Kelsy B. Beshears
1898-1999
Kelsy B. (Brown) Cooper Beshears, 100, St. Joseph, died Saturday, Jan. 16, 1999, at a St. Joseph hospital.
Mrs. Beshears, a well-known civil rights leader and St. Joseph businesswoman, developed and was owner of the Brookdale East Apartments, St. Joseph, since 1971.
In 1997, Missouri Western State College, St. Joseph, recognized Mrs. Beshears by naming a dormitory in her honor. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the St. Joseph YWCA also established the Kelsy B. Beshears Humanitarian Award in 1997.
Mrs. Beshears was a member of the Unity Church of Practical Christianity, the NAACP and the Women's Democratic Club, St. Joseph. She served as an alternate delegate to the 1968 and 1972 Democratic National Conventions, and was the oldest delegate to attend the 1980 convention. She was a member of the League of Women Voters and the St. Joseph Equal Rights Commission. Mrs. Beshears also was a former member and served as commissioner of both the Missouri Humanities Commission and Missouri Housing Development Corp.
Mrs. Beshears was preceded in death by her first husband, Dr. Jerry S. Cooper, in 1928; her second husband, Dr. Rufus P. Beshears, in 1961; three stepdaughters, Elaine C. Pugh, Jerrylyn C. Washington and Ernestyn C. Mosley; her mother, Rissie Brown; and a brother, Joseph Brown.
Surviving: a son, Jerry S. Cooper, Washington, D.C.; a daughter, Jean C. Hunton, Silver Spring, Md.; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.
Service: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Cathedral Catholic Church, St. Joseph. Visitation: after 2 p.m. today, Meierhoffer Family Funeral Care, St. Joseph, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 9 tonight. The body will be moved to the church one hour before the service. An additional visitation is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, at the McGuire Funeral Service, Washington D.C. Burial will follow in the Harmony Memorial Cemetery, Landover, Md. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Kelsy B. Beshears Scholarship Fund at Missouri Western State College, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64507.
Virginia L. Ottmann
1918-1999
ROCK PORT, Mo. -- Virginia Lea (Amthor) Ottmann, 80, Rock Port, died Friday, Jan. 15, 1999, at a Rock Port health-care center.
Mrs. Ottmann was employed by the Atchison County (Mo.) Soil Conservation Office, the Rock Port School as an aide, and Rolf's Fertilizer and Supply, Rock Port. She also taught Sunday school at the Rock Port First Lutheran Church, and was a former leader of the Langdon (Mo.) Friendly 4-H Club.
Born Dec. 3, 1918, north of Rock Port, she was a member of the Rock Port First Lutheran Church, the Church Circle and the Rock Port PEO Chapter DU.
On Oct. 5, 1940, she married Raymond F. Ottmann in Rock Port. They later divorced, and he died in 1996.
Mrs. Ottmann also was preceded in death by her parents, Robert R. and Marie E. Amthor; and a brother, Robert E. Amthor.
Surviving: two sons, Keith and James, both of Rock Port; a daughter, Jayne A. Bennington, Rock Port; a sister, Betty Jayne Gebhards, Rock Port; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Service: 10 a.m. Tuesday, First Lutheran Church, Rock Port. Burial: Hunter Cemetery, Rock Port. Visitation: after 1 p.m. today, Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Velma Houts Memorial Fair Building or the First Lutheran Church, both of Rock Port, in care of the chapel.
L. Ethel Plymell
1911-1999
L. Ethel (Tarter) Plymell, 87, St. Joseph, formerly of Cameron, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 17, 1999, at a St. Joseph health-care center.
Born Feb. 7, 1911, in Weatherby, Mo., Mrs. Plymell was employed at the former F.M. Stamper Co.
Mrs. Plymell was a member of the former Christian Chapel Christian Church, American War Mothers, Joy Club and Kitchen Band, all of Cameron.
