Beulah Bryant

Beulah Ethel Smith Bryant was born September 24, 1927, to Homer Albert Smith and Ethel Winnie Belew Smith. She passed away in Springfield, Missouri, on November 29, 2016, at the age of 89 years. Beulah was preceded in death by her husband George, her parents, her sister Wanda, her son in law Mike, and brothers Lawrence and Ernest.

Beulah grew up near Casto Valley in Shannon County Missouri, with her sister Wanda and six brothers, Lawrence, Earnest, Wayne, Merle, Harold, and Ronnie.

Beulah had a variety of jobs after graduating from Summersville High School. She was a secretary in the Summersville Superintendent’s office, and spent some time in St. Louis working at a photo lab. After returning to Summersville, Beulah married her high school sweetheart, George David Bryant on March 23, 1947.

Beulah and George both worked in Craig’s Chevrolet Garage where he was a parts manager and she was a bookkeeper. They lived just a few blocks from the garage with their small growing family. Their relationship as a team at the Chevrolet Garage was only the beginning of their livelong personal and working partnership. They loved working on the family farm together where they raised their three children Shirley, Betty, and Steve. When the children were grown, the farm became a favorite hangout for the six grandchildren– Jamie, Jennifer, Peter, Luke, Joe, and Seth. The grandchildren have many fond memories of Mowo working in her kitchen until late hours in the night. They particularly enjoyed eating their favorite Mowo cookies and drinking sweet tea. George and Beulah also jointly purchased and operated the Summerville Auction which had been in Beulah’s family for many years prior. Many wonderful memories were made with the entire family during that time.

As the great grandchildren—Tyler, Adrianna, Ethan, Jourdain, Alexander, Connor, Joey, and Bryant began arriving, George and Beulah moved back into town and a new generation began making memories in the brick house on the corner of 5 ^th and Main Street in Summersville. Many of those memories involved playing games with Mowo and drinking Dr Pepper from the extra refrigerator in the guest house.

In March 2010, Beulah lost her beloved George and moved to an apartment at the Montclair Senior Living Community where she began the last chapter of making memories with her family. She became actively involved in that community where she made many new friends and rekindled old relationships. It was at this point that the two most recent great grandchildren—Roxie and Dawson added to her joy. All the grandchildren loved visiting her at the Montclair, and in the typical Mowo and Ba generous spirit, she always made sure that all the grands never walked out without a little extra money folded and placed in their hands for extra gas or toys.

Her family and being a “Mowo,” as well as cooking, and quilting were her greatest passions. The things Beulah could do with her limited vision was an inspiration to us all.

Beulah is survived by her daughter Shirley and husband Gary Whiteis of Springfield, daughter Betty Wojnowski of Montgomery, IL, and son Steve and wife Christy Mathes Bryant of Rolla, grandchildren, great grandchildren, brothers, brothers-in-law and sisters-in law.

Beulah a.k.a Mowo, loved her family and community of friends who will all miss her!

Memorials may be made to:
Association for the Blind
1680 E. Lombard
Springfield, Missouri 65802