LaVeta Mae (Haslip) Balmas, 91, of Monett, MO, passed from this life to her heavenly home on Monday, June 20, 2022, while at her home.

LaVeta was born on February 13, 1931 in a log cabin in rural Christopher, Newton County, MO, daughter of the late Thomas V. Haslip and Ida (Tiedeman) Haslip.

LaVeta was a 1948 graduate of Purdy High School, Purdy, MO. She was united in marriage to Billie Gene Balmas on August 10, 1948.

LaVeta retired from Hughes Aircraft Company in Newport Beach, CA. After retirement, she loved being a snow bird in Yuma, AZ for almost thirty years.

She is survived by one son, Kenneth Balmas and wife Linda, of Purdy, MO; two daughters, Debbe Jones and husband Bob Welde, of Monett and Jeanne Lupe, of Mount Vernon, MO; eight grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren with two more due this summer; as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

LaVeta was preceded in death by her husband, Billie Gene Balmas; her parents, Tom and Ida Haslip; two sisters, Lorene (Haslip) Bledsoe and LaVerne (Haslip) Rhea; two brothers, Earl Thomas and Leonard Haslip; and one granddaughter, Kenda (Jones) Harris.

Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at Buchanan Funeral Home. Graveside services will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the Waldensian Cemetery, Monett, with Reverend Randy Crane officiating. Memorial contributions have been suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association in care of the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett, MO.