Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Nancy (Hale) Burks, 47
May 29, 2008
Former Ava resident, Nancy (Hale) Burks, age 47, passed away May 25 in Joplin, Mo. following a sudden illness.
Nancy, the daughter of Bill and Betty Hale, was born Sept. 5, 1960 and lived in Ava throughout her childhood.
Nancy owned and operated a beauty salon in Ava for several years before moving to Joplin in 1987.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Betty Hale; her beloved husband, Richard Burks; and a brother, Edward Sparkman.
Survivors include her daughter, Catherine Mallory, of Joplin, and daughter, Amanda Hatfield and son-in-law Joel, of Kentucky; six beloved grandchildren, Austin, Desirae, Dusty, Dillian, William, and Kayla; sister Janie Magdziarz, of Springfield; brother Rick Hale, of Conway; and a host of other loving friends and family.
Nancy was a devoted and loving mother and grandmother, and a very dear friend to many. She will be forever remembered for her kind heart and fun-loving spirit.
Memorial services will be held today (Thursday, May 29) at 1 p.m., at the chapel at Forrest Park Baptist Church in Joplin under the direction of Mason-Woodard Funeral home of Joplin.
Cecil E. (Bud) Witchey, 79
May 29, 2008
Cecil E. (Bud) Witchey, 79, was born May 24, 1928, in Gentry, Ark., to parents Glenn and Gladys Witchey.
He passed away on May 19, 2008, at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield.
On Aug. 5, 1950, he was united in marriage to Roma D. Huffman in Mtn. Home, Ark.
He had lived in the Ava area most of his life.
Bud was best known as a truck driver. He had helped many farmers haul their cattle to market. Since about 1945 he had spent long hours behind the wheel of a truck. He enjoyed spending time with his family especially taking them on some of his trips. He proudly served his country in the US Army during the Korean conflict earning three bronze service stars in 18 months. He was a good friend to all who knew him, and always willing to help any neighbor in need.
Bud was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and three brothers, Earl, Robert "Bob", and Loren Gene Witchey.
Bud is survived by his two sons, Lloyd Witchey and wife, Donna, and Vernon Witchey; and one daughter, Glenda; and grandson, Jonathan Witchey, all of Ava. He is also survived by three sisters, Betty Kinyon, of Ava, Arlyce Lankford, of Brookline, and Arlene Springs of Warsaw. He will also be missed by a host of other relatives and friends.
A visitation was hosted in the Ava Family Funeral Home on Thursday, May 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services were conducted Friday May 23, at 10 am in the Ava Family Funeral Home with the Rev. Oren Alcorn officiating. Burial followed at the Whites Creek Cemetery with full military honors.
Gordon Clyde Thurman, 92
May 22, 2008
On May 17, 2008, Gordon Clyde Thurman passed away peacefully at Fulton Presbyterian Manor in Fulton, Missouri. He was 92 years old.
Gordon was born in Girdner, Missouri to Lee and Hannah (nee Lefler) Thurman.
He was married on October 3, 1948 to Joyce Hartleip, who preceded him in death.
He was also preceded in death by one son, Lee Thurman, and a brother, Wendell Thurman.
Gordon is survived by one son, Merrill Thurman and his wife Rita; two grandchildren, Lee Thurman and his wife, Melissa, and Victoria Hash and her husband, Ben; two great-grandchildren, Hayden Thurman and Baylee Hash; three sisters, Faye Sims, Gayle Morgan, and Rosella Russell; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Gordon was a retired railroad engineer from the Western Pacific Railroad. He loved hard work, his animals, and the great outdoors. More than anything, he loved his siblings, his children, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren, referring to them as the "light of my life." Gordon will be greatly missed and always loved.
We love you Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle, Cousin, and Friend. You will be forever in our hearts.
Private family services will be held. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice or to the Western Pacific Railroad, c/o Maupin Funeral Home, 301 Douglas Blvd., Fulton, Missouri 65251.
Christopher Paul Girdner, 22
May 22, 2008
Christopher Paul Girdner was born on July 6, 1985 in Rolla, Mo., and died on February 11, 2008 in Tallahassee, Fla.
