Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Eldon Arlif Harper, 73
Oct 27, 2005
Eldon Arlif Harper, 73, of Ava, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2005, in St. John's Hospital, Springfield, MO.
Eldon was born Oct. 31, 1931, in the Goodhope community, the son of Irvin Taylor and Lottie Delora (Hord) Harper.
Eldon was employed at Heath and Son Feed Supply in Ava for 27 years and also worked for Iowa Steel and Iron Workers for 12 years in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. During 1952 to 1954, Eldon proudly served his country with the United States Army and was a member of the Ava General Baptist Church of Ava. He also enjoyed fishing, playing card and pool games at the Ava Senior Center and was very competitive at playing dice.
Eldon was preceded in death by his wife Helen; his parents; and one brother, Wilburn Harper.
He is survived by three sisters, Freda Cole, Pierce City, Mo., Goldie Scott and husband, Bruce, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Joyce Harper of Goodhope; three brothers, Bill Harper, of Goodhope, Wayne Harper and wife, Joyce, of Goodhope, and Don Harper and wife, Marty, of Anamosa, Iowa; a special friend, Barbara Magoon, of Ava; many nieces, nephews and caring friends.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Oct. 28, at 10 a.m. in Barnes Funeral Home, Ava, with Rev. Oren Alcorn officiating.
Burial with full military honors provided by Ava American Legion Post #112 and V.F.W. Post #5593 will follow in the Ava Cemetery.
Family time and visitation will be held from 6-7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27, in the funeral home.
Memorial donations in Eldon's memory may be made to the Meals on Wheels program provided by the Ava Senior Center.
Wilford D. “W.D.” Coonts, 60
Oct 27, 2005
Wilford D. Coonts, son of Willard W. Coonts and Frances (Shelton) Coonts, was born on Aug. 18, 1945, in Evans, and departed this life on Oct. 21, 2005, at the age of 60.
On Jan. 12, 1968, W.D. and Linda Hopper were united in marriage at Miami, Okla. To this union four children were born. W.D. was a lifelong resident of the Ava area where he was a truck driver and in the logging business. W.D. was an Army veteran and served his country during the Vietnam War.
W.D. was preceded in death by his father, Willard, in 1980, and his sister, Sheila.
He is survived by five children, Tanya Coonts, Ava, Justin Coonts, Ava, Stephanie Sinning and husband, Jeff, Mtn. Grove, Matt Coonts, Ava, and Colton Coonts, Norwood; one grandson, Cody Douglass Coonts, Ava; his mother, Frances Coonts, Ava; four sisters, Lena Mary Gerdts, Kansas City, Pat Dobbs, Ava, Sue Jones and Judy Shepard, both of Kansas City; several nieces, nephews, and many other relatives and friends.
W.D. loved playing cards. He especially enjoyed solitaire and poker, and made sure to pass this on to his kids and they will pass it on to their kids. W.D. also loved hunting, horses and visiting with friends and being with his family.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, at the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Dale Garrison officiating.
Interment followed in the Evans Cemetery.
The family requests memorials be made to the Evans Cemetery.
Services were conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Helen Maurine Jackson, 79
Oct 27, 2005
Helen Maurine Jackson, 79, Ava, passed away Thursday, Oct. 20, 2005, in Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare Center.
Helen was born Jan. 25, 1926, in Tulsa, Okla., the daughter of Clark T. and Esther B. (Brownrigg) Eimer.
On Nov. 15, 1947, in Tulsa, Okla., Helen was united in marriage to the love of her life, Ted Jackson. To this union, two daughters and two sons were born.
Helen was a retired registered nurse in the cardiac field, as well as a charge nurse in several skilled nursing facilities. She was also a member of the Sequoia Hills Baptist Church in Oklahoma and a member of the Douglas County Writers guild. Her loving, caring and skilled nature allowed her to care for her invalid mother-in-law for several years. She enjoyed good conversations, bird watching, was in the process of writing her own family history, and never met a stranger. Helen was aware of everything around her in the great outdoors or among people.
She relished every minute of her life and appreciated every day and every friendship.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter-in-law, Vickie Jackson; a son-in-law, Bill Hood; a sister, Katherine Corkell; and an infant brother, Howard Eimer.
