Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Father Richard Fox, 74
Jan 10, 2008
Father Richard Fox, the son of James Fox and Margaret (Russell) Fox, was born on July 30, 1933 in Chicago, Ill., and departed this life on Jan. 5, 2008, at the age of 74 years, 5 months and 5 days.
Father Richard died at his home at Assumption Abbey outside Ava, minutes after his monastic brothers had gathered around his bed to pray in mid-afternoon.
Father Richard was a monk of Assumption Abbey, a Roman Catholic monastery of the Cistercian Order near Ava, since moving from the New Melleray Abbey in Dubuque, Iowa in 1954.
In the late 1960s and early 1970, Father Richard pursued academic degrees at St. Thomas University, St. Paul, Minn., and at Notre Dame University, Ind.
At the Abbey, Father Richard served as director of novices and as treasurer. His principle contribution, though, was his talent as a singer. For decades, until his decline in 2002, Father Richard was the cantor for the monastic liturgies.
Father Richard was a generous and faithful friend and a compassionate listener. He also had a terrific, if somewhat unusual, sense of humor. He loved to laugh, and up to the last days of his life and in his weakest state he was ready to laugh and to find the humor in things.
In the monastery, Father Richard was devoted to the ancient monastic practice of holy reading. He spent regular daily periods at reading and meditation, and the fruits of his prayer came out in his homilies at Mass, but especially in the honest way he lived and related to people.
Father Richard spent the last four years of his life in residence at Mercy Villa, Springfield. There he was loved by the staff. Even when he could do nothing for himself, he preached the Gospel by his cheerful patience, his ready smile, and his evident gratitude to all who served him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Dr. Donald Fox and Father James Fox; and a sister who passed in infancy.
Father Richard is survived by his brother, Peter Fox, of Mishawaka, Ind.
Funeral Mass was held on Jan. 8, at 10 a.m., in the Assumption Abbey Church with Abbot Mark Scott officiating.
Interment followed at the Assumption Abbey Cemetery.
Local arrangements were conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home; Ava.
James Gerald Farris, 80
Jan 10, 2008
James (Jim) Gerald Farris was born in Coulterville, Ill., on Oct. 1, 1927, to Floyd Eugene Farris and Hazel Pearl (Jackson) Farris. Jim was the first of five children born to this couple.
Jim passed from this life on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008, in Cox Medical Center in Springfield after a short illness.
He is survived by his wife, Dolores Maxine (Gueltzau) Farris, of the home; two daughters, Marilyn Gail (Farris) Corum and her husband, Art, of Ava, and Laura Jean (Farris) Camp and her husband, Lawrence, of Ava; one granddaughter, Monica Denise Corum, of Ava; three brothers, William Farris and wife, Mary Ellen, of Santa Anna, Calif., Charles Farris and wife, Nora, of Blue Springs, and Donald Farris and wife, Anna Lou, of Columbia; one sister, Gail Arnold and husband, Bill, of Sedalia; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his father, Floyd Eugene Farris, and mother, Hazel Pearl (Jackson) Farris, and one niece, Daunita (Arnold) Cordes.
Jim graduated from O'Fallon Township High School in O'Fallon, Ill., in the spring of 1945, and joined the Marines in August of that same year. He graduated from the University of Missouri in the spring of 1952 with an AB degree with a major in political science, a minor in history and one year in law school.
Jim and Dolores Maxine Gueltzau were married on Aug. 2, 1957, in Steedman Mo.
They bought a house in Independence and to this union, two daughters were born, Marilyn Gail (Farris) Corum and Laura Jean (Farris) Camp.
Jim and Dolores were baptized into Christ following the teaching of the Bible in the summer of 1965 at the East Independence Church of Christ where Jim served as a deacon for several years. He and his family moved to Ava on Jan. 15, 1971 in order for Jim to manage a fire starter and charcoal manufacturing and packaging plant for Oak Lite Corp. in Seymour. He later accepted a job at Sentinel in Ava doing sales, advertising and general office work.
