Neil Earl Schudy

Neil Earl Schudy, son of the late Jake and Connie (Rhoades) Schudy, was born on October 7, 1937 in Cold Springs, Missouri, and went home to be with the Lord on March 13, 2014. Neil was 76 years, 5 months, and 6 days of age. Neil grew up in Douglas County and attended Cold Springs School in his early years. Neil began his freshman year of high school with his sister Ruth (Schudy) Edwards. He and Ruth graduated from Ava High School together in 1957. As a young man, Neil worked on the family farm until he graduated from high school, at which time he moved to Wichita, Kansas, where he began work at Bowing Aircraft. Neil met and was united in marriage to Gayle Bentley on October 3, 1959, in Wichita, Kansas. Three children were born to this union; Clinton, Kelley and Ann. Neil and Gayle moved back to Missouri to the family farm and began dairy farming. Neil enjoyed the outdoors and spending time with his family and neighborhood friends. He attained his small plane pilots license in the early 80s, and enjoyed flying over the family farms of the neighborhood. He retired from milking in 1990 and began working for the Mtn. Grove and Norwood Livestock Auction Barns. He said, I never had a job I enjoyed so much and got paid for, and they even pay my horse good too. When Neil wasnt working on the farm, you could find him riding horses or attending roping events with his grandson, Kory. Neil enjoyed riding his four-wheeler with his grandsons and special neighbor kids, while making their way to the ole Champion Store for a soda and candy bar. He also enjoyed spending time with his family and neighbor kids telling stories of the past. Neil would ask if you knew the story before he would tell it. However, if you missed one jot of the story he would be quick to say, No, thats not right. Let me tell you again. He enjoyed watching the sun come up, and he could tell you what season we were in by where the sun came and went down between two trees, located on his farm. As a young man Neil was saved and baptized and attended Cold Springs Baptist Church with his family. After his retirement he decided to attend Denlow Little Zion Baptist Church with his daughter and grandchildren, where he remained until his health started failing. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister: Vivian Hardin; and a special nephew: Wayne Halford. He is survived by his wife: Gayle Schudy; his sons: Clinton Schudy of Los Angeles, California, and Kelley Schudy and wife, Dawn, of Raleigh, North Carolina; his daughter: Ann (Schudy) Shannon and husband, Herb, of Norwood, Missouri; six grandchildren: Kayla (Shannon) Gray of Seymour, Missouri, Kyle Shannon and Keegan Shannon of Norwood, Missouri, Kory Shannon of Weatherford, Texas, and Grant and Katherine Schudy of Raleigh, North Carolina; five great-grandchildren: Kori Ann and Kaden Allen of Seymour, Missouri and Jake, Easton and Wyatt Shannon of Norwood, Missouri; two sisters: Ilene Halford of Mtn. Grove, Missouri and Ruth Edwards of Norwood, Missouri; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and family, who will sadly miss him.


Visitation: No Formal Visitation Funeral Service: Monday, March 17, 2014 at 11:00 AM in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel. Burial: Oak Forest Cemetery, Norwood, Missouri Memorial Contributions: The Gideons in c/o the funeral home.