With heavy hearts we are sad to announce that Jenny Lynn Maples, 60, passed away in her home with family by her side on July 22nd, 2024, from complications of ovarian cancer. Although she was born in Lebanon, MO, she spent most of her life at her family home of over 32 years in Edgar Springs, MO. Jenny leaves behind a remarkable legacy as a caring, dependable, and selfless individual, both within her family and friends and in her professional life as a teacher. After graduating from college in 1985, she started her teaching career in Edgar Springs, MO, as a math and computer lab teacher for two decades. There, she made lifelong friends and positively impacted families before moving on to Rolla, MO, where she dedicated more than 10 additional years to shaping young minds. Jenny’s abilities were widely recognized, earning her accolades such as the Huffman Teaching Award and Rolla Public School District Teach of the Year. Her impact was undeniable, as it was difficult to go anywhere without former students recognizing her and remembering the positive influence she had on their lives. Jenny was an avid reader, traveler, and life-long learner. Despite the challenges she faced in recent years, she managed to fulfill some of her dreams, including visiting iconic landmarks like the Empire State Building in New York City, witnessing the grandeur of Niagara Falls, and exploring numerous National Parks. In her free time, she taught herself to play the ukelele, enjoyed puzzles like Wordle and Sudoku, and cherished moments spent in nature and with her family, friends, and pets. Above all, Jenny valued her role as a mother and grandmother, finding immense joy and pride in watching her children and grandchildren thrive. She often revered her children as her greatest accomplishment. Her children credit Jenny as a significant influence in their success, as she not only provided love and guidance, but also served as a role model and confidant throughout their lives. Jenny is survived by her husband of 39 years, Donnie Maples; children Nicholas (Danielle) Maples, Samantha (Jerome Pasquale) Maples, and Benjamin (Megan) Maples; grandchildren Addelyn, Archer, and Josie Maples; father Justin (Mary Ann) Mutrux; siblings Jeremy Mutrux, Rachel (Craig Jones) Mutrux, Reuben (Beth) Mutrux, Rebecca Gonzales, and Zachariah (Myriah) Mutrux; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother, Jill Gleason Mutrux, and sister, Sarah (Earl) Medley. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, July 27th, at Fox Funeral Home in Licking, MO, starting at 11 AM, preceded by an hour of visitation. This service will be an opportunity to honor Jenny’s extraordinary legacy and the profound impact she had on all those fortunate enough to have known her. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations are made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) at ocrahope.org or Concord Cemetery in Licking, MO, with donations left at Fox Funeral Home, in memory of Jenny.