She is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Ted “Lee” Jackson; two daughters, Dianne Hood, of Ava, and Connie Schmidt and husband, Jack, of Ava; two sons, Mike and wife, Daretta, of Tulsa, Okla., and Pat Jackson of Boscobel, Wisc.; two sisters, Beulah Carlson, of Tulsa, Okla., and Ozelle Brauer, state of Florida; one brother, James Eimer, Claremore, Okla.; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends.
Funeral services were held Monday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m., in Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Neal Crum officiating.
Burial was in the Union Grove Cemetery, Ava.
The Jackson family requests memorial donations in Helen’s memory to the Ava Victory Academy, Union Grove Cemetery, Gideons International, or Neighbor Helping Neighbor.
J.C. Kester, 87
Oct 27, 2005
Jewell Clayton Kester, fondly known as “J.C”, age 87, of Ava, was called home to be with his Lord Jesus Christ on Monday, Oct. 24, 2005.
J.C. passed away in Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare Center after a brief stay.
He was born Jan. 8, 1918, in Stilwell, Okla., the son of William Isaac and Bessie (Yarbrough) Kester.
On Sept. 25, 1937, he was united in marriage to Goldie Fae Woods and God blessed this union with seven children.
J.C. was a hard working, talented family provider and a highly respected farmer. He enjoyed farming, fishing, gardening, planting, grafting and growing trees. He especially enjoyed sharing the bounty of his garden with family and friends.
He was a dedicated member of First Southern Baptist Church of Ava and a deacon for 52 years. J.C. inspired and humbled all age groups with his life faithfully lived as a model of caring love, an example of quiet courage and always an inspirational testimony of faith. He diligently studied the Bible and he always tried to live his life each day in a manner pleasing to his Lord. He could find good in every person, hope in any adversity and peace in any sorrow. J.C. was a kind, gentle and sensitive man who never knew a stranger, always wore a smile, and dedicated himself to his Lord, church and family.
J.C. was preceded in death by his parents; one son, William Isaac Kester; three brothers; three sisters; and one grandson.
He leaves behind his caring wife of 68 years, Goldie, of the home; four daughters and their spouses, Joann and Leon Spell, of Donovan, Lorene and Henry Lawrence, Springfield, Nancy and Lester Cook, Ava, and Glenda Floyd, Springfield; two sons and their spouses, Howard and Dottie Kester, Hoyt, Kan., and Paul and Lois Kester, Ava; one brother, Clarence Kester and wife, Joan, of Stilwell, Okla.; three sisters, Juanita Jones, Stilwell, Okla., Cecil Abbott, Piedmont, Clara Wilson, Hampstead, Md; a very special friend, Don Williams, Springfield; 14 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; other relatives and many caring friends.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. today (Thursday) in the First Southern Baptist Church of Ava, with the Rev. Tom Maples officiating.
Burial will follow in the Walnut Grove Cemetery, with services under the care and direction of Barnes Family Funeral Home of Ava.
Family time and visitation was held Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Lavonna Stafford’s Missionary Children’s Program.
Jessie Robertson Purtle, 95
Oct 20, 2005
Jessie Naomi Robertson Purtle, age 95, passed away October 13, 2005.
She was born July 11, 1910, in Ava, and was the daughter of James Marion and Laura Jane Marler Robertson.
She married G. Willard Purtle on May 20, 1933, and they became the parents of six daughters.
She spent the majority of her life in the Ava area, but has resided in Ozark for the past four years. She lived with her daughter, Nettie Hicks, for three years and has been a resident of the Ozark Nursing and Care Center for the past year, where she was treated with loving kindness by the entire staff.
She is survived by five daughters, Zada Purtle, Ava, Naomi and Newt Porter, Squires, Emily and Clifford Burchell, Branson, Nettie Hicks, Ozark and Nina and Butch McCleary, Ava; nine grandchildren, Audrey and Norman Pierson, Sean McCleary, of Ava, Barbara Bolding, Waldo, Florida, Dale and Denise Porter, Charlene and Randy Vermillion, Zachary Porter and Charley and Sonja Porter, Independence, Mo., Thomas and Kathy Hicks, Ozark, Mo., and Kristal McCleary, Washington, D.C.; 23 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Lela Robertson, Ava; many nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant daughter, Naida Mae; eight brothers, seven sisters; and a grandson, Wayne Burchell.
Visitation was Sunday, October 16, 2005, at the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home in Ava.
Funeral services were conducted by Reverend John Moles and Reverend Dustin Ledford on Monday, October 17, at 2 p.m. at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the burial following in the Fannon Cemetery, Ava.
