Ava Leora Viehman, nee Ransom, age 80, of Steelville, MO passed away Saturday, April 9, 2011 at Gibbs Care Center. She was born February 16, 1931 in Steelville, MO to Dewey and Nora (Brown) Ransom. On September 11, 1948, she was united in marriage to Jesse "Bud" Viehman at the Presbyterian Church by Rev. Sam Roper and to this union two children were born. Ava worked for the Steelville Star for 28 years, retiring from full-time work at the newspaper in September of 2008. "It was a learning experience and I enjoyed every minute of it," she said during a retirement reception held in her honor at Steelville Middle School that month. With the first issue of the Steelville Star in February of 1980, Ava realized a 33-year-old dream. She had always wanted to be a newspaper reporter, but when she graduated from high school in 1947 there were no opportunities available in Steelville, and she didn't know how to go about finding them. She couldn't afford to go to college to pursue it as a career so she went forward with other directions in her life. Ava's first job was with the County Extension office. She worked as a secretary with them for five years, making $75 a month. While her children, Kelly and Rob, were young, she was a stay-at-home mom, but also had a home business decorating cakes, a skill she taught herself. One year she earned $3,000 making cakes. She made wedding cakes for almost all her nieces and nephews and delivered them as far away as Springfield and St. Louis. She began freelance writing for the Cuba Free Press in the 1970s. During that time, she also did daily news reports about Steelville for a radio station in Sullivan. In the late '70s, Ava talked with Free Press Publisher Percy Pascoe about her desire to provide hometown news for Steelville. One day he came to her and asked, "Well, how would you like to have your own newspaper?" and the Star was launched. Pascoe, Ava and Marie McDole (the first employee in charge of advertising) got together and found building space to use, which, incidentally, rented for $60 per month. The first issue of the Steelville Star was printed Feb. 6, 1980, featuring pictures of Ava, Marie, and Teresa Foss (the first editor) on the front page along with the headline, "Local news is Star's aim." Her only experience in writing had been high school English, so she once again taught herself a new skill: the art of newspaper writing. She was the only writer for the Star at the paper's commencement. Ava's advice to Three Rivers Publishing and newspaper writers in general is "Tell it like it is, you can't get in trouble for that." In a feature story dated Feb. 21, 1990 about the paper's 10th anniversary, she wrote, "Good or bad, the newspaper is a reflection of the times and the community. Newspapers jog memories and take stands. They entertain and infuriate. They praise and they criticize. They line birdcages and fill scrapbooks. They take work and they make work. I think we have achieved our goal...'Local News for Local People.'" Ava was also active in a number of community organizations. She celebrated 60 years as a 4-H leader in 2008. At one time, the Go-Getters 4-H Club had the largest club in the state with 125 members. As leader, she organized monthly meetings, service projects and trips in addition to guiding individual projects in food, clothing and cake decorating. Many of the thousands of 4-Hers who were members of the Go-Getters learned to square dance under Ava's instruction. Some even learned to dance on roller skates. Ava's square dancers performed all over the county at public events and festivals. She also called square dancing for many years for tourists at Cobblestone and Eagle Hurst resorts. She was honored during the 2008 4-H Leaders Banquet. "Overwhelmingly awesome-I never expected such an outpouring of appreciation," she said of the accolades for her years with 4-H. County Commissioners Ed Worley and John Hewkin presented Ava with a proclamation honoring her many contributions to Crawford County. A variety of citizens spoke of experiences and how she had been influential in their lives. Ava also received a resolution from the Missouri Senate from State Senator Frank Barnitz during the banquet. Ava was a member of the Steelville Presbyterian Church where she served as deacon, elder, and Sunday school teacher. She was a city alderman for two years, was the only woman on the Steelville Industrial Authority board for a time, and spent 15 years on the Hoppe Springs Museum Board. She was the Steelville Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. She also served as the Steelville Homes board secretary for approximately 30 years. As Community Betterment chairman for 15 years, she won several awards. She also volunteered for Golden Echoes. When her children were still young, she drove a small school bus to pick up people to take to the center. Her children rode the bus with her and they all helped serve in the dining room. Ava was also an avid bowler for many years and traveled with her bowling team throughout Missouri and the United States to participate in bowling events. In addition, she was known to many as an excellent driving instructor, and helped many young Steelville residents (and a few older ones) get their license. Ava will be sadly missed by her husband of 62 years, Jesse "Bud" Viehman of Steelville, MO; one son, Rob Viehman and wife Caroline of Steelville, MO; one daughter, Kelly Hughes and husband Jim of Steelville, MO; five grandchildren, Jordan Hughes, Cameron Hughes, Endi Viehman, Justess Viehman and Shay Viehman; two brothers, Bill Ransom and wife Marilyn and Dewayne "Murf" Ransom all of Steelville, MO; half brothers and sisters, Steve Ransom and wife Linda, Larry Ransom and wife Tina and Janet Echert and husband Steve all of Steelville, MO, Pat Brown and husband Allen of Cherryville, MO, Wanda Bogue and husband Bill of Cuba, MO and Jeff Ransom and wife Sabrina of Potosi, MO; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Elaine Ransom of Steelville, MO, Maxine Mullen of Valley Park, MO, Leslie Viehman and wife Dorothy of Florissant, MO, Richard Viehman and wife Marlyn, of Bridgeton, MO, and Ralph Viehman and wife Ardell of Garland, TX; other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother James Ransom; daughter-in-law, Lori Anne Viehman; sister-in-law, Irene Eaton; and one brother-in-law Larry Mullen Jr. Visitation was from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO. Funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 14, 2011 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home with Rev. Jerry Beers and Pastor Mike Reno officiating. Special music of "Angels among Us" was played and sung by Rev. Jerry Beers. Organ music was provided by Wanda Ransom. Committal prayer and burial were in the Steelville Cemetery. Honored to be serving as casket bearers were Chris Ransom, Mike Ransom, J.T. Ransom, David Eaton, Bill Coffman, Mike Viehman and as honorary casket bearer, Butch Fishwick. Memorials may be given to Gibbs Care Center Building Fund or Steelville Food Pantry. The Family was served by the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, MO.