Miscellaneous Jasper County, Missouri Obituaries

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Delmar Cooper

Delmar D. Cooper, 78, Joplin route 3, died at 11:40 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1997, at Freeman Hospital East after a short illness. Mr. Cooper was born April 20, 1918, at Kellyville, Okla. He had been a lifetime Joplin area resident. He was a member of Southview Assembly Church, Joplin. He was a self-employed carpenter. Survivors include a son, Bobby Ray Cooper, Joplin; a brother, Virgil Cooper, Carthage; two sisters, Mary Ansel, Clovis, Calif., and Nelie Cornelius, Sanger, Calif.; six grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Thornill-Dillon Mortuary, Joplin. The Rev. Bill Hobson will officiate. Burial will be in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery, Joplin. Pallbearers will be Rick Whited, Robert Clark, Robert Clark II, Didway Gourley, Mike Haas and Jim Layne. The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the mortuary.

Mozella Hicks

Mozella Della Watkins Hicks, 95, Joplin, died at 6:47 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1997, at a local nursing home after a short illness. Mrs. Hicks was born Jan. 13, 1902, in the state of Mississippi. She had lived in Joplin since 1945, when she moved from Shreveport, La. She was a dietitian and cook in Joplin for several establishments, including the Elk's Lodge, formerly at Fourth Street and Pearl Avenue, and Hidden Acres. She worked at Freeman Hospital for 15 years. She was a member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, where she served as president of the Mother's Board and was a member of the Missionary Society. She married C.W. Watkins in 1918. He preceded her in death. Her second husband, Arthur H. Hicks, died on April 20, 1974. Survivors include three daughters, Irene Carr, Joplin, Etta Wright, Dallas, Texas, and Ola Woolard, Spanaway, Wash.; two sons, Fred J. Watkins, Doyline, La., and James E. Watkins, Dallas, Texas; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Parkway Cemetery. The Rev. Jerry Hodges will officiate. The family will receive friends from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at Parker Mortuary. Contributions may be made to the building fund at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church.

Lani Hosp

Leilani ``Lani'' Hosp, 66, 2401 Porter Ave., died at 2:39 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, 1997, at Freeman Hospital West after a sudden illness at her home. Mrs. Hosp was born Sept. 30, 1930, at Honolulu, Hawaii. She had lived in Joplin since 1956. She was a homemaker and a member of Empire Baptist Church. She married Kenneth Hosp on Jan. 21, 1955, at Honolulu. He survives. Other survivors include two daughters, Kathy Jensen and Margaret Cusick, both of Joplin; two sons, Kenneth Hosp Jr., Marion, Ohio, and Danny Hosp, Joplin; and eight grandchildren. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Parker Mortuary. The Rev. Mike Snider will officiate. Pallbearers will be Mike Mounce, Gary Orton, Mike Arft, Steve Hoag, Jerry Douglas and Stan DuRall. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the mortuary. The family will be at the home of Kathy Jensen, 3423 Hawthorne Drive.

Arlene Mackie

Arlene M. Mackie, 73, Joplin route 1, died at 3:13 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, 1997, at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, after a long illness. Mrs. Mackie was born July 31, 1923, at Norway, Maine. She served as a clerk in the Jasper County recorder's office, Carthage. She lived in Tulsa, Okla., until 1969. She moved to Carthage and lived there until 1985. She then moved to Joplin and retired in 1995. She married Martin J. Mackie on Jan. 11, 1942 at Norway, Maine. He died Jan. 25, 1986. Surviving are a daughter, Linda Hawkins, Neosho; two sons, Andrew Mackie, Carthage, and Steven J. Mackie, Tulsa, Okla.; and two grandchildren. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Park Cemetery, Carthage. The Rev. Marvin VanGilder will officiate. Friends may call today at Knell Mortuary, Carthage.

Irma Carpenter

MONETT, Mo. - Irma Jean Carpenter, 83, Monett, died at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1997, at Cox Medical Center South after a short illness. Mrs. Carpenter was born Feb. 12, 1934, at Stotts City. She had lived in the Monett area for five years. She was a homemaker. She was a member of the Pentecostal Church. She married Dean Elwin Carpenter in August 1964 at Las Vegas, Nev. He survives. Other survivors include two sons, John Dalton, Joplin, and Arthur Dalton, Hudson, Ohio; two daughters, Mary Dawson, Yucaipa, Calif., and Laura Hulsey, San Francisco, Calif.; two brothers, Frank Batson, Pierce City, and J.O. Batson, Marietta, Ga.; two sisters, Esther Derby, Penrose, Colo., and Shirley Clayton, Sarcoxie; 13 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The body has been cremated. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Morris Leiman Mosher Funeral Home, Miller. The Rev. Don Sullivan will officiate.

