Mary Kathryn (Herring) Waterman

Mary Kathryn (Herring) Waterman passed away on Dec. 24 in Ozark, at the age of 86, following a short illness. She was born on Aug. 7, 1939, in Sulphur, Okla., to Margarete Kathryn (Kinley) Herring and Alison Junior Herring. She was raised in Sulphur in the multi-generational home of her grandparents, John and Laura Kinley. Throughout her life, she remained proud of her small-town Oklahoma upbringing and often referred to herself as a proud Okie.
She migrated from Oklahoma to the Springfield area in the late 1950s and settled in Republic in 1967, where she and her husband, Doug, raised their family and where she remained for nearly 58 years until shortly before her passing.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 50 years, Doug; a son, Kurt; her brother, Frank; her cousin, Jammie Sue; and her very special aunt and uncle, Ann and Ron Afdahl.
She is survived by her sons, Mark (Kara), Chris (Jucel), and Jeff (Penny); five grandchildren); six great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Rose Marie Herring; cousin Linda (Earl) Sides; and a host of extended family and friends.
A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Dec. 31, with procession to Evergreen Cemetery following for a graveside service.
Arrangements are under the direction of Meadors Funeral Home, 314 N. Main St, Republic, MO 65738, 417-732-2535. Online condolences can be made at www.meadorsfuneralhome.com.