Miscellaneous Jasper County, Missouri Obituaries

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Leona Gilliam

Leona Mills Gilliam, 917 W. Seventh St., died at 4:56 p.m. Sunday, June 8, at her home after a

sudden illness. Mrs. Gilliam was born at Joplin and was a lifetime resident. She owned and operated Modern Beauty Shop for several years. She was an office receptionist for several local doctors. She also was a licensed practical nurse at Elmhurst Nursing Home, Webb City. She retired in 1968.

She was a member of First Gospel Workers Church.

She married Harold Lee Mills on March 19, 1927, at Joplin. He died Sept. 17, 1981. She married Earl Gilliam on Jan. 14, 1988, at Miami, Okla. He died Sept. 15, 1993.

Survivors include a son, Harold L. Mills Jr., Las Vegas; two brothers, William Couch, Joplin, and Thomas Couch, Mount Comfort, Ind.; two grandchildren, three great-grand-children and two great-great-grand-children.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary. The Rev. Phil Erwin will officiate. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin.

Pallbearers will be Bart Mathre, Cody Mathre, Robert Mathre, Jack Watts, Joe Cavener and Jerry Smallwood.

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

Elizabeth Holland

Services for Elizabeth Holland, 90, 515 St. Charles Ave., who died Sunday, will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Parker Mortuary.

The Rev. Carl Selfridge will officiate. Burial will be in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be William Holland, Glenn Bell, Edwin Bell, Carl Henning Sr., Carl Henning Jr. and Brandon Henning.

The family will receive friends at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the mortuary.

Vernon Mathis

Vernon LeRoy Mathis, 76, Coffeyville, Kan., died Saturday, June 7, 1997, at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center after an illness. Survivors include a son, Joseph Carl "Joe" Mathis, Joplin.

Mr. Mathis was born Aug. 10, 1920, at Coffeyville. He attended schools in Montgomery and Labette counties. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, serving aboard the USS William D. Porter before its sinking in May 1945. He was an auctioneer from 1950 to 1987, owning and operating Vern Mathis Auction Co. and Mathis Furniture. He also sold real estate for Coffeyville Realty, Heritage Realty of Independence, Kan., American Homes Real Estate of Emporia, Kan., and Derby, Kan. He was a member of the Dearing Bees 4-H Club and of the Dearing Christian Church, both of Dearing.

He married V. Joan Olson on May 8, 1946, at Lodi, Calif. She survives.

Additional survivors include two other sons, Jimmy Dean "Jim" Mathis, Overland Park, Kan., and Chester Mathis, Copan, Okla.; two brothers, Arthur Mathis, Santa Maria, Calif., and Murrel Mathis, Scottsdale, Ariz.; a sister, Ruby Pomrenke, Coffeyville; four grandchildren and three great-grand-children.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Dearing Christian Church. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Coffeyville.

Friends may call from 8 a.m. today until service time at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Edgewood Chapel, Coffeyville, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Contributions may be made to Hospice Inc. or to the Dearing Christian Church Growth Fund, in care of the funeral home.

Cliff McWilliams

Clifford R. "Cliff" McWilliams, 91, Joplin, died at 12:25 p.m. Sunday, June 8, 1997, at a local nursing home after an illness.

Mr. McWilliams was born May 7, 1906, at Rosedale, Kan. He moved to Joplin in 1967 from Kansas City, where he had lived for 60 years. He was a driver and safety director for Crown Coach and Jefferson Bus Lines. He retired Feb. 1, 1973.

He attended Blendville Christian Church.

He married Irene Smith Hubbard on Jan. 17, 1967, at Miami, Okla. She survives.

Additional survivors include a son, Clifford R. McWilliams II, Kansas City; and two grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Parker Mortuary. The Rev. J.K. Wright will officiate. Burial will be in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. today at the mortuary.

Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, in care of the mortuary.

Raphael Barto

SHELL KNOB, Mo.—Raphael Barto, 76, Shell Knob, died at 11:29 p.m. Saturday, May 31, 1997, at St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield, after a sudden illness.

