Lea “Ellen” Spickler

Lea “Ellen” Spickler passed on Aug.16, 2026 in Springfield.
She was born Feb. 18, 1936 in Warrensburg to James and Cleta (Scott) Landis.  She graduated from Fair Grove High School in 1954 and attended college at Central Missouri State University (now University of Central Missouri).
She married Thomas Spickler on Feb. 1, 1957 and they were together until his death, Nov. 1, 2011.  
Over the years she worked at several banks and for both Cox Hospital and Mercy.  Her last job was with Crossmark as a product demonstrator at Sam’s Club.   She worked until March, 2020, when she was 84.   
She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers (Kirk Kirkpatrick, Jim Landis and Jerry Landis) and her sister (Marilyn Dow), her son-in-law, Steve McPhetridge and her best friend of over 50 years, Loretta Yates. 
She is survived by her daughters, Lois McPhetridge of Republic, Pam Ticknor of Monett, and Danielle Dickerson of Republic; three sister-in-laws, Mary Ann Landis, Sharon Rusche and Annette Fares; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Calvary Baptist Church of Republic.