Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
James R. Collins, 85
Dec 4, 2008
James Ralph Collins was born Sept. 23, 1923 in Dora, Mo., to George David and Mell Vina (Croney) Collins, and passed away on Dec. 3, 2008, at the age of 85 years, 2 months and 10 days.
Jim served in the Navy during World War II, spending most of his time during the war in the South Pacific.
After the war, he returned to Dora where he met Lucille Collins.
They were married on April 26, 1946, and to this union, four children were born.
Jim and Lucille moved to Ava in 1951, and have lived here since then. Jim worked at Kerr Chevrolet Garage until 1956. With $96, he opened Jim’s Body Shop in May of 1956, and owned and operated the business until his retirement in 1985. Jim enjoyed spending time playing golf and fishing.
Jim is survived by Lucille, his wife of 62 years; three daughters, and one son and families: Connie and George Hetherington, Linda and Lendell King, Marla and Joe Yeager, and Dennis Collins and Linda Elliott, all of Ava. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.
Jim is survived by one brother, G. W. Collins of St. Charles, Mo.
In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by two half sisters, Beatrice and Ethel Gunter; three half brothers, Leeman Collins and Leon and Pearly Mageehon; and two brothers, Lester and Leslie Collins.
Visitation is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 5, from 6 to 7 p.m. and funeral services at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, both at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home.
Interment will be at the Ava Cemetery.
The family has requested memorial donations to Hospice Care of St. Johns or Neighbor Helping Neighbor.
Helen F. Slack, 88
Dec 25, 2008
Helen F. Slack, 88, of Georgetown, Texas went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008.
Helen was the loving mother of two daughters, Shirley A. Dyer (Paul) of Arcadia, Calif., and Sharon K. Kirkpatrick (Ron) of Georgetown, Texas, and two stepsons, Don Slack (Jane) of Keizer, Ore., and Malcolm (Nancy) Slack of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. She was the loving grandmother of David Dyer (Linda) and Gregory Kirkpatrick (Juliet), great-grandmother to Nikki Dyer, Jeffrey Dyer and Juliun Kirkpatrick as well as aunt to several nieces and nephews.
Helen, the sixth of eight children, was born on June 11, 1920 in Coldsprings, Mo., to Malinda Della Riley and Thomas Patrick Riley.
She was christened as a child in a small Methodist church near Norwood, Mo., and later baptized in the nearby Whetstone River.
She married William Clyde Logsdon (Rudy), father of Shirley and Sharon, at the age of 14. Shirley was born when Helen was 17, followed by Sharon, seven years later.
During their earlier married life, Helen and Rudy were entertainers on a popular radio station in Missouri. They lived throughout the Midwest until they moved to southern California, during World War II. Rudy passed away in 1962.
Helen worked as a cashier, bookkeeper and, in time, became an office manager. She decided to study for her real estate exam and became a real estate associate in 1978. She went on to become a real estate broker and opened her own office.
During that time, she met and fell in love with Donald J. Slack, and they were married in 1973, and had many happy years until his death in 1986.
Helen had dreamed of building her own home and in 1990, at the age of 70, moved 500 miles away to northern California and purchased a lot. With the plans she had drawn up of her dream home, she found a builder and lived in a rental home while overseeing the building of her new home. She became active in the Evangelical Free Church while enjoying her home, new friends and local wildlife. In 2004, at the prompting of her daughters, she sold her home and moved back to southern California. She stayed there until September of this year, when she moved to Georgetown, Texas.
Helen loved the Lord and her family. Until the last few days of her life she could be heard saying "God is a good God." She was very close to her family and was the last surviving sibling. She loved and was extremely close to her brothers and sisters-in-law. The highlight of their get-togethers was to bring their musical instruments and enjoy a good time laughing and singing many of the old gospel tunes. There is truly a "Great Riley Reunion" taking place in Heaven.
