Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Harold L. Lakey, 73
Dec 4, 2008
Harold L. Lakey, son of Guy Lakey and Lola (Hutchison) Lakey, was born on Oct. 6, 1935 in Coldsprings, Mo., and went home to Heaven on Nov. 30, 2008 at the age of 73 years.
Harold was a resident of the Ava community most of his life. He was co-owner with his son, of Lakey and Lakey, Inc. in Ava.
On June 7, 1958 Harold and Carol Ann Rider were united in marriage in Dayton, Wash., and to this union, five children were born.
Harold was a born-again believer and faithful witness to others of the saving grace that had changed his life over 50 years ago. Harold faithfully attended Liberty Faith Church in Norwood, Mo., where he will be greatly missed by his brothers and sisters in Christ.
Harold was a veteran, having served with the U.S. Army.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Louise Porter and Marian Smith, and one brother, Narvel E. Lakey.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Ann of the home in Ava; five children and their spouses, Leslie Ann and Mark Lauger, Greenville, S.C., Lynne and Don Bobo, Santa Ana, Calif., Lisa and Tim Allen, Knob Noster, Mo., Lyndell and Mandy Lakey, Ava, and Leigh Ann and Jerad Hanson, Wellsville, Kan.; 25 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; four brothers and their spouses, Darrell and Patsy Lakey, Elwood and Judy Lakey, Marvin and Jean Lakey and Gilbert Basil Lakey, all of Ava; and one sister, Sue and Cap Porter, Ava; and a host of other relatives and friends.
While we grieve for the loss of our loved one from this life, we are, at the same time, comforted with the joy of knowing that we will see him again, if we have trusted Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. Harold's earnest desire in life, and now at his death, is that others would hear the gospel, consider their own eternal destiny, and come to the Savior.
Services for Harold were Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m. at Liberty Faith Church, Norwood, with Pastor Reg Kelly officiating.
Interment followed in the Ava Cemetery, under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home.
The family requests memorials to Camp JOY, a Christian Camp that Harold lovingly supported.
Gerald Dale McKnight, 83
Dec 4, 2008
Gerald Dale McKnight, 83, Ozark, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008, in his home, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born Aug. 24, 1925, the son of Ballard and Ruth (Mabry) McKnight and grew up in the Ava and Roy communities.
From September 1944 to July 1946, he was stationed in Germany where he proudly served his country with the United States Army.
On Jan. 23, 1948, he was united in marriage to Barbara Stafford and together they raised four sons.
Gerald worked the majority of his life on his farm in Rogersville where he dairy farmed, raised beef cattle and loved every aspect of the rural farm life. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, playing cards, and spending time with family and friends. He was a loving grandfather and very supportive of his grandchildren and all of their extra-curricular activities. Gerald was loved by many and he will be greatly missed.
Gerald is survived by his loving wife of 61 years Barbara; four sons Jerry McKnight and wife Lou of Sparta, Larry McKnight and wife Beth of Rogersville, Terry McKnight and wife Autumn of Fordland, and Tim McKnight and wife Karen of Ozark; seven grandchildren, Melody Gray, Amanda McKnight, Jared McKnight, Evan McKnight, Brock McKnight, Easton McKnight, and Adam McKnight; two great-grandsons Brandon and Trenton Gray; several caring friends and neighbors.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson-in-law John Gray.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 29, in Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ozark, with Pastor Clifford Day officiating.
Burial followed in Springhill Cemetery, Rogersville.
Visitation was held from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 28, in the funeral home.
Hazel Huffman, 80
Dec 4, 2008
Hazel Huffman was born July 4, 1928 in Brown Branch, Mo., and departed this life Nov. 29, 2008 at the age of 80 years. She is the daughter of William Whittaker and Maria Stamp Whittaker.
Hazel was a resident of the Seymour area for the past 16 years moving here from Forsyth. She spent all of her life in the Ava, Forsyth, and Brown Branch area. Hazel was employed as a nurses aide. She loved quilting, reading, canning fruits and vegetables.
In 1949, Hazel and George W. Huffman were united in marriage in Mtn. Home, Ark. Hazel and George were blessed with three children.
Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, one son, Samuel Huffman and a great-grandson.
Her survivors include two daughters, Margaret E. Huffman, Gatewood, Mo., and Mary and James Tate, Ava, Mo.; two grandchildren, Gloria Huffman and Enola Anderson; two great-grandsons; one brother, Bill Whitaker, Ava, Mo.; and a host of other friends and relatives.
Cremation services are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Verlin Denzil Dalton, 66
Dec 4, 2008
Verlin Denzil Dalton, 66, died Nov. 25, 2008 at Indian Meadows Skilled Nursing Center in Overland Park, Kan.
An ordained minister with the Free Will Baptist Church, Denzil is survived by his wife of 48 years, Nancy, of Ava.