On Aug. 16, 1933, she married Donald Plymell in Elwood, Kan. He died in 1985.
Mrs. Plymell also was preceded in death by her parents, James D. and Nancy Tarter; two brothers, Cletus and Grant Tarter; and two sisters, Ollie Wiss and Florence O'Conner.
Surviving: two sons, John, St. Joseph, and Jim, Cameron; two daughters, Janie Allen, Cameron, and Delores Tantlinger, St. Joseph; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and a great grandchild.
Service: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Poland-Thompson Funeral Home, Cameron. Burial: Christian Chapel Cemetery, Cameron. There is no scheduled family visitation.
Thelma Quintana
1931-1999
SPICKARD, Mo. -- Thelma (Coon) Quintana, 67, Spickard, died Saturday, Jan. 16, 1999, at her home.
Mrs. Quintana was employed by the Marin Del Schools in California for several years, working with mentally and physically handicapped children.
Born Aug. 30, 1931, in Baytown, Texas, Mrs. Quintana lived in California for several years before moving to Spickard in 1972.
Mrs. Quintana was a member of the Spickard Housing Board, Spickard History Book, Spickard Fair Board, Epsilon Upsilon Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, Trenton (Mo.) Area Business Women, Grundy County (Mo.) Republican Women, Sixth Congressional District Republican Women, Missouri Federation of Republican Women and the Wright Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Trenton. She also served as the Franklin (Mo.) Township Republican Committee Woman.
On Nov. 9, 1948, she married Tony Quintana in Chillicothe, Mo. In 1979, they opened Quintana's Quandry, Spickard, which they operated until 1998. Her husband, Tony, survives of the home.
Mrs. Quintana was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and Elsie Coon.
Additional survivors: a son, Tom, Spickard; a sister, Donna Foster, Kansas City; a brother, Wendell Coon, Kansas City; and a grandchild.
Service: 1 p.m. Tuesday, Resthaven Mortuary, Trenton. Burial: Spickard Masonic Cemetery. Visitation: 7 to 8 tonight at the mortuary. Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Cancer Society, in care of the mortuary.
Esther M. Vogel
1909-1999
Esther M. (Waller) Vogel, 89, St. Joseph, died Saturday, Jan. 16, 1999, at a St. Joseph health-care center.
Mrs. Vogel, a homemaker, also was employed part-time by the former Plymouth Clothing Store and the former P&H; Green Stamp Redemption Center.
Born Nov. 30, 1909, in Easton, Mo., she lived in the Hurlinger, Mo., area until moving to St. Joseph in 1945.
Mrs. Vogel was a member of the Clair United Methodist Church, St. Joseph, and the United Methodist Women of the church. She also was a member of the DeMolay Mother's Club, St. Joseph.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leslie E. Vogel, in 1998; her parents, Isadore J. and Elda Waller; a brother, Clinton Waller; and a grandchild.
Surviving: a son, Dennis N., St. Joseph; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Service: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Clair United Methodist Church, St. Joseph. Burial: Memorial Park Cemetery, St. Joseph. Visitation: after 4 p.m. today, Meierhoffer Family Funeral Care, St. Joseph, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. The body will be moved to the church one hour before the service. Memorial contributions may be sent to the church.
Mary E. Bills
1899-1999
CHILLICOTHE, Mo. -- Mary Elizabeth (Litton) Bills, 99, Chillicothe, died Sunday, Jan. 17, 1999, at a Chillicothe hospital.
Mrs. Bills, born in Sampsel Township, Sampsel, Mo., on March 24, 1899, was a lifelong resident of Livingston County, Mo.
A homemaker, she graduated from the Lock Springs, Mo., high school. Mrs. Bills was a member of the United Methodist Church, Lock Springs; and Royal Neighbors of America, Springhill, Mo.
On Dec. 27, 1915, she married Pres Bills in Gallatin, Mo. He died in 1987.
