Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
John Paul Witt, 75
Mar 15, 2007
John Paul Witt, 75, of Ava, passed away peacefully Sunday, March 11 with his family surrounding him.
He was 75 years old and had experienced a short illness with lung cancer.
He was born in 1931 to Frank B. Witt and Velma Gass Witt in Eureka, Tenn.
His mother died when he was 3, and he was raised by his grandparents and his Aunt Zoe, until his father remarried.
He moved to Girard, Ohio, where he graduated from high school.
He attended and played football at Kent State University, leaving early to join the Air Force. He retired after 20 years as a master sergeant, having served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was awarded the Bronze Star during his Vietnam tour for his bravery as part of an EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) squad team. He retired in Ava in 1970, and worked at McBee Binder Company in Springfield, Spalding and Rawlings Manufacturing Plants, and St. Leo's Church.
He was extremely proud of his family and enjoyed camping, woodworking, fishing, and was an avid sports fan.
He was preceded in death by his father, Frank B. Witt, his mother, Velma Gass Witt, and his stepmother, Ruth Nace Witt.
John is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elizabeth; his sister, Jean Scott, of Niles, Ohio and her husband, Joel; his brother, Frank Witt, Jr., of Poland, Ohio and his wife Jane; 10 children, John Witt, of Lake St. Louis and his wife, Pat, Tina Talbert, Springfield, and her husband, Keith, Cheryl Orr, Lee's Summit, and her husband, Bob, Darlene Petty, Brighton, and her husband, Randy, Diane Cunningham, Overland Park, Kan., and her husband, Bill, Dan Witt, Kansas City, and his wife, Bonnie, Jeff Witt, Mullins, S.C., Rod Witt, Nixa, and his wife, Sheryl, Clay Witt, McKinney, Texas and his wife, Stacy, Anita Madche, Fort Sheridan, Ill. and her husband, Ray; and 21 grandchildren.
Visitation services will be today (Thursday, March 15) from 7 to 9 p.m., at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
The funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 16, at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, Ava.
Graveside services will follow at the Ava Cemetery.
Donations in John's name can be to Regional Hospice, Springfield, St. John's Hospital Foundation Springfield, or St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, Ava.
Gaylord W. "Red" Colle, 92
Mar 8, 2007
Gaylord W. Colle, the son of John Clouse Colle and Blanche (Trott) Colle, was born Dec. 11, 1914, in Little River, Kan., and passed away March 4, 2007, at the age of 92.
Gaylord W. "Red Colle By Golly" began his Red Cross career in 1936, as a member of the American National Red Cross, Wichita Kan., Sedgwick County Chapter's Water Safety Committee, as a water safety instructor. The former designation "examiner" had just been changed that year. He also was a first aid instructor for the chapter. Colle and his wife, Billie, were first aid and water safety instructors for the Washington, D.C., Chapter, 1939-1945. During that time, he became assistant and then director of the chapter's first aid, water safety and accident prevention programs. During that period, he worked with Mable Boardman in her project the "Truck-Ambulance Corps."
Along with this World War II preparedness effort, Commodore Longfellow was assigned by the national organization to the Washington, D.C., FAWSAP office. There Colle, along with Commodore and others, worked to install first aid training in government offices. They also conducted "water shows" at military bases and other places.
In 1945, Colle was appointed director of The Kansas City, Missouri Chapter's First Aid, Water Safety, Small Craft and Accident Prevention Services. Later, the Accident Prevention Program was discontinued by the National Organization and became, in time, to be known as the "Safety Programs." In 1965, Colle was employed by the national organization as manager of the Rapid City, Black Hills Chapter in South Dakota and the West River Division. This was the first trial of the then national organization division concept. In 1968, the Denver, Colorado Chapter and Rocky Mountain Division employed him as director of Disaster Services and administrative assistant to the manager. He retired there in 1980 and continued as a volunteer until 1986, when he completed 50 years of Red Cross service. The most dramatic disaster he worked in, during that time, was the Big Thompson canyon and river flood. There were 139 deaths and nine are still missing.
In 1995, Colle accepted a volunteer assignment to re-establish a chapter in Ava, and Douglas County, where he resided at the time of his death. He would most like to be remembered for his pioneering contributions to Red Cross.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Billie Colle, and his parents, John C. Colle and Blanche (Trott) Colle.
Survivors include five sons, Gary Colle, of Kansas City, Larry Colle, of Houston Lake, John Colle and Margaret, of Blue Springs, Gregg Colle and Lisa, of Orangeburg, S.C., Christopher Colle and Vickie, of Idaho Springs, Colo.; three daughters, Colette Chambellen and Clarke, of Erie, Colo., Janelle Shiner and Steve, of Idaho Springs, Colo., and Annette Colle, of Georgetown, Colo.; 12 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and his great friend and business partner, Fred Hansen, of Ava.
Cremation is under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home Ava.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Charles Wayne Giffin, 69
Mar 8, 2007
Charles Wayne Giffin, son of Elmer James and Irene (Huffman) Giffin, was born March 16, 1937, in Midway, Mo.
