Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
O’Ella Louise Ross, 90
Sep 22, 2005
O'Ella Louise (McCracken) Ross, age 90, former resident of Fort Scott, Kan., departed this life Sunday, Sept. 18, 2005, at the Stoneybrook Assisted Living facility in Manhattan, Kan.
She was born Dec. 17, 1914, on a farm near Hiattville, Kan., the daughter of Joseph and Nellie Peelle McCracken. As the eldest of 11 children, her siblings were her closest friends and a loving lifetime support structure.
O'Ella earned her teaching certificate at Kansas State College in Pittsburg, Kan., and taught country school for 10 years, including some of her brothers and sisters. She was well read and her expansive knowledge was extraordinary, especially history.
In 1943, she moved to Wichita where she worked for Boeing for two years doing her part by building airplanes for the war effort.
She quit work to marry Everett Ross in 1945 and raised two children, Mark and Ava.
When Boeing reactivated in December 1948, she returned, holding various leadership positions until retiring in January 1977.
O'Ella's quiet strength, humility and compassion are an inspiration for those who knew her well. Her remarkable ability to smile through adversity made a memorable impression on those whose lives she touched. She returned from Wichita to Fort Scott in 1989. She was a member of the United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her son, Joseph Mark Ross and wife Lynne, Manhattan, Kan.; a daughter, Ava Lynn Ross, Wichita, Kan.; and grandsons Kelly Sean Ross and wife, Kali, and Courtney Robertson Ross, all of San Francisco, Calif. Also surviving is a sister, Nellie Dee Burnam, Fort Scott, Kan.; two brothers, Joseph Edward McCracken, Fort Scott, Kan., and Kenneth Donald McCracken, Martin, Tenn.; nieces, nephews and a large extended family.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Howard McCracken and Dewey McCracken; and five sisters, Beth McCracken, Ruby Niemeir, Ester Fisher, Ruthe McCarty and Carol Davis.
Rev. Sky McCracken will conduct graveside services at 1 p.m. today (Thursday) in the Ava Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel, Fort Scott, Kan.
Memorials are suggested to the March of Dimes or the American Heart Association and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701.
Irene Epps, 82
Sep 22, 2005
Irene Epps, 82, Des Moines, Iowa, formerly of Ozark, passed away Thursday, Sept. 15, 2005, in Taylor House Hospice.
She was born May 18, 1923, at Ongo, Mo., the daughter of Austin and Eva (Howard) Wright.
On April 25, 1940, she was united in marriage to John Epps at Ava, and to this union, five children were born.
Irene was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, one daughter Barbara Lee and one sister LaVerne Owens.
Irene is lovingly survived by her two sons, Tommy Epps and wife, Judy, of Runnells, Iowa, and Richard Epps and wife, Janet, of Clarksville, Tenn.; two daughters, Deanna Skubal and husband, Fred, of Valrico, Fla., and Dorothy Berube and husband, John, of Loxahatchee, Fla.; two brothers Leo Wright, of Marshfield, and Gerald Wright, of Ava; two sisters, Norma Lambert, of Moline, Ill., and Josephine Peebles of Ava; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; other caring relatives and several good friends.
Funeral services for Irene Epps were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, in Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ava, with Pastor Lyle Wright officiating.
Visitation was held one hour prior to service time in the funeral home.
Burial followed in the Goodhope Cemetery, west of Ava.
Elbert Melvin Lafferty, 65
Sep 22, 2005
Elbert Melvin Lafferty, son of Ellis Lafferty and Agnes Nelson Lafferty, was born on August 22, 1940, in Douglas County, and passed away on September 17, 2005 in Everton, Mo., at the age of 65.
Melvin was a retired brick layer. He was of the Baptist faith.
He loved country music and played the guitar. He also enjoyed hunting.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and one brother.
His survivors include six sons, Dwain Lafferty, Robert Lafferty, and John Lafferty, all of Kansas, Timothy Lafferty and Shannon Lafferty both of Bremond, Texas, and Ellis Lafferty, of California; four daughters; Barbara Lafferty, Lorene Lafferty, Patrish Lafferty all of Kansas, and Amanda Arbuckle, Springfield; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; one brother, Joe E. Lafferty, Ava; four sisters, Lodean Hammons, Belton, Ethel Mae Johnson, Brighton, Marie Stafford, Davenport, Iowa and Ruby LeJune, Lake Charles, La.; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were held Wednesday, September 21, at 10 a.m., at the Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, with the Revs. Keith Lafferty and Randy Sisco officiating.
Interment was in the Stillings Cemetery.