Mrs. Bills also was preceded in death by a daughter, Margaret L. Bills; her parents, Thomas and Susie Litton; two brothers, Virgil and Hiram Litton; and a sister, Fannie Eads.
Surviving: a daughter, Marian L. McDonald, Chillicothe; a sister, Dorothy Cox, Chillicothe; a grandchild; four great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.
Service: 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Norman-Wagy-Gordon Funeral Home, Chillicothe. Burial: Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Chillicothe. Visitation: noon to 8 p.m. today, at the funeral home. There is no scheduled family visitation. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church, Lock Springs, in care of the funeral home.
Clara J. Boettcher
1920-1999
MAYSVILLE, Mo. -- Clara J. (Iams) Boettcher, 78, Maysville, died Sunday, Jan. 17, 1999, at the Cameron, Mo., hospital.
Mrs. Boettcher was employed in janitorial service at the Topeka (Kan.) State Hospital for several years.
Born in White Cloud, Kan., on March 5, 1920, she was a former member of the Washington Creek Church of the Brethren in Douglas County, Kan.
On May 4, 1937, she married Lester H. Boettcher. He died in 1992.
Mrs. Boettcher also was preceded in death by her parents, William E. and Millie M. Iams.
Surviving: three sons, Leland, Topeka, Dorman, Copperas Cove, Texas, and Vernon, Fredonia, Kan.; three daughters, Henrietta Leonard, Robinson, Kan., Wilma Peters, Neosho Falls, Kan., and Roberta Merrill, Chanute, Kan.; a brother, the Rev. Robert Iams, Gray Bull, Wyo.; two sisters, Anna Fultz and Carlene Iams, both of California; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Service: 11 a.m. Friday, Newcomer Family Funeral Home, Topeka. Burial: Prairie View Cemetery, near Alta Vista, Kan. Family visitation: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, at the funeral home.
Warren K. Bumgarner
1981-1999
TRENTON, Mo. -- Warren K. Bumgarner, 17, son of Crystal Bumgarner of the home in Trenton, died Sunday, Jan. 17, 1999, from injuries suffered when the vehicle he was working on fell on him.
Mr. Bumgarner, born in Berlin, Germany, on July 21, 1981, was a senior at Trenton High School. He had been a resident of Trenton for three years.
He was a member of the First Assembly of God Church youth group in Trenton.
Warren was preceded in death by his father, Ronald.
Additional survivors: a brother, Scott of the home; paternal grandparents, Willard and Beryl Bumgarner, Shawnee, Okla.; and maternal grandmother, Ponchita McDaniel, Tacoma, Wash.
Service: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, First Assembly of God Church, Trenton. The body will be cremated following the service. There is no scheduled family visitation. Arrangements: Whitaker-Eads Funeral Home, Trenton.
Clyde L. Bundy
1932-1999
Clyde L. Bundy, 66, St. Joseph, died Monday, Jan. 18, 1999, at a St. Joseph hospital.
Mr. Bundy had been employed by Helicopters Hughes Air-Conditioning in Culver City, Calif. He also had been a manager of the Grocery Supply Co. in St. Joseph for several years.
Born in St. Joseph on Nov. 4, 1932, he lived in St. Joseph for most of his life. He graduated from the Criss College of Business in Anaheim, Calif., with an associate degree in accounting.
During the Korean and Vietnam Wars, he served in the Army. He was a member of the Eagles Lodge No. 49 and Pony Express American Legion Post No. 359, both of St. Joseph.
On Dec. 29, 1987, he married Joyce Doles in San Bernardino, Calif. She survives of the home.
Mr. Bundy was preceded in death by a son, John; his father, George; a brother, Gerald; and a sister, Charlotte Lane.
Additional survivors: three stepsons, Brian and Bret Doles, both of St. Joseph, and Craig Doles, San Antonio, Texas; his mother, Hazel Fraser, St. Joseph; three brothers, Claude, Medford, Ore., Leonard, Lexington, Ky., and Carl, Wichita, Kan.; a stepbrother, Milton Fraser, St. Joseph; two stepsisters, Lotus Bozarth and Lavona Fraser, both of St. Joseph; and four stepgrandchildren.
