Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Orvin Franklin Phipps, 91
Orvin Franklin Phipps passed away Dec. 21, 2011, in Kansas City, Mo.
Orvin was born March 7, 1920, to William Franklin and Annabelle Hamby Phipps, of Smallett, Mo.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two siblings that died in infancy, sisters Lela Phipps Bunyard and Venita Phipps Williams.
He is survived by his wife, Marti; four children, Darla Cain, Daniel Phipps, David Burress and Diane Caudillo; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a sister, Theta Phipps Johns.
Orvin was born and raised in and around Ava, Mo. He was raised by his maternal grandparents, the late Alfred and Joanna Bon Frye Hamby, as his parents died at an early age. He served during World War II in the Army and fought in the war against Japan in the Pacific.
He was a fireman for the Oklahoma City Fire Department and spent time self-employed in the Kansas City area. He was the international director for Full Gospel Business Men and the president of the Heart of America Chapter. He was a Christian and his greatest desire was to share his faith. He was the author of the book, "The Final Hours.”
Services were held at the Sheffeld Family Life Center in Kansas City, Mo., on Dec. 27, 2011.
The interment with military honors was in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Walter W. Orr, 85
Walter W. Orr, 85, of Longview, Wash., was born Jan. 19, 1926, in Ava, Mo., and died Dec. 29, 2011, at the Hospice Care Center in Longview.
Mr. Orr served in the Navy.
Walter is survived by his wife, Lela M. Orr; daughter, Connie and his son, Michael; grandchildren, Bill, Bob, Korbie and Adam, and great-grandchildren, Noah, Brittany and Kelsey.
No service will be held.
Archie Wesley McGill, 86
Archie Wesley McGill, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed from this life Dec. 22, 2011 after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis.
Archie was born Dec. 21, 1925 to Jess and Delpha McGill in Squires, Mo.
He graduated from Ava (Mo.) High School and was inducted into the US Navy during WWII. He served in the Pacific aboard the LCS(L)-106 also known as "Mighty Midgets.”
He married Alta Hardcastle on Dec. 25, 1946 in Mountain Home, Ark.
He was a retired machinist from TWA and a member of South Haven Baptist Church.
Archie accepted Jesus as his Savior at the age of 24. He loved Bible study and while his health allowed he loved gardening, quail hunting, fishing, bowling and traveling.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Jerry Clinton McGill; and is survived by his wife, Alta; daughter, Linda Leach, son, John Archie McGill and wife Janece; granddaughter Dawn Leach of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; five grandsons, Wesley (Amber), of Colorado, Adam (Krystal) of Kansas City, Grant of Los Angeles, Calif., Mitchell (Stephanie) of Kansas City, Christopher of Crowley, Texas; one step great-grandson, Eian, of Colorado; and daughter in law, Kathy Schmidt of Crowley, Texas.
Services were at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, at South Haven Baptist Church in Belton, Mo.
Visitation was from 9:30 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the church.
Interment with military honors was in Mt. Moriah Cemetery.
The family suggests contributions to the South Haven Baptist Church Building Fund in Belton, Mo.
Lester L. Luna, 92
Lester L. Luna of Springfield, Mo., was born in Okmulgee, Okla., on Jan. 20, 1919, to Alva Taylor and Abbie Edwards Luna, and went to be with the Lord on Dec. 31, 2011, in Springfield, Mo., just three weeks before his 93rd birthday.
Lester’s was a long life marked by hard work, determination, success and good health, all traits of which he was very proud. Until the day before his passing, he was able to live in his own home, along with his son, Leon.
Lester was married to the late Lois Awilda Mahan of Rockbridge in 1938, and they enjoyed 50 happy years together, until her passing in 1988.
Lester was the fourth of nine children born to Alva and Abbie Luna; his siblings were Beulah, John and William (twins), Leonard, Alva, Byron, Mary Elizabeth and Phyllis. The family was living in Carthage, Mo., where Alva was assistant postmaster and managed a grocery store, when the young father passed away suddenly at the age of 36. Eight-year-old Lester was then sent to Rockbridge, Mo., to live with his maternal grandparents, J.P. and Hannah Edwards, who were devoted caregivers to their grandson.
Lester attended the one-room Lower Brixey school and then went on to graduate from Gainesville High School in 1936. He then taught several terms in area one-room schools, including Romance, Souder and Lower Brixey, before he and Lois moved to Springfield, where Lester would work his way through college.
After earning a degree in accounting, Lester’s first major job was as a bookkeeper with electric cooperatives in Bolivar and Poplar Bluff, where he soon attained the position of manager. During that time, Lester served two terms as president of the Missouri REA Bookkeeper and Accounts Association. He also was a member of the United States Army during those years which coincided with World War II, serving stateside rather than overseas.
