Lewis Richard Alverson, 75, 1231 McKinley Ave., died at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, 1996, at Freeman Hospital West after a two-week illness. 

Mr. Alverson was born Oct. 7, 1921, at Los Angeles. He moved to the Joplin area in 1977 from the state of Arkansas. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He retired in 1973 as a military civil-service worker at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. He was a member of First Assembly of God Church, Joplin, American Association of Retired Persons and Gideons International. He was past president of National Association of Retired Federal Employees. He was a hospice volunteer. 

His first wife, Denise O. Verdry, died May 11, 1987. He married Mary M. Penn on Nov. 17, 1987, at Joplin. She survives. 

Additional survivors include four sons, John Alverson, Neosho, James Alverson, Stella, Jacques Alverson, Charlestown, Ind., and Daniel Alverson, Ash Flat, Ark.; two daughters, Annette Hurley, Seattle, and Kathleen Rogers, San Antonio; 13 grandchildren and five great-grand- children. 

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at First Assembly of God Church, Joplin. The Rev. Wallace Joice and the Rev. Jack Sanders will officiate. Burial will be in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio. 

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. today at Clark Funeral Home, Neosho. 

Roger James 

Roger L. James, 60, Winter Park, Fla., died Sunday, Dec. 8, 1996, at Florida Hospital, Orlando, Fla., after an illness. Survivors include a brother, Jack James, Joplin. 

Mr. James was born July 11, 1936, at Lebanon, Mo. He moved to Florida about 26 years ago. He was a Protestant. 

Additional survivors include two daughters, Kimberly Hussain, Winter Park, and Missy James, Clearwater Beach, Fla.; a brother, Edward James, Wickenburg, Ariz.; and three grandchildren. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Banfield Funeral Home, Winter Springs. 

Ruby Oliver 

Ruby A. Oliver, 65, Joplin, died at 2:10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, 1996, at Vencore Hospital, Kansas City, after a short illness. 

Mrs. Oliver was born July 13, 1931, at Joplin. She spent most of her life in Joplin. She was a legal secretary and a bookkeeper. She was a homemaker and member of Ducks Unlimited's Joplin chapter. 

She married Dick Oliver on June 15, 1952, at Joplin. He survives. 

Also surviving is a son, Rich Oliver, Joplin. 

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Parker mortuary. The Rev. J.K. Wright will officiate. Burial will be in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. 

Pallbearers will be Pete Box, Jim Brock, Mike LaFerla, Wes Locke, Rich Oliver and Rick McDonough. 

Contributions may be made to Ducks Unlimited, in care of the funeral home. 

Bertha Brown 

NOEL, Mo. … Bertha Jane Brown, 94, died Saturday, Dec. 7, 1996, at a local nursing home after a long illness. 

Mrs. Brown was born July 25, 1902, at Zenith, Ind. She was a homemaker and business operator. She moved to to Gravette, Ark., in 1947, and with her husband owned and operated the Cozy Theater for three years. She and her husband moved to Noel in 1950, where they owned and operated a dairy and chicken farm. She retired in 1968. 

She married Vernon Manley Brown on July 25, 1922, at Anthony, Kan. He died Dec. 8, 1991. 

Survivors include four sons, Theodore Lee Brown, Attica, Kan., Harold Eugene Brown, Wichita, Kan., Kenneth Brown, Wellington, Kan., and Marland DeeBrown, Southwest City; three daughters, Violet May Carr, Valley Center, Kan., Marie Alene Putnam, Brentwood, Calif., and Della LaVerne Johnson, Noel; a brother, Cecil Osborn, Anthony; a sister, Ruth Broce, Arkansas City, Kan.; 25 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. 

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Ozark Funeral Home, Noel. 

Burial will be in Butler Cemetery, near Sulphur Springs, Ark. 

Pallbearers will be Joe Johnson Jr., Jerry Brown, Eugene Carr, Kurt Brown, Sean McCullough, Robert Reynolds, Wayne Johnson, Mark Scripsick and Matt Scripsick. 

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. 

Grace Coons 

WEBB CITY, Mo. … Grace Coons, 83, 605 North Hall, died at 2:44 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, 1996, at Freeman Hospital West, Joplin, after a sudden illness. 

Mrs. Coons was born Dec. 28, 1912, at Sparta. She was a longtime area resident and a homemaker. She worked at Big Smith Shirt Co., Webb City. She was a member of First Christian Church, Webb City. 