Visitation and services were Monday, Dec. 22 at 11 a.m. in Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, with burial following in the Brushyknob Cemetery.
Services will be conducted by Brother Gary Riley.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer's Association.
Ruth L. Fields, 83
Dec 25, 2008
Ruth L. Fields, daughter of David Michaelson and Bernice Wolf Michaelson, was born on July 2, 1925 in Kansas City, Mo., and passed away on Dec. 21, 2008 in Ava, Mo., at the age of 83 years.
Ruth and her husband, Gary, loved the Ozarks. They often traveled from their home in Kansas City to their home east of Ava in the Sweden community. For many years they came and went until their retirement in 2003. Ruth's husband, Gary, passed a short time after moving to the Ava area. She was also preceded in death by her parents and an infant child.
Ruth was a secretary and retired from City Utilities in Kansas City, Mo. She was an animal lover of dogs and an advocate for the Humane Society.
She will be missed by her loving friends.
Graveside service for Ruth will be Friday, Dec. 26, at 2 p.m. at the Sweden Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Grisham officiating.
William Henry Shaull, 84
Dec 18, 2008
William Henry (Bill) Shaull was born Feb. 20, 1924, at Nottinghill, Mo., to Luther Henry and Ada Evelyn (Loftis) Shaull.
He passed from this life Dec. 14, 2008, at the age of 84 years, 9 months and 24 days.
His early years were spent on a farm in Ozark County. He attended high school in Gainesville. Upon graduation, he entered the Navy and served during World War II.
On Dec. 25, 1946, he was united in marriage to Wilma June Warden. Bill and June would have celebrated their 62nd anniversary this Christmas. They had two children, Connie Louise Crawford and Mark Warden Shaull.
Bill had various jobs where he was able to use his outstanding mechanical skills. His last 22 working years were at Zenith Electronics Corporation in Springfield.
Music was an important part of Bill's life. He played several instruments, the guitar being his favorite. He enjoyed singing gospel songs, accompanying himself on the guitar.
Bill was a loving and devoted husband and father. He expressed a special fondness for June's parents and family and considered them the same as his own. All who knew Bill, saw in him a gentle and caring man. He lived out his Christian life being saved as a young man and was a member of Second Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his three sisters, Bessie Feemster, Gertrude Stubblefield and Wilma Bowdin.
Bill is survived by his wife, June; children, Connie and Mark; three grandsons; one granddaughter; and one great-grandson.
A visitation will be held Friday December 19, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home, 1635 N. Benton, Springfield, Mo.
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield.
Cynthia Denise O'Shea, 38
Dec 18, 2008
Cynthia Denise Hartzell O’Shea, 38, Springfield, passed away Dec. 15, 2008.
She was born Dec. 10, 1970 in Augsburg, Germany.
Everyone who knew her loved her. Cynthia was outspoken, bubbly and full of life. She was a loving and devoted mother.
Cynthia is survived by her son, Riley O’Shea, Springfield; father, Dean Hartzell, Woodward, Okla.; mother, Carol Wise, Springfield; grandmother, Anna L. Collins, Drury; sister, Ann Christine Hartzell, Drury; lifelong friend, Suzanne Crandall, Springfield; and numerous family and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, in Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel.
Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today (Thursday, Dec. 18), in the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to benefit Cynthia and Riley O’Shea, c/o Empire Bank, 1800 S. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65804.
Jayce Andrew Smith, Infant
Dec 18, 2008
Jayce Andrew Smith, infant son of Kayla Phillips and Joseph Andrew Smith, was born on Dec. 9, 2008, and entered into rest on Dec. 9, 2008, at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield, Mo.
His survivors include his mother, Kayla Phillips and father, Joseph Andrew Smith, of Wasola; maternal grandmother, Kathy Watson, Wasola; maternal grandfather, Daryl Phillips, Ava; paternal grandparents, Brian and Tabitha Smith, Goodhope (Ava); maternal great-grandpa, Ben Shelton, Squires; great-grandmother Sharon Losh, Goodhope; great-great-grandparents, Sammy and Vickie Phillips, Ava, Jean Losh, Goodhope, and Lester Golden, of Illinois.
