Dessie Mae Fielding (Meador) passed away January 26^th, 2024, in Springfield, Missouri at Woodland Manor, just a few days after her 86^th birthday after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s.

Born January 22^nd, 1938, to John Ernest and Etta Mae (Hurd) Meador, Dessie would spend her whole life in Springfield, Missouri.

Dessie married Joe Bob Fielding March 7^th, 1953, in Harrison, Arkansas.  Shortly after marriage, they would start a family.  Together, they would have 4 boys.

While raising her sons, Dessie often would babysit other children, while taking care of her own.  She loved taking care of children: this love of caregiving would carry over with her work at Berean Baptist.  As a chartering member of Berean Baptist when it began in the 60’s, Dessie could often be found working in the nursery.

Dessie would also end up working for the Springfield Public School system as a cook.  Doing this combined her love of taking care of children and her passion for cooking.  While she was a fabulous cook, Dessie’s specialty was pies, specifically chocolate pies.  She would always make her pies from memory, and no one could make pies the way Dessie could.

Dessie was preceded in death by her parents, John and Etta Mae, her sister, Peggy Hensley, and her loving husband, Joe Bob Fielding.

She is survived by her four sons: Charlie and wife Jan, Rick and wife Pam, John and wife Karen, and Tom, her grandchildren: Casey, Kerrie, and Jordan and wife Hannah, her siblings: Norma and her husband Tom (Jenkins), Ernest “Ernie” Meador, and Tom Meador and wife Wanda, a great grandson that is due in April, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.