Honoring the life’s work of an Ozarks Folklorist

Missouri State Magazine · Jul 6, 2026

The new Marideth Sisco Community Education Fund at West Plains is named for an alumna who passed away this May. Sisco ’86 was a radio personality, singer, songwriter, author, retired journalist and expert on this region. The fund will bring in speakers, and her work will be displayed on campus.

Editor’s note: Sisco passed away as this issue was being produced. We were able to speak with her prior to her passing.

Marideth Sisco ’86 had captivated audiences since she was 3.

As a toddler in 1946, she stood on an ice cream freezer at an auction and sang to a crowd for the first time. Sisco grew…