Decoration Day, Old Trees & the 127th Annual Meeting
"Believe it or not, spending time at the cemetery is one of the most healing and uplifting things you can do. Just ask any of the faithful visitors who come to the Rock year after year on holidays, special occasions, and, of course, Memorial Day."
Read the Full Newsletter (PDF)Financial Overview · June 2025 – May 2026
| Donations / Gifts | Interest | Subtotal | (Expenses) / Disbursements | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $9,823.21 | $8,372.85 | $18,196.06 | ($20,647.75) | ($2,451.69) |
Fiscal year 2025–2026 was another transitional year for the board. Two members stepped down, a new Treasurer was elected, and in response to the uncertain economic climate, the frequency of board meetings was increased to once a quarter. A new budget was established, funds were reallocated from CDs to bonds, and a money market account was opened. The Endowment Fund grew by $27,220.65 while the Operating Account achieved a slightly higher interest rate.
Donations are allocated to these funds
Endowment
Long-term care of the cemetery in perpetuity
Maintenance
Mowing, fences, roads, daily upkeep
Chapel
Stewart Chapel, ramp, and chapel repairs
Mausoleum
Care of the columbarium and mausoleum
Veterans Memorial
Honoring those who served — adopt-a-vet
Four ways to give
By Mail
P.O. Box 45
Halltown, MO 65664
By Credit Card
Use the PayPal button on any page of this site
At the Chapel
Drop your check in the mail slot at the chapel
From the Wishlist
Easels, heaters, security cameras, signage, topsoil, replacement trees
"When planning your estate please don't forget Rock Prairie — a gift to Rock Prairie Cemetery will have a lasting legacy, benefiting others for generations."
Previous Newsletters
Five years of news from Rock Prairie — board changes, building projects, financial reports, the chapel coming back to life, and the people who quietly kept it all running.
There's Some New Kids In Town
The "Eagles" issue. After Sherry Neeley and Jim Carson stepped down at the 125th meeting, the new board introduces itself — Reece Drake, Jerry Tuttle, Josh Noggle, Mike Pyeatt, Stephanie Colley, Roxie Sharpe, and Kyle Pyeatt — with a recap of the 2024 "Changing of the Guard" appreciation party.
The Changing of the Guard
Sherry Neeley (27 years) and Jim Carson (21 years) step down. The complete association history from 1888 forward, the founding members of 1899, and a tribute to Annabel Kivett — Sherry's mom — who turned 100 and hadn't missed an annual meeting since 1997.
½ Acre Gifted to Rock Prairie
An anonymous donor gives the cemetery the wooded patch at the east end — the new "East Side" section. Plus a complete section-by-section history of how Rock Prairie grew from 1½ acres in 1888 to over 5 acres today, told through the families who donated each piece of land.
Let There Be Light
After 95 years in the dark, the chapel gets electricity. Records of the chapel's origin as a one-room schoolhouse on the Stewart farm, donated to the Methodist church, then rolled two miles on logs to the cemetery in 1927. The 1893–1908 Methodist church register is returned to the cemetery.
Reconvening After the Pandemic
The first annual meeting after the 2020 hiatus. Rock Prairie becomes an official 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Josh Noggle's chapel restoration work — new storage room, refinished entry ramp, cleaned windows. Plans take shape for a Veterans Memorial and scattering garden.
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