Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Venita E. Williams, 85
Jun 12, 2008
Venita Williams passed away on June 11, 2008, in Ava. She was a devout Christian who gained much inner strength from her faith in the Lord. This strength served as an example to others throughout her life.
Venita, daughter of the late Frank Phipps and Anne Belle Hamby Phipps, was born near Ava on Feb. 7, 1923.
After graduating from Ava High School in 1941, she married Dale M. Williams on Jan. 24, 1942. They began their 60-year marriage in Douglas County, and subsequently lived in Pueblo, Colo., Atchison, Kan., and Independence, Mo., before settling in the Kansas City area for the next 35 years. Their last 20 years together were spent in Springfield, Mo.
After Dale’s passing, Venita returned to Ava where she lived for nearly five years.
Venita’s main priority in her life was her family. Her role as a wife, mother and grandmother was most important to her. Even with this, she managed to have a wide variety of jobs.
She began as an elementary school teacher, worked in appliance sales, held positions as factory representative for two different appliance companies, just to name a few.
In addition she had other home-based businesses.
Venita left behind many scrapbooks, photo albums, paintings and numerous pages of handwritten poems and notes. These all show how important God and family were to Venita, and how much she desired love, peace and kindness.
Venita is survived by two sons and their wives, Frank and Mary Williams, of Ava, Mo., and Steve and Anne Williams, of Greenwood, Mo. She has nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She has a twin sister, Theta Johns, of Farmington, N.M., and a brother and his wife, Bill and Martha Phipps, of Kansas City, Mo., plus her nieces, nephews and many close friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale M. Williams; two siblings who died in infancy; and her sister, Lela Phipps Bunyard.
Funeral services will be held at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home in Ava on June 14 at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held prior to the services, from 10 to 11 a.m. Burial will be at the Ava Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a charity of donor’s choice.
Bob Gray, 92
Jul 3, 2008
Robert Lloyd Gray was born May 30, 1916, in Arlington, S.D., to Roy James Gray and Jessie Christianson Gray.
He departed this life June 27, 2008, in Midland, Mich., at the age of 92.
He spent his early life in Arlington, then in 1935, moved with his family to Ava, where his father ran the Ava Mill and Bob worked with him in the mill and gave lessons on the violin, which he had learned from his father.
Bob finished high school at Iberia Academy in Iberia, Mo., then received a scholarship to Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., where he earned a degree in music in 1941.
During World War II, he served with the U.S. Army in Italy and North Africa. After the war, he studied at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, earning his master’s degree in violin in 1947.
There, his accompanist was piano student, Faith Witt, and the couple were married on Feb. 3, 1950; to this union, two children were born.
Bob spent his working years as a music teacher in the public schools of Midland, Mich., and as violinist/concertmaster with the Midland Symphony Orchestra.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Charlene Kester, of Ava, his sister, Maxine Ross, of Texas, and by three days his brother, Ted Gray, of Springfield, Mo.
He is survived by his wife, Faith, of the home; his daughter, Dr. Pam Dobson and husband, Dr. Joseph Dobson, of Green Bay, Wisc.; grandchildren, Caitlin, Kelsey and Ian Dobson; his son, Gary Gray, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; his brother, Ronnie Gray and wife, Bonnie, of Topeka, Kan.; and nieces and nephews including Marilyn Alms and Gary Kester, both of Ava.
The body has been cremated and memorial services will be held July 12 at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Midland.
Betty Louise Cunningham DeBoy, 76
Jul 3, 2008
Betty Louise Cunningham DeBoy, Galena, daughter of Della and James Cunningham, was born Sept. 9, 1931 in McClurg, and departed this life June 29, 2008 in her home on Tablerock Lake at the age of 76.
Betty was married to Earl DeBoy on Oct. 22, 1961 and he preceded her in death in 1997.