Chris served with the 10th Mountain Division, U.S. Army, from February 2003 until July 2006, including a tour of duty in Afghanistan. At the time of his death, he was a construction worker.
He was baptized at St. Francis Anglican Church, Ava, Mo., in 1994.
Chris was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Voyne Brooke, paternal grandparents, Kermit and Leonore Girdner, his Aunt Patty Totzke, and cousin, Austin Brooke.
Survivors include his son, Gunner Joseph, Tallahassee, Fla.; parents, David and Lynne Girdner, Hopkinsville, Ky., and Phyllis Girdner, Windyville, Mo.; his brothers, Richard Girdner, also of Windyville, and Eddie and Abby Houston, Springdale, Ark.; sisters, Lori and Scott Miller, Fayetteville, Ark., and Lisa and Mike Seachord, Hopkinsville, Ky.; his maternal grandmother, Pauline Brooke, Windyville, Mo.; uncles and aunts, Paul and Helen Totzke, St. Joseph, Mich., Harold and Marcia Davis, Van Buren, Ark., and Phillip Brooke, Ava, Mo.; nephews, Phillip, Jason, and Chris of Fayetteville; cousins, Preston and Wendy Brooke, Jarred and Tyler, Ava, Michael and Angela Brooke, Marshfield, Mo., Leota, Shawn, and Kara Brooke, Isabella, Mo., Brooke Davis, Springfield, Mo., Brian, Lisa, and Scott Totzke, Schaumberg, Ill., and Pam and Keith Miller of Racine, Wisc.; as well as many other relatives and friends, including special family friend, Adam Fruits, Springfield, Mo.
A graveside memorial service will be held at Whites Creek Cemetery, located east of Ava, Mo., at 2 p.m. May 24, 2008, with Jeff Corder officiating.
Immediately following the service, family and friends will be meeting at Star Chapel Church for lunch and visiting. All are welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that memorials be made to Whites Creek Cemetery, c/o cemetery board member Preston Brooke, P.O. 1822, Ava, MO 65608.
Richardson Mortuary, Tallahas¬see, Fla., has been in charge of services.
Fredrick Lawrence Wright, 34
May 15, 2008
Fredrick Lawrence Wright, son of Roger Arnold and Linda Sharon (Heath) Wright, was born March 31, 1974 in Mansfield, Mo.
He departed this life Wednesday, May 7, 2008 in Cox Medical Center South in Springfield, Mo., at the age of 34 years, one month, and seven days.
Fred was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Fred and Bonnie Wright; and his maternal grandfather, Edgar Matheson.
He is survived by the love of his life, Leisa Wright, and their daughters, Summer and Shaylee; his parents, Roger and Linda Wright, of Seymour, Mo.; three brothers, Dean Wright and his wife Sabrina, of Ava, Mo., Derald Wright and his wife Andrea, of Killeen, Texas, and Patrick Wright, of Bolivar, Mo.; one sister, Wendy Thomas, of Seymour, Mo.; his maternal grandmother, Gola Matheson, of Enumclaw, Wash.; two nieces, Jessica and Sara Wright; four nephews, Cody Thomas, Jacob Wright, Tanner Lewis, and Robbie Wright; special friends, Ralph McNair, of Strafford, Mo., and Katherine and Noah of the state of Oregon; several uncles, aunts, and cousins; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends.
He loved teaching martial arts and women's self-defense classes. He also had a black belt in karate.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 16, in the First Baptist Church of Seymour, with the Revs. Jay Adrain and Keith Pyles officiating, under the direction of the Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Seymour.
Lester Gray, 85
May 15, 2008
Lester Junior Gray of Farmington passed away May 6, 2008 at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center at the age of 85 years.
He was born March 4, 1923, at Ava, Mo., the son of the late Lester and Bessie (Brown) Gray.
He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Woodrow and Clarence Gray, and a sister, Mildred Nash.
In 1944, Lester was inducted into the Army Air Force. He flew 32 combat missions as a staff sergeant in World War II. Before retirement, he was employed as a telephone engineer. In his spare time, he enjoyed gardening and working on his cars. Mr. Gray was a devoted family man and faithful to his church and Promise Keepers.