Mr. Barto was born Jan. 11, 1921, at Rochester, Pa. He moved to Shell Knob in 1988 from Derby, Kan. He flew airplanes from 11 years of age. He was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a major. He completed a tour in Vietnam as a combat pilot. He was a highly decorated military officer, earning several medals, including Air Force Longevity Service Award with four bronze oak leaf clusters. He was a member of the Retired Officers Association, the Red River Valley Fighter Pilot Association, and the Winfield Masonic Lodge No. 0110 AF&AM, the Elks Lodge in Winfield, Kansas and he was a past member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Post No. 2203 at Shell Knob.

He married Bette Harris on Oct. 27, 1960, while in Africa. She survives.

Additional survivors include two sons, Russell Barto and Randolph Barto, both of Columbus, Ga; a brother, Weldon Barto, Pittsburg, Pa; a sister, Dorothy Henkel, Youngstown, Ohio, and three grandchild-ren.

He was preceded in death by a son.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Williamson Funeral Home, Shell Knob, with the Rev. James Lee officiating. He was buried June 5 at Knoxville, Tenn.

Contributions may be made to The First Responders of Shell Knob or the Shell Knob Fire Department.

Betty Bruner

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Betty Sue Perkins Bruner, 61, a former Carthage resident, died at 5:25 a.m. Sunday, June 8, 1997, at a Republic nursing home after a long illness.

Mrs. Bruner was born June 15, 1935 at Carthage. She was an area resident most of her life. She attended Mark Twain Elementary School, and graduated from Carthage High School in 1953. She attended Kansas State Teacher's College and received her bachelors of science degree from Pittsburg State University in 1975. She was an art teacher and taught in the Diamond and Appleton City districts. She was also a homemaker and member of First Baptist Church of Carthage.

Survivors include a son, Sam Bruner, St. Louis; two daughters, Suzy Bruner and Beth Bruner, both of Springfield; a brother, Richard Perkins, Memphis, Tenn., and a sister, Ann Perkins, Branson.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Ulmer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Bill Sutter officiating. Burial will be in Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, in care of the funeral home.

Opal Burwell

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Opal Sue Burwell, 54, Wann, Okla., died Sunday morning, June 8, 1997, at St. John's Medical Center, Tulsa, Okla., after an illness. Survivors include her sister, Dora May Haines, stet Carl Junction.

Mrs. Burwell was born Dec. 12, 1942, at Wann and was a lifetime resident. She was a 1960 graduate of Wann High School and a 1961 graduate of Tulsa (Okla.) Business College. She was self-employed as a public accountant and tax preparer for the past 16 years.

She was a member of Dewey Community Advisory Council and Wann Methodist Church.

She married C.L. Burwell on Nov. 18, 1961, at Tulsa. He survives.

Additional survivors include a son, Calvin Burwell, Wann; a daughter, Janice Robinson, Wann; five brothers, Everett Burrows, Caney, Kan., Dale Burrows, Harvey Burrows, Wayner stet Burrows and Alfred Burrows, all of Wann; another sister, Florence Ann Franklin, Dewey, Okla.; and four grandchildren.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Wann Community Center. The Rev. John White will officiate. Burial will be in Dewey (Okla.) Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Keith Eastman, Steve Smith, Bill Phillips, James Burwell, James House and Jay Steeler.

Arrangements are under the direction of Stumpff stet Funeral Home, Bartlesville, Okla.

Irma Fieker

STOTTS CITY, Mo.—Irma Clara Elizabeth Fieker, 77, Stotts City, died at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, June 8, 1997 at her home after an illness.

Miss Fieker was born Feb. 2, 1920, at Stotts City. She was a long-time Springfield-area resident. She was a certified dental assistant and had worked as a dental assistant for Dr. T.N. Talty in Springfield from 1956 to 1995. She previously was a dental assistant at the former O'Riley Hospital, operated by the Veteran's Administration in Springfield. She had served as president and treasurer of the Missouri Dental Assistants Association, and had held several offices in the local chapter over the years. She was a charter member of the Ozark Belles Chapter of Sweet Adelines and an active member of the group for 45 years.

