Marriage: 11 Nov 1937
Mtn. Grove New Journal, June 12, 1996:
VIVIAN ALTIS NEVELS
Funeral services for Vivian Nevels were held Monday, June 10, at 10 a.m. in the First Freewill Baptist Church, with Rev. Gary Fry officiating. Betty Dale and Ray Bradley accompanied by Elaine Caskey, sang "In The Garden," "Amazing Grace," and "Christ Arose." Pallbearers were Kirk Vaughan, Wesley Nevels, Steven Nevels, Brian Yates, Joe Duey, and Curtis Hough. Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery under direction of Craig-Hurtt-Bradley Funeral Home. Vivian Altis was born January 5, 1920 on a farm one mile south of Turley, Mo., the daughter of George Amon Altis and Nora Minnie Ballard. When Vivian was only two years old, her father died, leaving Vivian's mother, her three sisters Inez (Johnson), Alva (Gravens), Oneta (Colson) and a brother Ival, who would be eventually killed in the Second World War, to manage for themselves. Needless to say, lean times lay ahead for the Altis family. However, in the hard times, people sometimes grow the strongest and that was true with Vivian and her family.
Vivian tells of her early life when their family would take their team of horses, Jim and Prince and the wagon loaded with produce from their farm and travel to Turley where they would do their trading and have their corn ground into meal, at the mill just west of the Turley store. Although Vivian's mother had little money to give her children, the greatest gift she gave her children was a love for the simple things of life; a good book, the seasons of the year, a pretty sunset or sunrise, and particularly a love for the different birds. She also taught her children to be independent and responsible for themselves. Although times were tough, this didn't mean the Altis kids didn't have fun. Vivian tells with a sparkle in her eyes, of spending a lot of time splashing and playing with her brother and sisters in Burkhart Creek, which ran north and south about a hundred yards west of their house. Another favorite pastime of the girls particularly Vivian, Oneta and Alva was in the spring when the birds were nesting, was to get up early in the morning and visit all the bird nests and check the progress of the little birds as they hatched and grew. Vivian can remember gathering with her family in the evening for their family devotional where they would sing and her mother would read to them from the Bible. The family's favorite song was "He Arose", which the family sang almost every night. Her mother gained her strength to raise her family from the Bible, especially the part about sparing the rod and spoiling the child. Her mother felt it was important for her children to stay abreast of current events. So when a salesman came by selling the Kansas City Star, although there was no money available, Nora managed to trade some of her chickens for a subscription. Vivian's mother was a very strong woman by necessity, as she did all the farm work from repairing the fences, to plowing the fields, and when she was out working she made sure the children were helping as she felt this was important to their education. The children spent a lot of time in the garden: plowing, planting and hoeing. Looking back, Vivian explained, "I really didn't know how mother did it. There was virtually no money, at times. One year folks in the community took up a collection to pay our taxes. One of our big thrills was at Christmas time, Uncle Ezra and Aunt Elsie Altis, who lived near Cabool, would bring old clothes that they had collected during the year. We would rework them on Mom's sewing machine so that they would fit us. Also they would bring the funny papers that they had collected during the year." Vivian attended Liberty school, a small one room school one mile east of Turley. On Sundays Nora felt it was very important for her children to be in Sunday school. She would walk with the children the two miles to church, which was located next to the Liberty school house. Spending money was scarce, so each of the Altis kids earned their own, with rabbit traps that their mother had showed them how to build. Each child had their own traps which they would run each morning and would later sell their rabbit to the store. When Vivian was in the 6th grade, her teacher, Bea Moberly had very progressive ideas, and wanted the children to experience as much of life as possible. Whenever an airplane flew over the Liberty school house, Bea would dismiss the class and let the children all run outside to watch the plane fly over. As the school had no buses, Bea chartered a truck from one of the local farmers, all the children loaded into the back of the truck and were driven to the Houston airport where Vivian, along with many of her classmates, saw their first airplane on the ground. Little did Vivian realize the importance that aviation would play in the future to the lives of her son and grandsons. In 1933 Vivian moved with her family to a 90 acre farm south of Bado, Mo., and west of the Jim Noel store. Vivian would attend high school at Gravel Point located near her home.