Also surviving are three sons, Shawn and Darla Dalton, Aberdine, S.D., Shain Dalton, Springfield, and Shannon and Kay Dalton, of Statesville, Ga.; five grandchildren, Heather, Christy, Tulia, Audriana and Sara; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 29 with family and friends attending.
Jim Merchant, 62
Dec 4, 2008
Jim "Jimmy" Merchant, 62, passed away Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, at his home north of Ava.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. today (Thursday, Dec. 4) at Highway Church of the Nazarene north of Ava on Old Highway 5.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Highway Church Children's Department.
Light refreshments will be served following the memorial service.
Dora Dollarhide, 90
Dec 11, 2008
Dora Novella Dollarhide, daughter of George W. Lee and Laura (Craft) Lee, was born on Oct. 11, 1918 in Taney County, Mo., and departed this life Dec. 6, 2008 at the age of 90 years 1 month and 25 days.
Dora was a lifelong resident of the Ava area.
On Jan. 20, 1934 Dora and Irvin Dollarhide were united in marriage in Hercules, Mo. Dora and Irvin were blessed with seven children.
Dora was a homemaker and was of the Baptist Faith. Dora loved her family. She enjoyed sewing, cooking and picking cherries out West.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Irvin; one son, Russell; one granddaughter; one great-grandson; and nine brothers and sisters.
Her survivors include six children, Jack Dollarhide, Chadwick, Mo., Charlene Merritt, Ava, Mo., Ted Dollarhide, Oldfield, Mo., Earnest Dollarhide, Ava, Mo., Ronnie Dollarhide, Mansfield, Mo., and Wilma Cowens, Ava, Mo.; 23 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; 18 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services for Dora were at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Junior Hall officiating.
Interment followed in the Dyer Cemetery.
The family requests memorials be made as love offerings to family.
Vere 'Bud' Starks, 80
Dec 11, 2008
Vere Starks was born on Nov. 30, 1928, near White River, S.D., the son of Steve and Alma (Flint) Starks.
Vere passed away on Dec. 5, 2008 at the age of 80 years and 5 days.
When Vere was 8 years old their family moved to Pavilion, Wyo., where they homesteaded a farm. Vere's mother was a school teacher, and he could read before he started school.
Vere enlisted in the Navy when he was 17 and served six years, and was on one of the last U.S. Navy ships to leave Shanghai, China, when it fell to Communism.
After leaving the Navy, Vere worked various outdoor jobs, including for the Bureau of Reclamation in Colorado.
While there he met his one true love, Bonnie Jean Lakey. They were married after a short courtship, and remained married until her death in 1991.
Vere and Bonnie had two children. The first a daughter, Holly Loraine, died on the same day she was born and is buried in Montrose, Colo. The second was a son, Dale Levi, with whom he was living at the time of his death in Manchester, Mo.
In the early 1960s, Vere and Bonnie moved to her hometown of Ava, Mo. Due to the efforts of various people, including Clyde Cox and Harold Lakey, Vere and Bonnie decided to attend the First Baptist Church of Ava. On their first Sunday there, Bonnie accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior, and the next Sunday, Vere did the same. Shortly thereafter, Vere felt the calling of God to full-time service for Christ. He graduated from Mid South Bible College in 1972, and shortly thereafter, became the pastor of Times Beach Bible Church, where he served until God led him in a new direction. The remainder of Vere's life was spent living in a home he built for Bonnie in Dittmer, Mo. He worked as a welder, until his retirement, and focused his Christian ministry on individuals that God would bring to him.
Vere was also preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Loraine Davis and Gladys Davis, and one brother, Jim.
He is survived by his son, Dale Levi Starks and wife Annette; one grandson, Todd Simon Starks, all of Manchester, Mo.; one sister, Betty Case, Riverton Wyo.; three brothers, Ralph and Charles Starks, Riverton, Wyo., and Earl Starks, Rock Springs, Wyo.; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were at 2 p.m., Monday, Dec. 8, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, Mo., with Pastor Pete Patton officiating.
Interment followed in the Ava Cemetery with full military honors by Ava American Legion Post 112 and VFW Post 5993.
The family requests memorials to Gideons International.
Douglas Leon Jones, 65
Dec 11, 2008
Douglas Jones, Gassville, Ark., son of Wendell and Tena (Snelson) Jones, was born July 15, 1943 in St. Johns, Kan., and passed away Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008, at his residence at the age of 65 years.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Jones, of the home; son Dwayne Jones of Gassville, Ark., currently serving in Iraq, and his five children; daughter Denise Oestreich of Gassville, Ark., and her two children; one brother, John Jones and wife, Charlene, of Gassville, Ark.; two sisters, Maxine Stewart and husband, Voyne, of Blue Springs, Mo., and Gloria Evans and husband, Gary, of Noble, Mo.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville.
Interment will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday evening 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