Service: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Gladden-Stamey Funeral Home, St. Joseph. Burial: Leavenworth, Kan., National Cemetery. Visitation: after 9 a.m. today, at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 tonight.
Pauline K. Carroll
1908-1999
BEMIDJI, Minn. -- Pauline K. (Seal) Carroll, 90, Bemidji, formerly of St. Joseph, died Thursday, Jan. 7, 1999, at a health-care center in Bemidji.
Mrs. Carroll taught in St. Joseph for a year. She also had worked in the housekeeping department of St. Olaf Hospital in Austin, Minn., until retiring in 1973 as head of the linen department.
Born in Quincy, Ill., on May 3, 1908, she graduated from college with a teaching degree. She had been a resident of Bemidji since 1995 when she suffered a stroke.
She was a member of the Silver Tea Club and Birthday Club, both of London, Minn.; and Izaak Walton League, Austin, of which she was a past president. She also was active in the senior citizens center in Austin.
On June 13, 1936, she married John V. Carroll in St. Joseph. They made their home in London, where they farmed. The couple moved to Austin in 1956. He died in 1964.
Mrs. Carroll also was preceded in death by a son, Duane; her parents, Henry B. and Blanche Seal; and a brother and two sisters.
Surviving: two daughters, Monica French, Belleview, Fla., and Helen Skeim, Bemidji; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, Jan. 11, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin. Burial was in the Calvary Cemetery at Austin. Arrangements were by the Mayer Funeral Home of Austin. Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.
Naomi F. Gastineau
1916-1999
LIBERTY, Mo. -- Naomi F. Gastineau, 83, Liberty, formerly of Hamilton, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 18, 1999, at a health-care center in Liberty.
Mrs. Gastineau had been employed as a cook at the Penney High School in Hamilton.
Born in Rayville, Mo., on Nov. 22, 1915, she lived most of her life in the Hamilton area. She was a member of United Methodist Church in Hamilton.
Mrs. Gastineau was preceded in death by her husband, Libby, in 1976.
Surviving: a son, Ron, Gallatin, Mo.; a daughter, Judy Arnaman, Turney, Mo.; a brother, J.B. Kelley, Independence, Mo.; a sister, Susie Cox, Sugar Creek, Mo.; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Service: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Bram Funeral Home, Hamilton. Burial: Highland Cemetery, Hamilton. Family visitation: 7 to 8:30 tonight, at the funeral home.
Maxine Green
1913-1999
Maxine (Meloy) Green, 85, St. Joseph, died Sunday, Jan. 17, 1999, at her residence following a lengthy illness.
For 45 years, Mrs. Green taught school, with 17 of those years at Benton High School, where she served as chairman of the English department and retired in 1978. Her first teaching position was at a rural school in DeKalb County, Mo., in 1933.
Born in Kidder, Mo., on Nov. 25, 1913, she resided in St. Joseph for 40 years.
She was a graduate of the Kidder high school, Kidder Institute and Truman State University at Kirksville, Mo., with a bachelor of science degree in education. She also earned a master's degree in education from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Mo., and did graduate study at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Mrs. Green was a member of the First Christian Church, St. Joseph; Order of the Eastern Star, Kirksville; and several book clubs.
On Nov. 2, 1940, she married Homer O. Green in Braymer, Mo. He survives of the home.
Mrs. Green was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Julia Meloy; a sister, Laura Short; and two brothers, Glen and F.T. Meloy.
Additional survivor: a son, Senior Master Sgt. Allen H., Air Force, Alexandria, Va.
Service: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Meierhoffer Family Funeral Care, St. Joseph. Burial: Memorial Park Cemetery, St. Joseph. Visitation: after noon today, at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8:30 tonight.
