Velma Francis Maples

Velma Francis (Miller) Maples was born on October 8, 1932, in her family home in Birch Tree, Missouri to Frank and Edith (Miley) Miller. She passed away peacefully from this life to her heavenly home on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, surrounded by loved ones at the Baptist Home in Ozark, Missouri.

Velma grew up in rural Shannon County, Missouri with her father, mother, who passed away when she was a young girl, her grandmother, Ida Miller, whom she loved dearly, and her nine siblings. She graduated from Birch Tree in 1950 as Valedictorian of her class and moved to Kansas City not long after graduation where some of her siblings and her Aunt Alice (Miley) Margerum lived. She worked at Hallmark until she met Leeroye and they were united in marriage. They eventually settled in Nixa, Missouri where they raised their family and lived happily for over 50 years. Velma worked at Fasco in Ozark, Missouri for 30 years until she retired. She was a devoted and faithful pastor's wife for 40 years and loved gospel singings and her Lord. Velma enjoyed gardening, growing flowers, canning, sewing, but found her greatest happiness and joy in loving her family and spending time with them.

Velma was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Edith (Miley) Miller, her loving husband of 62 years, Leeroye Maples, her siblings: Edd Miller, Loeta Hunley, Ida Brehmof, Alice Ashmore, Ralph Miller, and Patty Thomas, as well as her son-in-law Alan Turner and daughter-in-law Gayle (Heatherly) Maples.

Velma is survived by two daughters, Regina Turner, Tamela Lasswell (Mark); three sons, Timothy (Christy), Mark (Teresa), and Paul (Amanda), 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson, and her siblings Robert Miller, Ann Ledgerwood, and John Miller, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Velma was a wonderful and dedicated mother, grandma, grand-grandma, wife, sister, and friend and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Adams Funeral Home, Nixa.

Velma's Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. directly after visitation. 

Burial will follow at Union Ridge Cemetery, Clever, Missouri.