Henry Nevels and his wife, Ruth, by this time lived on a small farm 3 miles south of the Jim Noel store. One day Ruth asked Charlie to go to Jim Noel's store to pick up some supplies for the family. There in the store was one of the prettiest girls Charlie had ever seen. After an awkward introduction, Charlie learned the pretty girl's name was Vivian Altis. This began the courtship of Charlie Nevels and Vivian Altis. One of their favorite places, was Mountain Grove and the little city park behind the fire station. In the park there was couple of antique cars in which Charlie and Vivian loved to sit on and dream about their future. On November 11, 1937, Charlie and Vivian were married in the home of Rev. Levi Jackson (Bud) Gearing, (Dale Altis' grandfather). The next year they would move to Iowa and work on a farm, after returning to Missouri Charlie would work at Fort Leonard Wood. On March 19, 1941, their first child, Donald Leroy Nevels, was born in the cabin that Charlie's parents had lived. On January 3, 1943, Gerald Ray Nevels was born in the house that Vivian lived in while attending high school. Later that year Charlie and Vivian moved to Mountain Grove. The week before Thanksgiving, Vivian started working for the Brown Shoe company in the cutting department, followed by Charlie, the next month, working in the lasting room and eventually as a machinist. In the spring of 1946, Charlie and Vivian would purchase the 20 acre farm that would become the home of memories of the Nevels family to the present. On July 16, 1946, Lois Doreen Nevels was born. Through the years, Charlie and Vivian were involved with Shetland ponies, Quarter horses, and Registered Black Angus Cattle. And when Charlie and Vivian finally retired, they played as hard in retirement, as they had worked in their younger lives. They loved to travel in their motor home to all parts of the country, to fish, and ride their little four wheel all terrain vehicle on the paths that took them through the beautiful Ozarks trails and streams. They would even buy an airplane to fly over Mountain Grove and the surrounding communities. Volunteer work was an important part of Vivian's life. This work included delivering food to the shut ins, teaching older people to read, and her later work in the crisis center. Last year she took a trip to Alaska, with her daughter, Lois, in which she fell totally in love with the wild country. She was in the initial planning stage to go to Africa this year when diagnosed with cancer. When diagnosed with cancer she said I can do one of two things, one, I can quit living and set down and feel sorry for myself, or two, I can get on with my life and enjoy each day. None of us really know what tomorrow will bring and I chose to enjoy the day. And please when you come to visit me, let's laugh and enjoy ourselves for I know where I am going and I have NO FEAR. She lived her life to the fullest to the very last possible moment, never a tear in her eye and always a smile on her face. I honestly believed that she looked forward to death and being with Charlie once again in a land that is even more beautiful than the Ozarks. Vivian is survived by one sister, Alva Gravens of Mountain Grove, three children, Don Nevels, Everton, Mo., Gerald Nevels, Seattle, Washington, Lois Vaughn, Mountain Grove, Mo. Vivian was blessed with 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Mtn. Grove New Journal, June 12, 1996:
VIVIAN ALTIS NEVELS
Funeral services for Vivian Nevels were held Monday, June 10, at 10 a.m. in the First Freewill Baptist Church, with Rev. Gary Fry officiating. Betty Dale and Ray Bradley accompanied by Elaine Caskey, sang "In The Garden," "Amazing Grace," and "Christ Arose." Pallbearers were Kirk Vaughan, Wesley Nevels, Steven Nevels, Brian Yates, Joe Duey, and Curtis Hough. Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery under direction of Craig-Hurtt-Bradley Funeral Home. Vivian Altis was born January 5, 1920 on a farm one mile south of Turley, Mo., the daughter of George Amon Altis and Nora Minnie Ballard. When Vivian was only two years old, her father died, leaving Vivian's mother, her three sisters Inez (Johnson), Alva (Gravens), Oneta (Colson) and a brother Ival, who would be eventually killed in the Second World War, to manage for themselves. Needless to say, lean times lay ahead for the Altis family. However, in the hard times, people sometimes grow the strongest and that was true with Vivian and her family.