She married Elmer Coons on Oct. 28, 1939. He died Feb. 18, 1956. 

Survivors include a sister, Lillie Boyd, Webb City. 

Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery, Joplin. 

Calvin St. Clair and Bertha E. Boyd, ministers, will officiate. 

Pallbearers will be Tom Maxwell Jr., Henry Norman, Charles Boyd, Jack Boyd, Bobby Boyd, and Charles Jackson. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Simpson Funeral Home, Webb City. 

William Demster 

LA RUSSELL, Mo. … William Henry Demster, 46, La Russell, died at 8:57 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, 1996, at his home after suffering an apparent hear attack. 

Mr. Demster was born Jan. 19, 1950, in Shannon County. He lived in the Miller area for about the past 22 years, including 14 years in La Russell. He was a land surveyor and an Army veteran. He was a member of Miller First Baptist Church and Missouri Association of Registered Land Surveyors. 

He married Christine Smith on Oct. 11, 1975, at Miller. She survives. 

Additional survivors include two sons, Jimmy Demster, of the home, and Tom Demster, Springfield; a daughter, Sam Demster, of the home; four brothers, Art Demster, Stockton, Ernie Demster, Springfield, Larry Demster, San Antonio, Texas, and Claude Demster, Kansas City; and two sisters, Loni West, Fair Grove, and Grace Plate, Mountain View. 

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Miller First Baptist Church. The Rev. Hugh Smith and the Rev. Bruce Rinker will officiate. Burial will be in Davis Cemetery, southeast of Miller. 

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home, Miller. 

Cathryn Dennison 

CARTHAGE, Mo. … Cathryn Dennison, 80, 744 Central Ave., died at 9:05 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, 1996, at McCune-Brooks Hospital, Carthage, after a short illness. 

Mrs. Dennison was born Nov. 14, 1916, at Fort Smith, Ark. She spent most of her life in Carthage. She was a homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church, Carthage. 

Her husband, John Dennison, died in 1954. 

Survivors include a brother, Eddie Vaughan, Webb City; a sister, Lamoine Shelton, Phoenix, Ariz.; and three step-grandchildren. 

Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Mount Hope Cemetery. The Rev. James Lawley will officiate. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Simpson Funeral Home, Webb City. 

Tressa Hull 

LAMAR, Mo. … Tressa Lee Hull, 74, Lamar, died at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, 1996, at Barton County Memorial Hospital after a long illness. 

Mrs. Hull was born June 10, 1922, at Sheldon. She was raised in Nevada. She moved to Lamar about 10 years ago from Kansas City. She was a homemaker and a member of High Street Baptist Church, Nevada. 

She married Orrin Phil Hull on Sept. 28, 1940, at Nevada. He died April 1, 1987. 

Survivors include three sisters, Dorothy Cato and Lillie Bodle, both of Lamar, and Ruby Padley, Butler. 

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Memory Gardens Cemetery, Lamar. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Daniel Funeral Home, Lamar. 

Noel Owen 

NEOSHO, Mo. … Noel Wilson Owen, 79, Neosho, died at 7 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, 1996, at his home after a long illness. 

Mr. Owen was born July 22, 1917, at Hazen, Ark. 

He moved to Neosho in 1952 from Rogers, Ark. He had worked as a mechanic at Griffith Motor Co. for many years, retiring in 1974. 

He then owned and operated Owen Garage and Auto Trim, Neosho. 

He was an Army veteran of World War II. 

He married Blanche DeGroff on April 18, 1952, at Bentonville, Ark. She survives. 

Additional survivors include four sons, Doyle Owen, Neosho, Bernie Owen, Wichita, Kan., Sam Owen, Rogers, Ark., and Larry Owen, Santa Fe, N.M.; three daughters, Betty Hutchinson, Swifton, Ark., Debra Hancock, Neosho, and Mary Donna Hughes, Centerville, Texas; four brothers, Alney Owen, Belleview, Fla., Robert ``Buddy'' Owen, Paducah, Ky., Leonard Owen, Wylie, Texas, and J.W. Owen, the state of Iowa; a sister, Helen Meade, Weiner, Ark.; 21 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. 

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Clark Funeral Home, Neosho. The Rev. Kim Mailes will officiate. 

Burial will be in Neosho Memorial Park Cemetery. 

