Obituary of Fairy Fawn Stone

Fairy Fawn (Foley) Stone was born on Sept. 12, 1927, in Licking, MO. She passed away peacefully and was welcomed into the arms of her savior, Jesus Christ, on Oct. 11, 2024, in Salem, MO. Fairy spent her childhood on a small farm outside of Salem until she went to live with relatives to attend high school and graduated from Licking High School. Not long after she graduated, Fairy took a job as a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse outside Salem. She married the love of her life, James Cordell Stone on May 18, 1946, in Rolla. Eventually, they welcomed a son, Ronald Dean, and moved to a farm near where James grew up. Fairy worked at the Rawlings Factory as a seamstress; a florist and gift shop; Town & Country Department Store; Hood’s Frosty Treat; and owned and operated a dry goods store. She also baked pies for the pool hall. She worked on the farm, too, often helping James in the hayfield and with the cattle. A hard worker, she always carried a let’s-get-it-done grit in her hardened farm-wife hands. Though her hands were tough, she was known all around as a welcoming host, always feeding her family and friends and the hay crews well. Anyone who showed up at her door would find a warm home and something to eat or drink. They’d probably hear a good story or two as well. Fairy enjoyed working in her yard and garden, reading (especially The Missouri Conservationist and Reader’s Digest), sewing, canning, painting ceramics, quilting, spending time with her family, and fishing, among other hobbies and interests. Fairy and James spent many weekends on drives through the Ozark hills and at bluegrass concerts. Fairy was saved as a child at Round Pond Baptist Church and baptized in the Dry Fork River. As an adult, Fairy attended New Life Free Will Baptist Church in Licking where she always helped anyone in need, was active in the women’s group, and was well-known for her cobblers and pies. She is survived by her sister, Gloria (Foley) Wisdom of Salem; daughter-in-law, Mary (Vance) Stone of Licking; grandson Ryan Stone and wife Ann of Phoenix, AZ; great-grandsons A.J. and Ethan Stone; several nieces and nephews, including Sheri (Wisdom) Thompson and husband Terry of Rolla; Nanci Wisdom of Salem; Karen (Tipton) Jones of Jackson, TN; Mike and Fay Tipton of Oklahoma; Mary June (Stone) Barker and husband Chuck of Licking; Jim Wayne Cameron of Licking; Suzanne (Cameron) Barber of St. Joseph; Kathy (Stone) Freeman and husband Mark of St. Joseph; and Debbie (Stone) Welch and husband Charlie of Licking as well as a small village of great, great-great, and great-great-great nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Nona Myrtle (Priest) Foley; her beloved husband, James Cordell Stone, and son, Ronald Dean Stone; and her brothers, Bernell Clifford Foley and Lyle Foley. Services will be held at Fox Funeral Home in Licking, MO, on Friday, Oct. 18. Visitation is from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. with the funeral service to follow, officiated by Pastor Gary Parker. Burial service will be held at Williams Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New Life Free Will Baptist Church.