Alfred Chapman

EXETER, Mo. - Alfred E. Chapman, 58, Exeter, died Thursday, Feb. 27, 1997, at his home after a long illness. Mr. Chapman was born May 24, 1938, at Cassville. He was a lifelong resident of Barry County. He attended Cross Hollows School near Cassville and Independence School, west of Exeter. He owned and operated Chapman Saw Mill for 30 years. He retired in 1993 because of ill health. He married Mary Nunn on June 25, 1955, at Hereford, Texas. She survives. Additional survivors include a son, Matt Chapman, Exeter; a daughter, Bonnie Clark, Exeter; his mother, Nancy Chapman, Cassville; a brother, James Chapman, Dodge City, Kan.; two sisters, Clara Daniel, Exeter, and Bonnie Stockton, Jenkins, and a granddaughter. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Concord Cemetery, Exeter, with the Rev. Hugh Higgs officiating. Burial will be in Concord Cemetery, Exeter. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville.

Jewel Harnar

LANAGAN, Mo. - Graveside services for Jewel W. Harnar, who died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1997, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lanagan Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 7 p.m. today at Ozark Funeral Home, Anderson.

Dixie Holcomb

NEVADA, Mo. - Dixie J. Holcomb, 61, Nevada, died Thursday, Feb. 27, 1997, at a Nevada nursing center after a long illness. Mrs. Holcomb was born Sept. 6, 1935, at Cedar County. She spent most of her life in Nevada. She worked for 34 years for the Department of Agriculture in Nevada. She retired in 1990. She was a member of Walker Christian Church, Walker. She married James T. Holcomb on Dec. 11, 1964, in the state of Missouri. He survives. Other survivors include a son, Tommy Holcomb, Nevada; two daughters, Debbie Eden, El Paso, Texas, and Paula Mason, El Dorado Springs; five brothers, Carl Eason and Elton Caldwell, both of Nevada, Virgil Eason, Kansas City, Virgil Caldwell, El Dorado Springs, and Forrest Caldwell, Muskogee, Okla.; four sisters, Lorene Westerlin, Osceola, Rosalie Cross, Galena, Catherine Holt, Kansas City, and Jewell Messick, El Dorado Springs; and three grandsons. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada. Burial will be at Antioch Cemetery, Vernon County. Friends may call until service time. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Contributions may be made to the Vernon County Cancer Relief Fund or to Walker Christian Church.

Freda Quade

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. - Freda Quade, 75, Mount Vernon, died at 8:59 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, 1997 at her home after a sudden illness. Mrs. Quade was born Jan. 8, 1922, at Westboro. She had lived in Mount Vernon most of her life and was a member of First Christian Church, Mount Vernon. She was a homemaker. Survivors include a son, Steve Smith, Mount Vernon; a daughter, Linda Bruntzel, Lenexa, Kan.; a sister, Veva Weaver, Mount Vernon; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Private services will be at 2 p.m. today at Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, Mount Vernon, with the Rev. Mark Killingsworth officiating. The body has been cremated. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association in care of the funeral home.

Wayne Shorter

LOCKWOOD, Mo. - Wayne Shorter, 72, Lockwood, died at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1997, at Cox Medical Center South, Springfield, after a short illness. Mr. Shorter was born July 9, 1924, at Mountain Grove. He owned Shorter and Sons trucking company for many years. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Lockwood and Lockwood Lions Club. He married Ruth Mason on Nov. 1, 1947, at Mountain Home, Ark. She survives. Other survivors include three sons, Wayne Shorter Jr., Jim Shorter and Mike Shorter, all of Lockwood; three brothers, Harland Shorter, New Port Richey, Fla., Ansel Shorter and Jack Shorter, both of Colville, Wash., two sisters, Neoma Gribble, Centralia, Wash., and Elaine Caskey, Mountain Grove; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church of Lockwood. The Rev. Cameron Moles and the Rev. Otis Divine will officiate. Burial will be in Lockwood Cemetery. The Roy E. Carr American Legion Post will perform military rites. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Lockwood Funeral Chapel. Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association.

William Stone

ANDERSON, Mo. - William H. Stone, 88, Anderson, died at 1:08 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, 1997, at Freeman Neosho Hospital after an illness. Mr. Stone was born Feb. 7, 1909, at Clinton. He was graduated from the University of Missouri. He was a merchant, mayor and president of the school board at Wheaton. He retired from the contracts division of the former Teledyne plant at Neosho in 1981. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Anderson. He was a lieutenant colonel and received two Bronze Stars and a Legion of Merit award during his service in Europe during World War II. He married Mary Bell Barnes on Feb. 7, 1941, at Anderson. She survives. Additional survivors include a son, William B. Stone, St. Louis; a daughter, Katherine Barton, Oak Grove; and three grandchildren. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church, Anderson, with Tom Ellis, minister, and the Rev. Dean Royce officiating. Burial will be in Anderson Cemetery. Pallbearers will be John Barnes, George Brace, Larry Barnes, Mike Thompson, Bill Pearcy and Gary Fanny. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Ozark Funeral Home, Anderson. Contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church building fund, in care of the funeral home.

Theodore Hartsborn

PITTSBURG, Kan. - Theodore A. Hartsborn Sr., 82, 613 E. 21st St., died at 10:11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1997, at Mount Carmel Medical Center after a long illness. Mr. Hartsborn was born Aug. 31, 1914, in Pittsburg. He attended school in Pittsburg. He was employed in Kansas City, Mo., as a boilermaker and returned to Pittsburg in 1985. He was a member of Boiler Makers Local No. 83, Kansas City. He married Thelma Smith in 1935. She died in 1941. Survivors include a son, Theodore A. Hartshorn Jr., Kansas City, Kan.; a brother, Tom Hartshorn, Cazadero, Calif.; a grandchild; and two great-grandchildren. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg. The Rev. Bruce Gotschall will officiate. Burial will be in Mount Olive Cemetery. Friends may call at the mortuary after 1 p.m. today.

