Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Leroy R. Walker, 76
Sep 18, 2008
Leroy Rufus Walker, son of Rufus Walker and Ella (Harris) Walker, was born on Nov. 30, 1931 in Ava, Mo., and passed away on Sept. 16, 2008 in Springfield, Mo., at the age of 76 years.
Leroy was a resident of Springfield for a few years moving from Rockaway Beach.
On March 1, 1952 Leroy and Nancy Jane Merritt were united in marriage in Mtn. Home, Ark., and to this union, three children were born.
He was a U.S. Army veteran and served during the Korean Conflict. Leroy was retired from working over 25 years for Associated Wholesale Grocers in Springfield. He was a proud member of the Teamster Union #245. He enjoyed watching the St. Louis Cardinals and playing his guitar and banjo. Leroy loved most of all to be with his family and all the grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Sam and Clifford Walker, two sisters, Ruby Walker and Lula Dye.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Jane, of Springfield; three children and their spouses, Debbie and Dennis Washam, Diane and Ken Carr, all of Springfield, and Roy and Rhonda Walker, Republic; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one sister, Alice Rippee, Ava; several nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and a host of other relatives and friends.
Graveside service will be Friday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m. in the Ava Cemetery with the Rev. Russell Heatherly officiating. Visitation is today (Thursday) from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
F. Wendell Quessenberry, 67
Oct 9, 2008
Fred Wendell Quessenberry of Ozark, Missouri was born on Jan. 11, 1941 in Wright County, Missouri.
He died on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008.
Wendell was preceded in death by his father Q.E. "Pete" Quessen¬berry; his mother, Lenore (Harris) Quessenberry; his sister, Joann Quessenberry; and his nephew, Joel Smith.
Wendell is survived by a son, Russell Lee Quessenberry; his grandson, Josh Quessenberry; granddaughter, Alexis Quessen¬berry; his spouse, Beverly and her sons, Scott, Mike and Jason Jaco¬pian and families; his sister, Norma Smith, of Nixa, and family, his brother, Bud Quessenberry and family, his sister, Carol Killian, of Springfield, and family, his brother, Rick Quessenberry and family, of Springfield; and his brother, David Quessenberry and family, of Mansfield.
Wendell spent many years in and around Mansfield and Ava.
Wendell worked in many vocations until he retired. He loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and hunter. He shared many of these times with his friends and dog, Buck.
Wendell will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him.
A memorial service will be announced by the family at a later date. Arrangements are under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home.
William Edward Follis, 58
Oct 2, 2008
No services are planned at this time for William Edward Follis, 58, of Hollister. Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home, in Branson.
He died Sept. 23, 2008, at the Golden Living Center, in Branson.
He was born Oct. 3, 1949, in Denver, son of John and Rosalie Newton Follis.
He was a retired wood worker and U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had been a resident of the area for the past 17 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, John Follis.
Survivors include his wife, Vivian Armes Follis, of the home; children Shila Shaffer, of Springfield, Ricky Smith, of Naples, Fla., Robin East, of Hollister, Sandy Delair, of New Lenox, III., Matt Chapman, of Peculiar, and Jodi Cramer, of San Francisco; brothers Fred Follis, of Ava, and Allen Follis, of Oak Grove; sister Carolyn Berry, of Forsyth; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Melvin Thomas Levan, 70
Oct 2, 2008
Melvin Thomas Levan was born Jan. 2, 1938, in Douglas County in the Hunter community to Edgar A. and Elona Sanders Levan.
On Feb. 21, 1961, he was united in marriage to Peggy Jean Leckenby.
He was reunited with Peggy on Sept. 23, 2008, when he passed away at Cox South Hospital in Springfield.
Growing up in the Hunter hills, Melvin learned many lessons that would serve him well all his life. He learned responsibility and to take care of his family. He learned hard work which was reflected as he worked at Mans Steel over 25 years. He worked in the timber industry for many years and could identify plants and God’s "critters" by sight and sound. He learned to appreciate nature and was more comfortable in God’s great outdoors than he was in a crowded city.
He learned to follow bees and harvest honey in washtubs. He knew about wild foods and berries, especially gooseberries for cobblers. He always seemed to find mushrooms in season, when other people could not find them.
He enjoyed hunting and usually brought home a good "mess" of squirrels. He could have the squirrels cleaned by the time you had the skillet hot enough to fry them. Venison was often on the table at his house.
As his health caused his lifestyle to slow down he had more time to read his Bible and memorize large portions of Scripture. He loved to discuss the Bible. He felt that his family was truly a gift from God to be enjoyed.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; and two sons, Melvin L. and Michael Levan; two brothers and three sisters.
Melvin is survived by three sons, Thomas and Patty Leckenby, of Mansfield, Robert and Leslie Levan, and Mitchell Levan and Keisha, of Ava; and seven daughters, Velma Jean Levan, of Ava, Patricia and Ed Thomas, of Maryland, Bobette and Gary Williams, of Chadwick, Connie and Ronnie Jagears, of Seymour, Christine and Raymond Crane, of Summersville, Lorene and Paul Diver, and Geraldine Levan, of Ava. He is also survived by 25 grandchildren, and two brothers and three sisters.
