Johna Louise Hanshaw

Funeral services for Johna Louise Hanshaw, 97, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 11, 2024, in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.    

Mrs. Hanshaw passed away Friday, January 5, 2024, at Ozarks Medical Center.  

Johna most recently resided at West Vue Sleepy Oak Green House; the family would like to thank the West Vue staff for their loving care that was given to her. 

She was born August 22, 1926, at Bakersfield, Missouri, to Ralph M. Roberts and Emo Louise McCulley Roberts.  Johna was preceded in death by the love of her life Bob Hanshaw. They were married in Salem, Arkansas along with Dorothy Hanshaw and Orville Gilliam on August 22, 1943 after her mother suggested “Today would be a good day for a wedding”. To this union two children were born, Barbara Jean and Kenneth Dwayne.  Johna was saved at a tent revival at a young age. She served her Lord for the rest of her life. She was very active at Berean Baptist Church, serving as Sunday School teacher, the crafty person for VBS, Church Clerk and other positions as needed, until health reasons no longer permitted her to attend. She loved her church and the people that went there. Johna worked at Woolworth Department Store in West Plains, Bohrer Drug Store, and Wilke Drug Store as Cosmetic Technician. She loved her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren with all her heart. Always interested in what they were doing. Johna loved to do crafts, sew and crochet; making many afghans for the family and others and to donate to Cystic Fibrosis. Johna and her brother-in-law, Orville Gilliam, were the originators of the famous Hanshaw Reunion that lasted for over 49 years until Covid changed our lives.  Johna spent her life giving to others; she will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by two children, Kenneth Hanshaw and wife, Judy and Barbara Brown, all of West Plains; four grandchildren, Jason Brown and wife, Trish, Jeff Hanshaw and wife, Melinda, Jodi Morrison and husband, Brian, all of West Plains and Cindy Beck and husband, Brandon, Springfield, Missouri; twelve great-grandchildren, Tabi Ollar, Austin, Texas, Zach Brown, West Plains, Niki Winder, Springfield, Missouri, Jonathan Hanshaw, West Plains, Heather Poindexter, West Plains, Allie White, Strafford, Missouri, Brandon Cuna, West Plains, Katie Tooley, Rolla, Missouri, Jacob Hanshaw, West Plains, Afton Morrison, West Plains, Austin Tooley, Springfield, Missouri and Alec Morrison, West Plains; her beloved sister-in-law, Dorothy Hanshaw Gilliam, Springfield, Missouri; and several nieces and nephews, all very special to her.

Her parents, husband, one grandchild, one great-grandchild, father-in-law and mother-in-law, A.E. and Cora Hanshaw, son-in-law, Doyle Brown, one brother, Roy Roberts, one sister, Ann Ogle Aid, three sisters-in-law, six brothers-in-law and three nephews, preceded her in death.

Mrs. Hanshaw will lie in state from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Wednesday at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Gideon Bible Society and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775.