Madero Tassi

FRONTENAC, Kan. - Madero Lou Tassi, 84, New Castle, Del., formerly of Frontenac, died Thursday, Feb. 27, 1997, at St. Francis Hospital after an illness. Mr. Tassi was born Sept. 10, 1912, at Frontenac. He retired in 1975 after 55 years of service with Plumbers and Pipefitters Union No. 74, Wilmington, Del., as a pipefitter and welder. His wife, Margaret Lee Tassi, died in 1990. Survivors include two daughters, Patricia Tassi McKee, Arma, and Mary Lee Wattelet, Joplin, Mo.; a son, Dennis Tassi, Arma; a stepdaughter, Joy Mumford, New Castle; two stepsons, Franklin Wilkerson, Newark, Del., and Douglas Wilkerson, Salisbury, Md.; three brothers, Veto Tassi, Franklin, Frank Tassi, Susanville, Calif., and Guido Tassi, Chicago, Ill.; a sister, Della Mussat, Frontenac; five grandchildren; 11 step-grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and 10 great-stepgrandchildren. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Gebhart Funeral Home, New Castle. Burial will be in Gracelawn Memorial Park, New Castle.

Reby Chenoweth

MIAMI, Okla. - Reby Chenoweth, 94, Miami, died at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1997, at a Grove nursing center after a long illness. Ms. Chenoweth was born Feb. 15, 1903, at Eighty Eight, Ky. She moved to Miami in 1905 from Kentucky. She was graduated in 1922 from Miami High School. She received a degree in education from the University of Oklahoma. She had taught at Fairview School in Ottawa County and in the Cardin school system. She served as principal at Pershing Elementary School, Miami. She retired from the Miami school system in 1963. She was a member of Oklahoma Education Association, National Education Association, and the University of Oklahoma alumni association. She was a member of First Christian Church, Miami. Survivors include three sisters, Nadine Williams, Grove, Irene Chenoweth, Broken Arrow, and Betty Thompson, Indianapolis, Ind. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Cooper-Althouse Funeral Home, Miami. Leon Weece, minister, will officiate. Burial will be in GAR Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Don Chenoweth, Tobe Chenoweth, Ralph Chenoweth, Rick Keith, D.P. Chenoweth, and Todd Chenoweth. Contributions may be made to the building fund of First Christian Church, Miami.

Judith Gonzalez

MIAMI, Okla. - Judith Ann Rudolph Gonzalez, 50, Pryor, formerly of Miami, died at 10:59 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, 1997, at her home after a long illness. Mrs. Gonzalez was born March 1, 1946, at Joplin, Mo. She grew up and attended school in rural Craig and Ottawa counties and was a 1956 graduate of Miami High School. She graduated from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Miami. She graduated from Pittsburg (Kan.) State University with a bachelor's degree. She received her master's degree from University of Oklahoma, Norman. She was an Air Force veteran. She worked for Whitaker State Children's Home, Pryor, and Court Related and Community Services in Mayes, Craig and Nowata counties. She also worked as a supervisor in the Mayes County Department of Human Services. She was a member of St. Mark Catholic Church, Pryor. She was a member of Mayes County Resource Council and Mayes County Employment Resource Council. She married Joe Gonzalez on April 10, 1981, at Miami. He survives. Additional survivors include a daughter, Susie Newton, Miami; a son, Dale Hemphill, Tahlequah; two stepdaughters, Dianna Quackenbush, Kalamazoo, Mich., and Jeanette Gonzalez, Azusa, Calif.; her parents, John and Eva Rudolph, Miami; a sister, Janice Salles, Rescue, Calif.; her grandmother, Cecil Freeman, Welch; and two grandchildren. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mark Catholic Church, with the Rev. Leonard Higgins officiating. Burial will be in Welch Cemetery. A rosary service will be at 7 p.m. today at Key Funeral Home, Pryor.

William Land

VINITA, Okla. - William Henry Land, 90, Vinita, died at 10:58 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1997, at Freeman Hospital West, Joplin, Mo., after a short illness. Mr. Land was born Dec. 10, 1906, at Terrell, Texas. He had lived in Vinita and Welch for the past 34 years. He was a retired mechanic. He operated H and H Garage, Welch, for 14 years, and operated Ace Automotive, Miami, for 12 years. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Miami. He married Esther Bible on April 25, 1925, at Chelsea. She survives. Additional survivors include two daughters, Ann Young, Vinita, and Betty Reaska, Planefield, Ill.; five sisters, Irene Wright and Jean Balleau, both of Lamesa, Texas, Mable Warner, Galveston, Texas, Dorothy Simmons, Houston, Texas, and Estella Land, Willow Point, Texas; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Thomas Funeral Home, Welch, with the Rev. C.G. Gilmore officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Hope Cemetery, Adair. Nephews will serves as pallbearers. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Giselle Lewis

JAY, Okla. - Giselle E. Lewis, 40, Jay, died Sunday, Feb. 23, 1997, at her home after a short illness. Mrs. Lewis was born Dec. 24, 1956, at Salem, Ore. She moved to the Jay area in 1985 from Oregon. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Maysville Baptist Church, Maysville, Ark. She married Richard Lewis on June 29, 1979, at Salem, Ore. He survives. Additional survivors include her mother, Dolores Kidd, state of Georgia; her father, Lloyd Kidd, Independence, Ore.; a brother, Andy Kidd, Ontario, Ore.; and a sister, Grace Daniels, Jay. The body will be taken for cremation. Memorial services will be at a later date at Maysville Baptist Church, Maysville, Ark.

