Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Carmon Childress, 93
Dec 15, 2005
Carmon Childress, 93, died Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005, at Christian Health Care South, Lebanon.
He was born Jan. 4, 1912, near Superior, Neb., to Orval and Edyth Childress.
As a young man, he attended high school and three years of college in Ft. Collins, Colo. He was contracted by the government for work in Hawaii and Midway Island. He later served his country in World War II.
During that time, he married Naida Davis, formerly of Ava.
Following his discharge from the Army after World War II, the couple lived in Monterey, Seaside and Salinas, Calif. After retirement, the couple moved to Lebanon in 1979 and to Springfield in 1984.
After the death of his wife, he moved back to Lebanon to be closer to family.
Mr. Childress was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; a brother, Eldon; a sister, Agnes; and a son, Conway Stewart.
Survivors include a daughter, Joanne Stewart Green, of Lebanon; eight grandchildren, including Terri Snyder and Linda Brown, of Lebanon, Debbie Colborn, Columbia, Patty McCarty, Vista, Calif., Steve Green, Republic, Carmon David Green, Ft. Smith, Ark., David Stewart, Sacramento, Calif., and Susan Parkes, Pacific Grove, Calif.; a nephew Gene Cruikshank, Lamar, Colo.; and a niece, Carolyn Day, Pembrook Pines, Fla. He is also survived by 15 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Mr. Childress was ordained as a deacon at the First Southern Baptist Church in Seaside, Calif., in 1956, and at the time of his death, was a member of Second Baptist Church in Lebanon.
Graveside services for Mr. Childress were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Ava Cemetery with the Rev. Tom Maples officiating. Services were under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home of Ava.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at the funeral home.
Alpha Roberta Nelson, 89
Dec 15, 2005
Alpha Roberta Nelson, 89, the fourth daughter of George Price and Minnie (Kastening) Price, was born Sept. 30, 1916, at Rockbridge, Mo.
Surrounded by her family, Alpha went home to be with her Lord on Dec. 13, 2005.
Alpha was a life-long resident of the area.
On July 19, 1947, Alpha and Otto Nelson were united in marriage in Ava. Alpha and Otto were blessed with a daughter.
Alpha was employed at the drug store as a clerk for many years. She enjoyed visiting with friends, family and neighbors. Alpha was a member of the Ava General Baptist Church.
Alpha was preceded in death by her husband, Otto in l973. Also preceding in death were her parents, four sisters and two brothers.
She is survived by her daughter, Janice and husband, Bill Chainey, of Richmond; six grandchildren, Shelli Jo, Colton, Emily, Jelena, Josh, and Jeremy; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services will be 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Oren Alcorn and Father Glen Dale Hartley officiating. Interment will follow in the Ava Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday from 1:30 p.m. to service time.
Memorials may be made to Seasons Hospice.
Earl L. Gray, 83
Dec 8, 2005
Earl L. Gray, son of Willis and Lula Anderson Gray, was born in Brushy Knob, Mo., on Nov. 3, 1922, and died suddenly at home on Nov. 29, 2005, at the age of 83.
He was raised in the Brushy Knob area and was converted at the age of 8, which had a great impact on his entire life.
He graduated from Ava High School in 1942, and honorably served over three years in the Army Air Corps during World War II.
He built, owned and operated Earl Gray’s Auto Repair in Tucson, Ariz., for over a decade. Earl was an accomplished folk artist (wood and sandstone carvings, paintings, and rock arrangements), loved to sing and play his guitars, banjo, mandolin and harmonica; enjoyed picnics with his high school class reunions and his family and friends on his farm. Earl loved life, enjoyed swapping stories and jokes, and was always busy with a project.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Marion, his first child who died in infancy, Joyce Loretta, and his childhood best friend and cousin, Harley Hitchcock, who was killed in World War II.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Norma D. Elliott Gray; three children from his former marriage, Eddie Gray, Larry Gray and Norma Gray, all of Tucson, Ariz.; his sister, Hazel Oxley and her husband, Jim, of Mtn. Grove; a brother, Walter Gray and his wife, Hazel, of Nebraska; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Earl Gray were held Saturday, Dec. 3, at 10 a.m., in the Cornerstone Freewill Baptist Church, Mtn. Grove, with the Rev. Ronald Turner officiating.
Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt-Bradley Funeral Home, Mtn. Grove.
Verlin “Ray” Conrad, Sr., 68
Dec 8, 2005
Verlin “Ray” Conrad, Sr., 68, of Sheldon, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005, at his home in Sheldon following a sudden illness.
He was born Nov. 29, 1937, in Squires, to Floyd Conrad and Bessie Mae Lansdown Conrad.
He married Linda Garrett on Dec. 13, 1975, in Kansas City, and she survives.
