Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Denzil Basil Goodnight, 84
Oct 16, 2008
Beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Denzil Basil Goodnight was born April 9, 1924, in Wasola, and passed away Sept. 10, 2008, in Lancaster, Calif.
A longtime resident of Pacoima, Calif., "Denny" was a decorated World War II veteran.
Denny grew up on a dairy farm in southwest Missouri, the oldest of nine children of Charley and Rae Goodnight. He graduated from Ava High School in 1942 and served in the Army across Europe before being injured in Germany late in 1944.
In addition to his wife, Irma, Denzil is survived by his brother, Wayne Goodnight, and sisters, Kathleen Nash, Naida Haden and Faith Haskins, all of Missouri; sister-in-law Mary Goodnight, of Kennewick, Wash.; sons, Michael and Nathan Goodnight, their wives, Elaine and Beverly; grandchildren, Ryan and Sonia Goodnight, Philip and Nancy Goodnight, Jennifer, Stacey and Melissa Rae Goodnight, and great-grandchildren, Michael, Mariah, Ahlena, Savannah Rae and Rebecca.
A memorial service was held at the San Fernando Mission Chapel, Mission Hills, Calif.
Cletis Doyne "C.D." Upshaw, 79
Nov 20, 2008
Cletis D. Upshaw, son of Deward Alsup and Elaine Upshaw and the adopted son of H.A. and Clara Belle Upshaw, was born on March 10, 1929 in Douglas County, Missouri and departed this life on November 17, 2008 at his home in Norwood, Missouri at 79 years of age.
Cletis grew up in Douglas County and attended the Denlow School and later the Mtn. Grove School and graduated from Mtn. Grove in 1947.
He was united in marriage to Zelda Heard in 1949. Two children, Teresa "Terri" and Mark were born to this union.
Cletis served his country in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and was honorably discharged on March 24, 1954.
He was known as a hard worker all his life. He worked on the family farm in Douglas County and later became employed with the United States Postal Service in 1958 in Norwood as a mail carrier and retired in 1999. Following his retirement he enjoyed going to the local café and visiting with his many friends and spending time with his family.
Cletis was a kind father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He will be truly missed by those who knew and loved him. His family and friends will miss his stories about the past and his vast knowledge of the Upshaw and Alsup families and history of Douglas County.
Besides his parents and adoptive parents, he was preceded in death his daughter: Terri Cole on November 4, 2005; two brothers: Barker Shannon and Dean Alsup; and by one sister: Geraldalee Roy.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law: Mark and Chris Upshaw of Norwood, Missouri; one brother: Burton Alsup of the State of California; one sister: Pat (Alsup) Hardman of the State of California; three grandsons: Justin Cole of Cabool, Missouri, Nick Cole of Ebson, Kansas and Luke Upshaw of Norwood, Missouri; four granddaughters: Amy Kembel of Jackson, Missouri, Glenda Dawson, Marcie Upshaw, and Jamie Upshaw all of Norwood, Missouri; five great-grandsons: Dilyan Caudill, Corey Dawson, Rodney Dawson, Mason Page and Wyatt Bolfing; six great-granddaughters: Kelsey Caudill, Keayra Dawson, Cheyenne Parsons, Morgan Upshaw, Randilee Parsons and Patricia Jones; nieces; nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Memorial services for Cletis Upshaw will be held on Friday, November 21, at 2 p.m. in the Union Grove/Caudle FWB Church in Norwood with Rev. Dale Garrison officiating. The Kelly Family will provide music. Burial will be in the Denlow Cemetery with full military honors. Arrangements are under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mtn. Grove, Missouri.
The family requests that donations be given to the Denlow Cemetery or the Three Rivers Hospice in memory of Cletis c/o the funeral home.
Lela Bell Power, 94
Nov 20, 2008
Lela Bell Power, of Ava, passed away on Nov. 15, 2008.
She was born in Briggs, Okla., to Hardy Shanks and Grace (Pitcock) Shanks on April 14, 1914.
She was married to Ernest Power on July 29, 1932.
They had two daughters, Annabelle, married to Earl Johnson Sr., of Branson West, Mo., and Gracie, married to the late James Lawrence of Decatur, Ala. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, three brothers, Auburn Shanks, Gordon Shanks and Otta Shanks; one sister, Loma Hanaford; and two grandsons, Erwin Johnson and Charles Johnson.
