Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Alta Ellen Shanks, 90
May 8, 2008
Alta Ellen Shanks, the daughter of Delbert Burdan and Leta Victoria (Copas) Burdan, was born June 26, 1917, in Bertha, Mo., and departed this life May 5, 2008, in the Rocky Ridge Manor, Mansfield, at the age of 90 years 10 months and 9 days.
On May 3, 1933, Alta and Everett Lakey were united in marriage in Bertha, Mo., and to this union five children were born.
Mr. Lakey preceded Alta in death.
In 1951, Alta and Gordon Shanks were united in marriage in Arkansas and to this union, a daughter was born.
Mr. Shanks also preceded Alta in death. Alta was also preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, Cleo Stacks, Anna McDaniel and Opal Pool, twin brothers, Orvil and Norvil Burdan, and granddaughter, Faira Watterson Spindle.
Alta was a lifelong resident of Ava.
She was a Christian and was baptized.
She loved gardening, canning, and making homemade bread for her family.
Alta also loved to sew and make quilts.
Her survivors include six children and spouses, James Thomas "J.T." Lakey and Lori, Davenport, Iowa, Lula and Donald Dyer, Springfield, Mo., Boyd and Pat Lakey, Birch Tree, Mo., Gaytha and Jim Watterson, Ava, Mo., Norma and Lee Cornelison, Charlotte, N.C., and Regina and Jim Evans, Ava, Mo.; 19 grandchildren; several great- and great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services will be 2 p.m. today (Thursday, May 8) in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with Pastor Mark Hatcher officiating. Interment will follow in the Ava Cemetery. Visitation was Wednesday, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Gideons International.
Mary Rozell Hayes, 83
May 8, 2008
Mary R. Hayes, daughter of Noah and Dellavine (Howard) Strong, was born on Aug. 19, 1924, in Ozark County, Mo., and passed away on May 4, 2008, with her family by her side in Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare, Ava, Mo., at the age of 83 years, 8 months and 15 days.
Mary was a resident of Douglas County, Mo., for over 33 years.
She was a homemaker and housewife.
On Dec. 19, 1944, Mary and George T. Hayes were united in marriage in Okema, Okla.
She was a Christian and of the Pentecost faith.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Barbara Elaine, a son-in-law, Wesley Willis, two brothers, James and Harley Strong, three stepbrothers and one stepsister.
She is survived by her husband, George, of the home in Ava; seven children, Mary Jane Swisher, Fairfax, Mo., Barbara Smith and husband, Bob, Ava, Mo., Geraldine Huskey and husband, B.Y., Ava, Mo., Judy Huskey and husband, Roger, Barry, Texas, Buddy Hayes and wife, Sherry, Ava, Mo., Jessie Willis, Ava, Mo., and Danny Belt and wife, Cathy, Manford, Okla.; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; four brothers, Johnnie Strong, Gainesville, Mo., Lester Strong, Seymour, Mo., Chester Strong, Gainesville, Mo., and Arlie Strong, Batesville, Ark.; one stepbrother, Eldon Neely, Gainesville, Mo.; three stepsisters, Dorothy Strong, Dean Steel and Darlene Engles, all of Oklahoma; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services for Mary were held Wednesday, May 7, at 2 p.m. at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Arlie Strong officiating. Interment followed in the Loftis Cemetery, Gainesville. Visitation was Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home.
Stacy Michelle McLean, 29
May 1, 2008
Stacy Michelle McLean, 29, Willow Springs, Mo., passed away Thursday, April 17, 2008, at 8:15 p.m., in St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, Mo., after a lifelong illness.
Stacy was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Oct. 2, 1978.
She graduated in 1997 from Ava High School in Ava, Mo. Stacy loved camping, canoeing, butterflies, flowers and partying with her friends.