Edna Logan

BERNICE, Okla. - Edna Elizabeth Logan, 87, Bernice, died at 3:10 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, 1997, at Grove General Hospital after a long illness. Mrs. Logan was born Sept. 9, 1909, at Sallisaw. She moved to Bartlesville in 1914. She married Robert Logan in 1928. He died in 1950. She moved to California in 1942 and returned to Bernice in 1972. She was a member of the Christian Church. Survivors include a son, Maynard Logan, Oakley, Calif.; a brother, Troyd Adams, Bernice; a grandchild, and five great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today at White Rose Cemetery, Bartlesville. Marvin Tunnell will officiate. Services are under the direction of Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home, Grove.

George Mills

WYANDOTTE, Okla. - George E. Mills, 67, rural Wyandotte, died Thursday, Feb. 27, 1997, at his home after a brief illness. He was born Jan. 2, 1930, in Bell County, Texas. He had lived in Wyandotte for six years, moving from Jackson, Miss. He had worked 26 years as a dispatcher for Consolidated Freightways, Jackson, retiring in 1991. He was a member of Wyandotte Lions Club and director of Ottawa County Red Cross. He was a member of Eastview Church of Christ, Miami. Surviving are his wife, Ann Mills; a son, Jeff Alan Mills, Dewey, Okla.; three daughters, Judy Blair, Brandon, Miss., Carol McCall and Kay Schiller, both of Garland, Texas; a brother, T.E. Mills, Santa Barbara, Calif.; two sisters, Lorene Swift, Abilene, Texas, and Lois Tate, Waco, Texas; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Services are pending with Adcock Funeral Home, Fairland. Contributions may be made to Eastview Church of Christ, Miami.

Thelma Powell

AFTON, Okla. - Thelma Mae Powell, 86, Afton route 1, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1997, at her home of an apparent heart attack. Mrs. Powell was born April 4, 1910, in the state of Missouri. She had been an Afton resident for 50 years. She was a member of Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She attended Carter Baptist Church. Her husband, Olan C. Powell, died Jan. 28, 1984. Survivors include two sons, Larry Powell and Jerry Powell, both of Afton; two daughters, Frances McDonough, Coulterville, Calif., and Burtie Mays, Buckner, Mo.; a brother, Chanie Weber, Sacramento, Calif.; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Adcock Funeral Home, Afton. The Rev. George Vaughn will officiate. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, Afton. Pallbearers will be Bob Gibson, Jack Beauchamp, Ernie Dean Tyndall, Larry Barkee, John Mundy, and Rex Marshal. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Adcock Funeral Home, Afton.

Mackie Richmond

GROVE, Okla. - Mackie ``Matty'' Whitlock Richmond, 86, Grove, died at 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, 1997, at Grove General Hospital after a long illness. Mrs. Richmond was born June 19, 1910, at Webb City, Mo. She was a manager of a motel at Del Monte, Calif. She moved to Grove in 1922 from California. She was a member of New Life Assembly of God, Grove. Her husband, Frank Richmond, died in 1974. She also was preceded in death by a son. Survivors include three daughters, Eva Kraft, Fairland, Okla., Barbara Parramore, Newland, N.C., and Patricia Olsen, Joplin; a son, Dan Shilling, San Antonio, Texas; a brother, Roy Wh zitlock, Grove; 15 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. Services are pending with Hinderliter-Woodard Funeral Service, Grove.

Jewel Sellars

MIAMI, Okla. - Jewel F. Sellars, 81, 205 B St. N.E., Miami, died at 5:45 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, 1997, at Baptist Regional Health Center, Miami, after a long illness. Mrs. Sellars was born July 19, 1915, at Columbia, Mo. She moved to Miami in 1919 from Columbia. She was past president of Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies' Auxiliary No. 2688. She was a member of First Christian Church, Miami, and fellowship Sunday school class. She married Frank William Sellars on July 10, 1932, at Vinita. He survives. Additional survivors include a son, Robert Sellars, Houston, Texas; a daughter, Judy Ellison, Miami; a sister, Clara Vaz, Miami; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at First Christian Church, Miami. Leon Weece will officiate. Burial will be in GAR cemetery, Miami. Arrangements are under the direction of Cooper-Althouse Funeral Home, Miami. The family will be at the home of Wally Ellison 13501 S. 590 Road, Miami. Contributions may be made to the First Christian Church building fund.