She is survived by one brother, Faye Shanks, of Springfield; four grandsons, Steve Johnson and his wife Suzanne, Earl Johnson Jr. and his wife Shari, Greg Lawrence and his wife Diann, David Lawrence and his wife Barbara, and one granddaughter, Pamela Southern and her husband Garry. She was the proud great-grandmother to Amber Clark, Crystal Johnson, Lucas Johnson, Julia Johnson, Levi Johnson, Robby Johnson, Michael Johnson, Joshua Lawrence, Kara Lawrence, Bradley Lawrence, Jennifer Lawrence and Brandon Southern. Her great-great-grandchildren are Tyler Kesky and Brenden Clark. She is also survived by lots of nieces and nephews.
Lela lived most of her life in Ozark and Douglas counties. She spent the last year in the care of Earl and Annabelle in their home in Branson West. She loved working in the yard, shopping, playing games with her grandchildren, watching golf on television and listening to Alan Jackson’s music.
The family would like to thank Hospice of St. John’s Health Care for their excellent care of Mrs. Powers. They would also like to thank their friends for their expressions of sympathy and for the food, cards and flowers.
Funeral services for Lela Bell Power were held Tuesday Nov. 18, at 10 a.m. in Clinkingbeard chapel with burial in the Ava Cemetery.
Burrel Loftin, 92
Nov 13, 2008
Burrel Loftin, son of David Loftin and Ethel Robertson Loftin, was born on Aug. 19, 1916, in Douglas County, Mo., and passed away on Nov. 10, 2008 in St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, at the age of 92 years.
Burrel was a farmer and a lifelong resident of the Ava community. He had worked at Rawlings and was also a milk hauler for Carnation and was a mechanic for Kerr Chevrolet in Ava.
On June 6, 1942, Burrel and Marjorie Heriford were united in marriage in Ava, and to this union, 11 children were born.
Burrel was a Christian and a member of the Sweden Methodist Church.
Burrel was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Marjorie in 2005; two sons, Jerry and Timothy; a daughter, Donna; one grandson, Brent; one brother, Albert; and three sisters, Lela Loftin, Opal Forrest and Mabel Lakey.
He is survived by eight children: four sons and their spouses, Marvin and Mary June Loftin, Russell and Caroline Sue Loftin, Burrely and Penny Loftin and Mike and Lisa Loftin all of Ava, and four daughters and their spouses, Carole and Howard Gott, Janice Gray all of Ava, Patty and Bob Clevenhagen, Washington, Mo., and Lynda and Rick Snelson, Ava; 19 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; one sister, Lois Strong, Ava; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Revs. Oren Alcorn and Joshua Strong officiating. Interment followed in the Sweden Cemetery.
The family requests memorials to Loftin Cemetery, Sweden Cemetery or Gideons International.
Norma Pettit, 89
Nov 13, 2008
Norma Pettit, 89, Ava, passed away Nov. 10, 2008 at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare Center following a short illness.
She was born July 20, 1919, in Ava, to Louis and Tillie May (Whittaker) Brown.
On Oct. 29, 1940, she married Cloine Pettit and into this union was born one daughter, Pamela Ann.
Mrs. Pettit was a homemaker and devoted wife and mother who loved playing golf, bridge, and pitch. In later years, she enjoyed watching tennis, golf, ice skating and just sharing time with friends and family. She was also a member of Eastern Star and of the Baptist faith.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Cloine, three sisters, Lela Roach, Lena Hamby and Frances Jenkins; one brother, Louis Brown, Jr.; and a stepsister, Juanita Ewing.
Survivors include one daughter, Pam and husband, Bill Heuvelman, and grandchildren, Christopher, Patrick, and Emily Heuvelman, all of St. Louis; one sister, Betty Sherrell, Springfield; one sister-in-law, Virginia Pettit, state of Tennessee; many nieces and nephews; a host of dedicated friends; and Alice Fleetwood and Carolyn Tate whom she considered her daughters.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Oren Alcorn officiating. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time. Interment will follow in the Ava Cemetery, Ava, Mo.
Memorials may be made to Neighbor Helping Neighbor, American Cancer Society or Fannon Cemetery.
Elizabeth (Betty) Witt, 81
Nov 13, 2008
Elizabeth (Betty) Constance (Cravitz) Witt passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, Nov. 10, 2008. She was 81 years old and had experienced a short illness with breast cancer.
Elizabeth, or "Betty" as most called her, was born Feb. 14, 1927 to George and Mary Cravitz in Shickshinny, Pa., where she was raised on a farm by simple and loving parents.
