Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Gale Lankford, 50
Apr 3, 2008
Gale Ursilee Lankford, daughter of John Thomas and Barbara Byrd was born on July 13, 1957 in Miami, Fla., and passed away on March 29, 2008, in St. John's Hospital, Springfield, at the age of 50 years, 8 months and 16 days.
Gale was a resident of Hermitage for the past 4˝ years moving from Collins. She was a driver for ABC Transportation.
Gale and Robert "Bobby" Lee Lankford were united in marriage on April 12, 1986 in Springfield, and to this union they were blessed with two children.
Gale enjoyed horseback riding, caring for animals, being outdoors, her African violets, and being with her family and children. She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Gale was preceded in death by her grandmother, Sue "Nanny" Byrd and a brother, Scotty Thomas.
Her survivors include her two children, Dustin Lankford, Brookline, and Angel Lankford, Hermitage; her parents, John Thomas and Barbara Byrd, both of Miami, Fla.; two brothers, John Thomas Jr. and Bo Byrd, both of Miami, Fla.; one sister, Sandra Wells; an uncle, Gary Byrd, Orlando, Fla.; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Graveside service will be Friday, April 4, at 2 p.m., at the Whites Creek Cemetery, Ava. Services are being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
James 'Jamie' Lee Johnson, 32
Apr 3, 2008
James Lee Johnson, the son of Bradley Lee Johnson and Deloris Kathleen Finch Johnson, was born on April 30, 1975, in Springfield, and passed away on March 26, 2008, in Gainesville, at the age of 32 years, 10 months and 26 days.
Jamie was a resident of Mansfield for the past eight months moving from Springfield. He had been working for Si Funeral Services (Wilbert Vault) for several years as a customer service representative.
On May 10, 1995 Jamie and Jenifer Kay Hall were united in marriage in Hartville.
Jamie enjoyed listening to Conway Twitty, watching wrestling, his '68 Chevrolet and being with his Grandpa, wife and children and all the family.
He was preceded in death by his father and one sister, Kathy Lee Johnson.
Jamie is survived by his wife, Jenifer, of the home, in Mansfield; two children, Andrew Hall and Kadie Johnson, of the home; his mother, Kathy Crain, Gainesville; maternal grandfather, James Finch, Norwood; one sister, Jeannie Jones, Springfield; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services for Jamie were Tuesday, April 1, at 2 p.m. at the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Pastor Jim Furnas officiating. Interment followed in the Prairie Hollow Cemetery near Mansfield. Visitation was Monday evening from 6 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home. The family requests memorials contributions to the family as a love offering in c/o the funeral home.
Margaret Elizabeth Benson
(August 7, 1928 - November 3, 2011)
Margaret Elizabeth Benson, daughter of Devoustan F. and Lena Lucinda (Haggard) Smith, was born August 7, 1928, in Detroit, Michigan.
She departed this life Thursday, November 3, 2011, in Cox Medical Center, South, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of eighty-three years, two months and twenty-six days.
On December 25, 1948, she was united in marriage to Lyle Elwell Benson, and to this union, eight children were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lyle, on February 14, 2009; her son, Larry and an infant daughter; four sisters and four brothers.
Margaret is survived by her children, Lyle William (Sonny) Benson and wife, Faye, of Long Lane, MO, Beverly Benson, of Hartville, MO, Ronnie Benson and wife, Vickie, of Seymour, MO, Marlene Sawyers and husband, Roger, of Seymour, MO, Timothy Benson and Kimberly Benson, both of Hartville, MO; thirteen grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Shirley Jones, of Spokane, WA and Betty Hodge, of Mountain View, MO; two brothers, Richard Smith, of Roach, MO and Marion Smith, of Lompoc, CA; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
She was born and raised in the Detroit area. After her marriage to Lyle, they made their home in Michigan until moving to Hartville in 1971. Through the years she was a loving and caring homemaker to her family and also worked as a tax preparer. And in earlier years, had worked for the IRS in Detroit.
Margaret had professed her faith in Jesus Christ and was of the Baptist Faith.
In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, cross word puzzles and watching tv.
Margaret was a loving wife and mother, was a cherished grandmother and great-grandmother, a treasured sister and aunt, and a kind and caring friend. She will be fondly remembered and greatly missed, and will live on in our hearts forever.
