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Clara Zell Cherry

Funeral services for Clara Zell Cherry, 89, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 28, 2022, in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Cherry passed away at 1:44 a.m., Sunday, April 24, 2022, at Brooke Haven Healthcare.

She was born September 6, 1932, at Lanton, Missouri, to Floyd and Hazel Helmer Bench.  On November 23, 1948, she was married at Hardy, Arkansas, to James Elwin Cherry, who preceded her in death on March 31, 1978.  Clara Zell graduated from West Plains High School with the Class of 1950.  Before her retirement, Mrs. Cherry worked at Kellett-Landis-Brill Abstract and Land Title Company for over fifty years.  She loved to sing and was an excellent cook.  Mrs. Cherry was a long time member of Junction Hill Pentecostal Church.

She is survived by three children, Tim Cherry and wife, Brenda, West Plains, Renee Hastert and husband, Terry, Leawood, Kansas and Lisa Riggs and husband, Ralph, West Plains; six grandchildren, Jimmy Cherry, Stephanie Riggs, Ryan Riggs and wife, Shayla, Regan Riggs and wife, Lily, Misty Dunbar and Kimberly Jeffery and husband, James; fourteen great-grandchildren; two brothers, Bob Bench, Lawrence, Kansas and Floyd Bench, Jr. and wife, Vadna, West Plains; one sister-in-law, Susie Whitsell, West Plains; and several nieces and nephews .

Her parents, husband, two sisters, Jean Hogan and Irene Cherry and three brothers-in-law, Vance Hogan, Phil Whitsell and Dennis Cherry, preceded her in death.

Visitation service will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be in the Oak Lawn Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Gideon Bible Society or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775.