Cora Sterner

Graveside services for Cora Lea Sterner, 66, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 15, at Mackey Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Sterner passed away at 11:40 p.m., Saturday, April 8, 2023, at West Vue Nursing Center.

She was born January 12, 1957, at Dora, Missouri, to James Sympson and Viola Berry; she was raised by her grandmother, Edith Sympson from an early age. On May 4, 1974, she was married to Lonnie Sterner, the love of her life. Cora worked at Marathon Electric and Kentucky Fried Chicken for more than twenty years; she then co-owned and operated the family business, Sterner Towing in West Plains, for twenty-two years. She loved crafts, playing bingo and enjoyed life on the family farm. Mrs. Sterner was of the Baptist faith and was baptized at a young age. She was a former member of the Howell County Rural Fire Auxiliary.

She is survived by her husband, Lonnie Sterner, of the family home; two children, Robbie Sterner and wife, Paula and Christopher Sterner and wife, Jennifer, all of West Plains; her pride and joy grandchildren, Braxton, Candice, Halyn and fiancé Kady Lovan, Logan and fiancé Destini Clark, Ashlin and special friend, Dakota Shockley, Kinslea, Greyson and any other children who would come in her door; four brothers, Fred Sympson and wife, Nancy, Steve Rackley and special friend, Joann, Jim Rackley and wife, Juanita and Bob Berry and special friend, Mary; one sister, Virginia Green and husband, Jerry; one brother-in-law, Homer Sterner and wife, Joyce; several nieces and nephews, special friends, Mary Evans, Donna Risner and Brenda Haveron; and her special bingo buddies made over the years.

Her parents, grandparents, Edith and Wiley Sympson and Sheridan and Guster Berry; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Wade and Ocia Glee Sterner, sisters-in-law, Patsy Rackley and Joyce Berry, brothers-in-law, Neal Cudworth and John Sterner, niece, Darla Anderson and nephew, Brian Rackley, preceded her in death.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Friday, at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Howell County Rural Fire Department Memorial Garden or Ronald McDonald House and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775. Online condolences may be expressed at www.robertsondrago.com.