Jim and Dolores owned and operated a discount clothing and miscellaneous retail store from Jan. 1, 1982 to Feb. 14, 2004. The store was located on the square in Ava for the last 15 years of operation.
Jim was a member of the Ava Church of Christ during all his time in the Ozarks. He served as an elder for approximately 25 years of this time.
Memorial services for Jim will be held on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 2 p.m., at the Ava Church of Christ on South Highway 5 in Ava.
In lieu of flowers, the family has re¬quested that memorial donations be made to Douglas County Neighbor Helping Neighbor, RR 6 Box 8579 Ava MO 65608.
Cremation service is being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Glenn Dale Barcus, 70
Jan 10, 2008
Glenn Dale Barcus was born March 8, 1937 in Roy, Mo., the son of Fred Barcus and Gertie (Sanders) Barcus.
Glenn passed away Jan. 4, 2008 in Seymour, at the age of 70 years 9 months and 26 days.
Glenn was a resident of Ava, for most of his life and had been a resident of Seymour for the past two years, and had lived there previously. Glenn was a veteran and had served his country with the U.S. Air Force from 1957 to l960.
On July 16, 1957 Glenn and Rosa Lea Huffman were united in marriage in Ava. They were blessed with three children.
Glenn enjoyed collecting knives and coins. In his earlier years he enjoyed hunting and fishing. Glenn was a farmer and worked for the City of Seymour Maintenance for several years.
Glenn was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Wayne and Charlie Barcus, and a daughter Brenda (Barcus) Ingram.
He is survived by two children, Dwayne Barcus and Glenda Little and husband, Alan, all of Ava; three grandchildren, Nathan, Evan and Logan; one sister, Mary Caudill, Thornfield; and a host of other relatives and friends, and many nieces and nephews.
Graveside service will be 2 p.m., Monday, Jan. 7, in the Ava Cemetery, with the Rev. Mike Freeman officiating.
Services are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Memorials may be made to Gideons International or the Ava Kiwanis Club.
Tommy M. Swearengin, 72
Jan 3, 2008
Tommy M. Swearengin, 72, Joplin, formerly of the Dogwood community, passed away Monday, Dec. 24, 2007, in St. John’s Hospital, Joplin.
He was born Feb. 22, 1935, to Murlin and Ida (Yates) Swearengin, who have preceded him in death.
On Sept. 9, 1954, he was united in marriage to Floretta Lockhart in Sparta.
Tommy proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army entering the military at the young age of 17.
During his professional career, he was district manager for Meadow Gold Dairy, retiring after dedicating 29 years of service. He also attended and was a member of Blendville Christian Church. He especially enjoyed bluegrass gospel music and woodworking. Tommy was a dedicated family man and will be dearly missed by his family and many friends.
Tommy is survived by his wife, Floretta; three children, Sheri Page and husband Steve of Joplin, Mike Swearengin of Joplin, and Gary Swearengin and wife Janet of Wichita, Kan.; two grandchildren, Ryan Swearengin and Rachel Cole; and one great-grandchild, Andrew Cole. Other surviving relatives include seven siblings, Jim and Katherine Swearengin, Janis and Bill Preston, Dean and Dortha Swearengin, and Betty Fitzgerald all of Sparta, Joan and Stanley Workman, Dwight and Diana Swearengin, all of Seymour, and Peggy and Jesse Grimes, of Rogersville; other caring relatives and several friends.
Tommy was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, in Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Dogwood, with Sr. Minister Larry Richardson officiating, under the care and direction of Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ozark.
Burial followed in Dogwood Cemetery.
Visitation was held Friday, from 6 to 8 p.m., in Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ozark.
Hosea Maynard Maggard, 76
Jan 3, 2008
Hosea Maynard Maggard, 76, of Fordland, went to be with his beloved, Alma, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007, at 6:04 p.m.
He was born Dec. 2, 1931, at Ongo, the son of Cleveland and Stella May (Nelson) Maggard.