He departed this life Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007, in St. John's Regional Health Center, in Springfield, at the age of 69.
He was born and raised in the Ava and Mansfield area. In 1955, he entered the United States Army where he faithfully served his country. He owned and operated Midwest Insulation in Mansfield, and retired in 1989.
Wayne had made his profession of faith in Christ and was a member of the Seymour Nazarene Church.
He was a member the VFW Post #1502 in Webster County, as well as a life member of the American Legion Post #676 in Springfield. In his spare time, he enjoyed coin collecting and fishing.
On Aug. 30, 1980, he was united in marriage to Christine Diane Eagles, and together, they have spent the last 26 years.
He was preceded in death by his father; a brother, Noel Giffin; and two sisters, Sharon Davis, and Anna Jo Graves.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Chris, of the home; seven children, Diane Richie, of Coffeyville, Kan., Curtis Giffin, of Roy, Wash., Tammy Giffin, of Parsons, Kan., Debbie Giffin, of Yelm, Wash., Sabrina Giffin, of Lakewood, Wash., Shelly Lockhart and her husband, Trenton, of Springfield, and Brent Giffin, and his wife, Wendy, of Taneyville; 12 grandchildren, Shenna, Daniel, Ashley, Lea, Shawn, Christopher, Cody, Aaron, Colby, Dustin, Tricia, and Bridget; three great-grandchildren, Adrian, Rainey, and Matthew; his mother, Irene Giffin, of Mansfield; three brothers, Norman Giffin and his wife, Lela Rae, of Seymour, Marvin Giffin, of Wapato, Wash., and Ellis Giffin and his wife, Dorothy, of Jinks, Okla.; a sister, Beverly Freeman, of Neosho; a special aunt and caretaker, Mary Giffin, of Seymour; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends.
Services were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, in the Seymour Church of the Nazarene, with the Rev. Mark Terrill officiating.
Burial, with full military honors, was in the Basher Cemetery, south of Mansfield, under direction of the Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Seymour.
Memorials may be made to the Seymour Church of the Nazarene Building Fund and can be made in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 366 Seymour, Missouri 65746.
Bobby G. Banta, 77
Mar 8, 2007
Bobby G. Banta, 77, of Guin, Ala., died Friday, March 2, 2007, at his residence.
Born in Ava, he was the son of the late Samuel and Elizabeth Dobbins Banta.
He was a former resident of East Moline, Ill., where he worked for the City of Moline for 17 years, and was a former resident of Carbon Hill. He had lived in Guin, Ala., the past four years and was a member of the Winfield Church of God.
He is survived by his wife, Debra Green Banta, of Guin, Ala.; a daughter, Christy G. Banta, of Del Note, Colo.; two sons, Rick L. Banta, of Colona, Ill., and David Lee Banta, of Guin, Ala.; two grandsons, Titus and Joshua Banta, of Colona, Ill.; a great-granddaughter, Brooklyn K. Banta; a brother, Bill Banta, of New Liberty, Iowa; and a foster child, Rebecka Catour, of East Moline, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret L. Van Ness.
Memorial services were held Sunday, March 4, at 4 p.m. at Winfield Church of God with Bro. Eddie Williamson officiating.
Mary Louise Wade, 71
Mar 8, 2007
Mary Louise Wade, daughter of Evan Prock and Lalla Gardner Prock, was born on Aug. 24, 1935 in Wasola, and passed away on March 2, 2007, in Springfield, at the age of 71.
Mary was a resident of Springfield for the past 10 years moving from Texas. She was a real estate broker. Mary was a successful business lady in the real estate industry in Dallas, Texas. She enjoyed traveling and reading, but her greatest joy in life was her children, grandchildren, family, friends and pets. While raising her family on East 58th Street in Kansas City, several of her children's friends knew her as "Mom" in the neighborhood. She was a member of the Blue Ridge United Methodist Church of Raytown.
Mary and William Ray Wade where united in marriage in Douglas County, and to this union, two children were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her children's father, William Ray Wade; a sister-in-law, Neva Prock; two brothers, Gene and Jason Prock; and a sister, Evelena Beasley.
She is survived by one daughter, Carol Gourley and husband, Darryl, one son, William Bruce Wade, all of Springfield; five grandchildren, Lee Wade, Arizona, Zach Gourley, Kingman, Kan., Brittany Wade, Springfield, Nick Gourley, Kingman, Kan., and Angelica Wade, Springfield; one great-grandson, Ben Gourley, Kingman, Kan.; two brothers, Ken Prock and wife, Linda, Wasola, and Ted Prock and wife Phillis, of Blue Springs; one sister, Betty Henderson of Chicago, Ill.; a sister-in-law, Norma Prock, Lake of the Ozarks; several nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services for Mary were held Tuesday, March 6, at 10 a.m., in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Oren Alcorn officiating.
Interment was at the Oak Grove Cemetery, Wasola.
Memorials can be made to the Family Violence Center of Springfield.