Ray was raised in Ava and was a member of the Murray Pentecostal Church. He made his living as a truck driver, retiring in 2001 from Jeffco Trucking. Ray was a member of Teamsters Local #41. He lived in the Kansas City area for several years before moving to Sheldon in 1994, where he has resided since.
Survivors in addition to his wife, Linda, of the home, include two sons, Verlin Ray Conrad Jr., and Jeff Burns, both of Nevada, MO; two daughters, Brenda Lockhart, Bald Knob, Ark., and DeAnna Huggins, Nevada, Mo.; 11 grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; and one sister, Zola Jean Carey, Blue Springs.
He was preceded in death by four brothers.
Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.
Interment followed in Olive Branch Cemetery, Milo.
Memorials may be given to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association.
Marie Ellen Murphy, 74
Dec 8, 2005
Marie Ellen Murphy, 74, of Mansfield, left us to continue her journey on Dec. 2, 2005.
She is survived by her mother, Marie Womack; a daughter, Allison Andujar; grandchildren, Amanda, Nicole, and Crystal; great-granddaughter, Averi Sky; and all of her countless friends, co-workers, animals and children that were touched by her vivacious spirit and insurmountable energy and compassion.
She began her life in Greenbrier, Tenn., where she traveled the county as a child star, was a cheerleader for West End High School in Nashville, Tenn., attended Peabody College, became a model in New York City and Miami, and was a world traveler.
After retiring in the Ozarks she gave 20 years of service as a master foster parent and took pride in her extensive involvement in the Children’s Division which some activities included being a member of the Area 4 Foster Parent Advisory Board, STARS trainer, facilitator for the Independent Living Program, resource coordinator and one of the founders of the Foster Parent Support Group.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Marie Murphy Foundation, P.O. Box 663, Mansfield, MO 65704, so that her work can continue to touch the lives of many more children.
A memorial service will be held at Holman-Howe Funeral Home on Friday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m.
Her friends have peace in knowing she will reunite and rejoice with her son, Brian, and grandson, Shaun.
Alvie E. Johnson, 72
Dec 8, 2005
Alvie E. Johnson, the son of George Anderson Johnson and Gracie A. (Lawson) Johnson, was born Nov. 11, 1933 in Thornfield, and departed this life Dec. 4, 2005, at the age of 72.
Alvie graduated from Seymour High School and later served two years in the U.S. Army Quarter Master Corps where he attained the rank of specialist 3rd class. Following his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, Alvie moved to Florida, where he lived for 40 years. He worked as a business machine repairman, eventually establishing his own repair business.
Alvie was preceded in death by one brother, Willie Johnson, and five sisters, Ruth Goodnight, Eva Kastning, Lucy Parker, Mildred Turner, and Thurma Turner.
He is survived by 20 nieces and nephews; two brothers-in-law, Russell Turner, Squires, and Linlie Turner, Ellis, Kan.; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services will be 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at the Thornfield Chapel with the Rev. Tom Johnson officiating.
Interment will follow in the Thornfield Cemetery.
Services are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Friends may call at their convenience.
Military graveside services will be conducted by the Webster County Veterans of Foreign Wars #4101.
Memorial contributions may be made to contributor's choice.
Marjorie Loftin, 82
Dec 8, 2005
Marjorie Loftin, daughter of Ira B. Heriford and Edith L. (Bruffett) Heriford was born Aug. 29, 1923, in Ozark County, Mo., and departed this life Dec. 2, 2005, at the age of 82.
On June 6, 1942, Marjorie and Burrel Loftin were united in marriage in Ava. Marjorie and Burrel were blessed with 11 children.
Marjorie was a life-long resident of the area. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Marjorie was employed with Rawlings Sporting Goods for 18 years. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, flowers and most of all her family.
Marjorie was a charter member of the Sweden Methodist Church and enjoyed teaching Sunday school.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, two sons, Jerry and Timothy, a daughter, Donna, one grandson, Brent, and three brothers, Leslie, Russell, and Colbert.
Her survivors include, her husband, Burrel of the home, Ava; four sons and their wives, Marvin and Mary Loftin, Russell and Carolyn Sue Loftin, Burrely and Penny Loftin, and Mike and Lisa Loftin, all of Ava; four daughters, Carol and husband, Howard Gott, Ava, Janice Gray, Ava, Patty and Bob Clevenhagen, Washington, Mo., and Lynda and husband, Rick Snelson, Ava; 19 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren, two sisters and their husbands, Eula Mae and Harley Dye, and Peggy and Dee Cutbirth, all of Ava; two brothers and their wives, Charles and Barbara Heriford, Nixa, and Jr. and Karen Heriford, Ava; two sisters-in-law, Delcia Heriford, of Ava, and Norma Heriford, Claremore, Okla.; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 5, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home with the Revs. Oren Alcorn and Robert Grisham officiating.
