Funeral Services for Ilena Willhite, Age 88 of Mountain Grove, Missouri will be held on Friday, November 6th, 2026 at The Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mountain Grove, Missouri, beginning at 10:00 AM. Visitation will precede the service, beginning at 9:00 AM. Burial will take place in The Thomas Cemetery, Norwood, Missouri.
Ilena May (Snavely) (Bolt) Willhite, daughter of the late Joe Amos and Emily Elizabeth (Stucki) Snavley, was born November 16, 1938, in Norwood, Missouri, and departed this life November 1, 2026, at her home near Mountain Grove, Missouri.
Ilena grew up in Norwood, Missouri, and graduated from Norwood High School with the class of 1956. Ilena enjoyed participating in drama and volleyball throughout her school years. In 1957, she married Elgie Wayne Hale and three daughters were born to this union: Marcy, Tami, and Regi. She worked as a secretary at Norwood School for a few years. Ilena married Frank Bolt on August 7, 1967, and they were married 38 years until his passing in 2005. For many years, she worked as a bookkeeper for both Richards Brothers Feed Store and AMPI while raising her children.
In 2013, Ilena found love again in Leo Willhite. They were united in marriage on March 16, 2013, and they enjoyed over 13 years together. Ilena loved their farm and she enjoyed taking care of the flowers and cattle. She also enjoyed fishing, hunting, and even picking rocks. Ilena was an excellent seamstress and she made her children’s clothing while they were growing up. She also enjoyed quilting and crocheting. Ilena enjoyed completing every crossword puzzle in the Springfield Newspaper. She was an avid game player, especially Scrabble and Bingo. She also enjoyed playing jacks with her children when they were young, and she beat them nearly every time. She took some classes and tried her hand in some areas of interest, including painting, macramé, flower arranging, and master gardening. One of Ilena’s favorite hobbies was tending to her flowers, and they brought her so much joy throughout her life. Many people will remember her for her beautiful yard full of flowers on Doris Avenue.
Most of all, Ilene loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and she truly delighted in seeing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren following the Lord.
Ilena was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Emily Snavely, three brothers, Rev. John Snavely, Rev. Joe Snavely, and James “Jim” Snavely, and three sisters, Wilma Easter, Alice Kingsland, and Helen Snavely.
She is survived by her husband, Leo Willhite, three daughters, Marcia DeRoin, Tamra Kuster, and Regina Nicolay Parrish and husband, Jerry, three step-sons, Terry Willhite, Shane Willhite, and Scotty Willhite, one brother, Rev. Jerry Snavely and wife, Judy, three sisters, Delta Forrest, Donna Bennett, and Brenda McGrotha and husband, Pat, eight grandchildren, Treff DeRoin and wife, Elisabet, Ressa Zimmerman, Tami Kibby and husband, Rob, Kayla Vandiver and husband, Jason, Cassie Smith and husband, Ethan, Jake DeRoin, Reanna Cook and husband, Adrian, and Eli Kuster, 29 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great-grandchildren, and many other extended family and friends who will miss her.