Eventually the Lunas moved back to Springfield, when Lester purchased an interest in Draughon’s Business College, a school he then managed. When the college was sold to a national chain, he became their troubleshooter and traveled to campuses in Alabama, Washington, Oregon and St. Louis before retiring in 1984.
After Lois passed away, Lester and Leon enjoyed going to garage sales, watching television and listening to music, and keeping up with current affairs. Lester was proud of the fact that for 92 years, he took no medication and was able to maintain their home by himself until just a few years ago. At that time, Harry and Linda Crouse were chosen to assist Lester and will continue to help Leon live at home.
In addition to his son, Leon, Lester Luna is survived by his sister-in-law, Julia Mahan Taber, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at the Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home–Brentwood Chapel at 10 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 5, with the Rev. Harry Crouse officiating.
A graveside service will immediately follow at Maple Park Cemetery in Springfield.
The family has suggested memorials be made to the Shriners’ Hospital for Children in St. Louis, Mo.
Leatha Florene Hardin, 77
Leatha Florene (Curtis) Hardin died in her home in Omaha, Neb., of brain cancer.
The daughter of Jack and Flora (Leroy) Curtis, she was born at Rockbridge, Mo., on March 14, 1934.
Florene worked for many years at AT&T in Omaha.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leroy Hardin; a son, Darrell Turner; two brothers, Jesse and Lowell Curtis; and a niece, Nikki Sheria Curtis.
She is survived by one daughter, Darlene McGarry, of Rye, Colo.; a daughter-in-law, Patty Turner, of Omaha, Neb.; five grandchildren, all of Georgia; seven great-grandchildren, all of Georgia; one brother, Glen Curtis; nephews Ricky, Jesse, Dalton, and Leedy Glen, all of Ava.
Services were held at Roeder Mortuary in Omaha, Neb.
Byron Sidney Hancock, 85
Byron Sidney Hancock, the son of Veta and Farrell Berry, was born on Dec. 23, 1926, in Douglas County, Mo., and departed this life on Dec. 30, 2011, at the age of 85.
Sid served in the US Army during World War II and was a retired real estate broker.
He moved from Michigan to Venice, Fla., in 1983. Sid was preceded in death by his parents and infant brother.
Sid is survived by his wife, Rita, of the home; one daughter, Shirley and Bill Johnson, of North Port, Fla., son Gregory Hancock, Venice, Fla., Gary and Teresa Hancock, of Sikeston, Mo., Randy and Sandy Goodson, of Waterford, Mich., and Dennis and Linda Goodson, of Holland, Ohio; and 10 grandchildren.
He is also survived by three brothers, Alfred and Sue Berry, of Ozark, J.M. and Carolyn Berry, of Forsyth, and Wayne and companion Kelly, of Sparta; three sisters, Barbara and Ronnie Watkins, of Forsyth, Alice and Ted Thornton, Nixa, and Kay and Jerry Doubek, of Gainesville; great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 4, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Venice, Fla.
Muriel Renamae Burk, 84
Muriel Renamae Burk, 84, of Ava, Mo., was born May 1, 1927 in Colcord, Okla., to parents Lulin and Emma Husong Sisson.
On the morning of Dec. 30, 2011, she departed this life in Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital, Siloam Springs, Ark.
On Dec. 20, 1944, she married William (Bill) Burk and they enjoyed 62 years together before he passed away.
Muriel was devoted to her family and caring for them. Her greatest love in life was as a caregiver to others. When she was 12 years old, her mother passed away so she became "mother” to her brothers and sisters. She loved to sew and made many clothes for her family as well as quilts to keep them warm.
Her cooking was also a special way to show love to her family, especially when she made Portuguese tacos or meatballs.
Bill was a master wood craftsman and they worked together to make furniture beautiful, with him doing the woodworking and she the upholstery.
Muriel had been employed in several positions, as a telephone operator and a factory worker, but her favorite job was as a waitress, because she loved to serve people. She had many wonderful memories of working in the Ice Cream Parlor in Ava.
Muriel was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband William (Bill); three brothers and three sisters; and one great-grandson.
Muriel is survived by her two daughters, Beverly Watson, of Ava, and Patricia Horton, of Avilla; as well as one son, John Burk, of Ava. She is also survived by four half brothers, Richard, Bob, David and Mark; and three half sisters, Sally, Gayle, and Goldie. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.
She will be·deeply missed by all who knew her.
Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 2 p.m. in the Ava Family Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Robert Roberts officiating.
A visitation was hosted in the Ava Family Funeral Home Chapel from 1 p.m. until service time.
Burial followed in the Turkey Creek Cemetery.
All arrangements were under the care and direction of Ava Family Funeral Home.
