rob) of Wilmington, North Carolina, Kelly Flowers of Dexter, Missouri, Butch O’Daniell (Linda) of Bloomfield, Missouri, and Kristina Twaddell (Clint) also of Bloomfield, Missouri. Virginia was blessed with a number of grandchildren: Bridgett Kielhofner (Brandon), Kelso, Missouri, Aleshia Eftink (Nathan) of Kelso, Missouri, Delaney Flowers, Dexter, Missouri, Elizabeth Twaddell, Steele, Missouri, Erin Allenczy (Brandon), Hagerstown, Maryland, Kasity Twaddell (Dillon and Family) Dexter, Missouri, and Hunter Lawrence, Fort Riley, Kansas. Virginia is also survived by her step-grandchildren: Joe Burch, Dexter, Missouri, Clint Burch (Kathy), Dexter, Missouri, Elisha Thomason, Paragould, Arkansas, and Michael Schaefer (Amber) of Wappapello, Missouri.

Virginia is also survived by numerous great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren including but not limited to: Bryson Kielhofner, Braydon Kielhofner, and Nyah Kielhofner of Kelso, Missouri, and John Robert Eftink and Henry Eftink, also of Kelso, Missouri.

Virginia’s second marriage was to Jerry Don Lemar on September 23, 1978 in Bloomfield, Missouri. Sharing a strong and loving bond, Virginia and Jerry were inseparable for forty-one years until Jerry’s death. Through this marriage, Virginia gained two step-children, Rick Lemar (Donna), St. Louis, Missouri and Deb Gant (Patrick) of Festus, Missouri as well as numerous step-grandchildren.

Virginia Lemar was an extremely talented and hard-working woman. During her first marriage, Virginia was a co-owner of various newspapers, both weekly and daily from 1957 to 1977, including the Cuthbert Times, Cuthbert, Georgia, the Cabool Enterprise in Cabool, Missouri, the Fairbury Times, Fairbury, Nebraska, and lastly the Bloomfield Vindicator in Bloomfield, Missouri.

A licensed Emergency Medical Technician, Virginia also worked with the Stoddard County Ambulance District upon its inception as well as at the Bloomfield Convalescent Home. Her career in the medical field later evolved to that as a unit secretary and registration and admission clerk at various Humana Hospitals in Illinois, Tennessee, and Louisiana.

Virginia Lemar, also known as Jenny and Granny, was a talented seamstress and cook. She was an avid reader and loved collecting Snow Babies, Willow Trees, and especially Lighthouses. She was also civic minded and volunteered as a PTA leader, FHA Chapter Mother, a Girl Scout Leader, and as a Hospital Auxiliary Member at the Dexter Memorial Hospital.

In honor of Virginia Settles Lemar, a visitation will be hosted at the Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 11, 2021, followed by a brief service at 2:00 p.m. An interment will be held in December 2021 at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery for both Virginia and her late husband, Jerry Don Lemar.

In recognition of her love of reading, donations may be pledged to the Dexter Public Library, 402 West Grant, Dexter, MO 63841.