Funeral Services will be Monday November 7, 2011, at 1:00 pm, the family will recieve friends from 3:00 - 5:00 pm sunday afternoon in Holman-Howe Funeral Home Hartville, Missouri. Burial will be in the Hopewell Cemetery near Bendavis, Missouri.
Eva A. Hicks, 88
Apr 3, 2008
Eva A. Hicks died March 23, 2008, of health related problems.
Born June 18, 1919, Eva Aretta Davenport, she grew up in Ava, Missouri.
There she met and married Robert Earl Hicks.
Her family spent most of their early life at School of the Ozarks, and then in Fort Scott, Kan. There she started college as her son graduated from high school and completed her masters degree in library science. She was the school librarian at Winfield Scott School in Fort Scott, Kan., until her retirement.
Eva and Robert retired to the Palm Springs, Calif. area and enjoyed an active retirement life for several years. They always loved to dance and be with their grandchildren. They moved to Wimberley, Texas where Robert passed away suddenly, and several years later on this Easter Sunday morning 2008, Eva passed away.
Surviving are her daughter, Treena Donahue, of Wimberley, Texas; son, Terry R. Hicks and wife Sherry, of Palm Desert, Calif.; and five grandchildren, Amber Strafkos of Houston, Texas, Matt Eblin of Gulfport, Miss., Kimberly Coleman of Edina, Minn., Kristen Hicks Richter of Redondo Beach, Calif., and Mark Robert Hicks of Ozark. She is also survived by two great-grandsons, Taylor Coleman and Socrates Zografos.
The memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, April 13 at Pennington Funeral Home in San Marcos, Texas.
Dave Goodnight, 53
Apr 3, 2008
Dave Goodnight passed away Thursday morning, March 27, 2008 at his residence in Gainesville. He was 53 years old.
Dave felt fortunate to have been adopted at birth by a loving Christian family. Dave was the second son of Charles and Louise (Slawson) Goodnight. He was their Christmas gift, having been born on December 21, 1954 in Dallas, Texas.
They were able to take him home on Christmas Eve, where he was welcomed by an older brother, Paul.
Dave’s father, Charles, was a Church of Christ preacher for 50 years, so the family moved around the state of Texas whenever he would take over at a different church. Dave spent most of his adult life in Texas. He worked as an EMT for a few years. He also served as sheriff of Foard County, being the youngest person ever elected sheriff in the state of Texas.
He was introduced to the funeral industry by a friend and pursued this as his career in the early 1980s. He worked as a funeral director in his hometown of Killeen, Texas, for several years, and later held a position with Batesville Casket Company.
On July 6, 1990, Dave married Lisa Ellis at Bull Shoals State Park.
Instead of being transferred to Los Angeles, Calif., he chose to seek employment in Missouri. He and Lisa moved to Gainesville when he accepted a position with Clinkingbeard Funeral Home. For the next 18 years, Dave did the job that he believed he was born to do.
When Dave and Lisa married, he got a package deal. Austin was only two years old at that time. All three have been very blessed in their life together.
Dave is survived by his wife Lisa, son Austin, and their dog, Scout, all of the family’s home; brother Paul Goodnight and wife Candy of Utopia, Texas, and their adult children John, Lee Ann, and Stacy; father and mother-in-law Loy and Arlene Ellis of Mountain Grove, and their adult children Debbie, Lanny, Tommy, and Vicky. He also leaves behind someone who has been like a second mother to him, Olline Yocham. Dave and Olline’s relationship started soon after he came to Gainesville, and while working together the past 17 years they truly have become family.
Dave is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Louise Goodnight.
Funeral services were held Saturday, March 29, at 10 a.m. at the Gainesville Church of Christ with Halbert Smith officiating. Burial was at Boatman Cemetery north of Mountain Grove.
Velma Gary, 97
Apr 3, 2008
Velma E. Gary, 97, daughter of Isaac Brown and Margaret Manning Brown, was born on April 19, 1910, in Squires, Mo., and passed away Friday, March 28, 2008 in Christian Health Care, Republic.
She is survived by twin sisters, Veda Garland, Republic, and Naida Hartley, Ava, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Isaac and Margaret Brown; husband, Joseph Gary; one sister, Lula Hicks; and five brothers, John, Everett, Clarence, Louis and Glenn.
