The Richmond News, Jan. 27, 2023

Laura Maddux

Laura Virginia (Whipple) Maddux passed away Jan. 17 in Plano, Texas. Laura was born Nov. 12, 1936, to Marguerite (Friday) Whipple and Lawrence Whipple. She was born premature and would spend the first year of her life at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Kansas City.

Even at that infant age, Laura proved to be a tough little lady and overcame great odds to survive, even when her doctors were unsure, especially with limited 1936 medical advancements. However, she would eventually leave the hospital to be raised on her parents’ farms – first in the Hickory Grove area and later near Rayville.

Laura would often refer to herself as a simple country girl, and when she moved to the Ozarks, she called herself a hillbilly. She wore both labels with pride.

Laura was more than 50 percent deaf in each ear and had a speech impediment. This would often make simple tasks more challenging. However, she graduated in 1955 from Richmond High School.

She married John W. Maddux Sr. in 1957. Laura worked at a Richmond area nursing home before her marriage.

She was a housewife and mother during her children’s early years and later worked at the Kid’s Korner Day Care Center in Richmond.

Laura enjoyed bowling as a young adult and was on several leagues. Later in life, she enjoyed reading, puzzles, and visiting with friends and neighbors.

Laura was a lifelong Southern Baptist and devoted in her church attendance. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Richmond. While living there, she often volunteered in the church nursery, as she had a love for children and a gift for working with them. She was most recently a member of the First Baptist Church in Exeter.

In 2000, Laura moved away from her hometown of Richmond to retire to Cassville to be near her eldest son, John. Upon his passing in 2017, she then moved to Dallas to be near her youngest son, James.

Laura was preceded in death by a brother, Hal-Richard Henry; her parents; her husband; and a son, John W. Maddux Jr.

She is survived by her son, James V. Maddux (David Swenson) of Dallas.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the National Kidney Foundation. They can be left at or mailed to Thurman Funeral Home; 507 E. Main St.-P.O. Box 190; Richmond, MO 64085.

The graveside service was held on Monday, Jan. 23, in Sunny Slope Cemetery, Richmond. Thurman Funeral Home in Richmond was in charge of the arrangements.

Please share your memories of Laura with the family by visiting www.thurmanfuneralhome.com.