Services were conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Myrtle Campbell, 99
Sep 22, 2005
Services for Myrtle Campbell, 99, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, in the Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, with the Rev. Nolan Carrier and Rev. Tom Maples officiating.
Visitation will be Saturday, from 1 p.m. to service time.
Memorials may be made to First Southern Baptist Church, Ava, Community Hospices of America, Gideon International, or the charity of choice.
Interment will follow in the Ava Cemetery.
Mrs. Campbell was born to John H. and Mary Ann Blevins, Feb. 5, 1906, at Union, Ark.
Myrtle taught in a one-room grade school for five years.
She was married to Andy Campbell June 15, 1930.
They made their home near Salem, Ark., where four children, Jimmie, Charles, Violet and Max, were born. In 1939, they moved to Ava, where Andy delivered mail, ran a tire shop and operated a car dealership.
Myrtle was a member of Ava First Southern Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sons, and their wives, Charles and Wanda Campbell, Forsyth, Max and Norma Campbell, Ava, and one daughter, and son-in-law, Violet and Bob Sell, Forsyth; seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and one sister, her husband, Andy, one son, Jimmie, and a grandson, Jimmy.
Services are being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Sherilyn (Robertson) Adams, 56
Sep 22, 2005
Sherilyn (Robertson) Adams passed away Sept. 9, 2005, in St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kan., at the age of 56 years.
Sherry was born May 25, 1949, at Rose, Kan.
She is survived by her husband, James R. Adams III; two sons, James R. IV and his wife, Rebecca, and Jason E. and his wife, Julie; four grandchildren, Olivia, Cooper, Chandler and Carson; her father, Daniel Roberson; a sister, Cindy Bonus; two brothers, Richard "Joe" and Lloyd "Bud" Robertson; and 18 nieces and nephews.
Sherry was preceded in death by her mother, Melba M. Robertson.
Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the Old Mission Mortuary.
Burial was at the Old Mission Cemetery.
Sherry will be remembered by many in the Ava area, for the information she gathered on Robertson family. She was able to publish the book last year.
Sherry has many cousins living in the Ava area.
Those attending the funeral from Ava were John and Gaylene Rippee, Neva Vinson, Norva Strong, Nina McCleary and Zada Purtle.
Howard Allen Wilson, 54
Sep 22, 2005
Howard Wilson, the son of Eugene Wilson and Chloe (Pellham) Wilson, was born June 28, 1951, in Roy, Missouri, and departed this life Sept. 16, 2005 at the age of 54.
On Sept. 13, 197l, Howard and Judy Bruffett were united in marriage in Ava.
Howard was a life-long resident of the Goodhope area. He was employed as carpenter and was a beef cattle farmer. Howard enjoyed hunting and fishing and loved his family and friends dearly and was a dedicated husband. Howard was a gifted teacher of the Word of God.
Howard was preceded in death by his father, Eugene Wilson, and his father-in-law, Fred Bruffett.
He is survived by his wife, Judy of the home, Ava; his mother, Chloe Wilson, Ava; three brothers and their wives, David and Joyce Wilson, Branson, Dwight and Carla Wilson, and Rodger and Judy Wilson, all of Ava; a sister and her husband, Donna and Lloyd Witchey, Ava; his mother-in-law, Mary Bruffett, Thornfield; sisters-in-law, Sandra and Gary Harvill, Oldfield, Marilyn and Jerry Dennis, Mtn. Grove, Patty and David Cummins, Donna and Mike Luna, all of Ava; brothers-in-law, Bill and Teresa Bruffett, Ava, Bob and Jeanette Bruffett, Galena; and a host of other relatives and many friends.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. David Wilson II and Brother Joe Bill Humbyrd officiating.
Interment followed in the Union Grove Cemetery.
Visitation was Sunday from 5 to 6 p.m. in the funeral home.
Lindsay Rhea Stout, 17
Sep 15, 2005
Lindsay Rhea Stout, daughter of John Kevin Stout and Katherine Lynn Pierson, was born on June 2, 1988 in Houston, Texas, and passed away on Sept. 12, 2005 from an auto accident in Ava, at the age of 17.
Lindsay was a senior at Norwood High School. She was a member of FBLA, FCCLA and the Academic Club.
Lindsay was saved at an early age at the Highway Church of the Nazarene. She had attended the Ava Assembly of God Church and Skyline Full Gospel.
Lindsay was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Arthur L. Stout.