Survivors include three sisters, Hulda Talty, Springfield, Evelyn Fieker, Stotts City and Elizabeth Brazeale, Springfield; three brothers, Paul Fieker and Fred Fieker, both of Stotts City and Edwin Fieker, Mount Vernon.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Zion United Church of Christ near Mount Vernon. The Rev. Norman Rahmoeller will officiate. Burial will be in Zion United Church of Christ Cemetery, under the direction of Walnut Lawn DeGraffenreid-Wood Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home at 2001 W. Walnut Lawn, Springfield. Friends may also call at the church from noon until the time of the service on Wednesday

Contributions may be made to St. John's HospiceCare of VNA.

Richard Gill

GRANBY, Mo. — Graveside memorial services for Richard F. Gill, 74, Granby, who died Saturday, will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Granby Memorial Cemetery.

The Rev. Rick Patterson will officiate.

The body has been cremated.

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

Raymond Johnson

CASSVILLE, Mo. — Raymond Oda Johnson Jr., 40, Hampton, N.H., formerly of Cassville, died at 8:48 p.m. Saturday, June 7, 1997, at Exeter (N.H.) Hospital after a sudden illness.

Mr. Johnson was born July 22, 1956, at Monett. He graduated from Cassville High School in 1974. He moved three years ago to Hampton, where he worked as an assistant retail manager at Foss Manufacturing Co. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Skiatok, Okla.

Survivors include a son, Charles Johnson, Collinsville, Okla.; his father, Raymond Johnson Sr., Cape Fair; his mother, Peggy Benigar, Collinsville, Okla.; two brothers, Charles Morris, Coffeyville, and Sawn Morris, Florence, Ariz.; two sisters, Dorthea Aplin, Cassville, and Lynn Bass, Raytown; his paternal grandmother, Annie Lester, Jenkins; and his maternal grandmother, Luna Gallaway, Collinsville.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Williamson Funeral Home, Cassville. The Rev. Jerry Nickle will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Cassville.

Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Ronald Moore

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Memorial services for Ronald Eugene Moore, 35, Carthage, who died Thursday, will be at 3:30 p.m. today at Weng Funeral Chapel, Jasper.

Steve Bryant, minister, will officiate.

The body has been cremated.

Alice Quinn

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Alice May Quinn, 79, 1935 River St., died at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at her home after a short illness.

Mrs. Quinn was born May 20, 1918, at Newton, Kan. She moved to Carthage, from Newton, in 1953. She worked in the blueprint department of Boeing Aircraft during World War II. She later worked at Boots Drive-In, Carthage, and was an owner of Lou Al Tropics. She was an amateur artist.

She married Lou Quinn on Jan. 23, 1953, at Wichita. He died on Oct. 17, 1994.

Survivors include a son, Lou Quinn Jr., Carthage; two daughters, Dee Ann Jacobsen, Gillette, Texas, and Judy Roper, Jasper; a sister, Jane Roach, Oklahoma City, Okla., seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Ulmer Funeral Home.

Elmer Todd

LAMAR, Mo. — Elmer Glenn Todd, 74, Lamar, died at 2:50 a.m. Monday, June 9, 1997, at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, after an illness.

Mr. Todd was born Sept. 26, 1922, at Perry, Okla. He moved to the Lamar area in 1940 from Oklahoma. He was a farmer and road grader operator for Richland Township in Barton County.

He was a Catholic. He was president of Richland Township Board.

He married H. Irene Willard on Oct. 24, 1942, at Carthage. She survives.

Additional survivors include a son, Gary Todd, Lamar; a daughter, Karen Sue Morrison, Lamar; two brothers, Max Todd and Kenneth Todd, both of Lamar; two sisters, Dorothy Clark, Kansas City, and Mary Ann Shaul, stet Ravenna, stet Texas; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Lohmeyer-Konantz Funeral Home. The Rev. Thomas Allen will officiate. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Meredith Todd, Clint Engelage, stet Greg Todd, Ronald Todd, Donald Todd and Mike Todd.

