Elizabeth Ann (Miller) Starkey

Elizabeth “Ann” Starkey, 67, of Boonville passed away Saturday morning July 7 at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, MO.

A visitation for Ann will be from 5 to 8 P.M. Tuesday, July 10 at Howard Funeral Home.

Ann was a beautiful lady who loved and embraced life. She attended Sts Peter & Paul School in Boonville and was a member of its last graduating class in 1969.  She followed her mother’s footsteps and graduated Cum Laude from the University of Missouri in 1974 with a degree in Education.

Her teaching career included years at SSPP. Prairie Home and Pilot Grove before her tenure at Boonville High School.  She taught in the special education department, instituted a successful work/study program, sponsored student council and was a Boonville Education Association past president.  She brought a positive attitude to every event and task assigned and was always dressed for success.

Her retirement years included working at Gordon Jewelers in Boonville and helping Mark at Jones Beltone Hearing Center.  The retirement job she loved most was babysitting her two grandchildren in their early years.

Ann had one daughter, Jennifer (Keller) who also followed in her mother’s footsteps and is a teacher in the California School District.

Forty Two years ago she married Mark Starkey and Ann, Jenny and Mark became a family.  Ann was the best mother, best wife, and the best grandmother in the world. 

Ann loved to have fun and was fun to be with.  She brought a bubbly enthusiasm to every event whether it be a holiday dinner, a day at the casino, watching kids sports events, a night at the casino, tailgating, another day at the casino, concerts, another night at the casino, shopping, another day at the casino, etc.

Ann’s three and half year battle with lung cancer ended July 7. She suffered daily but you would not know it. She refused to let the cancer kill her enthusiasm for life.  Even as she struggled to breathe her last breath, she was more concerned about the welfare of those attending her than herself.  Her love for life never died.

Preceded in death by parents, Thomas and Mary Ann Miller.  Survived by spouse Mark Starkey, daughter Jennifer (Paul) Keller, two grandchildren Zachary Weber and Madeline Ann Weber.  Two brothers Garth Miller and Donnie Miller and Sister in Law Carol Miller. Brother in Law Joseph (Nancy) Starkey, Sisters in Law Diane Guernsey and Cindy (Mark) Saberniak and many loving nieces and nephews.

Donations to Relay for Life.

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