Noralee Faulkner

Noralee Phariss Faulkner, age 92, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at her home in Springfield. She was born July 27, 1933, on a farm outside Monett in rural Barry County Missouri. Noralee was the oldest daughter of Raymond Byron and Lois Lucille (Buehler) Phariss. She grew up in a home without electricity or running water, where she enjoyed milking cows, feeding chickens, and working on her family's strawberry farm. Noralee and her younger sister, Noveta, attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse on King's Prairie. She graduated from Monett High School in 1951 and from the University of Arkansas in 1955, with a degree in Home Economics. While attending university, Noralee was a member of the debate team. Following graduation, she moved to Ithaca, New York, to pursue a master's degree at Cornell University. During this time, she married Charles Faulkner, whom she met while an undergraduate student at the U of A.

Noralee and Charlie moved to Columbia, Missouri, where she taught Child Development classes at University of Missouri while Charlie completed his law degree. Their first child, Charlisa, was born during this time. The family then moved to Aurora where Charlie set up a law practice and Noralee continued her teaching career at Southwest Missouri State University. Within a few years they welcomed their son, Charles Byron. In 1974 the family moved to Kansas City where Noralee completed her working career as a supervisor of daycare licensing for the state of Missouri.

In retirement, Charlie and Noralee moved to a beautiful lake home in Shell Knob, Missouri. They spent many years entertaining friends and family. Noralee especially enjoyed hosting her grandchildren and providing them with many special experiences. She also pursued her passion for researching genealogy, traveling with Charlie to uncover their families' histories. Noralee's extensive research led to finding her connection as a Daughter of the American Revolution, as well as discovering her ancestors' many contributions and accomplishments.

Noralee embodied that same level of commitment when enhancing her own communities in SW Missouri, stating, "my roots run deep in Lawrence County." She established and served on committees dedicated to renovating and maintaining historical artifacts, particularly her one-room schoolhouse, King's Prairie School, which was dedicated as a historical landmark in 2020. Beginning in 2015, she served 10 years on the board of Jones Memorial Chapel in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, lending her expertise and energy to nearly every project - from groundswork to research to management of investments. She volunteered countless hours at the Lawrence County Historical Society's museum, Adamson Cabin, and research room, educating people about history and assisting them with their own research. Noralee possessed a particular respect for the final resting grounds of her ancestors. She was instrumental in rehabilitating the Samuel and Catherine Phariss Memorial Cemetery, as well as the John Phariss Cemetery by devoting hours of research to ensure accuracy and by participating in the physical labor needed to clear the overgrown vegetation before the head and foot stones could be located. Noralee and her cousin Barbara hosted a lovely dedication ceremony and placement of the historical marker adjacent to the cemetery. Noralee's endowment will guarantee that her descendants will experience the great love and devotion to family that she always expressed in her quiet and subtle ways.

Noralee is survived by her daughter, Dr. Charlisa Allen of San Diego, California, along with her son, Dr. Byron Faulkner and his wife, Mary, of Springfield, Missouri. She was blessed with five grandchildren, Joshua Lee Allen, Jennifer Leigh Allen, Laura Elisabeth Moore (Derek), Victoria Marie Meier (Darren), and Anna Nicole Price (Ryan), and three great-grandchildren, Nora Katherine Moore, Sophia Elisabeth Moore, and Charlotte Elisabeth Price all of Springfield, Missouri. Noralee is survived by her sister, Noveta Richardson of Little Rock, Arkansas, four nieces and their spouses, and several grand nieces and nephews.

Noralee was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Lois Phariss, her husband of 55 years, Charles Brixey Faulkner, and son-in-law, Dr. Robert W. Allen.

Noralee was a remarkable woman, and she meant a great deal to many people. This brief narrative just touches the surface of how deep her impact has been on her family and all the people with whom she came into contact.

A celebration of Noralee's life will be held from 10:00-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora, Missouri. A private family burial will be held at Spring River Cemetery in Verona, Missouri.

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