American Legion Post No. 163 will perform flag-folding ceremonies at the cemetery. 

The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. 

Clara Pilcher 

NEVADA, Mo. … Clara V. Pilcher, 87, Nevada, died Friday, Dec. 6, 1996, at Nevada Regional Medical Center after a short illness. 

Mrs. Pilcher was born Jan. 27, 1909, at Sheldon. She was a lifelong area resident and active in volunteer work; volunteering for Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, and various veterans hospitals in the states of Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. 

She married Clarence M. Pilcher on Feb. 23, 1928, at Nevada. He died in 1974. 

Two sons also preceded her in death. 

Survivors include four sons, Dan Pilcher and Albert ``Duck'' Pilcher, both of Nevada, Dean Pilcher, Horton, and Elmo Pilcher, Milo; a daughter, Edna Olson, Horton; a brother, Wayne Glover, Fall River, Kan.; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. 

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada. Burial will be in Olive Branch Cemetery, Milo. 

Friends may call from now until the hour of service at the funeral home. 

Contributions may be made to Vernon County Cancer Relief Fund, in care of the funeral home. 

Elizabeth Stipp 

PURDY, Mo. … Elizabeth M. Stipp, 73, Purdy, died at 1:10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, 1996, at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, after a short illness. 

Mrs. Stipp was born July 18, 1923, at Purdy. She was a lifelong Purdy resident. She was a homemaker and owned a dairy farm with her husband. She was a member of Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Pulaskifield. 

She married Frank Stipp on Jan. 18, 1947, at Kansas City. He survives. 

Additional survivors include two sons, Robert Stipp and Tom Stipp, both of Pierce City; five daughters, Barbara Stipp, Veronica Edwards, Sandra Forester and Pamela Stipp, all of Purdy, and Patricia Ray, Butterfield; three brothers, Leo Burdolski and Edward Burdolski, both of Fairview, and Joseph Burdolski, Gardner, Kan.; two sisters, Leona Lathshaw, Aurora, and Mamie Dody, Stark City; 14 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. 

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Pulaskifield. David Miller will officiate. Burial will be in Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church's cemetery. 

Pallbearers will be John Barkell, Tommy Burdolski, Jason Cassidy, Gene Golkoski, Jessie Ray and Peter Renkoski. 

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at McQueen Funeral Home, Wheaton, where rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today. 

Contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, in care of the funeral home. 

William Taylor 

EXETER, Mo. … William B. Taylor, 66, Exeter, died at 7 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6, 1996, at his home after a sudden illness. 

Mr. Taylor was born April 17, 1930, in Carroll County, Ark. He moved to Exeter about five years ago from the state of Washington. He was the chief mechanic for 15 years for Tree Top Inc., the state of Washington. He was a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles and National Rifle Association. 

Survivors include three daughters, Pam Taylor, Exeter, Linda Hall, Sarasota, Fla., and Jo Ann Bias, Fort Smith, Ark.; a stepson, Johnny Ulrey, Yacoma, Wash.; two sisters, Vinnie Jones, Berryville, Ark., and Viola George, the state of California; and seven grandchildren. 

Services will be at 8 p.m. today at Williamson Funeral Home, Cassville. Robert Day, pastor, will officiate. 

The body will be cremated. 

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. 

Tiny Vaughn Jr. 

CARTHAGE, Mo. … J.E. ``Tiny'' Vaughn Jr., 67, Carthage, died at 3:35 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, 1996, at McCune Brooks Hospital, Carthage, after a sudden illness. 

Mr. Vaughn was born July 28, 1929, at Canute, Okla. He was a longtime area resident. He retired in 1987 from Carthage Marble Co., Carthage. He was a member of First Assembly of God Church, Carthage, and the O.C.A.W. Union, state of Colorado. 

He married Betty Johnson on Jan. 23, 1949, at Elk City, Okla. She survives. 

Additional survivors include two sons, Tommy Vaughn, Diamond, and Jimmie Vaughn, Carthage; four daughters, Glenda Hailey, Joplin, Kathy Peterson, and Jeanne Stewart, both of Carthage, and Sherrie Hoard, Weir, Kan.; two brothers, Eulen Vaughn, Waco, Texas, and Avner Vaughn, Elk City; a sister, Rose Hill, Elk City; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. 

Services are pending with Ulmer Funeral Home, Carthage. 