Betty worked with her husband in their business, Earl DeBoy Tire & Supply in Springfield. She volunteered many hours at the shelter and thrift shop and was also a board member of the Humane Society of the Branson Tri-Lakes Area. During her many winters in Florida, Betty was a volunteer for the children's hospital in Winter Haven.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 7, at Our Lady of the Cove Catholic Church, Kimberling City under the direction of Stumpff Funeral Home-South, Kimberling City.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Humane Society, 1028 Wash Board Hollow Road, Reeds Spring, MO 65737 or the charity of your choice.
James Edward Cox, 57
Jul 3, 2008
James Edward Cox, son of James A. Cox and Francis (Bennett) Cox was born March 17, 1951 in Beckley, West Virginia, and passed away on June 27, 2008 in Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Mo., at the age of 57 years 3 months and 10 days.
James was a resident of Squires, for the past year moving there from Belleview, Fla., where he was a lifelong resident. He was owner and manager of a propane gas company.
On Dec. 23, 1988 James and Patricia "Pat" A. Tew were united in marriage in Tavares, Fla.
James was of the Pentecostal faith.
He enjoyed collecting BB guns, watching NASCAR, hunting and fishing and being with his family. James was fondly called "Grumpy" by his grandchildren.
James was preceded in death by his mother.
His survivors include, his wife, "Pat", of the home, Squires, Mo.; six children, Deana Verhage and husband, Chris, Squires, Rusti Winslow, Ocoee, Fla., Dusti Winslow, Belleview, Fla., April Cox, of the state of Calif., Shayne Winslow, Belleview, Fla., James Cox Jr., Lawtey, Fla.; three grandchildren, Dakota, Ashlyn and Cade Verhage; his father, James A. Cox, Homasassa, Fla.; one sister Sarah Ellen Siner, Homasassa, Fla.; one brother, Roger Cox, of the state of Georgia; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Memorials may be made to the donors’ choice of charity.
Cremation services are under the direction and care of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home of Ava.
Rex Robert Brown, 80
Jul 3, 2008
Rex Robert Brown, 80, passed away at Brookside Nursing Home in Redlands, Calif. on May 26, 2008.
He worked in construction most of his life for Local 783 Union. He was honorably discharged from the Navy from World War II. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Elva and Erton Brown, of Ava; two brothers, Milford and Clayton Brown.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Charlotte Brown, of San Bernardino, Calif.; one son, Terry and Vicky Brown, and two grandchildren, Ricky and Nicole, of East Peoria, Ill.; two stepsons, Jacob and Doyle Weber; and two stepdaughters, Mary Mason and Doris and Ray Cloud.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at Dogwood Cemetery near Ava.
Bulah Adams, 68
Jul 3, 2008
Bulah Adams, the daughter of Charles Adams and Nola Woody Adams, was born June 5, 1940 in Hartville, and departed this life June 24, 2008 at the age of 68 years and 19 days.
Bulah was a life-long resident of Mansfield.
In the late 1950 Bulah and Vernon McGowan were united in marriage in Wright County.
Bulah was a Christian. She was a homemaker and enjoyed fishing, canning and spending time with her family.
Bulah was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Lois and one brother, Charles.
Her survivors include three sons, Ronald McGowan, the state of Oregon, Roy McGowan and Rita, Virgil McGowan all to Mansfield; three daughters, Verna Griffin and Randal, Mansfield, Mary Burwell, Cassville, and Lorna Reid and Rob, Yucca Valley, Calif.; 28 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Herbert Adams, McComb, and Virgil Adams, Hartville; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Graveside services were at 12 p.m. Saturday, June 28, in the Little Creek Cemetery, Mansfield, with the Rev. Everett Jenkins officiating. Visitation was Friday from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, at Ava.
Abigail Renee Clayton, 21
Jun 26, 2008
Abigail Renee Clayton, the daughter of William "Bill" Clayton and Elizabeth (Satterfield) Linder, was born Sept. 29, 1986, in Peoria, Ill., and passed away June 19, 2008 at the age of 21 years 9 months and 20 days.
