Carol Cunningham

Carol Cunningham, age 89, of Middletown, MO passed away at 12:40 pm Thursday, July 24, 2025, at her home.

A graveside service will be held 4:00 pm Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at the Vandalia Cemetery. Rev. Jerry Gamm, Bro. Bob Hoehn and Bro. Jim Craig will officiate.

The family is being served by the Waters Funeral Home of Vandalia.

Carol was born on February 19, 1936, in Vandalia, MO the daughter of Podge and Marie (Dunn) Traynor.

She was united in marriage to Edsell L. Cunningham on November 21, 1953. He preceded her in death on April 4, 2017.

Survivors include her son, Bob Cunningham of Middletown, MO; grandson Travis Cunningham and wife Sylvia of Silex, MO; great-grandchildren, Hope Cunningham, Cole Cunningham, Kennedy Cunningham, Aubrey Bailey, Ashley Bailey, Ashley Potter, Addison Potter and Aiden Rutherford; brother, Bill Traynor and wife Sandra Kay of Bowling Green, MO; sister-in-law, Erma Traynor of Vandalia, MO and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Cunningham was preceded in death by an infant son, Ronnie Wayne; daughter, Joyce Pease wife of Jim Pease; and brothers, Paul and Gene Traynor.

Carol worked at store in Vandalia in her younger years then married and started a family in Mexico, MO, later moving to the Middletown area. She became a full-time homemaker and farmer's wife, working on and around the farm helping raise her family. Keeping her huge yard mowed like a golf course, gardening, canning the fruits of her labor were things Carol enjoyed. Family and her faith was her love. She enjoyed family gatherings, watching RFD TV music programs and cherished the time reading her Bible.

Mrs. Cunningham played the piano for years at the Gazette Baptist Church and her and Edsell attended the New Hartford Baptist Church in the later years.

Carol was loved by many, even through her stays in the hospital over the last couple of years, as her health was failing. Her Doctors and Nurses alike would create a special bond with her, and love and kiss her goodbye when she would leave the hospital after a stay. She was always blessed with great nurses. She was a good-hearted Christian woman and was a strong believer in fairness and the difference between right and wrong. She hardly ever missed thanking someone for something no matter how small it was, and no matter how bad she felt, clear up to the day she passed she waved goodbye and thanked the people for coming to see her.

Many people have learned from her kindness and love. She was the helper to her husband Edsell, raising hogs most of their married life. A wonderful mother to her two children, Joyce, who was taken to be with the Lord early in life and son Bob she took great pride and joy in grandson, Travis and wife Sylvia, and all her great grandchildren. She always looked forward to seeing them.

Carol was a partner and helper on the farm, she was a devoted wife who took her wedding vows and promises to God to heart, she enjoyed being on the farm. The farm is where her husband Edsell was born and raised, and also where he left this Earthly World to join God in Heaven. She also made her request to live out the rest of her life on the farm and leave this world from the comfort of her own home with her sweet little dog "Baby' at her side when the time came to leave this world to go be with God.

Carol's last two years of failing health, her son Bob promised her he would do whatever it took for her to stay at home until her final day. With a lot of help, her request was fulfilled. It took much help from a\son Bob, grandson Tavis and wife Sylvia, Peach Roberts, sister-in-law Sandra Kay Traynor, all her loving nieces, Debbie Pease, Cindy Crowder, Karen Ankrom, Pam Exendine, special friend Sandy Harrellson and other friends. All together they made her request and promised to her that she would live out her final days at home and her soul would leave for the Lord from there.

In the last year of her life it was the love, devotion, kind and loving souls that helped with care, food, doctor appointments, hospital visits that showed the true love that Carol received. She thanked the Lord over and over for her loving family and close friends she could love, she knew would love her back with all they had.

Pallbearers will be Travis Cunningham, Cole Cunningham, Darwyn Pease, Neil Gilbert, Joe Crowder and Ed Traynor.

Honorary pallbearers will be Brian Crowder, Josh Pease, Caleb Pease, Paul Traynor, Chipper Traynor, Lucas Exendine, Nick Exendine, Billy Joe Cover, Steve Reynolds, Matt Traynor and Jim Pease.

Memorial contributions may be made to New Hartford Baptist Church or Curryville Baptist Church, in care of the Waters Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be made to the family on Carol's memorial page at www.watersfuneral.com