Wanda Lee Gentry

Wanda Lee (Welch) Gentry, one of eight children born to the late Emmett and Tanna (Woody) Gilley, was born April 26, 1931, near the Goodville Community in Douglas County, Missouri, and passed away September 25, 2023, in Mountain Grove, Missouri, at the age of 92. She attended all eight years of grade school at Pleasant Valley and graduated with the Mountain Grove High School class of 1949.

Following graduation, Wanda and her best friend then went to Wichita, Kansas, to work. About one year later, she returned home to marry her longtime sweetheart, Vernal “Cotton” Welch. They became the parents of two children, a son, Dennis, and a daughter, Brenda. The family were members of the Church of Christ and attended faithfully.

In 1961, they moved to Willow Springs, Missouri, and opened a tire business. In 1969, Vernal became ill and only lived four months. Wanda then sold the business and went to work for Conway Winters. In 1976, Wanda was married to James “Jay” Gentry. He worked for the United States Postal Service so they moved a few times over the years. After retiring, Wanda and Jay moved back to Mountain Grove to their “retirement home.” They loved to travel and made many trips together. Jay passed away in 2015 and Wanda remained in Mountain Grove for the remainder of her life.

Besides her parents and two husbands, Wanda was preceded in death by her son, Dennis Welch; one step-son, Eddie Gentry; four brothers, Afton, Charley, Melvin, and Arnold Gilley; and two sisters, Sylvia Sutherland and Ruby Wyscaver.

Wanda is survived by her daughter, Brenda Koontz and husband, Kenneth; three granddaughters, Stacy Hylton and husband, Shane, Kerri Rodgers and husband, Brandon, and Amy Berry and husband, John; one grandson, Ruskin Welch and wife, Alisha; one step-daughter, Editha (Gentry) Simmons; one step-grandson, Riley; one step-granddaughter, Mandy; five great-granddaughters, Zoey, Elley, Charlee, Dusty, and Bristol; three great-grandsons, Brody, Owen, and Dawson; two great-great-grandchildren, Coleman and Willa; one sister, Doris Clark; many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and a host of church family and friends who will miss her dearly.