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

Katherine Turner

SENECA, Mo. — Katherine Turner, 93, Seneca, died at 10:50 p.m. Sunday, June 8, at Freeman Hospital West, Joplin, after an illness.

Mrs. Turner was born Sept. 11, 1903, at Rome, Ga. She had lived in Seneca 11 years. She started her career as a kindergarten teacher in 1932 at St. Joseph. In succeeding years, she taught at all grade levels. She taught in universities and colleges at Kirksville, Fulton and Columbia. She retired as a kindergarten teacher in 1969 at Auxvasse.

She was a member of Hornet Christian Church.

She married James F. Turner on Sept. 13, 1941, at Kirksville. He died in August 1969.

Survivors include a son, John Turner, Fairview; two daughters, Lea Curry, Seneca, and Mary Ann Newman, Shawnee, Kan.; 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hornet Christian Church. The Rev. John Watson will officiate. Burial will be at a later date. Contributions may be made to Hornet Christian Church or the Freeman hospice program.

Ronald Smith

BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. — Ronald Austin Smith-Kammerer, infant son of Leanna Joe stet Smith, 1627 Cleveland Ave., and Ronald S. Kammerer, stet Quapaw, Okla., died at 2:55 a.m. Sunday, June 8, 1997, at Freeman Hospital West, Joplin, Mo.

He was born June 7, 1997, at Joplin.

Additional survivors include maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Smith, Columbus route 4; paternal grandmother, Susan G. Kammerer, Woodbridge, N.J.; and paternal great-grandmother, Josephine Pasquali, stet Hollywood, Fla.;

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Derfelt's Baxter Chapel, Baxter Springs. Burial will be in Lowell (Kan.) Cemetery. The Rev. Audie Tash will officiate.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral chapel.

LaVeta Smith

GALENA, Kan. — LaVeta Smith, 87, Huntsville, Ala., formerly of Galena, died Friday, June 6, 1997, at a Huntsville hospital after a two-year illness.

Mrs. Smith was a teacher in the grade schools of the Seventh Day Adventist Conference.

She married Clarence I. Smith in 1937. He died in 1977.

Survivors include two sons, Roger Smith and Arthur Smith, both of Dixon, Mo.; a daughter, Leona McIntosh, Huntsville; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today at Oak Hill Cemetery, Galena. Arthur Smith and Leticia Link will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Abbott Funeral Home, Baxter Springs.

Grace VanBecelaere

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Grace VanBecelaere, stet 93, Pittsburg, died Saturday night, June 7, 1997, at her home after a sudden illness.

Mrs. VanBecelaere was born Aug. 22, 1903, at Rowlett, Texas. She moved to Pittsburg in July 1911. She attended Frontenac (Kan.) Grade School, Eugene Field Grade School and later St. Mary's Grade School. She was a 1922 graduate of Pittsburg High School.

She worked for the Joplin and Pittsburg Railroad Company at Pittsburg until it closed in 1954. She later worked in the customer service department of the First State Bank and Trust Company at Pittsburg. she retired in 1978.

She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Pittsburg, and St. Mary's Alter Society.

She married James VanBecelaere on May 20, 1925, at Pittsburg. He died June 6, 1943.

Survivors include two sons, James D. VanBecelaere, Pittsburg, and George A. VanBecelaere, Topeka; three daughters, Mary J. Swartzwelder, stet Bixby, Okla., Margaret Patterson, Parsons, and Elizabeth Victor, Miami, Okla.; a sister, Marie Romayko, stet Beloit, Wis.; 23 grandchildren; and 47 great-grandchildren.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. The Rev. Thomas Stroot, stet the Rev. Samuel Pinkerton, the Rev. Robert McElwee and the Rev. Patrick York will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.

The parish rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, where the family will receive friends until 8 p.m. today.

Friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. today at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, Pittsburg.

The family will be at the home of a son, James VanBecelaere, Pittsburg.

Contributions may be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church memorial fund, in care of the church or funeral home.


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