Jo Etta Schnetzler

Jo Etta Schnetzler passed away quietly on Sunday, June 29, 2014 in Springfield, MO. She was born on June 20, 1930 to William Bert and Zillah Blanche (Holt) Seitz at Dry Fork, AR on the family farm. The family moved to Berryville, AR when she was four years of age.

Mrs. Schnetzler graduated from high school in 1947 at the age of 16. After high school graduation she attended the School of the Ozarks (College of The Ozarks) at Hollister MO. She worked at the Eureka Springs Hospital until she was eighteen and could attend nursing school.

She graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1953 from St. Vincent School of Nursing in Little Rock, AR. Mrs. Schnetzler moved to Tulsa and started her long career in nursing. She worked as an Orthopedic Scrub Nurse, and then as a labor and delivery nurse for several years. Later, she worked as Quality Control Director at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. After the death of her husband, she moved to Springfield, MO in 1979 where she served as Director of Nurses at several area nursing homes. She completed her nearly 50 year career in nursing by teaching nursing assistant classes and testing for state certification. Mrs. Schnetzler retired from nursing in 2001.

Mrs. Schnetzler enjoyed flowers, gardening, especially quilting, crafts and entertaining. She was an excellent cook. She loved animals, especially her two cats, and frequent feeding visits from wild animals in her backyard. She enjoyed working the daily crossword puzzle. As a young mother living in Jenks, OK, she was active in cub scouts serving as Den Mother, PTA and Sunday school teacher.

She married Robert Allen Schnetzler in 1958 and he preceded her in death in 1976. She was also preceded in death by her son Charles Scott Schnetzler, a Petroleum Engineer, in 1993. She was also preceded in death by her parents and brother, Jerry Burr Seitz.

Mrs. Schnetzler is survived by one son, Dr. Kent Allen Schnetzler of Hot Springs, AR; two sisters, Dr. Berta Seitz of Fayetteville, AR and Louise Runyan (Roy) of Swifton, AR; sister-in-law, Jane Seitz Bennett; one nephew, Nathan Bert Seitz and five nieces, Stephanie Mills (Kevin), Amy Heron (Brad), Dr. Tiffany Garrison (Zac), Brooke Craine (Dr. Corey) and Bethany Meadows (Josh) plus 4 grand nephews and 3 grand nieces.

Graveside service will be Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations in Jo Etta’s name may be made to the Springfield, MO Humane Society or your local animal shelter.