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Obituaries

Lawrence Ray Defreese

Lawrence Ray Defreese, 82, Sheldon, passed away Sunday evening, Sept. 26, 2004, at Moore-Few Care Center. He was born West of Sheldon on Nov. 13, 1921, to Leslie Robert Defreese and Lizzie Wolf Defreese. He was married Feb. 14, 1942, to Viola Fern Hornecker in Sheldon. She preceded him in death on July 4, 2001.

Mr. Defreese obtained his education in country schools in Vernon and Barton Counties. He was called to serve his country and joined the U.S. Army Air Force. His tour of duty included time in Orlando, Fla., as well as Saipan and the Philippines. After the military, he returned to Sheldon and was engaged in a farming operation until 1970, at which time he joined the Soil Conservation Service. His employment with them took him to several counties in Missouri where he was the government inspector on various water shed projects. He particularly enjoyed working with farmers helping them to develop good conservation practices. He retired from government service in 1988. He was a member of the Sheldon United Methodist Church, the Sheldon Lions Club, and the Sheldon American Legion Post. In years past he was active in the Masonic Lodge, had served on the Sheldon School Board, and was on the board of Public Water District No. 2. He enjoyed restoring antique tractors and other farm equipment and riding his four-wheeler around his farm on a daily basis.

Survivors include one daughter, Barbara Dahmer and her husband, Chuck, Nevada; two grandchildren, Shane Dahmer and his wife, LeAnna, Sheldon; granddaughter, Leslie Dahmer, Wichita, Kan.; one great-grandson, Kyle Lawrence Dahmer, Sheldon; one sister, Marie McWilliams, Nevada; numerous nieces, nephews, and a host of friends and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of almost 60 years; one brother, Carl Defreese; and one sister, Agnes Sisseck.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with the Rev. John Swatosh officiating. Interment will follow in Sheldon Cemetery. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at the funeral home and the family receives friends Tuesday 7-8 p.m.

Those who wish may contribute to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association in care of Ferry Funeral Home.

Deaths

James M. Houchin Sr.

James M. Houchin Sr., 71, died Sept. 24, 2004. Graveside services with military honors was at Mount Vernon Cemetery on Sept. 28, 2004, with the Rev. Charles Brown officiating. Pallbearers were Joe Chapman, Steven Diamond, David Hazel, Kevin Houchin, Kyle Houchin and Greg Ramsey. Honorary pallbearers were Joe Koehn Jr. and Dave Steinbach. Arrangements were by Evergreen Memorial Chapel.

Russell L. Robison

Russell L. Robison, 80, Walker, died Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2004, at Christian Health Care, Nevada, following a lengthy illness. He was born May 17, 1924, in Horton, to George Samuel Robison and Martha "Mattie" Kimrey Robison.

He grew up in Vernon County. He was a Baptist. He graduated from Bronaugh High School in 1943. He served in the infantry in the U.S. Army in the Philippines during World War II, receiving two bronze battle stars. He worked as a welder in Wichita and Kansas City throughout his working life. He came back to Vernon County in 1990 where he lived the rest of his life.

Survivors include two stepchildren, Joan Snodgrass, Kansas City, Kan., and Richard Alcorn, Wichita, Kan.; one brother, R.V. "Dick" Robison, Chico, Calif.; two sisters, Madelyne Hopkins, Kansas City, Mo., and Elnora Wallace, Walker. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Joe Robison, Hiel Robison, and Marshall Robison; and two sisters, Pearl Tucker and Rilla Buhr.

Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004, at Green Mound Cemetery, Harwood, with full military rites.

Kirt Dwayne Delana

Kirt Dwayne Delana, 35, Nevada, died Friday, Sept. 24, 2004, at the Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada. He was born April 7, 1969, in Kansas City, Mo., to John A. Delana and Doris Ann Russell Delana.

He lived virtually his entire life in Nevada. He attended Nevada R-5 school.

Survivors Include, his father, John Delana, Waverly, Mo.; his mother, Doris Ann Delana, Nevada; one brother, Glen Orendor, Nevada; three sisters, Gail Monroe, Branson, Mo., Kim Hoskins, Fort Smith, Ark., and Linda Brown, Milo; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Graveside services were held at Moore Cemetery, Nevada, at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, with the Rev. Terry Mosher officiating.

Kenneth Franklin Hedrick

Kenneth Franklin Hedrick, 50, died Sept. 19, 2004. Services were held at Mount Calvary Cemetery on Sept. 27, 2004, at 10 a.m., with the Rev. Paul Mooney officiating. Interment was in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Nevada. Arrangements were by Ferry Funeral Home.