Gertie Bartlett

Gertrude E. ``Gertie'' Bartlett, 84, Cameron, died Monday, March 3, 1997, at a nursing home in Cameron, where she had resided since July 1990. She was the mother of Harold E. Bartlett Jr., Joplin.

Mrs. Bartlett was born Oct. 18, 1912, in Kansas City, Kan. She moved from Kansas City, Mo., to Gravois Mills in 1975. She worked for the Kansas City (Mo.) Police Department for 28 years before she retired in 1975.

She was a member of Gravois Mills United Methodist Church; Golden Gate Chapter No. 58, Order of the Eastern Star; City Wide Past Matrons and Patrons Club of Kansas City; Scottish Rite Free Masonry Ladies; Kansas City Police Benefit Association; and the Retired Centurions Association.

Her husband of 56 years, Harold E. Bartlett Sr., died in December 1988.

Survivors, in addition to her son, are a daughter, Joanne Knight, Cameron; a brother, Charles E. Dover, Kansas City; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Floral Hills Chapel, Kansas City, Mo. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made to Cameron (Mo.) Manor Nursing Home or to the donor's favorite charity.

Pam Billings

Pam Billings, 43, 100 Skyline Drive, died at 6:10 a.m. Monday, March 3, 1997, at her home after a long illness.

Mrs. Billings was born April 6, 1953, at Kansas City. She had lived in Joplin since 1994, when she moved from Springfield. She was employed as a preschool teacher with Discovery School at Christ's Community United Methodist Church, of which she was a member. She was a member of the Heartland Ecumenical Camino Community Group of Southwest Missouri and the Bible Study Fellowship.

She married Daryl Billings on Aug. 19, 1972, at Claycomo. He survives.

Other survivors include a son, Dustin Billings; a daughter, Carrie O'Neal, Springfield; her mother, Barbara Yonts, Kansas City, Kan.; a sister, Sherrie Wright, Kansas City, Kan.; and a grandson.

The body has been cremated. A celebration service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday at Christ's Community United Methodist Church. The Rev. Chris Sloan, David VanGiesen and Daryl Billings will officiate.

Contributions may be made to the scholarship fund of Discovery Preschool in care of Christ's Community United Methodist Church.

Orville Johnson

Orville D. Johnson, 66, 3702 Ridge Drive, died at 11 p.m. Monday, March 3, 1997, at St. John's Regional Medical Center after a sudden illness.

Mr. Johnson was born March 13, 1930, at Guthrie, Okla. He had lived in Joplin since 1979, when he moved from Kansas City. He retired in 1971 after a 20-year career with the Air Force, where he worked in accounting and finance. He was associated with Beneficial Finance Co. from 1971 to 1982. He later worked for 10 years with American General Insurance Co. He retired in 1994. He was a member of St. Phillip's Episcopal Church, Joplin.

He married Lerma Layfield on June 4, 1950, at Enid, Okla. She survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Michael Johnson, Eagle River, Alaska, and Steven Johnson, Joplin; a brother, David Johnson, Washington, D.C.; a sister, Betty Bass, Enid, Okla.; and two grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Mason-Woodard Chapel, Joplin. Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at Marshall Cemetery, Marshall, Okla.

Ruby Toms

Ruby R. Fitzgerald Toms, 91, Joplin, died at 7:55 a.m. Tuesday, March 4, 1997, at a local nursing home after a sudden illness.

Mrs. Toms was born July 25, 1905, at Mapleton, Kan. She had lived in the Joplin and Picher, Okla., areas most of her life. She owned and operated Joplin Beverage for many years before she retired in 1973.

She was a Methodist and a member of the Eastern Star of Picher.

She married John Fitzgerald on Sept. 2, 1924, and he preceded her in death. She married Marion Leroy Toms on May 2, 1947. He died Aug. 13, 1956.

Survivors include a daughter, Marjorie Nichols, Joplin; a sister, Ula Rei, Fort Scott, Kan.; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Parker Mortuary. Joe Rei will officiate. Entombment will be in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Vernon Anderson Sr., Vernon Anderson II, Scott Anderson, Steve Deems, Mike King and Gil Nichols.

Contributions may be made to Franklin Technology Center, Joplin.

Jeryl Beckett

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. - Jeryl L. Beckett, 28, 208 S. Summitt, died at 2:45 p.m. Monday, March 3, 1997, of a self-afflicted gun wound. The Jasper County Coroner's Office is investigating the death.

Mr. Beckett was born July 9, 1968 at Carthage. He was raised in Pierce City, and graduated from Pierce City High School in 1986. He was a US Navy Veteran. He received law enforcement training in the Navy and attended the police academy at Missouri Southern State College. He had been employed for the past two years with the Carl Junction police department.

He married Melissa Forhan on Feb. 16, 1991 at Sugar Grovestet, W.Va. She survives.

Also surviving are a daughter, Hailey Beckett; his father and stepmother, Joe and Sheri Beckett, Carthage; his stepfather, Johnnie Miller, Pierce City; three brothers, Randy Beckett, David Harris, Jerry Harris, all of Joplin; two sisters, Belinda Combs, Tucson, Ariz., and Elizabeth Miller, Pierce City; his paternal grandmother, Joan Nesbitt, Carthage; and his maternal grandmother, Mae Riddle, Kansas City.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Webb City. The Rev. David Miller will officiate. Burial will be in the Pierce City Cemetery, under the direction of the Hedge-Lewis Funeral Home, Webb City.