Her survivors include her parents, Kathy and Randy Pierson, Ava; her father, John Kevin Stout, Alvin, Texas; two sisters, Kelsey Nicole Acree, Willard, and Bailey Shayne Acree, Ava; one brother, Nathan Pierson, Ava; maternal grandparents, Margaret and Andy LoMonaco, Yuma, Ariz., and Gary and Rita Wilson, Belleville, Ill., paternal grandparents, Ruth Stout, Pasadena, Texas, and Mildred Ivona Pierson, Ava; great grandmothers, Janey Stout, Deer Park, Texas, and Berdell Norris, Houston, Texas, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives and friends.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, at the Ava Assembly of God Church with the Revs. Buddy Boyd and Gary Stigall officiating.
Interment will be in the Dyer Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Memorials can be made to the Norwood High School in Lindsay's memory.
Services are being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Nickolas Evan Riley, 10
Sep 15, 2005
Nickolas Evan Riley was born Dec. 17, 1994, in Springfield, the son of Charles Riley and Tammy (Evans) Bryan.
He joined God and his great-grandparents, Opal Evans and Laura and Arthur Johnson, on the evening of Sept. 11, 2005.
He attended Sparta Middle School where he was in 4th grade.
Nick enjoyed playing video games with "His Big Kahona", his second dad, fishing with his Papa Tony and taking trips with his mom, stepdad, Papa and Gam-E Evans, Ashley and Chase to Colorado, and going to the beach with his dad.
He also enjoyed riding his four wheeler with his best friend of many years, Tyler Bailey, and spending time with his friends and family. Nick always talked about his friends from school, especially Zach and his new girlfriend, Tasha.
Survivors include his father, Charles Riley, Springfield; his mother and stepfather, Tammy and Jeremy Bryan, Ozark; his big sister, Ashley Mixon and fiance' Dallas Calvert, Ozark; his little brother, Chase Bryan, Ozark; his grandparents, Edward and Jeanette Riley, Ozark, Tony and Roma Evans, Ozark, Tom Hill, Dallas, Texas, and Deanna Hill, Kodiak, Alaska; and his aunt and uncles, Dennis and Rhonda Riley, Ozark and Tony Evans, Jr., Ozark.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 16, in Adams Funeral Home, Ozark, with Bob Husky officiating.
Burial will follow in Arden Cemetery, near Dogwood.
Because of Nickolas' love of animals, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Christian County Humane Society.
Virginia Ellison Richards, 83
Sep 15, 2005
Virginia Ellison Richards, 83, of Nixa, passed away Sept. 6, 2005 at 12:20 a.m. at Christian Health Center in Nixa, following health complications and Alzheimer’s disease.
Virginia was born April 13, 1922, to Homer and Dollie Phillips Ellison of Roy, Mo.
Virginia married the love of her life, Marshall Richards, on March 21, 1942 at Goodhope.
They were married 58 years when Marshall passed away in 2000. To this union, one daughter, Marsha Emillie, was born in 1956.
She lived most of her life near Ava, Missouri, on their farm until she and Marshall moved to Nixa in 1980. She had resided in Nixa the past 25 years.
She was homemaker and worked at Fashion Embroidery in St. Louis in the 1940s. She also worked at Spalding Sporting Goods in the late 1960s.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Marshall, her parents, and one sister, Barbara Rohrman in 2004.
She is survived by her daughter, Marsha Emillie, and her husband John Patochek of Nixa; two granddaughters, Nicole Patochek Harris and husband Andrew, and Leandra Patochek, all of Nixa; three brothers, Howard Ellison, of Springfield, Tony and Jerry Ellison of Ava; three sisters; Billie Miller of Salmon, Idaho, Joan Pellham, and Roma Mackey of Ava; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Graveside services were held at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield on Friday, Sept. 9, at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Bruce Beline officiating.
Visitation was held at Adams Funeral Home in Nixa from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Martha A. Ashbaugh, 84
Sep 15, 2005
Martha Ann (Morton) Ashbaugh, 84, formerly of Ava, died Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005, at her home in Long Valley, N.J.
She was born Nov. 29, 1920, in Mount Gilead, Ohio, the daughter of the late Frank B. and Mary R. (Wilson) Morton.
She married Bernard “Jack” Ashbaugh on Oct. 11, 1941.
Martha then spent her time at home raising their family.
She is survived by two daughters, Marianne (Arthur) Linderman, of Long Valley, N.J., and Linda (Jonathan) Cooney, of Sikeston; three grandchildren, Rebecca Broyles, Rachel Johnson and Catherine Cooney; three great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Alice O’Shaughnessy, of North Carolina, and Mary “Ibby” Curl, of Mount Gilead, Ohio.
Her husband, Jack, preceded her in death on July 15, 2004.
The Rev. Jonathan Cooney conducted graveside services on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 11 a.m., in Rivercliff Cemetery.
Craven Funeral Home in Mount Gilead, Ohio, was in care of local arrangements.