Vivian tells of her early life when their family would take their team of horses, Jim and Prince and the wagon loaded with produce from their farm and travel to Turley where they would do their trading and have their corn ground into meal, at the mill just west of the Turley store. Although Vivian's mother had little money to give her children, the greatest gift she gave her children was a love for the simple things of life; a good book, the seasons of the year, a pretty sunset or sunrise, and particularly a love for the different birds. She also taught her children to be independent and responsible for themselves. Although times were tough, this didn't mean the Altis kids didn't have fun. Vivian tells with a sparkle in her eyes, of spending a lot of time splashing and playing with her brother and sisters in Burkhart Creek, which ran north and south about a hundred yards west of their house. Another favorite pastime of the girls particularly Vivian, Oneta and Alva was in the spring when the birds were nesting, was to get up early in the morning and visit all the bird nests and check the progress of the little birds as they hatched and grew. Vivian can remember gathering with her family in the evening for their family devotional where they would sing and her mother would read to them from the Bible. The family's favorite song was "He Arose", which the family sang almost every night. Her mother gained her strength to raise her family from the Bible, especially the part about sparing the rod and spoiling the child. Her mother felt it was important for her children to stay abreast of current events. So when a salesman came by selling the Kansas City Star, although there was no money available, Nora managed to trade some of her chickens for a subscription. Vivian's mother was a very strong woman by necessity, as she did all the farm work from repairing the fences, to plowing the fields, and when she was out working she made sure the children were helping as she felt this was important to their education. The children spent a lot of time in the garden: plowing, planting and hoeing. Looking back, Vivian explained, "I really didn't know how mother did it. There was virtually no money, at times. One year folks in the community took up a collection to pay our taxes. One of our big thrills was at Christmas time, Uncle Ezra and Aunt Elsie Altis, who lived near Cabool, would bring old clothes that they had collected during the year. We would rework them on Mom's sewing machine so that they would fit us. Also they would bring the funny papers that they had collected during the year." Vivian attended Liberty school, a small one room school one mile east of Turley. On Sundays Nora felt it was very important for her children to be in Sunday school. She would walk with the children the two miles to church, which was located next to the Liberty school house. Spending money was scarce, so each of the Altis kids earned their own, with rabbit traps that their mother had showed them how to build. Each child had their own traps which they would run each morning and would later sell their rabbit to the store. When Vivian was in the 6th grade, her teacher, Bea Moberly had very progressive ideas, and wanted the children to experience as much of life as possible. Whenever an airplane flew over the Liberty school house, Bea would dismiss the class and let the children all run outside to watch the plane fly over. As the school had no buses, Bea chartered a truck from one of the local farmers, all the children loaded into the back of the truck and were driven to the Houston airport where Vivian, along with many of her classmates, saw their first airplane on the ground. Little did Vivian realize the importance that aviation would play in the future to the lives of her son and grandsons. In 1933 Vivian moved with her family to a 90 acre farm south of Bado, Mo., and west of the Jim Noel store. Vivian would attend high school at Gravel Point located near her home.
