Funeral Services for Norene Degase, Age 101 of Ava, Missouri will be held on Friday, September 11th, 2026 at The Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, Missouri, beginning at 10:00 AM. Burial will be held in The Ava Cemetery, Ava, Missouri. Memorial donations are requested to go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Genevieve Norene DeGase, 101 years, 1 month, and 5 days old, passed away to her heavenly home on September 6, 2026, at Autumn Oaks Caring Center in Mountain Grove, Missouri.
Norene was born July 31, 1925, in Ava, Missouri, to Chester G. and Rosa (Ludwig) Robertson. She grew up in the Ava community and attended the Ava schools.
On November 7, 1942, Norene and Thomas DeGase were united in marriage in Ava, Missouri. They had a wonderful life together and were able to accomplish many things. He passed away on October 7, 1984.
Norene worked in retail sales and was an artist. She loved crafting, quilting, needle point, and painting portraits in oil. In addition, she loved her cats. Norene owned and operated Trash & Treasures, a store in Ava.
She was a Christian and a devoted member of Liberty Faith Church in Norwood, Missouri, for several years. She taught at Liberty Faith Christian Academy for 12 years. She had the opportunity to go on a trip to Israel, and it was such a highlight in her life.
Norene loved life and lived it to the fullest. It is amazing that the Lord made her so strong and she lived to be 101.
Norene was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Thomas; her brother, Vernon Eugene Robertson; her step-father, Gilbert Huffman; a niece, Gail Tiedeman; her uncles, Sherman Blaine, “Grit” (Virgil), and “Shorty” (Lemuel Paul) Robertson; aunts, Iva Ludwig, and Jessie Purtle.
She is survived by her many relatives; niece, Pat Stover; nephews, Vernon Eugene Robertson, Jr. and Kevin Robertson and many others; her cousins, Naomi Porter, Nettie Hicks, Nina McCleary, Jeannie Robinson, Juanita Sell, Leonard Robertson, Claude Robertson, Glen Dale Robertson, and Dede Arington; and a host of other extended family and friends.