Stacy is survived by her parents, Kenny and Melody Gilbert, of Willow Springs; four sisters, Stephanie Holmes and fiancée, David Gentry, of Willow Springs, Amy Thorn and husband, Morgan, of La Russell, Mo., Kathy Gilbert and Krystal Gilbert, both of Booneville, Mo.; four brothers, Bryon Dotson, of Willow Springs, Duane McLean, of Dallas, Texas, Bobby Holmes, of Willow Springs, and Kevin Gilbert, of Fort Scott, Kan.; her uncle, David Peissner and wife, Kelly, of North Pole, Alaska; very special friend, Harvey Hopper, of Lebanon, Mo.; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by grandparents, Don and Faye Holmes and Shirley Harrington and David Peissner; an uncle, Rick Coleman, and one brother, Jason Dotson.
Stacy will be missed by all who knew her.
Stacy wanted a memorial garden full of flowers. A private memorial service will be held at the family home.
John Milton Nix, 94
May 1, 2008
John Milton Nix, the son of John and Lillie Nix, was born June 15, 1913, in Unity, Ill., and departed this life April 23, 2008 at the age of 94 years 10 months and 8 days.
John was a resident of the Ava area and Wasola community for the past 20 years, moving here from California. John was a bus driver before his retirement.
He was of the Baptist faith.
In 1987, John and Elsie Cumpston were united in marriage in Ava, Mo.
John enjoyed fishing, slot machines at the casino, vegetable and flower gardening and planting fruit trees.
John was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Helen Nix.
His survivors include his wife, Elsie Nix, of the home, Ava, Mo.; five stepchildren, Susan Carol Fare, Buffalo, Mo., Fern Crowe, Forsyth, Mo., Gary Guthery, Fair Grove, Mo., Christopher Guthrie, Marshfield, Mo., Spencer Guthrie, Ava, Mo.; and a host of other relatives and friends including very best friends, Paul and Ceelie Huntzsinger and Karen Edkins.
Graveside service was held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Jackson Cemetery with Chaplain Roger Flint officiating. Services were under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, Mo. Memorials may be made to Jackson Cemetery.
Xander James Burkhart, Infant
May 1, 2008
Xander James Burkhart, age 3 months, son of Mindy Schroeder, Norwood, and Tim Burkhart, Chadwick, passed away April 22, 2008, at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Graveside services were held Saturday, April 26 at Denlow Cemetery with the Rev. Dale Graham officiating.
Jimmy Edwin Barnhart, 71
Apr 24, 2008
Jimmy Edwin "Barney" Barnhart, son of the late Charley and Mary Marie (Lemons) Barnhart, was born on Oct. 4, 1936 in Plato, Mo., and passed away suddenly on Friday, April 18, 2008 at his home in Mtn. Grove, Mo., at 71 years of age.
Jimmy grew up in the Mtn. Grove area and graduated from Mtn. Grove High School in 1955. Following graduation, he entered the United States Navy and retired from a military career on Sept. 29, 1975 as an MRC.
He was married to Wava Hicks in 1959, and two children were born to this union.
They lived in Port Orchard, Wash., and moved to the Champion, Mo., area in 1986. Wava passed away in 2000.
Jim was united in marriage to Carole (Coats) Callahan on Feb. 14, 2003 in Greenbrier, Ark.
They made their home on 13th Street in Mtn. Grove for the past five years.
Jim was a wonderful and caring husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, and neighbor. He truly enjoyed his family and visiting with his many friends.
He enjoyed bluegrass music, spending time with his family and watching high school sports that two special girls, Charlee and Danielle, participated in. He also liked all kinds of animals.
At the time of his passing, Jim was attending the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Mtn. Grove and he had also attended Brushy Knob Church in Douglas County in the past. He was a member of the Skyline Fire Department and enjoyed being on bowling leagues.
Besides his parents and his first wife, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Michael Barnhart; and by a sister, Nadine Douglas.
