Obituaries from February 2004

Harold Raymond Keefauver, 94, of Fort Scott, Kan., formerly of Deerfield, Mo., died Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004, at the Guest Home Estates VI (Arkhaven Nursing Home) in Fort Scott. He was born Sept. 28, 1909, in Rose, Kan., the son of Lebright Marion and Lillie Carolyn Baker Keefauver. He married Myron Faye Everhart on Sept. 21, 1930, in Louisburg, Kan. She preceded him in death on Sept. 29, 1995...

Lawrence "Larry" Dale Shumate, 76, Nevada, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 30, 2004, at Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada following a lengthy illness. He was born Sept. 7, 1927, in Milo, Mo., to James Dale Shumate and Edith A. Garrett Shumate. He married Norma Jean Sisney on March 23, 1948, in Bentonville, Ark., and she survives of the home...

Paul Hendrix, 68, Nevada, Mo., passed away Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004, at his residence following a brief illness. He was born Sept. 7, 1935, in Nevada, Mo., to William Henry Hendrix and Bessie Wilhemina Koehler Hendrix. He was married Nov. 3, 1956, in Nevada, Mo., to Earlene Bell. She survives of the home...

Mabel Lydia Wiggans, 83, resident of 11 North Barbee, Fort Scott, Kan., died Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004, at Fort Scott Manor. She was born Oct. 15, 1920, in Fort Scott the daughter of Thomas M. Endicott and Minnie Idella Frisk Endicott. She married Ralph E. Wiggans on June 15, 1940, in Nevada, Mo. He preceded her in death on April 12, 1985. Mabels was a member of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church...

Rolla Dale Medley, 88, Moundville, Mo., passed away Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004, at his home. He was born July 21, 1915, in Butler, Mo., to Ila Medley and Margaret Lee Morrison Medley. He married Johnnie Delilah Folkner on March 28, 1936, and she survives of the home...

Mary Jean Swager, 80, Nevada, Mo., passed away Feb. 3, 2004, at Nevada Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. She was born Sept. 6, 1923, in Moundville, Mo., to Homer E. Maple and Glessner L. Weaver Maple. She married Frank L. Swager, Jr., on Oct. 27, 1942, in Vancouver, Wash., and he survives of the home...

Carl Clifton "Cliff" Wagner, 47, of Hollister, Mo., died at 11:25 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2004, at Skaggs Community Health Center in Branson, Mo., from a one-car accident. He was born in Seward, Alaska, on Nov. 15, 1956, the son of Jack and Jaunita Wagner who preceded him in death...

A. "Lloyd" Hatley, 82, of Independence, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004. Lloyd was born Nov. 17, 1921, in Paragould, Ark. He worked for G.A.F. and upon retirement, moved to Nevada, Mo., for 22 years before returning to Independence. His wife, Covie, preceded him in death in 200. ...

Christopher Eugene Basham, 43, Nevada, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004, at his home following a lengthy illness. He was born on Sept. 21, 1960, the son of the late Dale Basham and Mary (Williams Basham. On Sept. 4, 1981, he was married to TaLenna Lynn Pilcher in Joplin, Mo., and she survives of the home. ...

Maurine F. Dennis, 83, Nevada, Mo., passed away Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004, at the Barone Alzheimer Care Center, Nevada, following a length illness. She was born Dec. 14, 1920, in Walker, Mo., to William L. Dally and Ella Mae Davis Dally. She married Earl E. Dennis on Feb. 12, 1943, in Seattle, Wash., and he survives of the home...

William R. Snead, 71, Nevada, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 6, 2004, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, Mo. The family will receive friends 7 to 8 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home...

Mary Jean Swager, 80, died Feb. 3, 2004. Services were held at Ferry Funeral Home on Feb. 7, at 2 p.m., with Pastor Ralph Clark officiating. Musical selections were "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" and "Ave Maria." Pallbearers were Evan Gundy, Taylor Gundy, Mark Liter, Holly Liter, Doug Gundy and Wilson Liter. Interment was in Newton Burial Park. Arrangements by Ferry Funeral Home...

