Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Paula Brown, 58
Mar 29, 2007
Paula Brown was born Dec. 22, 1948, in Colorado Springs, Colo., the daughter of Ray and Elsie Leonhardt, and departed this life in Ava, on March 24, 2007, at the age of 58.
Paula and Marvin Brown were married east of the Murray community in 1976 and to this union, two children were born.
Paula was a very giving person who never met a stranger and truly loved children. She loved fishing and camping and just being outdoors.
She is survived by her husband, Marvin, of Theodosia; one daughter, Retha Brown, of Squires; four grandchildren, Tyson, Tristan, Kenny Wayne, and Waylon. She is also survived by her mother-in-law, Lena Brown, of Squires, and sister-in-law, Madeliene Brown, also of Squires, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Paula was preceded in death by her parents and one son, Jesse.
Graveside services for Paula Brown were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Hicks Cemetery in Ozark County with Brad Pellham officiating.
Love offerings may be made to the family at the funeral home.
Services were conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Lewis Martin Baird, 47
Mar 29, 2007
Lewis Martin Baird was born the son of Raymond and Francis Jodean Cunningham Baird in Yakima, Wash., on March 17, 1960, and departed this life on March 24, 2007, at the age of 47.
Lewis was raised in the McClurg community along with his many brothers and sisters. He graduated from Bradleyville High School in 1979 and with his best friend, David Cox, entered the U.S. Marine Corps in May of the same year. After serving his country for 12 years, Lewis returned to the Ava area, living in the Rome community for the past 12 years.
Lewis was an avid outdoorsman, loving to fish and hunt. He found life most enjoyable being in the woods or on the creek. Lewis loved his family, especially time spent fishing with his brother, Kirk, or hunting with his daughters, Amanda and Daylayna, or playing video games with his nephews, Michael and Garrett.
Survivors include his two daughters, Amanda Hope and Daylayna Arleen; and one son Gabriel Douglas.
Also surviving are six brothers, Daniel and his wife, Trish, Kirk and his wife, Tammy, Ray and his wife, Billi, Allen, Keith, and Eric; two sisters, Alice Harmon and her husband, Gary, and Angel Roy and her husband, Mike; several nieces, nephews, and a host of relatives and friends.
Lewis was preceded by his parents, Raymond Belmont and Francis Jodean Baird, and two brothers, Billy Ray and Dennis Keith.
Funeral services for Lewis Martin Baird were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 28, in Clinkingbeard Chapel with the Revs. James Hathcock and Ron Wallace officiating.
Burial was in Walnut Grove Cemetery with full military honors.
Memorial contributions may be made to Walnut Grove Cemetery at the funeral home.
Services are being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home; Ava.
Neil Otis McFarlin, 92
Mar 22, 2007
Neil Otis McFarlin, son of Henry C. McFarlin and Mertie (Davis) McFarlin, was born on March 17, 1915 in Ava, and departed this life on March 18, 2007 in Doctor's Hospital, Springfield, at the age of 92.
Neil was a lifelong resident of the Ava community. He was a farmer and worked for Kraft for over 25 years as a milk truck driver. He also was an Air Force Medic veteran and served in World War II in Europe. Neil was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ava Post #5993.
He attended church all of his life and in the past few years attended Star Chapel.
Neil was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Juanita Green, Mae McFarlin, Nancy De¬Bruyne and Cecil Caldwell; one brother, Robert McFarlin; and one granddaughter, Debbie (Pratt) Hicks.
He is survived by two daughters and their spouses, Pat and Earl D. Pratt, Springfield, and Deidre and Darion Fredrick, Ava; four step¬children and spouses, Randall and Julia Claspill, Long Lane, Rhonda and Jim Fisher, Pleasant Hope, Wade Lumley, Marshfield, and Kyle and Becky Lumley, Ava; five grandchildren and their spouses, Tina and Steve Peck, Willard, Rick Neal and Linda Pratt, Sparta, Myra "Nokie" and Terry Kleier, Spring¬field, Brandon and Brittany Parker, Ava; four great-grandchildren, John Earl Cook, Josh and Jason Peck and Kelsey and Taylor Kleier; five great-great-grandchildren, Cooper, Foster and Lawson Peck, and Kaitlyn and Makalya Cook; 13 step-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; one brother and wife, Wesley and Judy McFarlin, two sisters, Velma Chappell and Betty and Harley Newberry, all of Ava; many nephews and nieces, George, Annalee and Amanda Pratt, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) in the Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, with the Rev. Randy Dalton officiating.
Interment will follow in the Whites Creek Cemetery with full military honors by Ava VFW Post 5993 and American Legion Post 112.
Visitation was held Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home.
The family requests memorials to Whites Creek Cemetery or Star Chapel Church in care of the funeral home.
Services are being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Raymond R. Brown, 71
Mar 8, 2007
Raymond Richard Brown, 2006 Potentate of Ararat Shriners in Kansas City, passed away March 5, 2007 at St. Luke's Hospital East, surrounded by loved ones and friends, at the age of 71.
Ray was born Nov. 21, 1935 in Brixey, the only child of Osborn C. and Allie Agnes (Hale) Brown.
He grew up on the family dairy farm, graduated from the Gainesville High School, and was a member of the Church of Christ in Souder.
Ray found employment with Hallmark Cards as an order filler in 1953. He later joined the U.S. Army for two years, serving in Europe, and then returned to Hallmark. His career at Hallmark spanned more than 40 years, retiring as manager of building engineering in 1995.
Ray was a member of Christian Masonic Lodge in Oak Grove #392 AF&AM;, the Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Kansas City, and Ararat Shrine Temple. At Ararat, Ray was a longtime member of the Patrol Unit where he served as captain. He also served as assistant director of Uniformed Units, and was an active member of the Sandblasters, Quetzalcoatl, and Royal Order of Jesters Court 54.