Henry Nevels and his wife, Ruth, by this time lived on a small farm 3 miles south of the Jim Noel store. One day Ruth asked Charlie to go to Jim Noel's store to pick up some supplies for the family. There in the store was one of the prettiest girls Charlie had ever seen. After an awkward introduction, Charlie learned the pretty girl's name was Vivian Altis. This began the courtship of Charlie Nevels and Vivian Altis. One of their favorite places, was Mountain Grove and the little city park behind the fire station. In the park there was couple of antique cars in which Charlie and Vivian loved to sit on and dream about their future. On November 11, 1937, Charlie and Vivian were married in the home of Rev. Levi Jackson (Bud) Gearing, (Dale Altis' grandfather). The next year they would move to Iowa and work on a farm, after returning to Missouri Charlie would work at Fort Leonard Wood. On March 19, 1941, their first child, Donald Leroy Nevels, was born in the cabin that Charlie's parents had lived. On January 3, 1943, Gerald Ray Nevels was born in the house that Vivian lived in while attending high school. Later that year Charlie and Vivian moved to Mountain Grove. The week before Thanksgiving, Vivian started working for the Brown Shoe company in the cutting department, followed by Charlie, the next month, working in the lasting room and eventually as a machinist. In the spring of 1946, Charlie and Vivian would purchase the 20 acre farm that would become the home of memories of the Nevels family to the present. On July 16, 1946, Lois Doreen Nevels was born. Through the years, Charlie and Vivian were involved with Shetland ponies, Quarter horses, and Registered Black Angus Cattle. And when Charlie and Vivian finally retired, they played as hard in retirement, as they had worked in their younger lives. They loved to travel in their motor home to all parts of the country, to fish, and ride their little four wheel all terrain vehicle on the paths that took them through the beautiful Ozarks trails and streams. They would even buy an airplane to fly over Mountain Grove and the surrounding communities. Volunteer work was an important part of Vivian's life. This work included delivering food to the shut ins, teaching older people to read, and her later work in the crisis center. Last year she took a trip to Alaska, with her daughter, Lois, in which she fell totally in love with the wild country. She was in the initial planning stage to go to Africa this year when diagnosed with cancer. When diagnosed with cancer she said I can do one of two things, one, I can quit living and set down and feel sorry for myself, or two, I can get on with my life and enjoy each day. None of us really know what tomorrow will bring and I chose to enjoy the day. And please when you come to visit me, let's laugh and enjoy ourselves for I know where I am going and I have NO FEAR. She lived her life to the fullest to the very last possible moment, never a tear in her eye and always a smile on her face. I honestly believed that she looked forward to death and being with Charlie once again in a land that is even more beautiful than the Ozarks. Vivian is survived by one sister, Alva Gravens of Mountain Grove, three children, Don Nevels, Everton, Mo., Gerald Nevels, Seattle, Washington, Lois Vaughn, Mountain Grove, Mo. Vivian was blessed with 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Marriage: 11 Nov 1937
Mtn. Grove New Journal, June 12, 1996:
VIVIAN ALTIS NEVELS
Funeral services for Vivian Nevels were held Monday, June 10, at 10 a.m. in the First Freewill Baptist Church, with Rev. Gary Fry officiating. Betty Dale and Ray Bradley accompanied by Elaine Caskey, sang "In The Garden," "Amazing Grace," and "Christ Arose." Pallbearers were Kirk Vaughan, Wesley Nevels, Steven Nevels, Brian Yates, Joe Duey, and Curtis Hough. Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery under direction of Craig-Hurtt-Bradley Funeral Home. Vivian Altis was born January 5, 1920 on a farm one mile south of Turley, Mo., the daughter of George Amon Altis and Nora Minnie Ballard. When Vivian was only two years old, her father died, leaving Vivian's mother, her three sisters Inez (Johnson), Alva (Gravens), Oneta (Colson) and a brother Ival, who would be eventually killed in the Second World War, to manage for themselves. Needless to say, lean times lay ahead for the Altis family. However, in the hard times, people sometimes grow the strongest and that was true with Vivian and her family.