James L. Hendrix, 78, Nevada, Mo., died Monday, Feb. 9, 2004, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. He was born Aug. 25, 1925, in Nevada, Mo., to James Orion Hendrix and Lola Alice Wheatly Hendrix. Jim attended Nevada High School. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He worked for 25 years for the U.S. Post Office as a truck driver...

Brian Howard Tillery, 22, died Sunday, Feb. 8, 2004, as a result of an automobile accident. He was born July 19, 1981, in Nevada, Mo., the son of Howard and Brenda (Wilson) Tillery. He was a 1999 graduate of Rich Hill High School and attended Missouri Taxidermy Institute in the fall of 2002. ...

100 Years Ago -- February 10, 1904 Tuesday's Democratic Primary to nominate candidates for city officers proved to be the most interesting primary of recent years. The race for mayor was a neck and neck affair and closed with both candidates near the wire but Stump finished in the lead with but a small majority...

Andrew L. Hartman, 36, Fort Scott, Kan., died Monday, Feb. 9, 2004, in Nevada, Mo. He was born Sept. 24, 1967, in Pennsylvania to Ebert C. Hartman and E. Ellen Maybee Hartman. Andrew had lived in Fort Scott, Kan., since 1986 when he moved there from Pennsylvania. He worked as an environmental driller for several years...

June Marie Glisson, 80, Caldwell, Kan., died on Feb. 5, 2004, at the Caldwell Hospital. She was born on Oct. 5, 1923, in Nevada, Mo., the daughter of Ray and Pearle Koehler Polk. She grew up in Nevada and graduated from Nevada High School. June completed two years at a business college in Kansas City. ...

Kenneth L. Rice, 67, of Victorville, Calif., died Jan. 28, 2004. he was born Sept. 2, 1936, in Sheldon, Mo. Ken served in Korea once and Vietnam twice. He received many distinguished medals. After serving 22 years in the U.S. Air Force, he retired in 1976. Ken worked at Goldstone Deep Space Tracking Station as a R.F. Operator. Ken also worked at Fort Irwin under government contract...

Eugene "Gene" Charles Harms, 73, son of Albert Henrick Harms, Sr., and Ruby P. (Rohning) Harms, was born June 1, 1930, at Cole Camp, Mo. Gene passed away Tuesday evening, Feb. 10, 2004, at his home in Schell City, with family members holding his hand...

Linda Kay Harms, 64, Nevada, Mo., passed away Friday, Feb. 13, 2004, at the Nevada Regional Medical Center, Nevada, Mo. She was born April 20, 1939, in Springfield, Mo., to James Duncan Nicholson and Ona Marie Arnhart Nicholson. Ms. Harms was raised in Ash Grove, Mo. ...

Aura Johnson Markert, 91, died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004, at Wicomico Nursing Home in Salisbury, Md. Born Aug. 10, 1912, in Schell City, Mo., she was the daughter of the late Garland S. and Daisie Hahn Johnson. Mrs. Markert was a graduate of Schell City High School, Cottey College and Central State College at Warrensburg, Mo. ...

Velma Yola Thatch, 87, Carthage, Mo., formerly of Nevada, died Friday, Feb. 13, 2004, at her residence in Carthage following an illness of several weeks. She was born Feb. 12, 1917, in Baldwin City, Kan., to Clarence O. Brooks and Maude Stewart Brooks. She was married Dec. 11, 1942, in Kansas City, Mo., to Joseph D. Thatch. He survives of the home...

Paul C. Jeans, 96, of Cocoa, Fla., died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004. He retired in 1970 from the Army Corps of Engineers as chief of electrical inspection for the Canaveral District. A Navy veteran, he served as leading chief of Boca Chica Naval Air Station in Key West, Fla., during World War II and received a Presidential Unit Citation from President Harry Truman...

