Lola F. Duffen of Mexico, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at her home.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 9, at the First Baptist Church of Mexico with Rev. Randy Jones officiating. Burial will follow in East Lawn Memorial Park. Visitation is Monday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the church.

Lola was born on October 22, 1934, in Laddonia, Missouri, the daughter of Russell Howdeshell and Lucille Snyder Howdeshell. She grew up and attended school in Laddonia. On April 25, 1969, she married Walt Duffen in Mexico. This April, they would have celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary.

Lola moved to Mexico at an early age and worked as a waitress at Eddie's Drive-In. She later went to work at International Shoe Company. After a number of years at the shoe factory, she went to work at Frendendall and Wilkins Department Store managing the baby department.

When Frendendalls closed, Lola went to work in the catalog department of JC Penney on the square in Mexico. In May of 1983, Lola took a position in the Audrain County Circuit Clerk's office. She retired from the clerk's office in January of 2005 after 21 years of service.

Lola was a "shopper!" She loved garage sales. Years ago, she could be seen most Saturdays with her granddaughter hitting every garage sale in town. Her and Walt were big Bulldog fans. Until her health problems, they attended Bulldog games home and away. She had the privilege of following their son's high school and college career. Later, they enjoyed following their great-grandsons' school and  sporting events in Fulton and Sturgeon.

Mrs. Duffen was a member of the former Opti-Mrs Club, the Red Hat Society, local AARP, Altrusa International, and volunteered at the local hospital until it closed. Lola accepted Christ as her Savior at the age of 14 and was baptized at the Laddonia Baptist Church. She later moved her membership to the First Baptist Church of Mexico, where she faithfully attended until her health issues.

Lola had a big heart and beautiful smile! She was small in stature but was an amazingly strong woman. After five major back surgeries and an open-heart surgery, she became bedridden in 2017. Her positive outlook, strength and faith enabled her to remain at home with Walt until her death.

Mrs. Duffen loved and enjoyed life. Her family meant the world to her. She was a Cardinal fan……. both the ball team and those that visited the bird feeders outside her window. She loved for Walt to put her in the wheelchair and go under the shade tree out front to visit with neighbors and the neighborhood dogs, who were always ready for treats.

Her family would like to thank Dr. Taylor and his staff for their years of care; Marissa and Becky and the Centerwell Staff for their care for Lola; Trena, her Physical Therapist who became a special friend; Dr. Jamison and the staff at Boone Wound Clinic for their care and friendship; neighbors and friends for the visits and encouragement; and finally Allie and Hannah, her hospice nurse and aide who were so caring for her and Walt the last weeks.

Lola was preceded in death by her parents, sons, John and Stan; and three brothers, Jim, Bobby, and Russell Howdeshell.

She is survived by her husband, Walt; daughter, Tammi Carter of Fulton; son, Scott Duffen and wife, Emmalee, and their children, Beau and Skylar, all of El Dorado Hills, California; granddaughter, Krista Rene of Sturgeon; great-grandsons, Jacob and Kaden Barnes of Fulton, Alex and Logan Ray of Sturgeon; sisters, Betty Bowers of Columbia and Patsy Stevenson of St. Ann, Illinois; brother, Thom (Jen) Howdeshell of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; sister-in-law, Virginia Howdeshell of Vandalia; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tom and Betty Lampe of Harrisonville; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Mexico. They may be sent in care of Arnold Funeral Home, 425 S. Jefferson Street, Mexico, MO 65265.

Lola would want us all to remember, as a line from one of her favorite hymns says, "It Is Well With my Soul!"