Mildred D. Koontz, 95, of Norborne, died Wednesday, February 06, 2019, at Shirkey's Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Richmond.

Mildred was born on January 12, 1924, on the family farm near Mandeville, MO, to Philip Edward and Bessie Hull Dorner.  She went to Hood School and graduated from Norborne High School in 1943.  She married her high school sweetheart, Lloyd Koontz, on September 15, 1946, at the Methodist Parsonage in Bogard.

She was a homemaker and enjoyed sewing and canning.  She made and altered many outfits for herself and her family.  She spent many hours canning vegetables and fruits from their large garden and willingly shared any extra with family, friends, and neighbors.  She also loved cleaning houses, which she did for many years.  She and Lloyd lived in the same house and cooked on their first cook stove for 69 years, before moving to the Freedom Retirement apartment in Norborne in the fall of 2015.  She enjoyed playing cards, crocheting, and always being busy and willing to lend a helping hand wherever needed.

When she and her twin brother, Merle, were young they enjoyed making up middle names for each other, since neither had one.  Their favorites were Mildred May and Merle Ray.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church, where she served on the Kitchen Committee and helped with numerous benevolence dinners.  She joined the Chapel Hill Club shortly after getting married and had served in all officers' positions.

Survivors include: her husband, Lloyd Koontz; one daughter, Janell Wright of the home; one son Troy Allen Koontz of Springfield; 3 grandchildren: Rebecca (Daniel) Amborne of Eden Prairie, MN, Michael Koontz and Johnathan Koontz of Springfield; 3 great-grandchildren: Carmyn Koontz, Nathaniel Amborne, and Junior Koontz; and several wonderful nieces and nephews.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters: Elsie Belle Hawkins, Charlene Grace Brasher, and Laveta Dorner in infancy; two brothers: Leslie Paul Dorner and twin Merle Dorner; one grandson Nathaniel Caleb Kruger; one granddaughter Angela Paulette; and son-in-law Kenneth Wayne Kruger.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the family's choice.  They can be left at or mailed to Thurman Funeral Home, 507 East Main Street - P.O. Box 190, Richmond, MO 64085.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, February 11, 2019, at the Baptist Church in Norborne.  Visitation will be held from 12:30 P.M. to service time at the church.  Interment will follow in Fairhaven Cemetery in Norborne.  Please share your memories of Mildred by visiting www.thurmanfuneralhome.com .