Loretta L. Fowler, 76, of De Soto died Nov. 15, 2015, at The Villas in De Soto. Mrs. Fowler was a second-grade teacher at Athena Elementary School in De Soto and a member of Calvary Baptist Church in De Soto. She was a graduate of Missouri Baptist College, a member of the Missouri Teacher’s Association and a member of the Women’s Missionary Union. Born Jan. 28, 1939, in Caruthersville, she was the daughter of the late Gerald and Laverne (Swanagon) Gourley. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years: Van Fowler.
She is survived by two children: Vanita Gaye (Norman) Valle of De Soto and Joy (Robert) Richman of Blackwell; two siblings: Richard (Schree) Gourley of Malden and James (Linda) Smith of Springfield; three grandchildren: Jim (Christy) Richman, Nicholas Richman and Austin Valle; and two great-grandchildren: Emerson Richman and Easton Richman. She was preceded in death by a grandson: Justin Valle.
Visitation is scheduled at 10 a.m. and a funeral service at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home, 220 N. Main, in De Soto, officiated by Jim Richman. Burial is in the Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Calvary Baptist Church. Arrangements were under the direction of Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home.