Pallbearers will be John Taylor, Brian Thompson, Tom Kitch, Jeff Wood, Andy Pike, and David Harris.

Area law enforcement officers will be seated as a group.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Webb City. Area law enforcement officers will be seated together as a group.

Contributions may be made to the Jeryl Beckett Memorial Fund, in care of the Great Southern Bank.

Ella Black

WEBB CITY, Mo. - Ella A. Black, 86, formerly of Webb City, died at 10:10 p.m. Monday at a Frontenac, Kan., nursing home after a long illness.

Mrs. Black was born March 6, 1908, at Boston, Mass. She had lived in Webb City and Pittsburg, Kan. She had been a nurse at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin. She was a Protestant and a member of the local Order of the Eastern Star.

She was preceded in death by husbands John Augustine, Earl Hilton and Clyde Black.

Survivors include a son, John Augustine, Peakskill, N.Y.

Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. today at Webb City Cemetery.

No visitation is planned.

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

Delmar Burr

NEOSHO, Mo. - Delmar ``D.L.'' Burr, 84, Conway, Ark., a Neosho native, died Friday, Feb. 28, 1997, at a nursing home in Conway after an illness.

Mr. Burr was born May 21, 1912, in Neosho. He was a rate clerk for Virco Manufacturing Co. before he retired in March 1978.

He was a member of Antioch Baptist Church and Green Grove Masonic Lodge in Conway.

Survivors include his wife, Pauline Chambers Burr; three sons, Gary Burr, Conway, Gordon Burr, Little Rock, Ark., and Donald Burr, Denton, Texas; two daughters, Connie Simpson, Conway, and Debra Floyd, Virginia Beach, Va.; three brothers, George Burr, Dale Burr and Truman Burr, all of Neosho; two sisters, Agnus Harris, Neosho, and Lena Jennings, Joplin; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services were held at 1 p.m. Monday at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home, Conway. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery, Conway.

Contributions may be made to the Antioch Baptist Church building fund.

Clarence Butler

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. - Clarence Butler, 89, Mount Vernon, died at 2:58 p.m. Monday, March 3, 1997, at his home after a long illness.

Mr. Butler was born April 5, 1907, in Southeast Missouri. He moved in 1943 to Mount Vernon, where he was a member of Church on the Loop, Assemblies of God. He was a custodian at the Rural Electric Cooperative, Mount Vernon, He retired in 1972.

He married Opal Atchley on Nov. 22, 1930, at New Madrid. She died in November 1977.

He married Eula Jones on Aug. 20, 1988, at Mount Vernon. She survives.

Other survivors include four daughters, Nola Fortner and Linda Whitesell, both of Mount Vernon, Nelda Jackson, Conroe, Texas, and Jeanice Smith, San Antonio, Texas; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; four great-stepgrandchildren; and two great-great-stepgrandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Church on the Loop, Assemblies of God. The Rev. Tharell Boulware and the Rev. Arthur Schmidly will officiate. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery, Mount Vernon.

Pallbearers will be Ed Nelson, Jim Botts, Rex Springer, Ron Schmidly, Curtis Jackson and Ken Woolery.

Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made to the Church on the Loop, Assemblies of God, in care of Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, Mount Vernon.

James Buzzard

SENECA, Mo. - James Weldon Buzzard, 77, Gold Hill, Ore., formerly of Seneca, died Saturday, March 1, 1997, at Rogue Valley Medical Center, Medford, Ore., of natural causes.

Mr. Buzzard was born Jan. 4, 1920, at Seneca. He grew up in Seneca and was a longtime Seneca resident.

In his youth, he worked at his father's hardware store. He was graduated from the St. Louis School of Mortuary Science and became a licensed mortician. He then worked with his father at Buzzard Funeral Home, Seneca, until it was sold in 1946. He was Seneca postmaster for many years. He had also worked as an attendant in national parks.

He was a Navy veteran of World War II.

He was a past president of the Seneca Chamber of Commerce and was an assistant district commissioner. He had served as a scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America in Seneca for several years and received the National Council Scholarship from the Boy Scouts for outstanding leadership.

He was a member of Neosho Masonic Lodge No. 247, York Rite Bodies and the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple, Springfield. He was a member of Elks Lodge No. 1320, Miami, Okla. He was a member of Seneca First Christian Church, where he was a deacon.

He married Esther Edith Murray on Oct. 2, 1948. She died on March 21, 1988.

He married Annie McNeil on Oct. 20, 1991. She survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Jamie Buzzard, Ozark, and Murray Buzzard, Tulsa, Okla.; a stepson, Richard McNeil, Huntington Beach, Calif.; three stepdaughters, Karen McNeil, Eugene, Ore., and Susi Simpson and Lisa Haley, both of Medford, Ore.; four grandchildren; a stepgranddaughter; and a great- granddaughter.

The body has been cremated.

Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Seneca First Christian Church with the Rev. Buel Buzzard officiating. Burial will be in Seneca Cemetery, where graveside Masonic services will be conducted.

Arrangements are under the direction of Clark Funeral Home, Neosho.