Blanche Weaver 

CASSVILLE, Mo. … Blanche Weaver, 89, Lindsay, Okla., formerly of Cassville, died Friday, Dec. 6, 1996, at her home after a long illness. 

Mrs. Weaver was born Oct. 10, 1907, at Seligman. She attended Seligman schools. She was a bookkeeper for several years at the MFA exchange at Cassville. She moved to Oklahoma in 1990. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Cassville. 

She married Lloyd Weaver on June 16, 1926, at Eureka Springs, Ark. He died in 1982. 

Survivors include two daughters, Deloris Davis and Shirlene Voegle, both of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and four grandchildren. 

Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in Seligman Cemetery. The Rev. Mike Davidson will officiate. 

Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. 

Angie Hand 

COLUMBUS, Kan. … Angie Hand, 82, 311 S. Tennessee, Derby, a former Columbus resident, died at 12:57 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, 1996, at a Derby nursing home after an illness. 

Mrs. Hand was born March 20, 1914, at Columbus, where she attended school. She had worked for several years as a clerk at Kirk's Grocery Store, Columbus. She was a homemaker and worked with her husband in duties on the family farm, southwest of Columbus. 

She married Verne Hand on July 2, 1932, at Columbus. He died Oct. 26, 1978. 

Survivors include a son, Bob Hand, Kalispell, Mont.; two daughters, Betty Lyerla and Lynn Channer, both of Wichita; a sister, Chris Doty, Miami, Okla.; a brother, Jack Davis, Roseburg, Ore.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. 

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Greenlawn Cemetery, southwest of Columbus. The Rev. Garland Bohn will officiate. 

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Murdock Funeral Home, Columbus. 

Gladys Bridges 

QUAPAW, Okla. … Graveside services for Gladys Evelyn Bridges, 83, 306 North Maple, who died Friday, will be at 10 a.m. Monday in G.A.R. Cemetery, Miami. 

The Rev. Marvin Cleveland will officiate. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Paul Thomas Funeral Home, Picher. 

Sadie Hittson 

AFTON, Okla. … Sadie Edith Hittson, 84, Afton route 2, died at 8:50 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, 1996, at her home after a long illness. 

Mrs. Hittson was born Oct. 3, 1912, in the state of Missouri. She was a lifelong Afton-area resident. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Afton. 

She married Mason Hittson on July 14, 1934, at Vinita. He died Feb. 18, 1993. 

Survivors include a son, Eldon Hittson, of the home; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Baptist Church, Afton. The Rev. Joe Don Olds will officiate. Burial will be in Sixkiller Cemetery, south of Afton. 

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. today at Adcock Funeral Home, Afton. 

Thelma Sanders 

MIAMI, Okla. … Thelma Maxine Irwin Sanders, 84, Miami, died at 12:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, 1996, at a Commerce nursing home after a long illness. 

Mrs. Sanders was born Oct. 6, 1912, at Webb City, Mo. She moved to Miami in 1957 from Cardin, Okla. She and her husband owned the former Sanders Lumber Co. for 44 years. She was a member of Cardin Christian Church and Order of the Eastern Star, Miami. 

She married Paul Sanders on June 1, 1929, at Miami. He died July 24, 1992. 

Survivors include a son, Franklin H. Sanders, Jacksonville, Fla.; two daughters, Grace McMullin and Carolyn Ellington, both of Cardin; a brother, Harl V. Irwin, Broomfield, Colo.; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. 

Arrangements are pending with Paul Thomas Funeral Home, Miami. 

Eddie Taff 

NOEL, Okla. … Eddie A. Taff, 32, Noel, died Sat. Dec. 7, 1996, from injuries sustained in a traffic accident near Noel. 

Mr. Taff was born Dec. 21, 1963, in the state of California. He was a maintenance supervisor for Noel Housing Authority following his employment as a laborer in painting, carpentry, and construction, in Tulsa. 

Survivors include his wife, Kimberly Arnold; two sons, Wade Taff and Joshua Taff, both of the home; a daughter, Rosie Taff, of the home; his mother, Fronnie Hampton, Jay; two brothers, Glenn Taff, Anderson, Mo., and Wade Taff, Hastings, Neb.; and a sister, Wilma Hurst, Houston. 

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Piney Cemetery, east of Jay. 

The Rev. Les Osborn will officiate. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home, Grove.