Abigail was a resident of Brimfield for the past three months moving from Yates City, Ill. She was employed as a service representative with Maui Jim, a sunglass company. She also had worked as a nurse's aid in Gainesville, Mo.
Abigail loved driving and swimming with her friends. She loved to laugh and would do anything for anyone. She was a friend to everyone and never met a stranger.
Abigail was preceded in death by a grandmother, Willow Mae Satterfield; an uncle Randy Clayton; a cousin, Josh; a great-grandfather, Cecil Turner; great-grandmothers, Lois Satterfield and Lilliam Clayton; and great-grandfather Tilford Clayton.
Her survivors include, her father, William "Bill" L. Clayton and Patty, Elmwood, Ill.; her mother, Elizabeth A. Linder and Randy, Yates City, Ill.; one brother, Zachary Clayton, Yates City, Ill.; two stepbrothers, Kyle and Tyler McCready, Elmwood, Ill.; one stepsister, Candy Linder, Galesburg, Ill.; maternal grandfather, Charles Satterfield, paternal grandmother, Rose Clayton and Wilford, all of Wasola, Mo.; great-grandmother, Iva Turner, Ava; many aunts and uncles, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were held Saturday, June 21, at 2:00 p.m., in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Stan Collins, Rev. Dan Cottingim and Rev. Mike Jones officiating. Interment followed in the Murray Cemetery.
Visitation was Saturday from 1 p.m. until service time. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Abigail Clayton scholarship fund for her brother Zachary.
Larry Arvel Emery, 61
Jun 26, 2008
Larry Arvel Emery, 61
Larry Arvel Emery, son of Everett "Arvel" and Lois (Curley) Emery, was born on April 29, 1947 in Ozark County near Dora, Missouri, and departed this life on June 19, 2008 at his residence in Douglas County, Missouri, at 61 years of age.
Larry grew up and attended school in Ozark and Douglas counties.
Following high school, he was united in marriage to Charlotte Dunston on July 3, 1966. Three children were born to this union.
Larry was employed in construction and enjoyed being outdoors. He especially liked spending time with his children and grandchildren while hunting, fishing, playing cards and riding motorcycles and four-wheelers.
Larry was later married to Catherine M. Darlington on April 9, 1983 in Miami, Okla.
They made their home and raised their family in Douglas County.
He was a loving and caring son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He will be truly missed by those who knew and loved him.
He was preceded in death by his father, Everett Arvel Emery.
He is survived by his loving wife, Catherine "Cathy" Emery, of their home; his mother, Lois Emery; two sons, Bradley Emery and his wife, Sharilyn, and Justin Emery and his wife, Margie, all of Mtn. Grove; one daughter, Elaine Iott and her husband, James, of Cabool; three step-sons, Marty Lane and his wife, Brandy, of Mansfield, Matthew Lane, of Mtn. Grove, and Joey Darlington and his fiancé, Amanda Moore, both of Ava; two brothers: Ronnie Emery and his wife, Sharon, of Vanzant, and Randy Emery and his wife, Mickie, of Mtn. Grove; six grandchildren, Chance, Meagan, Keiautie, Whitney, Payton and Collin; four step-grandchildren, Tristan, Danyale, Ashton, and Hunter; and a host of relatives, neighbors and friends.
Online condolences www.craig hurttfuneralhome.com
Funeral services for Larry Emery were held Saturday, June 21, at 10 a.m. in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel with Rev. Keith Reese officiating. Song selections were "The Old Rugged Cross, " "Precious Lord, Take My Hand, " and "Wayfaring Stranger." Pallbearers were Justin Emery, Brad Emery, Kenny Ayers, Randy Emery, Ronnie Emery and Matt Lane. Burial was in the Vanzant Cemetery under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mtn. Grove.
