Nola "June" Close

Nola June Close, age 87, of Liscomb and most fondly known as “Grandma Nunie,” left this earthly life on the early morning of Thursday, February 8, 2024 at the Oakview Nursing Home in Conrad.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 13 at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Visitation will be one hour prior. Family interment rites will be at a later date in the Quitman Cemetery in Quitman, MO. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234.

June was born on August 7, 1936 in Iowa, the daughter of Oren and Beulah (Brunk) Brown.

In 1955, she was united in marriage to Richard “Dick” Close in Maryville, MO. With him working construction, they called many communities home in their little travel trailer until family came along, and he said no more to life on the road. They settled down in Ferguson, Iowa, later LeGrand, Marshalltown and finally Liscomb in 1978, when they purchased the Village Inn.

Grandma Nunie was a tough woman with a strong work ethic, sometimes working three jobs to support her family. She had been employed at KIOWA, IVH in housekeeping, The Salvation Army and alongside her husband at different taverns including Dick’s Place at the Forest Park Ballroom. She was always the envy of her grandkid’s friends as she provided them boxes of pop, full-sized candy bars and bar-style frozen pizzas. She had a heart for hospitality and insisted her family be at Sunday dinners- and if not you better have a reason. Her table was full of food and everyone there had their own seat and own favorite drink. Her policy was having a thawed pound of hamburger and pound of bacon so if anyone stopped for breakfast, lunch or dinner, she could make it. She also enjoyed gardening, mushroom hunting, and time with others.

As her memory became more challenged, she made the change of her home to Oakview in Conrad. She enjoyed it there where she was near family and they could visit after the terrible trials of COVID were eased. She loved having Punkin and Buddy visit. Once in a while she would get into trouble alongside her son, Bob, for friendly “gestures” given to cars that passed but didn’t wave. It’s hard to be the fun one.

She and Dick were blessed with four children: Rick (Stacey) Close of Pierce City, MO; Bob (Rhonda) Close of Liscomb; the late Curt Close and Kathy (Buck) Manship of Liscomb; her grandchildren- the first born is Shawn, but we are not sure on the consensus if he is her favorite of not- still undecided. The vote will be by other grandchildren. Soon after came Benny, Loni, Lacey, Madison, Morgan, Amy, Kaden, Cord, Megan, Jake, Travis and Tiffany. She proudly saw that generation bring her in precious great-grandchildren: Shaelyn, Briana, Brody, Mavis, Delante, Keshawn, Lily, Layla, Carson, Oliver, Faith, Lance, Chase, Georgia, Tanner, Ross, Hunter, Jordyn, Kade, Brynn, Alexis and Logan and then the blessings of six great-great-grandchildren Phoenix, Avery, Violet, Jack, Scarlett, Violet and Paislee. She is also survived by a sister, Helen (Gary) Dunigan of Platteville, MO.

In death, she rejoined her beloved husband Dick (who better be nice that she is there with him now and not give her a hard time), her son Curt, her parents and siblings Juanita Herring, Donald Brown, Velda Gragg and Richard Brown in infancy.