today's record

Births

Zane Matthew Gragg

Justin and Amy Gragg, Blue Springs, Mo., are proud to announce the birth of their son, Zane Matthew Gragg. Zane was born at 8:24 p.m. on Sept. 29, 2004. He weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces, and measured 19.75 inches long. Paternal grandparents are Phil and Becky Gragg. Paternal great-grandparents are Jim and Shirley Gragg and the late Dr. and Mrs. James J. Pascoe. Maternal grandparents Art and Alice Boehs. Maternal great-grandparents are Florence Fritts and the late J.R. Fritts and the late Wilmer and Martha Boehs.

Deaths

Ruth E. Combs

Ruth E. Combs, 77, Lamar, died Oct. 9, 2004, at Barton County Memorial Hospital in Lamar. She was born on June 10, 1927, in Iantha, Mo., to Jacob and Juanita Georgia (Swindle) Hamilton. She married George Robert Watts, he preceded her in death on May 9, 1957. Then she married William Theodore Combs, he preceded her in death on Oct. 3, 1991.

She was a housewife. She was a member of the Liberal Methodist Church.

She is survived by two sons, James Combs, Jerico Springs, Mo., and Larry Combs, Lamar; three daughters, Mary Greene Lowe Potter, Golden City, Mo., Carolyn Gerths, Lamar, and Teresa Kidwell, Topeka, Kan.; one brother, Raymond Hamilton, Reeds, Mo.; one step-brother, Linden Wolf, Lamar; two sisters, Elizabeth Gebhardt, Mulberry, and Mary Aaron, Carthage, Mo.; 19 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Services were held at the Konantz-Warden Funeral Home Chapel today, Oct. 12, at 10 a.m. Interment was in Lake Cemetery in Lamar. Pallbearers were Michael Todd, Greg Lowe, Larry Combs, Joel Jeffries, Don Gerths Jr., Corey Pitts and Ryan Lowe. Arrangements were by Konantz-Warden Funeral Home.

Jack Holland

Jack Holland, 68, Bates City, Mo., died Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004, at the Independence Regional Health Center. He was born on Sept. 18, 1936, and lived most of his life in the Kansas City and Independence area.

He attended Nevada High School. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1953-1959. After 30 years of service with Teamsters Local 41, he retired from Yellow Freight Transportation in September 1992.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John J. and Ethel (Rackley) Holland; and grandson, Matthew Kirmse. He is survived by his wife, Janice Hancock Holland; five sons, Kenneth Holland, Randall Holland, Kevin Kirmse, Brian Kirmse, and Rusty Kirmse; four sisters, Betty Sinsley, Ada Householder, Florence Johnston, and Barbara Shumaker; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandson; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004, at the George C. Carson & Sons Funeral Home, 1501 E. Lexington Ave., Independence, Mo. The family suggests contributions to the American Heart Association. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.carsonfuneralhome.com. Arrangements were by Geo. C. Carson & Sons Funeral Home.

Verl E. Johnson

Verl E. Johnson, 89, Lamar, died Oct. 8, 2004, at Truman Healthcare in Lamar. He was born June 30, 1915, in Haigler, Neb., to George and Rella (Greenman) Johnson. He married Eva Lorene Johnson, and she preceded him in death on March 7, 1984. He then married Marjorie Johnson, and she preceded him in death in June 2000.

He was a carpenter and farmer. He was a member of the First Christian Church of Lamar. He was a member of the Keen Agers at the church.

He is survived by two daughters, Dorothy Walker, Sheldon, and Willa Fay McNary, Reeds, Mo.; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by both wives; and two brothers, Leslie and Robert Johnson.

Services were held at the First Christian Church in Lamar, today, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m. Interment was in Sheldon Cemetery. Arrangements were by Konantz-Warden Funeral Home.

Jennie Amelia Stone

Jennie Amelia Stone, 96, Lamar, died Oct. 8, 2004, at Truman Healthcare in Lamar. She was born Jan. 27, 1908, in Burlingame, Kan., to Frank and Esther (Hotchkiss) Hoggins. She married Denver Stone in Springfield, on June 25, 1932, and he preceded her in death.

She was the head dietitian for 17 years at Barton County Memorial Hospital in Lamar. She was a member of First Christian Church in Lamar. She was a member of the Mount Hope Chapter No. 74 of the Eastern Star in Lamar.

She is survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers, George Hoggins and Frank Hoggins.

Services will be held at the Konantz-Warden Funeral Home Chapel at 2 p.m., Wednesday, on Oct. 13, 2004. Interment will be in Memory Gardens in Lamar. Visitation will be one hour prior to service. Arrangements are by the Konantz-Warden Funeral Home in Lamar.

Florence Faye Gibson

Florence Faye Gibson, 69, Nevada, died Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004, at Nevada Regional Medical Center, Nevada, following a brief illness. She was born Sept. 13, 1935, in Phoenix, Ariz., to John Lynn and Mabel Dobbins Lynn. She married Bob Gibson in 1950 in Nevada, and he survives of the home.

She grew up in Arizona but spent her adult life here as a homemaker.

Survivors in addition to her husband, Bob, include one daughter, Sandra Kalm, Nevada; two grandchildren; two brothers, David Lynn, Springfield, and Jerry Dobbins, Walnut Grove, Mo.; and one sister, Betty Vaughn, Nevada.

Cremation was under the direction of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, and no services are planned.

Obituaries

Nelma Allene Ripley

Nelma Allene Ripley, 86, Moundville, died Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, at Moore-Few Care Center, Nevada. She was born Jan. 8, 1918, in Bronaugh, to Chauncey Lee Thompson and Nellie Pearl Feller Thompson. She married Clinton Ripley on March 16, 1939, and he preceded her in death.

Mrs. Ripley was a member of the Bronaugh Christian Church and the Bronaugh NIP Club. She spent her lifetime as a housewife.

Survivors include one brother, Don Thompson, Nevada; one sister, Alta Bunton, Metrose, Fla.; one sister-in-law, Virgie Thompson, Bronaugh; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law by marriage, Maurice and Kay Ripley, Moundville; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Darrel Thompson; three sisters, Lee Earl Shearburn, Erma Shearburn, and Juanita Day.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with Mark Mitchell officiating. Interment will follow in Deerfield Cemetery, Deerfield. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at the funeral home.

Those who wish may contribute to the Alzheimer's Association or the charity of choice.