Vivian tells of her early life when their family would take their team of horses, Jim and Prince and the wagon loaded with produce from their farm and travel to Turley where they would do their trading and have their corn ground into meal, at the mill just west of the Turley store. Although Vivian's mother had little money to give her children, the greatest gift she gave her children was a love for the simple things of life; a good book, the seasons of the year, a pretty sunset or sunrise, and particularly a love for the different birds. She also taught her children to be independent and responsible for themselves. Although times were tough, this didn't mean the Altis kids didn't have fun. Vivian tells with a sparkle in her eyes, of spending a lot of time splashing and playing with her brother and sisters in Burkhart Creek, which ran north and south about a hundred yards west of their house. Another favorite pastime of the girls particularly Vivian, Oneta and Alva was in the spring when the birds were nesting, was to get up early in the morning and visit all the bird nests and check the progress of the little birds as they hatched and grew. Vivian can remember gathering with her family in the evening for their family devotional where they would sing and her mother would read to them from the Bible. The family's favorite song was "He Arose", which the family sang almost every night. Her mother gained her strength to raise her family from the Bible, especially the part about sparing the rod and spoiling the child. Her mother felt it was important for her children to stay abreast of current events. So when a salesman came by selling the Kansas City Star, although there was no money available, Nora managed to trade some of her chickens for a subscription. Vivian's mother was a very strong woman by necessity, as she did all the farm work from repairing the fences, to plowing the fields, and when she was out working she made sure the children were helping as she felt this was important to their education. The children spent a lot of time in the garden: plowing, planting and hoeing. Looking back, Vivian explained, "I really didn't know how mother did it. There was virtually no money, at times. One year folks in the community took up a collection to pay our taxes. One of our big thrills was at Christmas time, Uncle Ezra and Aunt Elsie Altis, who lived near Cabool, would bring old clothes that they had collected during the year. We would rework them on Mom's sewing machine so that they would fit us. Also they would bring the funny papers that they had collected during the year." Vivian attended Liberty school, a small one room school one mile east of Turley. On Sundays Nora felt it was very important for her children to be in Sunday school. She would walk with the children the two miles to church, which was located next to the Liberty school house. Spending money was scarce, so each of the Altis kids earned their own, with rabbit traps that their mother had showed them how to build. Each child had their own traps which they would run each morning and would later sell their rabbit to the store. When Vivian was in the 6th grade, her teacher, Bea Moberly had very progressive ideas, and wanted the children to experience as much of life as possible. Whenever an airplane flew over the Liberty school house, Bea would dismiss the class and let the children all run outside to watch the plane fly over. As the school had no buses, Bea chartered a truck from one of the local farmers, all the children loaded into the back of the truck and were driven to the Houston airport where Vivian, along with many of her classmates, saw their first airplane on the ground. Little did Vivian realize the importance that aviation would play in the future to the lives of her son and grandsons. In 1933 Vivian moved with her family to a 90 acre farm south of Bado, Mo., and west of the Jim Noel store. Vivian would attend high school at Gravel Point located near her home.
Henry Nevels and his wife, Ruth, by this time lived on a small farm 3 miles south of the Jim Noel store. One day Ruth asked Charlie to go to Jim Noel's store to pick up some supplies for the family. There in the store was one of the prettiest girls Charlie had ever seen. After an awkward introduction, Charlie learned the pretty girl's name was Vivian Altis. This began the courtship of Charlie Nevels and Vivian Altis. One of their favorite places, was Mountain Grove and the little city park behind the fire station. In the park there was couple of antique cars in which Charlie and Vivian loved to sit on and dream about their future. On November 11, 1937, Charlie and Vivian were married in the home of Rev. Levi Jackson (Bud) Gearing, (Dale Altis' grandfather). The next year they would move to Iowa and work on a farm, after returning to Missouri Charlie would work at Fort Leonard Wood. On March 19, 1941, their first child, Donald Leroy Nevels, was born in the cabin that Charlie's parents had lived. On January 3, 1943, Gerald Ray Nevels was born in the house that Vivian lived in while attending high school. Later that year Charlie and Vivian moved to Mountain Grove. The week before Thanksgiving, Vivian started working for the Brown Shoe company in the cutting department, followed by Charlie, the next month, working in the lasting room and eventually as a machinist. In the spring of 1946, Charlie and Vivian would purchase the 20 acre farm that would become the home of memories of the Nevels family to the present. On July 16, 1946, Lois Doreen Nevels was born. Through the years, Charlie and Vivian were involved with Shetland ponies, Quarter horses, and Registered Black Angus Cattle. And when Charlie and Vivian finally retired, they played as hard in retirement, as they had worked in their younger lives. They loved to travel in their motor home to all parts of the country, to fish, and ride their little four wheel all terrain vehicle on the paths that took them through the beautiful Ozarks trails and streams. They would even buy an airplane to fly over Mountain Grove and the surrounding communities. Volunteer work was an important part of Vivian's life. This work included delivering food to the shut ins, teaching older