Sarah Ann (Houk) Hamilton was born June 4, 1937, in Sheridan, Missouri. She grew up in the Sharpsburg and Bedford, Iowa, areas and attended Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Missouri. A hardworking entrepreneur and devoted mother, Sarah owned and operated her first restaurant, Stringtown Café in Lennox, Iowa, while raising her four children.
Sarah later moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she trained and worked as a beautician. Life eventually called her back to Iowa, where she owned and operated the Ponderosa truck stop in Glenwood.
It was at the Ponderosa that Sarah met Harley Hamilton, who was born May 9, 1944. Harley was a truck driver and became a familiar visitor during his hauls. Their friendship grew into a lasting partnership, and they were married July 10, 1983, in Glenwood.
Sarah and Harley later sold the Ponderosa and moved to Bedford, where they operated the Bedford Café until their retirement. When their daughter Mary moved to Branson, Missouri, they followed and made their home in the Ozarks. Sarah and Harley cherished their life together. They enjoyed playing cards, especially Texas Hold’em and pinochle, and taking trips to casinos, with their visits to Las Vegas holding special memories.
After their years in Branson, the couple moved to Lincoln, Missouri. Harley died March 14, 2011, at a hospital in Sedalia, Missouri. Sarah later returned to southwest Missouri, where she resided until her passing on September 27, 2026. Their story is remembered as one of hard work, shared adventure, and enduring devotion.
They will be deeply missed by Sarah’s children, Sherry Bracken (Ray), Robert “Bob” Gray (Colleen), and Terry Gray (Barbara); their daughter, Mary Lininger (Les); twelve grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson; Sarah’s siblings, Nadine Stanley, Helen Gilliland (Norman), Joan Butler, Betty Bailey (Chuck), Rex Houk, Jr. (Joan), Mary Steinbock, Patricia White (Stuart) and Ellis Houk and one sister-in-law, Carolyn Houk.
Preceding in death were Sarah’s parents, Lewis Rex Houk and Vera Maxine (Rowe) Houk; one brother, Gene Houk; one grandson, Joshua Lininger and brothers-in-law, Ray Stanley, Lance Steinbock and Bob Butler.
The lives of Sarah and Harley will be remembered and celebrated on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 10:00 am in Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home & Crematory, Branson.