He is survived by his loving wife, Carole Barnhart, of their home; one daughter, Tracy Baxter and her husband, Rick, of Bremerton, Wash.; two grandchildren, Taylor and Joey; three stepchildren, Tim Callahan and his wife, Jodi, of VanBuren, Ark., Michelle Callahan, of Mtn. Grove, and Tracy Ringling and her husband, Kevin, of St. Louis County, Mo.; nine step-grandchildren, Ty, Tanner and Zack Callahan, Brittany and Kiersten Billington, Ryan Miller, Jacob Willen, and Meghan and Jonathan Ringling; one brother: Alvin "Barney" Barnhart and his wife, Beverly, of Norwood, Mo.; one sister, Vivian Hacker and her husband, Mike, of Lone Jack, Mo.; and a host of other relatives, classmates, church family, and friends who will miss him very much.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 23, 10 a.m., in the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home with Rev. Wayne Cannon officiating. Iby and Ruth Edwards and John and Shirley Shores served as singers. Song selections were "Amazing Grace, " "How Great Thou Art, " and "Go Rest High On That Mountain." Pallbearers were Ryan Miller, Alan Barnhart, Jacob Willen, Dillon Cheney, Travis Cheney, Mike Hamby, Chris Mackey, Zack Callahan. Honorary pallbearers were Wes Smith, Joe Hamby, Tim Callahan, Kevin Ringling, Kenneth Coats, Wayne Coats, and Mike Hacker. Burial with full military honors with American Legion Post 30 and Navy Burial Team was in the New Hope Cemetery in Douglas County under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mtn. Grove, Mo.
Family requests, in lieu of flowers donations to Southwest Missouri Humane Society or the New Hope Cemetery Fund c/o the funeral home.
Alma Lee Johnson, 89
Apr 24, 2008
Alma Lee Johnson was born Nov. 25, 1918, in Smallett, Mo., to Earnest and Della (Fulton) Sellers.
She passed away Saturday, April 12, 2008, at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center at the age of 89.
Alma married George Isaac Johnson and they had two children.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George; her son, Jackie Wayne Johnson; three brothers, Earl, Raymond and Herman Sellers; and one sister, Opal Turner.
She is survived by her daughter, Patsy (Arlen) Stuck, Pueblo, Colo.; daughter-in-law, Ruth (Bill) Sellers, Ava: five grandchildren, David (Angela) Johnson, Bremerton, Wash., Kevin (Jennifer) Johnson, St. Louis, Mo., Kerri (Eli) Berumen, Pueblo, Colo., Michelle Stuck, Midwest City, Okla., Lynnelle (Bill) Allyn, Pueblo, Colo.; and 11 great-grandchildren, Barry and Jack Johnson, Andrew, Marissa, and Jackie Johnson, Devin, Kristopher, and Daniel Berumen, Trey, Jason, and Brooke Allyn.
She is also survived by one foster son, John Bunyard, Burleson, Texas; in addition to brothers, Clyde Sellers, Bolivar, and Leon (Alberta) Sellers, Pueblo, Colo.; special friend, Cindy Jones; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Alma and her husband, George, were one of the founding families of Belmont Baptist Church where she has been a member since 1954. She loved making quilts, crocheting, cooking (especially baking), working in her yard, but most important to her was her family. Saying she will be greatly missed can't begin to cover it.
Memorial contributions may be made in Alma's memory through the funeral home office to Belmont Baptist Church or Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 16, 2008, at Adrian Comer Garden Chapel, Pueblo, Colo., with Pastor Don Worthington officiating. Interment was in Roselawn Cemetery.
Harold H. Thompson, 74
Apr 17, 2008
Harold H. Thompson, 74, of Columbia, passed away on April 15, 2008 at University Hospital & Clinics.
Harold was born on January 17, 1934 in Ava, Missouri to Russell and Celeste Opal Hamby Thompson and they preceded him in death.
He was married to Gladys Gessling on May 25, 1963 in Forest Green, Missouri and she survives.
He was a 1952 graduate of Ava High School and served in the U.S. Army and the Marine Reserves. He worked for the University Hospital as an electrician from 1958 until his retirement in 1996.
Harold was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and will be remembered as someone who loved to bird hunt and as an avid Missouri Tiger football fan.
He is also survived by his daughters, Rhonda Wise and her husband, Rick, and Lisa Thompson all of Columbia; grandchildren, Hannah and Collin Wise; brothers, Leon Thompson and his wife, Marlene of Manteca, California and Donald Thompson and his wife, Jean of Columbia and many other beloved family members.
Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, 2008 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbia.
Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until time of services at the church.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church Organ Fund, 2201 W. Rollins Rd., Columbia, Missouri 65203 or a charity of donor's choice.
