Obituary of Tena Vanessa Backues

Tena Vanessa Backues, daughter of Ralph & Karen (Holt) Backues, went home to be with our Lord on October 3, 2022. Tena was born December 30, 1986, in Columbia, Missouri. She lived in Licking, Missouri, her entire life, graduating from Licking High School in 2005. After high school, Tena worked at a few of the local businesses including, The Coffee Pot, the Shell station, & the Scenic River Inn. For the last year, she had volunteered at the Bargain’s for Mission Thrift Store through Purpose Ministries in Steelville, where she was a blessing to the community & the ministry; she was loved by all who worked with her. Tena remained in the home of her parents, caring for them, especially after her mother’s stroke in 2015. She loved helping her father outdoors, spending time fishing & visiting with family, & taking care of her animals & flowers. She also enjoyed helping out at family reunions & caring for the stones at family cemeteries. She truly led a life of serving others. Tena was proceeded in death by her grandparents, Lester & Viola Holt, Clyde Backues, Junior & Rosalie Ritz, her Aunt Vickie Eiffert, her Uncle Brian Turner, & cousins, Michelle Rector, Dalton Backues, & Seth Backues. Surviving family includes: her parents, Ralph & Karen, brother, Toby & fiancée, Bobby, sister, Tory & fiancé, Cecil. Aunts & uncles include: Virginia & Roger Bates, Barbara Turner, Roy Holt & fiancée, Carlene, Brenda Rector, Pamela & Jerry Gorman, Starla Garrett & fiancé, Ryan, Clyde Backues Jr & fiancée, Maricris, Bobby Backues, James & Michelle Backues, Steve & Margaret Ritz, Greg & Michelle Ritz, & Patricia & Mitch Fall. Tena was also blessed with many cousins & two nephews, Dillon & Chase. She spent a lot of time with her cousin, Gavan and niece, Nattilee.