Velma was a cast member of the traveling Weaver Brothers & Elviry Vaudeville act in the early 1930s. After moving to Chicago, she worked as a sales representative for several cosmetics companies: Elmo Sales, Peggy Sage, Dorothy Gray, DuBarry Division of Warner-Lambert, and Dana Products. In Springfield, Velma was a member of the Abou Ben Adhem-Band Aids, Shrine Ladies Club and Museum of the Ozarks. She also worked as a volunteer for Springfield Meals on Wheels.
Services for Velma were Wednesday, April 2, at 2 p.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Glen Dale Hartley officiating. Interment followed in the Ava Cemetery. Visitation was Wednesday from 1 p.m. to service time in the funeral home. The family requests memorials to the Alzheimers Association.
Burney Fleetwood, 83
Apr 3, 2008
Burney Fleetwood, the son of William Dave Fleetwood and Maggie M. (Hitchock) Fleetwood, was born Nov. 11, 1924 at Squires, Missouri and departed this life March 28, 2008, at the age of 83 years 4 months and 17 days.
Burney was a life-long resident of Squires. He was employed as a construction worker and helped build Highway 5, and was a dairy farmer. He also loved making a garden. Burney was a member of the Murray Church. He loved the Murray Church and his family. His pride and joy was his granddaughter, Rayonna.
On Aug. 26, 1961, Burney and Linna Rae Byerley were united in marriage in Ava, by Charlie Silvey. Burney and Linna Rae were blessed with two children.
Burney was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Sherman, and one sister, Dorothy Plumb, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Charlie and Garrie Byerley, brother-in-law, Adrain Byerley, sister-in-law, Lucille Caudill and nephew, Harlan Plumb.
He is survived by his wife, Linna Rae, of the home, Squires; one son, Danny G. Fleetwood and wife, Cindy, Morrisville; one daughter, Janice K. Garner and husband, Dan, of Squires; one granddaughter, Rayonna Garner; a granddaughter on the way, Rachael Lynn Garner, Squires; five step-grandchildren, Joseph and Jacob Smith, of Morrisville, Tabitha Chaney, Matthew Garner and Jamie Hays, all of Lebanon; two sisters, Ella Doran and Russell, Ava, and Ethil Lane and Leon, and one brother, Dave Fleetwood and Sylvia, all of Squires; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 31, at the Murray Church, Squires, with the Rev. Dale Graham, Rev. Junior Hall and Danny Fleetwood officiating. Interment was in the Murray Cemetery. Visitation was Sunday, 3 to 4 p.m., in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Reba D. Sellers, 77
Mar 27, 2008
Reba D. Sellers, 77, entered her heavenly rest March 19, 2008, in Cox South Hospital, Springfield, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born Feb. 19, 1931, in Ava, to Leroy and Bessie Mae (Privett) Rhynes.
On Sept. 30, 1950, she was joined in marriage to Nelson Sellers in Ava, and they were blessed with four children.
After their marriage they moved to Moline, Ill., and later to Hudson, Iowa where they would work and raise their family. They returned to Ava 13 years ago.
Reba's mother died when she was a young child and her grandmother instilled values in her life that would serve her well as she worked hard to raise her family. She learned to cook meals that would not only feed four hungry boys but also enable her to be a cook at school later. A 'big country' Saturday morning breakfast is a special memory for her family. She loved to help people and was always ready to encourage diabetics with tasty, sugar-free dishes. Her dedication to her church was shown by her willingness to serve in the kitchen for church events as well as her singing in the choir. She was always involved in church activities, most recently at the Ava General Baptist Church.
Reba was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, one brother, Oden Rhynes and one sister, Goldie Willis.
Reba is survived by her devoted husband, Nelson; sons, Rodney Sellers, Timothy C. Sellers, Thomas A. Sellers, and Scott K. Sellers and wife, Pamela; two grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and two step-great-grandchildren; one brother, Charles R. Rhynes, and one sister, Katherine Coats, also survive. Her sweet, kind spirit will be missed by a host of other relatives and friends.
A visitation was held at Ava Family Funeral Home on Sunday, March 23, from 7 to 8 p.m. Funeral services were conducted Monday, March 24, at 10 a.m., in the Ava General Baptist Church with the Rev. Oren Alcorn officiating. Burial followed at the Springcreek Cemetery.
