Lee Ann Russell was born to Richard M. and Retha (Barnard) McDowell on July 26, 1942. She passed away January 11 at age 74 from pancreatic cancer. She attended Tefft, Pipkin, Eastwood, Central High School (class 1960) and three years at Southwest Missouri State. She held several jobs including secretary for an insurance company, the National Avenue Christian Church, United Way, KGBX Radio and retired from the main office of Ramey-Price Cutter Supermarkets.
Lee Ann and Eugene Russell III married in 1964 and had two daughters, Penny Lee and Peggy Ann. She is survived by Penny (Barry Shaw), Peggy (John Barnes) and grandson, Eli Barnes, her mother, Retha McDowell, many cousins and her always in all ways, Larry Cunningham.
She was an Honorary Life Member (four term president) of the Springfield Writer’ Guild, Honorary Life Member of Missouri State Poetry Society, member of the Missouri Writers’ Guild, Poets Roundtable of Arkansas and Springfield Poets & Friends. Her book, How to Write Poetry, Ballad to Villanelle is used by poets and writers’ group all over America. She won myriad awards in poetry, prose and photography. Lee Ann wrote a humor column for Springfield Magazine as well as freelance articles and photography for other publications including Writer’s Digest, Poetry Collection, Farm and Ranch Living, Old House Journal, Ozarks Magazine, The News-Leader, Senior Living and The Ozarks Mountaineer, among others. Lee Ann loved reading and writing short stories, essays, opinion pieces and over 800 poems. She used many photographs to make note cards and enjoyed sending birthday cards to her many friends and family.
Visitation will be held at Greenlawn North Funeral Home, 3506 N National, from 3-4 on Sunday, January 15, with service beginning at 4pm. Burial will be in Panther Valley Cemetery north of Rogersville, MO on Monday at 11am.