He will be missed by a host of other relatives and friends.
Graveside services were conducted at 10:30 Thursday, Sept. 25, at the Turkey Creek Cemetery with the Rev. Jay Adrain officiating. All arrangements were under the care and direction of Ava Family Funeral Home.
Cheryl E. Beach, 57
Oct 2, 2008
Cheryl E. Beach, 57, passed to heaven on Sept. 25, 2008 at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare, Ava.
Cheryl was born Dec. 16, 1950, in St. Charles, Mo., to Joe and Ruth (Fenn) Beach.
Cheryl loved watching old comedy TV shows, like "I Love Lucy" and liked listening to Elvis Presley music and dancing. She loved going shopping and going out to eat. Her favorite sandwich was a Whopper. Cheryl loved being with her family and was always happy. She put everyone else first. Cheryl was a real angel and a beautiful gift from God.
Cheryl was preceded by her parents, Joe Oran and Ruth Marie Beach, and one brother, Waymond Joe Beach.
Cheryl is survived by two sisters, Debra and husband, Dan Honerkamp, and Patricia Beach, all of Ava; two brothers, Vernon and wife, Diana Beach, Warrenton, Mo., and Donald and wife, Gayle Beach, San Antonio, Texas; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Cheryl were Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with burial in the Ava Cemetery. Officiating was the Rev. Paul Welch.
Leota Erdahl, 82
Oct 2, 2008
Leota Erdahl, daughter of Ben Dougherty and Ollie May (Lee) Dougherty, was born on Aug. 21, 1926, in Ava, Mo., and went to her heavenly home on Sept. 28, 2008 at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare, Ava, at the age of 82 years.
Leota lived most of her life in the Ava community. She worked for several years at Rawlings Sporting Goods in Ava.
On Nov. 1979 Leota and Martin Erdahl were united in marriage.
She enjoyed crafts and loved to sing, write songs and poems. Leota was a member of the Happy Home Church and loved attending every opportunity she could get.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters, Dortha Phillips, Helen Davis, Hazel Erdahl and Verlon Dougherty; and four brothers, Bob, Clarence, Delbert and Asbery Dougherty.
She is survived by one brother and wife, Howard and Juanita Dougherty, Ava; special friend, Waneta Blackman; special niece and caretaker, Diana Bingham, Ava; many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, great-great-great nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services for Leota will be Thursday, Oct. 2, at 2 p.m. at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Revs. Paul Welch and Raymond Haden officiating. Interment will follow in the Ava Cemetery. Visitation was 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home. The family requests memorials to the American Heart Association or Happy Home Church.
Melvin (Mel) Ray Williams, 78
Oct 2, 2008
Melvin Ray Williams, formerly of Ava, Missouri, passed away at age 78, on Monday, Sept. 15, 2008 at his home in Payson, Utah.
He was born Jan. 18, 1930, in Denver, Colo., to Moses Llewellyn and Lilly Belle Boyd Williams.
Mel was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Marines. He was the former manager of the Ava Bear Bath car wash (Supreme Carwash Systems).
He is survived by his wife, Marie, and 13 children, Jim, Larry (deceased), Gloria, John, Tim, Randy, Catherine, Carl (deceased), Deb, Rick, Cristy, Anja, and Sharaya. He is also survived by 36 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren, and all sons and daughters-in-law.
He will truly be missed by all of his family and friends.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Sept. 20, at 11 a.m. in the Payson, Utah 20th Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Interment was in the Payson City Cemetery with military rites accorded by the American Legion Honor Guard.
M. Goldene Hart, 85
Sep 25, 2008
M. Goldene Hart, daughter of Leonard and Myrtle (Davis) Garrison, was born Feb. 9, 1923, in the Arden community of Douglas County, Mo.
She passed away Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare Center in Ava where family and friends had been spending time with her.
On Feb. 6, 1943, Goldene and Norman Hart were united in marriage at Mt. Zion, Mo., and this union was blessed with six children.
Goldene was a lifelong resident of the Ava area. She was an involved farm wife, an excellent cook and a gifted seamstress and enjoyed sharing her talents with family and friends.
She was of the Baptist faith and a longtime member of the Nubbin Ridge Extension Club where she greatly enjoyed her friends.
Goldene was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Norman; one infant daughter, Sue Lane; one grandson, Ryan Hart; two brothers, Vernon and Vasel Garrison; and also an infant brother and sister.
Goldene is survived by three daughters: Norman Gardner, of Ava, Jan Baldwin, of Drury, and Pat Sallee, of Nixa, and two sons, Paul Hart and Sam Hart, both of Ava, and their spouses. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson. She also leaves many nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, and left her family with many happy memories.
Services were held Friday, Sept. 19, at Ava Family Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Oren Alcorn officiating. Burial was at the Ava City Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Norman and Goldene Hart Memorial FFA Scholarship Fund or your favorite charity in care of Ava Family Funeral Home, PO Box 65, Ava, MO 65608.