Contributions may be made to the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple in care of the funeral home.

Arthur Higgs

ANDERSON, Mo. - Arthur Lee Higgs, 98, Anderson, died at 1:13 a.m. Tuesday, March 4, 1997, at a nursing home in Neosho after an illness.

Mr. Higgs was born Sept. 8, 1898, in Anderson and was a lifetime resident. He was an engineer for the Prairie Pipeline. He was a member of Anderson United Methodist Church and was a 65-year member of the American Legion. He was an Army veteran of World War I.

He married Sara Valentine Love in 1942 in Southwest Missouri. She died Oct. 5, 1972.

Survivors include a brother, John Higgs, Anderson.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Anderson United Methodist Church. The Rev. Thad Carter will officiate. Burial will be in Anderson Cemetery.

Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made to the Anderson United Methodist Church memorial fund, in care of the funeral home.

Ruby Newton

METZ, Mo. - Ruby Pauline Newton, 67, Metz, died Monday, March 3, 1997, at Nevada Regional Medical Center after a long illness.

Mrs. Newton was born Oct. 28, 1929, in Miami, Mo. She lived in the Metz area most of her life. She worked as a nurse's aide in Nevada for many years. She retired in 1980. She was a member of Metz Christian Church.

She married W.J. Newton on July 25, 1960, in Nevada. He survives.

Additional survivors include five sons, Billy Wayne Newton and Jackie Paul Newton, both of Nevada, Kenneth B. Prewitt, Joplin, Ronald Lee Newton, Harwood, and Jay Lee Greenlee, Carthage; eight daughters, Barbara Uetva Beisley, Milo, Fron Marie Henrie, Era, Texas, Mary Francis Osborne, Tulsa, Okla., Judy Ann Johnson, Hermitage, Cecelia Dawn Cox, state of California, Patsy Jean Stokes, Joplin, Cynthia Louise Caviness and Mary Catherine Romesburg, both of Harwood; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a daughter.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Metz Christian Church. Burial will be in Pryor Creek Cemetery, Metz.

Friends may call until noon Thursday at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today.

Contributions may be made to Metz Christian Church.

George Rostosky

DIXON, Mo. - George ``Ski'' Rostosky, 65, Dixon, died at 3:29 a.m. Monday, March 3, 1997, at Harry S Truman Veterans Hospital, Columbia, after a short illness. He was the father of Bruce Hughes, Carl Junction.

Mr. Rostosky was born April 29, 1931 at New Eagle, Pa. He was a retired Air Force technical sergeant. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 76, Laquey, American Legion Post 331, Waynesville, and Disabled American Veterans, Crocker.

He married Joyce Botterman on Oct. 11, 1963, at Roswell, N.M. She survives.

Other survivors include a daughter, Cheryl McCarthy, Dixon; two additional sons, Steven Hughes, Giddings, Texas, and Warren Hughes, Newport, Ind.; a sister, Linda Gavulich, Pittsburgh, Pa.; two brothers, John Rostosky, Satellite Beach, Fla., and J.J. Rostosky, Harrisburg, Pa.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Waynesville Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in Sunrise Cemetery, Manhattan, Kan.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Bessie Wight

WENTWORTH, Mo. - Services for Bessie Wight, 93, Wentworth, who died Sunday, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Wessell Funeral Home, Pierce City.

The Rev. Richard Cerretti will officiate. Burial will be in Pierce City Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

H.T. Brown

PITTSBURG, Kan. - H.T. ``Ted'' Brown, 92, 615 N. Warren St., died at 2:15 a.m. Monday, March 3, 1997, at a nursing home in Pittsburg, where he had resided since Nov. 9, 1990.

Mr. Brown was born June 10, 1904, at Burwell, Neb. He had lived in Southeast Kansas most of his life and in Pittsburg for eight years. He worked for Shell Oil Co. and in 1948 he began farming near Asbury, Mo.

He married Elsie May Cox on July 12, 1924, at Girard. She died March 14, 1996.

Survivors include a daughter, Nadine Rowley, Gainesville, Texas; two grandsons; and five great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today at Mount Olive Cemetery. The Rev. Mamie Alvine will officiate.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, Pittsburg.

Kathryn Kincaid

PITTSBURG, Kan. - Kathryn R. Kincaid, 90, 507 Sycamore St., died at 1:40 p.m. Monday, March 3, 1997, at Mount Carmel Medical Center, where she had been a patient for three weeks.

Mrs. Kincaid was born June 4, 1906, at Weir. From age 8, she lived at Scammon and moved in 1917 to Pittsburg. She lived four years in New Lexington, Ohio and 16 years at McPherson. She returned to Pittsburg in 1975. She was a homemaker and a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, St. Mary's Altar Society and the Mount Carmel Medical Center Auxiliary.

She married Cecil W. Kincaid on March 4, 1933, in Pittsburg. He survives.

Other survivors include a daughter, Kay Kincaid Morgan, Las Vegas, Nev.; a sister, Winifred Rinehart, Frontenac; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A daughter preceded her in death.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. The Rev. Thomas Stroot will officiate. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery.

Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, Pittsburg, where family will receive friends afterward.