people to read, and her later work in the crisis center. Last year she took a trip to Alaska, with her daughter, Lois, in which she fell totally in love with the wild country. She was in the initial planning stage to go to Africa this year when diagnosed with cancer. When diagnosed with cancer she said I can do one of two things, one, I can quit living and set down and feel sorry for myself, or two, I can get on with my life and enjoy each day. None of us really know what tomorrow will bring and I chose to enjoy the day. And please when you come to visit me, let's laugh and enjoy ourselves for I know where I am going and I have NO FEAR. She lived her life to the fullest to the very last possible moment, never a tear in her eye and always a smile on her face. I honestly believed that she looked forward to death and being with Charlie once again in a land that is even more beautiful than the Ozarks. Vivian is survived by one sister, Alva Gravens of Mountain Grove, three children, Don Nevels, Everton, Mo., Gerald Nevels, Seattle, Washington, Lois Vaughn, Mountain Grove, Mo. Vivian was blessed with 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Mtn. Grove New Journal, June 12, 1996:
VIVIAN ALTIS NEVELS
Funeral services for Vivian Nevels were held Monday, June 10, at 10 a.m. in the First Freewill Baptist Church, with Rev. Gary Fry officiating. Betty Dale and Ray Bradley accompanied by Elaine Caskey, sang "In The Garden," "Amazing Grace," and "Christ Arose." Pallbearers were Kirk Vaughan, Wesley Nevels, Steven Nevels, Brian Yates, Joe Duey, and Curtis Hough. Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery under direction of Craig-Hurtt-Bradley Funeral Home. Vivian Altis was born January 5, 1920 on a farm one mile south of Turley, Mo., the daughter of George Amon Altis and Nora Minnie Ballard. When Vivian was only two years old, her father died, leaving Vivian's mother, her three sisters Inez (Johnson), Alva (Gravens), Oneta (Colson) and a brother Ival, who would be eventually killed in the Second World War, to manage for themselves. Needless to say, lean times lay ahead for the Altis family. However, in the hard times, people sometimes grow the strongest and that was true with Vivian and her family.
Vivian tells of her early life when their family would take their team of horses, Jim and Prince and the wagon loaded with produce from their farm and travel to Turley where they would do their trading and have their corn ground into meal, at the mill just west of the Turley store. Although Vivian's mother had little money to give her children, the greatest gift she gave her children was a love for the simple things of life; a good book, the seasons of the year, a pretty sunset or sunrise, and particularly a love for the different birds. She also taught her children to be independent and responsible for themselves. Although times were tough, this didn't mean the Altis kids didn't have fun. Vivian tells with a sparkle in her eyes, of spending a lot of time splashing and playing with her brother and sisters in Burkhart Creek, which ran north and south about a hundred yards west of their house. Another favorite pastime of the girls particularly Vivian, Oneta and Alva was in the spring when the birds were nesting, was to get up early in the morning and visit all the bird nests and check the progress of the little birds as they hatched and grew. Vivian can remember gathering with her family in the evening for their family devotional where they would sing and her mother would read to them from the Bible. The family's favorite song was "He Arose", which the family sang almost every night. Her mother gained her strength to raise her family from the Bible, especially the part about sparing the rod and spoiling the child. Her mother felt it was important for her children to stay abreast of current events. So when a salesman came by selling the Kansas City Star, although there was no money available, Nora managed to trade some of her chickens for a subscription. Vivian's mother was a very strong woman by necessity, as she did all the farm work from repairing the fences, to plowing the fields, and when she was out working she made sure the children were helping as she felt this was important to their education. The children spent a lot of time in the garden: plowing, planting and hoeing. Looking back, Vivian explained, "I really didn't know how mother did it. There was virtually no money, at times. One year folks in the community took up a collection to pay our taxes. One of our big thrills was at Christmas time, Uncle Ezra and Aunt Elsie Altis, who lived near Cabool, would bring old clothes that they had collected during the year. We would rework them on Mom's sewing machine so that they would fit us. Also they would bring the funny papers that they had collected during the year." Vivian attended Liberty school, a small one room school one mile east of Turley. On Sundays Nora felt it was very important for her children to be in Sunday school. She would walk with the children the two miles to church, which was located next to the Liberty school house. Spending money was scarce, so each of the Altis kids earned their own, with rabbit traps that their mother had showed them how to build. Each child had their own traps which they would run each morning and would later sell their rabbit to the store. When Vivian was in the 6th grade, her teacher, Bea Moberly had very progressive ideas, and wanted the children to experience as much of life as possible. Whenever an airplane flew over the Liberty school house, Bea would dismiss the class and let the children all run outside to watch the plane fly over. As the school had no buses, Bea chartered a truck from one of the local farmers, all the children loaded into the back of the truck and were driven to the Houston airport where Vivian, along with many of her classmates, saw their first airplane on the ground. Little did Vivian realize the importance that aviation would play in the future to the lives of her son and grandsons. In 1933 Vivian moved with her family to a 90 acre farm south of Bado, Mo., and west of the Jim Noel store. Vivian would attend high school at Gravel Point located near her home.