Ray was appointed to Ararat's Divan in 1997 by the now late Illustrious Sir Don Fowler, and served as Potentate in 2006. Ray was also a member of the Harry S Truman American Legion Post #21 for 23 years. He had a passion for golf with all his buddies. He was also a fan of all sports, especially Chiefs football, where he was a season ticket holder for several decades, and NASCAR, which he followed throughout the country.
Ray leaves his son, Daniel R. Brown, Independence; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many, many friends.
Visitation will begin at 4 p.m., followed by funeral services including a Rose Ceremony by the Royal Order of Jesters at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 11, at Ararat Shrine Temple.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, March 12, at the Souder Cemetery in Ozark County.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Ray Brown Memorial Fund at Ararat Shrine Temple, 5100 Ararat Drive, Kansas City, MO 64129.
Susie Miller, 70
Mar 15, 2007
Susie Miller was born Susie Ann Beason, the daughter of Harvey and Roxie (Norris) Beason, in Douglas County, (Girdner community) on March 14, 1936, and departed this life on March 10, 2007, in Strafford, at the age of 70.
Susie graduated from Ava High and on May 15, 1954, at Mt. Tabor Church, married Kenneth Miller, and to this union, two children were born.
Susie worked in the 70's at Heer's Dept. Store in Springfield in the credit department. She also worked as a legal secretary for Jim Curry for 15 years in Ava, and in the elementary cafeteria for several years, until retirement.
She loved working with Kenneth on the farm raising Angus cattle. In their free time they enjoyed traveling in the camper to bluegrass festivals around Arkansas and Missouri. And they also belonged to a square dance group. Susie was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Ava Chapter #47, White Shrine and Social Order of the Beauceant and was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church, also in Ava.
Susie is survived by her husband of 53 years, Kenneth; two daughters and their spouses, Carol Shaeffer and Clyde Stant, of Rogersville, and Karen and Keith Taber, of Ottawa, Ill.; three grandchildren, Tristan, Megan, and Nick; three brothers, Donald Beason, of Ava, Tommy Beason, of Willard, and Carl Beason, of Squires; and three sisters, Wanda King and Corrine Ellison, both of Ava, and June Tetrick, of West Plains; many nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Susie was preceded by her parents, one sister, Audrey, a brother, Claude, and one grandson, Charles Stephen Shaeffer.
Services for Susie will be held Thursday, March 15, at 2 p.m. in Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, with Pastor Tom Maples officiating with an Order of the Eastern Star service, Ava Chapter #47.
Burial will be in the Mansfield Cemetery.
Visitation was held Wednesday from 6 till 7:30 in the funeral home.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Association at the funeral home.
Services are being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home Ava.
Lloyd Warner Pettyjohn, 79
Mar 15, 2007
Graveside services for Lloyd Warner Pettyjohn, 79, West Plains, were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 11, 2007, at Dobbs Cemetery, east of Ava, near Sweden, Mo., under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, West Plains.
Mr. Pettyjohn died at 10:04 a.m., Friday, March 9, 2007 in Brooke Haven Healthcare.
He was born June 20, 1927, in Sweden, Mo., to Archie Horace and Rutha Mae Plumb Pettyjohn.
He enjoyed antique cars, his pets and loved his family.
He was of the Baptist faith.
He is survived by his son, Gary Pettyjohn, Moody; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two brothers, Eugene Pettyjohn and wife, Lola, Linsday, Calif., and Bill Pettyjohn, Port Byron, Ill.; three sisters, Geneva Stevenson, West Plains, Audra Ralfs, Moody, and Phyllis Hamby and husband, Ronald, Caulfield; and many nieces and nephews.
His parents and one niece preceded him in death.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Dobbs Cemetery and left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, West Plains.
Thelma Piland, 84
Mar 15, 2007
Thelma Piland, the daughter of Floyd Garner and Radie (James) Garner, was born March 25, 1922 in Ozark County, Mo., and departed this life March 8, 2007, at the age of 84.
Thelma was a life-long resident of the Ava area. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Christ. She loved being in the outdoors and delighted in watching her favorite TV shows, Dragnet and Dallas. Thelma also enjoyed calling everybody by their full given name and she loved being with her family.
Thelma was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Dora and Nora, and two brothers, Clifford and Earl; and one son Gerald.
Thelma is survived by two daughters, Judy Roberts, Great Bend, Kan., and Geraldine Lee, Ellinwood, Kan.; two brothers, John Garner and Joe Garner, both of Ava; three sisters, Geneva High, Derby, Kan., Virginia Cooper, Enid, Okla., and Nancy Parker, Ava; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were held at 10 a.m. Monday in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with Brad Smith officiating.
Visitation was 9 a.m. to service time Monday.
Interment was in the Souder Cemetery.
Jesse Murle “Jay” Pruiett, 82
Mar 15, 2007
Mr. Jesse Murle “Jay” Pruiett, 82, Billings passed away Thursday, March 7, 2007, in Christian Health Care, Republic.
He was born March 12, 1924, in Douglas County, to Ike and Maude (Lakey) Pruiett.
Jay moved to Billings from Douglas County in 1953. He cut and sold firewood for many years. He was a hard worker but occasionally he would enjoy fishing or hunting.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Alva, Junior, Orville and an infant brother, Audie Norman; and a sister, Bertie.
He is survived by two half-brothers, Bruce Snow, Billings and Herbert Snow, Wichita, Kan.; a longtime friend and caregiver, June Haynes; several nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 12, in Stillings Cemetery, Ava, with Pastor Joe Lafferty officiating, under direction of Meadors Funeral Home, Billings.