Services were conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home Ava.
Clyde D. Haynes, 76
Mar 1, 2007
Clyde D. Haynes the son of Roscoe Haynes and Wilma (Swearengin) Haynes, was born Aug. 9, 1930 in Tigris, and departed this life Feb. 23, 2007, at the age of 76.
Clyde was a resident of Strafford and a former resident of Ava. He served his country during the Korean Conflict, and retired from the National Guard.
On Jan. 12, 1952, Clyde and Virginia Lorene Hicks were united in marriage in Mtn. Home, Ark. Clyde and Virginia were blessed with three children.
Clyde enjoyed his family, fishing, hunting, drag races and truck pulls.
He was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Strafford.
Clyde was preceded in death by his father, one grandson, Robert, and his wife, Virginia.
He is survived by his mother, Wilma Haynes, Ava; two daughters, Janet Congers, Las Vegas, Nev., and Debra Haynes, Strafford; one son, Roy Haynes, Strafford; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; five brothers and four sisters and their spouses, Gerald and Majoria Haynes, Ava, Jackie and Ruth Haynes, Marshfield, Charles Haynes, Niangua, Larry and Vivian Haynes, Ava, Ronnie and Judith Haynes, Fordland, Carolyn Hendrix, Springfield, Jeanette and Darrell George, Ava, Juanita Goins, Sparta, Becky and Brian Plunkett, Nixa, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 28, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Robert Parker officiating.
Interment followed in the Fannon Cemetery with military graveside honors.
John Kenneth Johnson, 60
Mar 1, 2007
John Kenneth Johnson passed away Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007, at St. John's Hospital, Springfield.
Kenneth entered this life on Nov. 25, 1946, in Springfield, the son of Darrell D. and Irene Uchtman Johnson.
He enjoyed being outdoors with animals, especially dogs and also watching hummingbirds. He worked as a mechanic for several years, and later, used that ability to adapt equipment for his woodworking projects. To create a lamp or other item from a piece of wood, was a special enjoyment for him.
was preceded in death by his parents.
Kenneth is survived by a brother, Vernon Johnson and wife, Brenda, of Ava; and one son, Bryan, of Springfield. He is also survived by one niece, Tina and husband, Gordon Simmons, of Ava, and one nephew, Wes Johnson and wife, Ronda, of Republic; and a very special friend, Dina Brazeal; as well as a host of other friends and relatives.
Ava Family Funeral Home hosted visitation Monday, Feb. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Funeral services were conducted at Ava Family Funeral Home on Tuesday, at 10 a.m., with burial following in Mt. Tabor Cemetery.
Elma Meda Lawrence, 88
Mar 1, 2007
Elma Meda Lawrence, the daughter of Roy Hall and Rosa Adams was born April 25, 1918, in Douglas County, Mo., and passed away Feb. 24, 2007, at the age of 88.
Elma was an in-home healthcare worker. On Aug. 25, 1939, Elma and Everett Lawrence were united in marriage and to this union, four children were born.
She was a member of Highway Church of the Nazarene and Star Workers Extension Club of Douglas County.
Elma was preceded in death by one infant brother, Ethan, and one great-grandson, Zephan.
Survivors include three daughters, Martha Booth, of Ava, Kathleen Tate, Tucson, Ariz., and Linda Chapman, of Sparta, Tenn.; and one son, Lloyd Lawrence, of Lindale, Texas; six grandsons, David Teal and wife Michelle, of Omaha, Neb., Leroy Stillings and wife Teresa, of Ava, Leslie Stillings and wife Carla, of Ava, Mark Stillings and wife, Barbie, of Nixa, Robert Lawrence and wife Melissa, of Ava, Michael Miller and wife, Dee Dee, of Sparta, Tenn.; four granddaughters, Debbie Mounce and husband, Toby, of Marana, Ariz., Diana Kraus and husband, Arlo, of Marana, Ariz., Kristina Cummings and husband, Todd, of San Francisco, Calif., Becky Shehane and husband, Russell, of Liberty, Tenn.; 17 great-grandsons, Allen Stillings, Justin Stillings and Brandy, Brad Stillings and Charity, Lance Stillings and Mindy, Kyle Stillings and Rayna, Cameron Stillings, Shawn O'Neil and Stacy, Robbie Drake, Walter Brennaman, Zimran Lawrence, Zachy Lawrence, Nathan Cummings, Tanner Cummings, Tyer Cummings, Evan Cummings, Bradley Miller, and Matthew Lawrence; four great-granddaughters, Laurin Cummings, Annie O'Neil, Jessica Lawrence, Tawni Lawrence; and five great-great-granddaughters, Ally Stillings, Raygan Stillings, Kaelyn Stillings, and Railey Stillings; one special cousin, Else Fitzgerald, and the father of her children, Everett Lawrence.
Services were at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home Ava, with the Rev. Mark Hatcher officiating.
Burial was in West Huffman Cemetery.
The family requests memorials to Gideons International, the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.
Services were under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home Ava.