Survivors include his loving wife of 62 years, Virginia (Sargent) Gray; daughter, Kathy Walden (Jerry) of St Louis; two sons, Larry Gray (Anita) and Tim Gray (Kelley), all of Farmington; four grandchildren, Kevin (Tori), Stacey (Robert), Eric (Brittni) and Justin; nine great-grandchildren, Devonna, Jordan, Robert, Mya, Tycen, Brant, Jelena, Kyle and Keegan; a sister, DeAun Glammeyer of the state of Illinois; and Juanita Gray of Farmington.
Nieces, nephews and host of other relatives and friends also survive.
Funeral services were held Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m., at Mineral Area College Theatre with the Rev. Milford Gibbs and the Rev. Alan Berry officiating. Burial with military honors was at Hillview Memorial Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Cozean Funeral Home, Farmington.
Charles (Gene) Davis, 83
May 15, 2008
Charles (Gene) Davis, 83 years old, passed to heaven on May 10, 2008 in his home with his family at his side.
Gene was born Dec. 3, 1924, in Ava, Mo., to Elmer and Rosa (Brown) Davis.
He grew up in Ava and graduated from Ava High School. He then served his country in World War II in the 12th Division, Army Engineers, serving one year in Germany and then with the occupation forces in Japan.
As a businessman in Ava for more than 40 years, Gene operated the Davis Brothers Tire Shop and dearly loved his cattle buying and selling. Gene was an avid sportsman, traveling to western states hunting elk, deer, pheasants, and loved hunting quail at home.
He was a Christian and a member of the Nazarene Church for 55 years in Ava and Nixa.
Gene and Hazel Myers were united in marriage by the Rev. James Russell in Mansfield, Mo., on Dec. 30, 1943, enjoying 64-plus years of marriage. To this union one daughter, Connie, and a son, Lyle Wayne, were born.
Lyle preceded him in death.
Gene is survived by his wife, Hazel, of Nixa, Mo.; his daughter and son-in-law, Connie and Chris Carver, of Monett, Mo., two granddaughters, Christy Leilani Carver, of Lawrence, Kan., and Carissa Kell and husband, Ryan, of Eudora, Kan.; and a daughter-in-law, Anita Davis Shirkey, of Springfield.
Along with his son, Lyle, preceding in death, Gene was preceded by his parents, two sisters, Christine Irby and Fern Wood, three brothers, Cecil, Ernest, and Herman Davis.
Funeral services for Gene were at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with burial in the Ava Cemetery. Visitation was Tuesday from 6 till 7 p.m. in the funeral home. Officiating were Pastor Gary Swearengin, Pastor Oren Alcorn and the Rev. Chris Carver. Memorials may be made to the Gideons International or to Seasons Hospice, 1831 W. Melville, Springfield, MO 65803.
Lawrence J. Shelton, 89
May 8, 2008
Lawrence J. Shelton, 89, of Independence, passed away April 20, 2008, at the VA Hospital in Kansas City.
Lawrence was born Sept. 14, 1918, in Ava to Della Mae (Sanders) and Blaine Shelton.
He spent his youth growing up and being educated in rural Douglas County, and then served his country in World War II. Later he took a position with General Motors-Leeds, retiring after 32 years of service.
Lawrence married Bette Singleton of Douglas County, and one son was born to that union.
After Bette passed away, Lawrence married Betty Mann and they shared many special years together.
Lawrence is survived by his wife, Betty Shelton, Independence; one son, Mike Shelton, of Kansas City, Kan.; a stepson, Bruce Mann and wife, Cathy; granddaughters Melissa Chamberlain and Melinda Vincent; great-grandsons Eli and Dax Vincent; one brother, Norman Shelton and wife, Connie, of Phoenix, Ariz.; one sister, Geneva Mitchell, of Medford, Ore.; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by many cousins of the Shelton, Sanders, and Spurlock families in Douglas County.
Funeral services for Lawrence were held at 10 a.m., Thursday, April 24, at the Noland Road Baptist Church in Independence. Burial followed with full military honors at the Floral Hills Cemetery in Kansas City, under direction of Mount Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home in Kansas City.
