Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Elene Wilson, 91
Jan 4, 2007
Elene Wilson was born Nov. 10, 1915, at Keltner, Mo., to Simon and Lizzie Hall.
She departed this life on Dec. 29, 2006, in her Sparta home at the age of 91.
Elene married Frederick Wilson on Feb. 28, 1931, in Ava.
Frederick preceded her in death in 2003 after 71 years of marriage.
Also preceding her in death were her parents and four siblings, Austin, Euith and Dempsey Hall, and Bessie Wilson.
Elene lived most of her life in the Ava area, moving to Sparta in 1977, after retiring and selling their farm. She was an avid gardener and active member of Sparta Garden Club. She loved traveling as well as spending time with family and friends.
She is survived by her three children, Russell Wilson and wife, Wanda, of Ukiah, Calif., Marie Keeter, of Atlanta, Ga., and Genie Davis and husband, Dale, of Ava; seven grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two great-great-granddaughters; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and several caring friends also to include her special friend, Kitty Kat.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan., 2, at 1 p.m. at Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ozark, with the Rev. Robert Burk officiating.
Elene was laid to rest beside her husband, Frederick, in Hall Cemetery.
The Wilson family requests in lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to St. John's Hospice or the American Cancer Society.
Florence Rantz, 102
Jan 4, 2007
Florence Rantz was born Aug. 12, 1904, in Ozark County, and departed this life Dec. 27, 2006, at the age of 102. Florence was the daughter of John Absher and Perisetty (Green) Absher. She was the youngest of nine children, all of whom preceded her in death.
Florence was a loving mother and grandmother. She loved to have breakfast with her friends in town. She enjoyed growing a garden and working in her flowers. Florence always enjoyed visiting with her friends. She was a Christian most of her life.
Florence was preceded in death by her parents, eight brothers and sisters, her daughter, Reba Jackson and son-in-law, Clell Jackson, and granddaughter-in-law, Jan Bradshaw.
Her survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Quentin and Voyledean Bradshaw, Ava; three grandchildren, Don Bradshaw and wife Loraine, Patty McDowell and husband, Glen, and Dennis Bradshaw; many great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren and step-great-great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. She loved them all.
A celebration of her life was held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 30, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Junior Hall officiating.
Interment was in the Dyer Cemetery.
The family requests memorials to Gideons International.
Sallie Mae Pasley, 80
Jan 4, 2007
Sallie Mae Pasley, the daughter of George A. Gross and Martha F. (Pearson) Gross, was born June 8, 1926, in Taft, Calif., and passed away, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, in Springfield, at the age of 80.
Sallie Mae lived in the Ava area for several years after moving here from California.
On Oct. 21, 1948, Sallie Mae and Lester E. Pasley were united in marriage in Ava.
She was a faithful member of Bethany Baptist Church for 43 years where she was a former Sunday school teacher. She was a passionate caregiver and enjoyed walking, spending time with her family and friends.
Survivors include four daughters, Barbara Luttrull and husband, Vernon, of Springfield, Linda Cummins, of Seymour, Wanda Poole and husband Ted, of Valatie, N.Y., and Brenda Eaves and husband Phillip, Ava; one sister, Ruth McCleary, of Winston, Mo.; 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, with one on the way.
Sallie Mae was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Lester Pasley, twin daughters, and one grandson, Kasey Eaves.
Services will be 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Robert Sorensen and "Preacher" Dale Adams officiating.
Visitation will be 6-7 p.m. today (Thursday).
Memorials may be made to Bethany Baptist Church.
Services are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home Ava.
Edward L. Long, 62
Jan 4, 2007
Edward L. Long, the son of Meryl Greathouse, was born Aug. 22, 1944, in Portsmouth, Va., and departed this life Dec. 28, 2006, at the age of 62.
Edward was a resident of LaPorte, Ind., for the past 15 years, moving from Ohio. Edward served his country with U.S. Army. He was employed as chief engineer for bakeries in Ohio and Indiana. He loved playing billiards, watching the Pittsburgh Steelers and being with his family.
On Dec. 11, 1991, Edward and Donna Ann Lempeck were united in marriage in Cleveland, Ohio.
Edward was preceded in death by his mother.
He is survived by his wife, Donna, of the home, LaPorte, Ind.; four children, Priscilla Hammett, of Maryland, Lorraine Dunegan, Pittsburgh, Penn., Victor Vazquez, Baltimore, Md., and Anthony Vazquez, LaPorte, Ind.; five grandchildren, Ben and Jess Hammett, Kristin Landy, Domenic and Lauren Dunegan.
Services were held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 3, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Oren Alcorn officiating.
Interment was in the Ava Cemetery with full military rites by Ava VFW Post 5993 and Douglas County American Legion Post 112.
Memorials may be made to the family as love offerings in care of the funeral home.
Velma Melton Cross, 92
Dec 28, 2006
Velma Eula Melton Cross was born June 27, 1914, at Roy, Mo., the daughter of Homer Rosseau and Amy (Sanders) Rosseau.
Velma went to be with the Lord on Dec. 27, 2006, at the age of 92.
Velma was a life-long resident of the Ava area.
On Nov. 30, 1933, Velma and Virgil D. Melton were united in marriage in Goodhope. Velma and Virgil were blessed with two sons.
Virgil preceded Velma in death in 1979.
On Nov. 22, 1986, Velma and John Cross were united in marriage in Las Vegas, Nev.
Mr. Cross preceded Velma in death in 2002.
Velma was also preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Elva Mathews.