He served his country in Korea with the U.S. Army.
He was united in marriage to Alma Gullett on Sept. 24, 1955. To this union two children were born, Kathy and Rick.
Hosea retired in 1989 after 34 years with Kraft Foods. He was a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He enjoyed fishing and being with his family whenever he could.
He was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church and attended Fordland Freewill Baptist Church.
Survivors include: two children and their spouses, Kathy and Paul Payne, Seymour, and Rick and Cassie Maggard, Mountain Grove; his mother-in-law, Lina Gullett; four grandsons; one granddaughter; two great-grandsons, two great-granddaughters; four sisters; three brothers; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; and a host of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Alma in 1982, his parents, a sister, Goldie, and his father-in-law, Herman Gullett.
Funeral services will be at Highlonesome today (Thursday, Jan. 3) at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Gene Crewse officiating.
Burial will follow in Chadwick Cemetery, under the direction of Adams Funeral Home, Ozark.
Visitation was from 6 – 8 p.m. Wednesday in Adams Funeral Home, Ozark.
Peggy Jean Levan, 65
Jan 3, 2008
Peggy Jean Levan was born on June 11, 1942, to Glen and Velma (Buchanan) Leckenby, in Garden City, Kan.
Peggy went to be with her Lord and Savior on Dec. 18, 2007, at 2:30 a.m.
She married Melvin Thomas Levan on Feb. 21, 1961, in Ava. To this union she added 12 children.
She was a loving mother, seamstress, gardener and full-time homemaker.
She gave her life to the Lord in June 1985 and was baptized at Happy Home Free Will Baptist church where she was a member for many years. She also attended Star Chapel and Faith Rock Church. She loved the Lord.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Billy, Jack, Donald and Buster; two infant siblings; and sons, Melvin Leroy Levan and Michael Levan.
She is survived by her husband, Melvin Levan; Thomas Leckenby and wife, Patty, Mansfield, Velma Jean Levan, Ava, Patricia Thomas and spouse, Ed, of Maryland, Bobby Williams and husband, Gary, of Chadwick, Connie Jagears and husband, Ronnie, of Seymour, Christene Crane and husband, Raymond, of Summersville, Robert Levan and wife, Leslie, Ava, Lorena Diver and husband, Paul, Ava, Geraldine Levan, Ava, and Mitchell Levan, Ava.
She has 25 grandchildren of whom she was very fond.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 1 p.m., at Happy Home Church with Bro. Paul Welch officiating.
Interment was in Turkey Creek Cemetery.
Erma "June" Graham, 71
Jan 3, 2008
Erma "June" Graham, 71, of Bolivar, passed away on Dec. 30, 2007.
Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 4, at Meyers Funeral Chapel, 1600 W. Main, Blue Springs, Mo.
Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to defray funeral costs.
Jason Gabriel Fleetwood, 25
Jan 17, 2008
Jason Gabriel Fleetwood, son of Harlin Fleetwood and Shirley Maggard Fleetwood, was born on June 25, 1982 in Springfield, and passed away on Jan. 9, 2008, in Douglas County, at the age of 25 years, 6 months and 14 days.
Jason was a resident of Seymour for 14 years, moving from Branson. He loved fishing, hunting and being with his kids. He adored his children and loved being a father.
He is survived by his children, Katlyn Watson, Springfield, Kassie, Kannen and Jason Jr. Fleetwood, all of the home in Seymour; two stepchildren, Kirsten and Camrin, also of the home; his parents, Harlin and Shirley Fleetwood, Seymour; three brothers, Josh Fleetwood, Ava, Bud Fleetwood and Bradley Maggard, both of Seymour; a sister, Shawna Strunk, Ava; and a host of other relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at New Hope Assembly on Highway 60, at Seymour.
Cremation service was conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
The family requests memorials as love offerings at Great Southern Bank or at the funeral home.
A memorial fund has also been set up in Jason’s name at Great Southern Bank, Ava.
