Jeanie Spurgeon

Jean Ann (Jeanie) Spurgeon was born in Carthage, MO on May 1, 1937, the daughter of C.C. and Olive Porter. She passed away in her home on Saturday, March 18th, 2017 at 7:10 PM. Jeanie's life was an amazing example of someone loving the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Her legacy of kindness, grace, and love towards God, family, and others has and will continue to impact generations.

She was a graduate of Mountain Grove High School in 1955 and began working through that summer in Lenexa, Kansas at the Kenneth Smith Golf Club Company as a secretary. In August of 1955 she began attending SMS in Springfield, MO until 1958, studying for a degree in English and Physical Education. During the weekends and summers she worked for Richards Brothers Store in Mountain Grove, MO.

Jeanie married J.C. Spurgeon on November 27, 1958 at the Church of God in Mountain Grove, MO then moved to Bloomington, IL where she worked until 1960 as a secretary for General Telephone. In 1961 they returned to Mountain Grove to open up Spurgeons Barber Shop.

She was actively engaged in the Mountain Grove public schools as PTA President and room mother during her children's elementary years. She and J.C. were also actively involved in the Alumni Association for MGHS. They raised four children: Becky, Scott, Jo Beth and Leeann.

Jeanie shared her gift of music with hundreds of children and adults through teaching piano lessons in her home for nearly fifty years. She was the Children's Church director at First Assembly of God Church, Mountain Grove, MO for over thirty years and was also the church pianist and choir director during those years. She was in the leadership of Missionettes and Christ Ambassadors for the children and youth of her church and was the girl's recreational director for many years at the Assembly of God summer church camps at Lake of the Ozarks.

J.C. and Jeanie often sang duets for area churches and for many funerals. Jeanie was known as the pumpkin roll lady, in that she helped organize and bake thousands of pumpkin rolls over the years as a fundraiser for the women's ministry of her church.

Jeanie was a wonderful cook and shared many meals with family and friends. She was also an excellent seamstress, making many clothes throughout the years. Jeanie loved to read and study and was a master gardener who loved canning the fruits of her labor. One of her pass times was attending auctions and finding treasures at area garage sales. Fishing with her ever-loving J.C at her home place, Porter Lake, was often a highlight and the fish fries that followed were enjoyed by family and friends alike. Her grandchildren knew that Grandma Jeanie would have a project ready for them to make each time they visited and she had a gift for making those around her feel cherished, loved, accepted and valuable. Her kindness and selfless love were displayed through the many years of caring for her and J.C's parents in their final years. She cherished her husband, J.C and her family.

On March 5th, 2017 Jeanie shared with her daughter Becky the desire of her heart for her grandchildren. "I pray that their thoughts, actions and motives would be to please God above all else. I pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal to them how their lives can be lined up with His moving and His Presence. I pray that each will pursue a close, intimate relationship with God every year, month, week, day, hour, minute, and second of their lives."

One of her favorite scriptures was Romans 11:33:

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"

Jeanie lived the life of a Proverbs 31 woman:

"Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all." Proverbs 31:25-29

She was preceded in death by her husband: J.C. Spurgeon; parents: C.C. and Olive Porter; in-laws: Lafe and Beulah Spurgeon; and son-in-Law: Vince Elfrink.

Jeanie is survived by her sister: Willie Swofford and her husband George of Mountain Grove, MO; her sister: Bobbye Ward of Mountain Grove, MO; her daughter: Becky Link and husband Lance of Lebanon, MO; her son: Scott Spurgeon of Mountain Grove, MO; her daughter: Jo Beth Lisby and husband, Steve of Hollister, MO; her daughter: Leeann Reusch and husband, Russ of Branson, MO; Twelve grandchildren: Rachel, Kyle and wife Ashley, Ben, Aaron, and John Link; Jennah and husband, Justin Thomas, Mackenzie and husband, Jake Pritchett; Joel and wife, Kelsie, Micah and Luke Elfrink; Jarett and Chad Reusch; and two great-grandchildren: Madelyn and Hudson Link; and many nieces, nephews, family, and friends.


Visitation: Tuesday, March 21, 2017 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel



Funeral Service: Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at 10:00 AM in The House Assembly of God Church, Mountain Grove, Missouri



Burial: Friendship Cemetery



Memorial Contributions: Jeanie's love for live music and its original creation lives on in her grandchildren's band called, "Dawson Hollow". Memorial donations to their current recording project would make her smile.