Sherry Butler Hefferman, 45, Rich Hill, Mo., died Feb. 15, 2004, at the Bates County Memorial Hospital, Butler, Mo. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m., at the First Christian Church in Rich Hill with burial in the Green Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday, from 7 to 8 p.m., at the Sheldon-Booth Chapel. The family suggests memorial contributions to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., in care of the funeral home...

William "Bill" Hood, 53, Rich Hill, Mo., died Feb. 15, 2004, at St. Joseph Hospital, Kansas City, Mo. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m., at the Sheldon-Booth Chapel in Rich Hill with burial in the Green Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m., at the Sheldon Booth Chapel. The family suggests memorial contributions to the William "Bill" Hood Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home...

Vernon Leon Souder, 72, of Dawn, Mo., formerly of Schell City, Mo., died at his residence in Dawn, Mo., on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004. He was born on Jan. 13, 1932, the son of Elijah Sabin and Ruth Lucille (Poyner) Souder. Mr. Souder was in the U.S. Navy and served for 20 years, he was a Chief Operations Specialist...

Vernie E. DeTienne, 79, died Feb. 10, 2004, at St. John's Hospital, Joplin, Mo. He was born Dec. 12, 1924, in St. Louis, Mo., the son of Jessie Allen and Myrtle Irene (Parsley) DeTienne. Vernie was united in marriage to Edith Newcomb on April 1, 1946. To this union five children were born...

Sherry Lynn Heffernan, 45, Rich Hill, Mo., died Feb. 15, 2004, at the Bates County Memorial Hospital, Butler, Mo. She is survived by her husband, Terry Heffernan, of the home; children, Gwynette Butler, Springfield, Mo., Chad Butler, Richards, Mo., Amy Dahmer, Nevada, Mo., Dawn Woods, Richards, Mo., and Chris Warner, Nevada, Mo.; five brothers, Jim, Dan, Dude and Tom Breckenridge, all of Rich Hill, Tim Breckenridge, Nevada, Mo.; one sister, Sue Sander, Blue Springs, Mo.; and 10 grandchildren...

Sister Mary Hildegarde Heiss, 100, of Independence, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004. She was born on March 6, 1903, in Wurtemberg, Germany, to Martin and Maria (Marquart) Heiss. She was a member of the Sisters of Saint Francis of the Holy Eucharist. ...

Sandra Kay Thomas, 59, of Fort Scott, Kan., died Friday morning, Feb. 20, 2004, at the Mercy Health Center Emergency Room. She was born May 6, 1944, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Ernest Eldon Goddard and Loreta Vernice Thomas Goddard. She graduated from Richards High School in 1962, and Fort Scott Community College in 1965. ...

Viola Holman, 94, former resident of Bronson, Kan., more recently of Fredoina, Kan., died Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004, at the Chanute Health Care Center in Chanute, Kan. She was born March 30, 1909, in Ava, Mo., the daughter of Walter and Sarah Kilburn. ...

Opal Ione Cole Wade, 93, Joplin, M., died Monday, Feb. 23, 2004, at her son's home after a short illness. Opal was born Aug. 27, 1910, near Horton, Mo., the daughter of Ern and Dell Roberts Cole. She married Leon Wade who preceded her in death in 1982. She was also preceded in death by brothers Enis Cole, of California, and Bully Cole, of Nevada, Mo.; and a sister, Lucille Welch, Nevada, Mo...

Gertrude C. Morrison, 92, Nevada, Mo., died Monday, Feb. 23, 2004, at Christian Health Care, Nevada, following a short illness. She was born Oct. 30, 1911, in Stockton, Mo., to William H. Collins and Flora Bidler Collins. Morrison grew up and graduated from high school in Stockton, Mo. ...

Timothy F. Warner, 51, of Apple Valley, Minn., died Jan. 28, 2004, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Hospice in St. Paul, Minn., after struggling with cancer for 18 months. He was preceded in death by his mother, Edna Warner, and survived by his father, Franklin Warner, of Apple Valley, Minn.; daughter, Rebecca Jo Warner, Edmond, Okla.; sisters, Nancy Olson and Peggy Chesher; and nieces and nephews...