Nelda Jean Kirkpatrick

Nelda Jean Kirkpatrick, 97, passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 23, 2025, at the Clark County Nursing Home. Born on March 19,1927, near Downing, MO, daughter to Hazel Smith, and step-daughter to Edward Smith, Nelda lived the majority of her life in N.E. Missouri. She married WWII veteran and farmer, Elmer Kirkpatrick, in December, 1947, residing at their farm near Arbela at the time of his death in 2012.

She graduated from Memphis High School, attended Kirksville State Teacher’s College, and years later was able to finish her degree in Business Education. She taught in Brookfield and Belton, MO, before moving to Denver, CO, with the family, to teach for seven years. Returning to their Arbela farm in 1968, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, taught many local high school students at Memphis H.S. before retirement at age 62.

Nelda has been a Methodist and faith-filled Christian all her life. She was proficient in piano and even won a state competition in high school, but due to stage-fright never performed publicly. Her love for her family and her love for teaching gave her a full and vibrant life. Macular degeneration made her blind for the last twenty years but she would brag that she was “highly functional.” She loved to visit with others and to “kid around.” She will be sorely missed.

Nelda is survived by her son, Steve Kirkpatrick Arbela,MO, and by her daughter, Diana Kupko and son-in-law, Joe Kupko, her five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. These include Jodi Flanagan (Skye) and their three adult children Kaeli, Riley, and Makenzie; Beth Wood (Joe) and their two sons Joey and Landon; Shaun Kupko (Cristina and daughter, Valerie); John Kupko (Angela and daughter, Monroe) and Jack Kupko; and Nate Kupko (Emily) along with other relatives and friends.

he family is having a Memorial Service to celebrate Nelda’s life on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., at the Payne Funeral Chapel in Memphis, MO, with Pastor Kathy Gardner officiating. Interment will follow at a later date beside her husband Elmer in the Lawnridge Cemetery north of Memphis. There will also be a time of sharing at a visitation Friday evening, 3,21, at Payne's where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. that evening.

Memorials in lieu of flowers are suggested to the Memphis United Methodist Church or the Lawnridge Cemetery for helping with the perpetual care and it may be left at or mailed to the Payne Funeral Chapel, 202 E. Madison St., Memphis, MO 63555.