Julia Merl (Dungan) Peveler passed away on November 26, 2023 surrounded by family at the age of 95.
Julia was born in Montgomery County to Kenneth Malcolm and Julia Lillian (Brown) Dungan on September 12, 1928. Her first eight years of education were held in the one-room Union School located on “County Line Road” between Montgomery and Callaway counties. She graduated from Montgomery City High School in May 1946. On June 23, 1946, she married the love of her life, William (Bill) J. Peveler at the family farm west of Montgomery City. She accepted Christ as a young woman. She was a member of Hopewell Baptist Church of Wellsville for many years and is a member of Faith Baptist Church in Montgomery City.
Julia was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and dedicated homemaker. Her children are thankful of her many acts of love too numerous to list. She provided many meals of the fruits, vegetables, chickens, eggs, beef, etc. that she and Bill raised. She sewed clothes for us. Most of all, she provided lots of love and good parental guidance. She enjoyed farm life and lived on the farm at Gamma her entire life since May 1956. She worked as a rural mail carrier for the Bellflower/Truxton route from 1965 to 1989 (as a sub for 16 years and full-time for 8 years) which included putting on chains for snowy icy roads.
Throughout her life and especially in retirement, Julia turned many scraps of cloth into creative beautiful hand-quilted quilts which were given to family members for special occasions. She also crocheted doilies and created teddy bears and raggedy ann dolls for her grandchildren. She enjoyed all of nature’s beauty including many types of flowers, often keeping heirloom plants alive. Bill and Julia enjoyed some traveling within the U. S. Her greatest joys were simple ones of family gathered around the kitchen table and loving her grandchildren. She was always hospitable, providing food for visiting family. Family reunions were very special events that she helped to organize. She was the family historian who collected pictures and genealogy information. Julia was a great example for us in her strong faith (Psalm 32:5-11) and very healthy lifestyle. She was very knowledgeable and taught others many things. We were amazed at her sharp mind. Her strong work ethic was unending. She was a member of the Greatest Generation.
Julia is survived by four sons and two daughters, 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Grouped by child: daughter Hazel Cabrera (Dennis) and step-daughter Jennifer Ochoa (Ed); son Mike Peveler (Marilyn) and family Julie Hamer (Bob) and children Michael, Isaac, Lucy and Leah; Lori Bryan (Jason) and children Levi and Wyatt; Holly Dullard (Steve) and children Norah and Stephen and daughter Kellie Peveler; son Gerald Peveler (Shari) and sons Matt, Andy and Jacob; son Kenneth Peveler (Nancy) and family Becky Palmer (Shane) and children Sam, Charlie and Anna; son Kerry Peveler (Laura) and step-sons Joshua and Daniel Sartin; daughter Roxie Campbell (Tim) and family Jabez Campbell (Sarah) and children Lorraine and Ethan. She is also survived by her brother Donald Dungan (Betty), sister Erma Clevenger, sister-in-law Joy Dungan and many nieces and nephews.
Julia is preceded in death by her loving husband of 64.5 years who passed on December 18, 2010; her parents; sister and her husband, Margaret and Glen Korman; brother, Kenneth (Sonny) Orville Dungan; brother-in-law, William Clevenger; nephew, Curtis Clevenger; and two great-nephews, Jonathan Jacobi and Cody Gotcher.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Schlanker Funeral Home in Montgomery City with Reverend John Brumagin officiating. Interment will follow in the Montgomery City Cemetery. The casketbearers include DeWayne Dungan, Bob Hamer, Jason Bryan, Steve Dullard, Shane Palmer, Rick Peveler and Cecil Peveler.
A visitation will be held on Friday, December 1, 2023, from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Schlanker Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Faith Baptist Church, in care of Schlanker Funeral Home, 207 Danville Road, Montgomery City, MO 63361.