Henry Nevels and his wife, Ruth, by this time lived on a small farm 3 miles south of the Jim Noel store. One day Ruth asked Charlie to go to Jim Noel's store to pick up some supplies for the family. There in the store was one of the prettiest girls Charlie had ever seen. After an awkward introduction, Charlie learned the pretty girl's name was Vivian Altis. This began the courtship of Charlie Nevels and Vivian Altis. One of their favorite places, was Mountain Grove and the little city park behind the fire station. In the park there was couple of antique cars in which Charlie and Vivian loved to sit on and dream about their future. On November 11, 1937, Charlie and Vivian were married in the home of Rev. Levi Jackson (Bud) Gearing, (Dale Altis' grandfather). The next year they would move to Iowa and work on a farm, after returning to Missouri Charlie would work at Fort Leonard Wood. On March 19, 1941, their first child, Donald Leroy Nevels, was born in the cabin that Charlie's parents had lived. On January 3, 1943, Gerald Ray Nevels was born in the house that Vivian lived in while attending high school. Later that year Charlie and Vivian moved to Mountain Grove. The week before Thanksgiving, Vivian started working for the Brown Shoe company in the cutting department, followed by Charlie, the next month, working in the lasting room and eventually as a machinist. In the spring of 1946, Charlie and Vivian would purchase the 20 acre farm that would become the home of memories of the Nevels family to the present. On July 16, 1946, Lois Doreen Nevels was born. Through the years, Charlie and Vivian were involved with Shetland ponies, Quarter horses, and Registered Black Angus Cattle. And when Charlie and Vivian finally retired, they played as hard in retirement, as they had worked in their younger lives. They loved to travel in their motor home to all parts of the country, to fish, and ride their little four wheel all terrain vehicle on the paths that took them through the beautiful Ozarks trails and streams. They would even buy an airplane to fly over Mountain Grove and the surrounding communities. Volunteer work was an important part of Vivian's life. This work included delivering food to the shut ins, teaching older people to read, and her later work in the crisis center. Last year she took a trip to Alaska, with her daughter, Lois, in which she fell totally in love with the wild country. She was in the initial planning stage to go to Africa this year when diagnosed with cancer. When diagnosed with cancer she said I can do one of two things, one, I can quit living and set down and feel sorry for myself, or two, I can get on with my life and enjoy each day. None of us really know what tomorrow will bring and I chose to enjoy the day. And please when you come to visit me, let's laugh and enjoy ourselves for I know where I am going and I have NO FEAR. She lived her life to the fullest to the very last possible moment, never a tear in her eye and always a smile on her face. I honestly believed that she looked forward to death and being with Charlie once again in a land that is even more beautiful than the Ozarks. Vivian is survived by one sister, Alva Gravens of Mountain Grove, three children, Don Nevels, Everton, Mo., Gerald Nevels, Seattle, Washington, Lois Vaughn, Mountain Grove, Mo. Vivian was blessed with 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
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