Jessie asked that Butterfield Youth Services, PO Box 333, Marshall, MO 65340 or the Fannon Cemetery Fund, Ava, MO be considered for memorial contributions.
Bonnie Lee (Harmer) Smith, 78
Oct 20, 2005
Bonnie Lee (Harmer) Smith was born April 11, 1927, in Carroll, Nebraska to Harold O. and Mae Harmer.
After the divorce of her parents, she was raised in Mississippi by her aunt, Gladys Mills and husband Charlie. She entered her eternal home on October 16, 2005. She was greeted there by husband Vernon, Gladys and Charlie, her mother and dad, sister Pat and brother Don.
Bonnie was introduced to Vernon G. Smith as a blind date. After only knowing each other for seven days, Vernon proposed marriage.
They married on June 3, 1952, and to this union, four children were born: Connie, Cheryl, Charlie and Craig, or the 4C's as they were lovingly called.
She was a wonderful mother and was vitally interested and actively involved in the 4C's many activities.
In 1947, she graduated Magna cum Laude from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, with majors in Education, Spanish, English, and History. Bonnie was the consummate teacher, whether in school (1st and 2nd grades) or tutoring children with reading problems in her home, she welcomed any opportunity to enrich and teach young people. Her career as a Scout leader (both Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts) continued long after the 4C's had completed the programs.
The family moved to Cabool, MO, in 1967, when Vernon retired from the FBI and they built a family friendly home, and Bonnie sewed curtains for every one of the ten rooms. She was an avid reader and her big home library attested to her love of books. Another passion was flowers - at one time having more than 5,000 African violets in her home and greenhouse. She and Vernon enjoyed playing bridge with friends and in their younger days they loved to square dance.
Bonnie was a devout Christian and a stalwart church member. She taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School for many, many years. She also served on the Board of Directors for Texas County Memorial Hospital, and held the office of president for one term.
When her health began to fail, she moved to Ava in 2003 to be near her daughter Connie. Even then she wanted her daughter to find a child for her to tutor in reading. She moved her church membership to the Ava Methodist Church and enjoyed making new friends there.
Bonnie was a very gracious lady. You never heard her say a mean word about anyone or complain about anything. She always displayed true Southern hospitality to anyone who had the privilege to come to her home. Bonnie always had a wonderful smile on her face and truly loved people.
Survivors include the 4C's: Connie L. Bacorn and husband Fred, Ava; Cheryl L. Simms and husband Dan, Hartsville, South Carolina; Charlie V. Smith, Springfield; and Craig N. Smith and wife Ann, Sacramento, California; five grandsons, Kelsey, Drew, Mac, Liam and Philip; nieces; nephews; and a host of church family and friends.
At her request, the body will be cremated and a memorial service held in Cabool at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, PO Box 96305, Washington, DC 20090-6305 or Gideons International.
Ireta Tate, 91
Oct 20, 2005
Ireta Tate, 91, Ava, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005, in Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare Center, Ava.
She was born at Dora, Mo., on Aug. 31, 1914, to Ed and Iva Myrtle (Tetrick) Dobbs.
On Feb. 8, 1940, Ireta was united in marriage to Darrel Tate at Ava, and to this union, a son and two daughters were born.
For more than 20 years, Ireta taught in one-room schools which included most of the schools in the east end of Douglas County. She has the distinguishing honor of being one of the pioneer basic education teachers in the nation.
She was also the Douglas County Herald correspondent for the Fox Creek Items for over 20 years.
Ireta was a Christian and loved the Lord. Until her health failed, she attended the Gentryville Church of God. She was a loving wife and a dedicated mother whose first concern was always the welfare of her family and loved ones. She was a busy homemaker who enjoyed caring for her family, canning from her big gardens and helping with the farm chores. Being a bookworm, she always found time to read. Her legacy to her family and friends will be the many memories of the happy times and wonderful meals in her home.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Darrel; her parents; two brothers, Harold Dobbs and Raymond Dobbs; one daughter, Beverly Lakey; and one great-grandchild.
Ireta is survived by one son, Joe Tate and wife, Debby, and one daughter, Rhonda Tate, all of Ava; one brother, Dr. Ralph Dobbs and wife, Sherry, of Columbia; one sister, Juanita Dougherty and husband, Howard, of Ava; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; other relatives and many caring friends.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, in the Pleasant Home Rock Church with the Rev. Oscar Cunningham officiating.