Velma led a very active life. She worked at many jobs during her life. She was employed with Rawlings Sporting Goods for 10 years, was employed with Carps Dept. Store, Ava Rexall Drug and cooked for the Lions Club for several years. She loved cooking, sewing, painting, camping, fishing, traveling and attending church. Velma was a charter member of the Ava Saddle Club and a member of the Missouri Fox Trotters. Velma was president of Nubbin Ridge Extension Homemakers Club.
Velma dearly loved the Lord and her family.
Velma was a Christian and was of the Baptist Faith, and attended the Ava General Baptist Church.
Velma is survived by her two sons, Leroy Melton and wife, Betty, and Bob Melton and wife, Sue, all of Ava; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Box, Rena Taylor and David Melton; seven great-grandchildren; three sisters, Dorothy Burton, Goldie Sutherland and Delphia Roller, all of Ava; three brothers, Norman Rosseau and Delmar Rosseau, both of Ava, and Marvin Rosseau, Selah, Wash.; many nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and many, many friends.
Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Oren Alcorn officiating.
Interment will follow in the Ava Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday from 6 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home.
The family requests memorials to the American Cancer Society.
Carol Bailey Alexander, 49
Dec 28, 2006
Carol Jean Bailey was born on Aug. 28, 1957, in Washington, Mo., the daughter of James Arley Bailey and Theresa Margaret Gassel Bailey, and departed this live on Dec. 24, 2006, in Mansfield, at the age of 49.
Carol graduated from Ava High School in 1975. She worked as a nurses aid at the Heart of the Ozarks Nursing Home till poor health forced her retirement. Carol's first love was her church and family next. For many years, she worked with Rev. George and Hilda Taylor at the Rock Haven Bible Camp in Hasty, Ark., during the summer. After the Taylors retired, she continued to help the Bartlow family in the summer season till her own health stopped her. Carol worked tirelessly in her home church of Bethany Baptist in Ava, as secretary/treasurer.
Although Carol had no children of her own, she loved to help care for her nieces and nephews and other children, baby sitting for several through the years. She dearly loved her family, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Carol is survived by three sisters, Charlotte Bolding and Lois Berreyman, both of Ava, and Kathy Bell and husband, Rodney, of Mansfield; four brothers, Rick Bailey and wife, Nancy, of Ava, Ben Bailey and wife, Chris, and Albert Morton, all of Viola, Ark., and Bill Morton and wife, Patty, of Mansfield; and several nieces, nephews, and friends.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, one brother Jim, and a sister, Rose Ellen.
Funeral services for Carol Alexander were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, in Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, with Pastor Robert Sorensen officiating.
Burial was in the Denlow Cemetery.
Frank Edward Peterson Jr., 87
Dec 28, 2006
Frank Edward Peterson Jr. passed away in Olympia, Wash., on Nov. 30, 2006.
He was born in Fort Stockton, Texas, on Aug. 11, 1919, to the union of Frank Edward Peterson Sr. and Gertrude Robinson.
During his early childhood, the Petersons moved to Ava where Frank was raised on a farm. While a teenager, he moved to Idaho.
In 1942, he entered the United States Army, and was eventually stationed at Fort Lewis before serving his country during World War II in campaigns in North Africa and Italy. Frank was known by many members of the Olympia area for years. He worked for Hardel Plywood for many years, and was voted president of the company by its stockholders for 15 of those years. He was an active member of the Lions Club and was a happy and hardworking man throughout his life. He enjoyed life and the people he met as he passed through it.
Frank enjoyed fishing and hunting, which included several trips to Alberta, Canada, and Alaska. He loved the outdoors. He loved his family more than anything else in his life, and he spent many hours in outdoor activities with them.
Frank married Marjorie Loftin in Olympia in 1946; she preceded him in death in 1978.
Frank then married Betty Kisor in Olympia in 1981; she continued to be his companion until the time of his death.
He is survived by two children from his first marriage, Linda (Tim) Martin and Todd (Denise) Peterson; 22 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; two sisters, Vada Thomsen, of Lacey, Wash., and Vivian Turner, of Missouri; one brother, Robert Peterson, of Idaho; stepchildren, Barbara Brite, Jackie (Mike) Blankenship, Marjorie (Chris) Carras, and Jeff (Julie) Dilly.
Three brothers and three sisters preceded him in death.
Ralph E. Siler, 86
Dec 21, 2006
Ralph E. Siler, 86, of Nixa, passed away Monday, Dec. 11, 2006.
He was born April 19, 1920, in Brown Branch, the son of Jesse W. and Eulah (Taber) Siler.
He served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II.
On Feb. 21, 1942, he and Maxine J. Hires were united in marriage.
Mr. Siler owned and operated the Nixa Dairy Queen from 1960 until 1979. He previously operated a country store in Douglas County, south of Ava.
Mr. Siler was a member of Nixa Christian Church where he served as an elder and was board vice chairman.
He served on the Nixa Electrical Board, and was a member of the Nixa Lions Club and Nixa American Legion. He loved to garden and share the harvest.
Survivors include his wife, Maxine; two sons and their wives, James E. and Jeana Siler, Nixa, and Joseph R. and Debbie Siler, Springfield; four grandchildren, Sandy Siler, Emily Crouse and husband, Matt, Jake Siler, and Josh Siler; two brothers, Claude Siler, Washington, D.C., and Bob Siler, Ava; a sister, Ora Schmitt, Beaufort, S.C.; nieces and nephews.
His parents and a brother, Billie Siler, preceded him in death.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m Thursday, Dec. 14, in Nixa Christian Church.
Burial followed in Hazelwood Cemetery, Springfield, with military honors.
Visitation was Wednesday at Adams Funeral Home, Nixa.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Nixa Christian Church building fund.