Vernice Tomlinson

GALENA, Kan. - Vernice Helen Speicher Tomlinson, 86, 1213 N. Forest Ave., Galena, died at 8:45 p.m. Monday, March 3, 1997, at her home after a long illness.

Mrs. Tomlinson was born June 2, 1910, at North Manchester, Ind. She had lived in Galena since 1982, when she moved from Huntington, Ind., where she had lived most of her life. She was graduated from North Manchester High School. She retired as a production worker from Memcor Inc., Huntington. She was a member of Sixth Street Baptist Church, Galena.

She married Kenneth Tomlinson on April 2, 1932, at Huntington. He died Nov. 22, 1955. She was also preceded in death by three sons and a daughter.

Survivors include two daughters, Lois Kersey, Galena, and Rose Simon, Tempe, Ariz.; a sister, Mariana Schultz, Fort Wayne, Ind.; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Parker Mortuary. The Rev. J.K. Wright will officiate. The family will receive friends after the service at the mortuary.

Kathryn Chenoweth

MIAMI, Okla. - Kathryn Blanche Chenoweth, 85, Edmond, formerly of Miami, died Tuesday, March 4, 1997, at Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City after an illness.

Mrs. Chenoweth was born Oct. 5, 1911, at Chelsea. She moved from Miami to Denver, Colo. She moved to Edmond in July 1996. She was employed several years as a service representative for Southwestern Bell at Stillwater.

She was a charter member of Bethany Christian Church, Miami. She was a past worthy matron of the Order of Eastern Star, Miami.

Her husband, William Smith Chenoweth, preceded her in death.

Survivors include a daughter, Sue Davis, Edmond; three sisters, Joe Alta Cooper, Canton, Mo., Margaret Branson, Oklahoma City, and Martha Duncan, Sun City West, Ariz.; one grandchild, and one great-grandchild.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Bethany Christian Church. Dr. Daryl Bates will officiate. Burial will be in Glen Abbey Memorial Gardens, east of Miami, under direction of Paul Thomas Funeral Home, Miami.

Pallbearers will be Roy Sanders, Lawrence Sharp, Claude Earl Landers, Orville Woods, Bob McDowell and Jim Ginn.

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

Cecil Taylor

FAIRLAND, Okla. - Services for Cecil Ray Taylor, 38, Fairland, who died Sunday, will be at 2 p.m. today at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, Pittsburg.

The Rev. Daryl Gaddy will officiate. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery, Pittsburg.

Friends may call after 1 p.m. today at the funeral home.

The family will be at 908 W. Sixth St., Pittsburg.

Mr. Taylor was born May 24, 1958, at Junction City, Kan.

Survivors include a sister, Glenda Crouch, Joplin, Mo.

Melvin Trease

COMMERCE, Okla. - Melvin ``Tiny'' Trease, 72, 205 Midway Drive, died at 7:15 p.m. Monday, March 3, 1997, at his home after an illness.

Mr. Trease was born Oct. 20, 1924, at Picher. He had lived in the Commerce area since 1927. He worked for the B.F. Goodrich plant at Miami for 26 years. He also worked at Picher & Grants Steel, Grants, N.M., for several years. He was a member of Commerce Christian Church.

He married Imogene Steel on Nov. 17, 1942 at Cardin. She survives.

Other survivors include four sons, Michael Trease, Commerce, Larry Trease, Miami, Ronnie Trease, Yukon, and Steve Trease, Fairland; two brothers, C.M. Trease, Miami, and Kenneth Trease, Claremore; a sister, Neomi Peck, Commerce; 14 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 6, 1997, at Paul Thomas Funeral Home, Miami. Jack Steel will officiate, and Bill Richey will assist. Burial will be in GAR Cemetery, Miami.

Pallbearers will be Larry Ridings, Bob Evans, Danny Garner, Henry Patton, Marion Nichols and Art Robertson.

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

Contributions may be made to Cardin Christian Church or St. John's Hospice, Grove.

Francis Usher

GROVE, Okla. - Francis E. ``Bud'' Usher, 68, Grove, formerly of Pittsburg, Kan., died at 7:30 a.m. Monday, March 3, 1997, at his home after several years of ill health.

Mr. Usher was born July 28, 1928, in Pittsburg. He moved to Grove six years ago from Pittsburg, where he lived most of his life. He attended schools in Pittsburg and Joplin, Mo. He received his pharmacy degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

He worked for Scherring labs as a detail representative and later worked as a pharmacist at Crowell Ash Drug Store in Pittsburg. He owned and operated Usher's Green Cross Pharmacy in Pittsburg from 1971 until he retired in 1991.

He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks Lodge and Benjamin Fuller Post No. 64, American Legion, all of Pittsburg. He was past state commander of the AmVets. He was a Missouri champion pistol marksman and raised English Setters and Brittany hunting dogs. He was an Army veteran of World War II.

Survivors include two sons, Michael Usher, Pittsburg, and Brian Usher, Afton, Okla.; two daughters, Kathleen Brown, Coffeyville, Kan., and Dina Usher, Wichita, Kan.; and three grandchildren.

The body will be cremated.

Memorial services will be at 7:30 p.m. today at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, Pittsburg. The Rev. Robert McElwee will officiate.

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

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


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