Willa “Dean” Arnold

Willa “Dean” Arnold, 91, of Sullivan, MO passed away Monday, November 21, 2022 at Fulton Nursing and Rehab, Fulton, MO.

Willa Dean was born on November 2, 1931 in Sullivan, MO to Amil Franklin and Mabel Dee (Tyree) Hartman. She graduated from Fulton High School, class of 1949. During her high school years, Dean worked at Baumster Bakery and then Backers, where she bagged potato chips. In the years to follow, she worked in the dean’s office at William Woods College and as a bookkeeper for Callaway Bank.

Dean was united in marriage to Lloyd McCowan on February 17, 1951 and to this union three children were born: Roger, Ronan, and Rula Dean. They lived in California for a year and a half while Lloyd was serving in the United States Marines. They returned to Missouri in 1952. Lloyd and Dean would later divorce.

Dean eventually remarried, to Bob Arnold, and together they owned and operated a furniture and carpet store in Warrensburg. They also built many apartment complexes. After Bob’s passing, Dean moved back to Sullivan in 1989 to make her final home and to lovingly care for her mother. Dean kept herself busy and was always a very industrious woman. Not only did she collected rent for Mr. Keeney for 32 years, but she worked for Sears from 1989 to 1993 and for Meramec Dental from 1999 to 2022. In 2005, at age 73, Dean received an award for being the oldest worker at Meramec Dental, and they even honored her in the local newspaper. Of course, she went on to continue to work for Meramec Dental until October 2022 when she retired at age 90.

To say that Dean loved the St. Louis Cardinals is an understatement. She was one of their biggest fans. Dean attended and was a member of First Assembly of God in Sullivan, where she taught Sunday school class for fourteen years. She even took many of her Sunday school students to Cardinal games, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Dean also enjoyed Indy and NASCAR racing and attended over 50 races with her friends from church. On June 25, 1994, at age 62, Dean jumped from a perfectly good airplane while her family and friends cheered her on and her Sunday School student, Lindsey Williams, sang the National Anthem. Dean was quite a gal and will be fondly remembered by her family, church family, work family, and many friends.

Dean is survived by two of her children, Roger McCowan of Mokane, MO and Ronan Harmon and husband Bill of Old Hickory, TN; five grandchildren: Ryan Harmon of Mt. Juliet, TN, Eric Harmon and wife Brooke of Mt. Juliet, TN, Dawn Atchley and husband Les of Choctaw, OK, Deana Berry and husband Justin of Mt. Juliet, TN, and Jennifer McCowan and husband Justin McDonald of Mokane, MO; thirteen great-grandchildren: Jordin and Jayde McDonald, Nathanial Callis, Mikala Atchley, Keeli James, Mia, Molly, Rex and Rocco Harmon, Lexi, Maddox, Kenzie and Khloe Berry; two great-great-grandchildren, Lucas Psanis and Hallie James; a half-brother, Paul Hartman and wife Anne of Marino Valley, CA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Rula Dean McCowan; her husband, Bob Arnold; and her parents, Amil and Mabel Hartman.

A Memorial Service and Celebration of Dean’s Life will be held from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Saturday, December 3, 2022 at First Assembly of God in Sullivan with Pastor Kyle Phillips officiating.

Online condolences may be shared with Dean’s family at www.eatonfuneralhome.com

All arrangements were under the care of the Eaton Funeral Home and Cremation Center of Sullivan.