Samuel “Lex” Elliott, 89, of Cassville, Missouri.

Samuel “Lex” Elliott, 89, of Cassville, Missouri passed away on Friday, December 27, 2024 at Roaring River Health & Rehabilitation in Cassville.

Lex was born October 12, 1935 to Sam and Lois Elliott in the tiny town of Carnegie, Oklahoma. They lost his sweet mother after a long illness when he was just a boy. Being the only child born to poor farmers in rural, central Oklahoma, he recalled childhood memories of working long hours on farmland that was leased by his father and enjoying tinkering with engines, fishing and hunting.

Upon graduation from high school in Pawnee, Oklahoma in 1953, he moved to Washington state to pursue work opportunities in the logging industry while waiting for his high school sweetheart, Clara Tull, to finish her schooling so they could marry. Lex and Clara married June 1, 1956 (one week after she graduated from high school). Soon after, they moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma to pursue an employment opportunity for Lex in the Research & Development Department of Phillips Oil Company. After a couple of years there, Lex accepted a promotion and transfer with Phillips and he and Clara moved to Grants, New Mexico. They were blessed with three daughters, Cynthia Diane, Vicki Lynn, and Patricia Sue. After moving back to Oklahoma with the growing family in the early 1960s, he became a Prudential insurance agent in Ponca City, Oklahoma. There he achieved many sales awards, including Top Salesperson in the state of Oklahoma several times.

Lex and Clara knew they wanted a different environment for raising their three daughters so, in 1971 they ventured to Cassville, Missouri. Lex seized the opportunity to combine his passions for farming, wildlife, and being outdoors, with his desire to share those passions with his family, and began building Roaring River Deer Park located on Highway 112. That proved to be quite the family adventure. The Elliott family worked long hours together and made countless, happy memories while raising and caring for many different animal species and running the family business. Lex was also employed at Southwest Schools in Washburn, Missouri where he was the Transportation Superintendent for 20 years. After selling the Deer Park and retiring from Southwest Schools in 1990, he and Clara purchased the Roaring River Resort. They lived at and operated the 20-cabin resort and developed a 20-site RV and campsite that provided tourists additional options for lodging when they came to Roaring River State Park for trout fishing and vacationing.

Lex is survived by his wife of 68 years, Clara; daughters, Cindy Carney and husband Scott of Monett, Missouri, Vicki Horton and husband Greg of Paola, Kansas, and Patty Johnson and husband Jeff of Cassville, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Amanda Sorensen and Mitch, Alex Hodge and Jessica, Brooks Carney, Melody Doss and Dakota, Grant Carney, Claire Stofer and Zachariah Jalilpoor, Lucy Stofer, and Lexee Johnson; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter, and his beloved fur baby, Romeo.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Sam C. and Serena Lois Elliott and half-brother, Daniel Elliott.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Cassville and regretted being unable to attend services the last few years because of his deteriorating health. Lex will be remembered by all who knew him as patient, loyal, soft-spoken, wise and slow to complain. An honest Christian man. He will most certainly be greatly missed by his family and friends, while honored in his death for the many happy memories and the legacy of values and influence he leaves behind for all of us.

Services will be held 11:00 A.M. Thursday, January 2, 2025 at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville, Missouri. Scott Carney and Pastor Rick Cooper will conduct the services.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 A.M. until service time Thursday, January 2, 2025 at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville, Missouri.

Burial will be held 1:00 P.M. Monday, January 6, 2025 at Highland Cemetery in Pawnee, Oklahoma where he will rest in peace near other family members.

Contributions may be made to Roaring River Health and Rehabilitation in memory of Lex.

Visit www.fohnfuneralhome.com for online obituaries, guestbook and private condolences.