She graduated from Kings County Hospital School of Nursing in Brooklyn, N.Y., as one of the first members of the Army Cadet Nurse Corps. She later joined the Air Force, serving two years as a first lieutenant.
She met her future husband, John, in the hospital while serving as his nurse.
After several military transfers with her husband and family, she moved to Ava in 1969 from Cheyenne, Wyo. She worked as a nurse in the Mansfield Hospital and Chastain Nursing Home in Ava. Betty was a lifelong learner, receiving her doctorate in Naturopathy in 1997. She was a healer for many people in her lifetime.
Betty had a strong faith and involved God in every day of her life. She was determined in her purpose and had a phenomenal work ethic. She had many talents including sewing, crafts of any type, upholstering and gardening. She volunteered at the Heart of the Hills Food Pantry in Ava since its inception.
Betty was a dear mother to her 10 children and many other people throughout her life. Betty was a wonderful Bochie (Grandma) hosting several summer "Boot Camps" for the grandkids. She raised her children with a firm but loving hand. She believed she "could do anything if she just put her mind to it." Betty was a "rock" not only to her friends at St. Leo’s church in Ava, but to numerous people in the Ava community.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Paul Witt; her father, George Cravitz; her mother, Mary Cravitz; eight sisters; one brother; and her most recent loss, Woody (the family pet).
Elizabeth is survived by 10 children: John Witt, of Lake St. Louis and his wife, Pat, Tina Talbert, of Springfield and her husband, Keith, Cheryl Orr of Lee’s Summit and her husband, Bob, Darlene Petty of Brighton, and her husband, Randy, Diane Cunningham of Overland Park, Kan. and her husband, Bill, Dan Witt of Kansas City and his wife, Bonnie, Jeff Witt of Mullins, S.C., Rod Witt of Nixa and his wife, Sheryl, Clay Witt of McKinney, Texas and his wife, Stacy, and Anita Madche of Ava and her husband, Ray; 21 loving grandchildren; her sister, Barbara Wasilko; and a large extended family.
Services Friday night will begin with a rosary at 6:00, followed by a visitation and celebration of Betty’s life at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, 407 N.E. 5th Street, Ava, Mo.
Please bring your stories to share about Betty.
The Funeral Mass will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, North Jefferson Street/Old Hwy 5.
Graveside services will follow at the Ava Cemetery.
Donations can be made in Betty’s name to Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Heifer Project International or St. Leo the Great Catholic Church of Ava.
Please send donations in care of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home.
Stella Mae Stone, 92
Nov 13, 2008
Stella Mae Stone, daughter of Lenox Melton Epps and Annie Ellen (Ludwig) Epps, was born on June 7, 1916 in Noble, Mo., and went home to be with her Lord on Nov. 5, 2008 in Joplin, at the age of 92 years.
Stella was a Christian at an early age. She loved her Lord and lived it and told others about her Christ.
On March 6, 1938 Stella and Lester Jay Stone were united in marriage and to this union three children were born.
Stella was a housewife, teacher and worked hard on the farm with Lester.
She was a member of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Columbus, Kan.
Stella was raised in Ozark County and graduated from Gainesville High School in 1937. Stella went to Grabeel School and taught one year there. She taught Sunday school class at Franklin Grove Baptist Church and she loved to read her Bible. She had made her home with her son, Charles for 14 years in Chetopa, Kan.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Lester Stone, one son, Jonathan Joe Stone, five brothers, James, Edgar, Edward, Ernie and Calvin and one sister, Ruby Armstrong.
Her survivors include one son and wife, Charles and Martha Stone, Chetopa, Kan.; one daughter, Ruby Young, Springfield; daughter-in-law, Thelma Stone, Lowell, Ark.; six grandchildren and their spouses, Pamela and Oscar Garcia, Sherri and Garrett Walsh, Sheila and C.R. Mullere, Sandra and Jeff Baskins, Brian and Kristy Stone and Paula and Jon Hunter; 11 great-grandchildren; one brother, Freeman Epps, Pryor, Okla.; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Service for Stella was held Saturday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with E.J. Hampton officiating. Interment followed in Oak Grove Cemetery, Wasola. The family requests memorials to the Oak Grove Cemetery.
Howard Bailey, 84
Nov 13, 2008
Howard Bailey, 84, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008, in his home in Ozark.
Funeral services will be Monday, Nov. 17, at Mt. Tabor Church west of Ava. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m.
Burial will be in Mt. Tabor Cemetery under the care and direction of Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ozark.
Donations are requested to the American Cancer Society or the Heart Fund.
