Cindy Drye Botard

   Cindy Leigh Drye Botard was born the daughter of Billy A and Hazel M Drye on May 30, 1962, in Kansas City, Missouri and died March 5, 2024, in Thayer, Missouri at the age of 61 years.  

   She is survived by her husband, Elton, of the home in Thayer, Missouri; one daughter, Samantha Leigh Whiteside and husband, Devin of Tulsa, Oklahoma; three stepdaughters, Amanda Crawford and husband Mark of Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, Shalyn Barton and husband Sam of Alton, Missouri, Brittany Collins and husband Brent of Mammoth Spring, Arkansas; nine grandsons, Christian, Cole, Connor, and Camden Whiteside, Blain and Keaton Nicholson, Kadon Botard and Sagan Taylor, Creek Collins; two granddaughters; Charlotte Whiteside and Willow Collins; and many other cousins, relatives, and friends. 

   She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Chloe Joy Whiteside, her parents, Billy A and Hazel M Drye and her grandparents, of whom she always had a unique, special relationship with her grandmother Gertie Drye. 

   Cindy grew up in Kansas City until she was in fourth grade, and then moved back to the family farm in Thayer where she enjoyed playing with her many cousins on the homestead. After graduating high school, Cindy obtained her nursing degree from Southwest Missouri State University.

She was an actively involved mom and always let Samantha participate in all the activities she wanted, playing chauffeur whenever needed. She was the PTA parent, classroom mom, and happy to host parties and play dates.

   Cindy and Elton married on her birthday, May 30, in 1997. She liked to joke and tease that they got married on her birthday so there were less dates to remember.  Cindy worked as a registered nurse until surviving breast cancer at 32. She worked in home health and touched many patients’ lives over the years.  

   Following this she was instrumental in assisting Elton in their woodworking business, Oak River Woodworking, as they traveled the country attending many arts and crafts fairs. Her artistic talent was rivaled only by her mother’s. In her later years, she lovingly cared for her mother and father as they aged. 

   She will be missed by all who knew her, most of all her family.

   Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Thayer, Missouri.

   Interment will be on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Thayer Cemetery, Thayer, Missouri with services under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer, Missouri.