Graveside service was held Thursday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. at Owens Cemetery, Bruner, near Elkhead, with the Bishop Lawrence Miley officiating.
Lucille Roberts, 91
Dec 18, 2008
Lucille Roberts, the daughter of Charlie and Cordelia Coulter McCullough, was born March 8, 1917, at Isabella, Mo., and went to be with her wonderful Savior on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008, at the age of 91 years 9 months and 5 days.
Lucille had spent the last three months of her life at the Heart of the Ozarks Health Care Center. There, she was loved and given tender care and her family will always be grateful to Tonya and the entire staff.
Lucille was a resident of the Ava area for the past 26 years moving here from the Wasola area.
Lucille married Ermal Roy Roberts on Feb. 17, 1939, in Ozark County and they spent 59 great years together before Ermal’s death in 1998. They truly enjoyed their life together and will through out eternity.
Lucille went to college at SBU in Bolivar, Mo., and taught school for two years. When her children were born, she became a stay-at-home mom and she was the best mother that any child could ever have. She was always there for her family and she was such an encourager and an inspiration to all. Lucille loved fishing with Ermal and the children along with crocheting and cooking for the family.
Lucille was a member of the First General Baptist Church of Ava. She was a wonderful Christian and lived it every day. She also had a strong faith and she demonstrated her faith by her good works. Going to Sunday school and Church was the highlight of her week.
Lucille was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Cordelia; three brothers, Perry, George, and Donald; two sisters, Vera and Peggy; one son, Leon; and her husband of 59 years, Ermal Roberts.
She is survived four children and there spouses, a daughter Wanda and Nurden Stewart, of Independence, Mo., and three sons, Dale and Barbara Roberts, Gainesville, Mo., Billy and Earlene Roberts, Olathe, Kan., and Robert and Becky Roberts, of Ava. She is also survived by three sisters, Susie Chappell, Eugie and Art Knight, and Joan and Jerry Stillinger; two brothers, Alva and Glenda McCullough, and Gene and Iva McCullough; and a sister-in-law Earlene McCullough; 12 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Lucille were held Wednesday, Dec. 17, in Clinkingbeard Chapel at 2 p.m. with burial in the Ava Cemetery.
The Rev. Marvin Wray and the Rev. Mike Freeman officiated.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at the funeral home.
Amy Elona Delp Hobbs, 84
Dec 18, 2008
Amy Elona (Delp) Hobbs, the daughter of Elmer Delp and Ella (Duncklee) Delp, was born March 5, 1924, in Thornfield, Mo., and departed this life Dec. 11, 2008 at the age of 84.
Amy was a resident of Ava for the past 63 years.
She married Joe Hobbs on July 13, 1942 in Ft. Polk, La.
A war bride, she followed Joe from station to station, working at Pratt and Whitney making airplane engines, among other war-time factories, until he left for Europe. Upon Joe's return from the war and release from the Army in 1945, they made their home in Ava.
Amy worked at Brown's Department Store and Ava Lumber Company until she started her own business. She was the proprietress of Amy's Beauty Shop for 20 years, and later worked for Emerson Electric in Ava until her retirement.
Amy attended the First General Baptist Church in Ava.
Amy was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Edwin Delp, her sisters, Betty Fuller and Pauline Loftin, and her husband of 49 years, Joe Hobbs.
She is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Dale Stamper, of Ava; a sister, Irene Johnson, of Ava; two brothers and their spouses, J. D. and Viva Delp, of Springfield, Mo., and Dorman and Phyllis Delp, of Springdale, Ark.
Services were at 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Robert Roberts officiating.
Interment followed in the Ava Cemetery.
The family requests memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society.