Burial followed in the Pleasant Home Cemetery, under the direction of Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ava.
Memorial donations may be made to the Pleasant Home Cemetery.
Quentin Eugene Middleton, 87
Nov 17, 2005
Quentin Eugene Middleton, 87, of Branson, was born Nov. 6, 1918, in Omaha, Ark., the son of Clyde and Jessie (Matlock) Middleton.
He went to be with the Lord, Friday, Nov. 11, 2005, at his residence.
Quentin and Nellie M. Blevins were married June 21, 1940, in Whittier, Calif.
He had resided in the Branson area since 1981. Quentin preached in over 67 churches in five states.
He was preceded in death by his wife Nellie in 1997; his parents; and one brother.
Survivors include one son, Jerry Middleton and wife, Pam, of Rogersville; daughters, Sharon Blevins and husband, Freddy, of Blue Eye, Ark., Carol Robinette and husband, Kenny, of Branson, and Kathy Howerton and husband, Paul, of Blue Eye, Mo.; nine grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; three great great-grandchildren; two brothers, Leland Middleton, Green Forest, Ark., and Lyle Middleton, of Springfield, Mo.
Funeral services were held Monday, Nov. 14, in Victor Baptist Church, with Pastor Kenny Robinette officiating.
Burial followed in the New Hope Cemetery, Omaha, Ark.
As per Quentin's request, memorials may be made to Victor Baptist Church Building Fund or to the Gideons for Bibles.
Linda (Barton) Hampton, 59
Nov 17, 2005
Linda Kay (Barton) Hampton, the daughter of John William Barton and Bertha Lorine (Malicoat) Burton, was born Jan. 18, 1946, in Ash Grove, and departed this life Nov. 15, 2005, at the age of 59.
Linda was a resident of the Ava area for the past 35 years, moving here from Springfield.
On Aug. 28, 1965, Linda and Arthur Hampton were united in marriage in Goodhope. Linda and Arthur were blessed with a daughter, Lisa.
Linda was a Christian and enjoyed playing computer games, crocheting and flower gardening. Linda was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents.
Her survivors include her husband, Arthur, of the home in Goodhope; a daughter Lisa and her husband, Tony Richards, Goodhope; one grandson, Charley Hampton, Goodhope; one step-grandson, Cody Richards, Rome, Mo.; two sisters, Carolyn and husband, Glenn Swearengin, Goodhope, and Mary McConnell, Morrisville; one step-brother, Jim Staton, Aurora; half brothers and sisters, Alice Henry, Springfield, John Barton, Ash Grove, David Barton, Republic, Sarah Miller, Springfield, Gene Maggard, Ava, Mike Maggard, Springfield, Danny Maggard, Ava, Cathy Stacy, Oldfield, Eve Rideoutte, Springfield, and Ricky Doisher, Ava; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services will be Friday, Nov. 18, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. James Orick officiating.
Interment will follow in the Hall Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday evening, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Inice Irene Lawrence, 81
Nov 10, 2005
Inice Irene Lawrence, daughter of Caleb Maggard and Nancy Huff Maggard, was born on Feb. 28, 1924 in Ava, and went to her heavenly home on Nov. 6, 2005, in Springfield, at the age of 81 years.
Inice was a lifetime resident of the Ava community.
She had lived for the past three months in Ozark to be with her family.
On Feb. 9, 1941, Inice and Richard L. Lawrence were united in marriage in Douglas County, and to this union, one daughter was born.
Inice was a dairy farmer for 60 years, working alongside with her husband.
She was a member of the Highlonesome Missionary Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Richard in 2003.
She is survived by a daughter, Genevieve Garland, and a granddaughter raised in the home, JaDonna Rice and husband, Wayne, all of Ozark; two grandchildren, Cecilia and Melinda; four great-grandchildren; Dandy, Jeremy, Candy and Tonya, three great-great-grandchildren, Bailey, Lucie and Quentin; two brothers, Arthur Maggard, Springfield, and Jim Maggard, Willard; five sisters, Lois Fitzgerald, Bettendorf, Iowa, Tennie Williams, McPherson Kan., Madena Faye Hall, Springfield, Gladys Huff and Francis Montgomery, both of Ozark; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, at the Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, with the Rev. Tom Johnson officiating.
Interment will be in the Ava Cemetery.
Visitation was Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home.
Memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society.
Services are being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
