Juanita Katheryn McCormack, daughter of Ben and Orpha Yarger, was born March 5, 1929, in Wright County, Missouri, at her home. She departed this life Tuesday, November 29, 2022, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of ninety-three years, eight months, and twenty-four days.
On August 5, 1948, she was united in marriage to Lloyd Eldon McCormack, and to this union, one daughter and two sons were born. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd; her parents and siblings, Bobby, Elizabeth, Lloyd, Morris, and Don Yarger; son-in-law, Steve Helms; great-great-granddaughter, Lucy Renee Helms, and great-granddaughter, EmmaLynn Ann Helms.
Juanita, or Katheryn as she was known by most, is survived by her three children, Janice Helms, Jerry McCormack, and Kent McCormack and his wife, Cheri, all of Seymour, Missouri; fourteen grandchildren and eleven spouses; forty-five great-grandchildren and fourteen spouses, thirty-four great-great-grandchildren and one spouse, one great-great-great grandchild; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends. With two special great-great-granddaughters on the way, Ida Kate Sturdefant and Oaklynn Roselea Perryman, she was anxiously awaiting your arrival.
She was raised around Antioch and lived most of her life in the Seymour area. She and her husband raised their children on a farm in Seymour. Katheryn was a hard worker who started working as a waitress at fifteen in a small café in Seymour. She also worked at HD Lee, Emerson and retired from General Electric.
Katheryn was dedicated to her Christian faith. She was a faithful servant of the Lord who made sure even when she was unable to attend church, she paid her tithe and supported the local youth at the Seymour Nazarene church. She shared her love for Jesus Christ with anyone and everyone who knew her.
Katheryn was known by many names, mom, grandma, and friend. She often spoke about how God blessed her with an amazing family and considered them as her greatest accomplishment. If you knew her, she would consider you as one of her own, and happily adopted many into her fold.
She enjoyed traveling, sewing, playing card games, and hosting family dinners. Her favorite thing to do was watch her grandkids play sports. You would always see her sitting in the front row of each of her grandchildren’s basketball games, cheering them on as their number one fan.
Katheryn was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life knowing that she’s made heaven her home and will treasure the beautiful memories she created for her family and friends.