Interment followed in the Sweden Cemetery.
Visitation was Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Gideons or Sweden Cemetery.
Muzie Beulah Hawkins, 86
Dec 8, 2005
Muzie Beulah Hawkins, daughter of Edward Goin and Lillie May Thompson Goin, was born on June 25, 1919 in Merritt, Mo., and entered into Heaven on Dec. 3, 2005, in Ozark, at the age of 86.
Muzie was lifelong resident of the Ava and Douglas County community.
She was a housewife and also worked with her husband at their country store.
On July 22, 1933 Muzie and Earl Herbert Hawkins were united in marriage in Springfield, and to this union, three children were born.
She was a member of the First General Baptist Church in Ava.
Muzie also was a cook at the Mound School. She enjoyed cooking and loved to travel. Her grandchildren will always remember her wonderful cookies.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl, her parents, two grandchildren, six brothers and one sister.
Her survivors include three children and their spouses, Marie and Harold Schuenemann, Ozark, Pauline and Orville Swearengin, Jadwin, and Jerry and Janice Hawkins, Ava; 10 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Mildred Liebert, state of Washington; and a host of relatives and friends.
Services were held Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 10 a.m. at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Tom Johnson officiating.
Interment followed at the Hall Cemetery at Mound.
Visitation was Monday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
The family requests memorials to Hall Cemetery or Community Hospice of Springfield.
Marilyn Cora Niel Brown, 59
Dec 8, 2005
Marilyn Brown, the daughter of Harry D. Jennings Sr. and Lillie Rankie Jennings, was born Nov. 4, 1946 in Chehalis, Wash., and departed this life Dec. 6, 2005, at the age of 59.
Marilyn was a resident of Squires, for the past nine years, moving from Goodhope.
In 1971, Charles Edward Theademan and Marilyn were united in marriage.
In 1979, Mr. Theademan preceded her in death.
In 1998, Marilyn and Smith Taylor Brown were married in Laughlin, Nev.
Marilyn enjoyed boating, traveling and her pet buffalo.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents and four sisters.
She is survived by three children, Erica Nicole DeHaan and her husband, Rick, Ava, Charles Brian Theademan and wife Tanya, Big Bar, Calif., and Charles David Theademan and wife, Kim, Winlock, Wash.; grandchildren, Tiffany Davis, Andrew Davis, Ricky DeHaan, Cassandra DeHaan, Laree DeHaan, Shawn DeHaan, Dusty DeHaan, Dakota Theademan, Christopher Theademan, Jason Theademan, Dillion Theademan; great-grandchildren, Tassie, Mckayla, Cody, Keaton DeHaan; one brother, Harry D. Jennings Jr. of Chehalis, Wash.; one sister, June Donner and husband, Herb, Olympia, Wash.; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Graveside service will be 2:30 p.m., Sat. Dec. 10, in the Hall Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Harry Bingham, 65
Dec 8, 2005
Harry Lee Bingham was born Jan. 2, 1940 in Branson, the son of Harry Lawrence Bingham and Zefria (Pyles) and passed away Nov. 30, 2005 at the age of 65.
Harry was a resident of the Ava area since 1964. He was a mechanic and was employed with Prestressed Casting Co. in Springfield, as a mechanic supervisor for 19 1/2 years.
Harry was a member of Local Union 676 in Springfield, and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
On Nov. 1, 1980 Harry and Diana (Phillips) McMaster were united in marriage at Red Bank Baptist Church.
Harry attended the Happy Home Church in Ava.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Jeff McMaster, one daughter, Jennifer Bingham, his mother-in-law, Dortha Phillips, two sisters, and three brothers.
He is survived by his wife, Diana, of the home, Ava; six children and their spouses, Robin Navratil, Ava, Bobby and Corrina Bingham, Ava, Leon and Angela Bingham, Mansfield, Mike and Tammy McMaster, Ava, Mike and Karen Hood, Strafford, and Matthew and Amanda Bingham, Ava; 19 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; four sisters, Dovie Balentine, El Cajon, Calif., Dollie Calvin, Lake City, Calif., Lottie Liles, San Diego, Calif., and Isa and Lucky Lane, Tulsa, Okla.; one brother, Harold Bingham and wife, Pauline, Springfield; a brother-in-law, Sammy and Vickie Phillips; his father-in-law, Sam Phillips, Ava; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Revs. Paul Welch and J.W. O'Neal officiating.
Interment was in the Ava Cemetery, with full military service by the American Legion Post 112 and V.F.W. Post 5993.
