Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Luceil B. Duren, 82
Nov 15, 2007
Luceil Bell Duren, daughter of Orville James and Emily Mefford James was born March 14, 1925, in Almartha, Mo., and departed this life Nov. 9, 2007 at the age of 82 years 7 months and 25 days.
In 1941, Luceil and Cecil "Sig" Duren were united in marriage in Almartha. Luceil and Sig were blessed with two children.
She was a homemaker and enjoyed running the household, quilting and being with all her family and helping others.
Luceil was a member of the Ava Church of Christ.
Luceil was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter, Rita Hicks; two sisters, Eska Schindler and Ray Bushong; and a host of other relatives and many friends.
She is survived by her son, Donnie Duren and wife, Carol, Kansas City, Kan.; son-in-law, Larry Hicks, Brushyknob, Mo.; seven grandchildren, Joseph, Bethany, Hanna, Jeremiah, Dorean, Nichole and Samantha; two brothers, Vernon James and wife, Theta, Gainesville, and Hubert James and wife, Elsia, Springfield; and a host of other relatives and many friends.
Graveside service were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, in the Mt. Tabor Cemetery with Harlin Howerton officiating.
Visitation was 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Grace Hylton Curnutt, 100
Nov 15, 2007
Grace Hylton Curnutt, born in 1907 in Douglas County, died Nov. 6, 2007, at the age of 100.
Her half-century teaching career began in one-room schools. She taught in the first year of kindergarten programs in Mt. Vernon and in Springfield. From 1958 to 1973, she was at Springfield's Bingham Elementary School. After retiring, she volunteered for 23 years with St. John's Hospital Auxiliary.
She was a member of University Heights Baptist Church.
Starting in 1924, she taught in long-closed Douglas County schools at Hickory Flat, Denlow, Mint Springs, and Crossroads, and in Center School in Lawrence County. Later, Grace taught in Aurora, Mount Vernon, and Nevada. She graduated from Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburgh.
With loving kindness and patience she taught her many students the joy of learning. Her children, grandchildren, family and friends are thankful for her loving ways, values, strong faith in God, and for the valuable life lessons she taught.
Grace was married in 1928 to James Floyd Curnutt, who died in 1961.
She is survived by her son, Jerry (Nancy) Curnutt, of Pittsford, N.Y., her daughter Jane (Paul) Elmore, of Highlandville; four grandchildren, Heather and Michael Curnutt, and Matt (Mandy) and John Elmore; and several nieces and nephews.
A ceremony to celebrate her life will be held at the Ava Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m. A nephew, Rev. Jim Hylton, will conduct the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society, University Heights Baptist Church or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at 2929 Carlisle Street, #230, Dallas, Texas 75204.
Tony Lee Cornelius, 18
Dec 6, 2007
Tony Lee Cornelius, of Nixa, passed away Monday, Dec. 3, 2007.
He was born Dec. 8, 1988.
Tony attended Nixa Schools and was a 2007 graduate of Mansfield High School. He was presently attending Ozarks Technical College.
Tony was an energetic 18-year-old who was loved by his family and friends. He was an avid sportsman, participating in cross country, basketball and baseball. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and snowboarding.
Survivors include his mother and step-father, Suzanne and Joseph Dulany, Nixa; his father, Terry Cornelius, Mansfield; grandparents, John and Bonnie Lane, John and Violet Flair, Ray and Jean Dulany, Tom and Sue Brown and Tom Bebout; two great-grandmothers, Tressie Humphrey and Nora Deatherage; sisters, Savanna Cornelius, Mandy Adamson, Meagan Dulany, Stephanie Dulany, and Kristi Dulany; aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at High Street Baptist Church, 900 Eastgate Road, Springfield.
Burial will follow in Maple Park Cemetery, Springfield.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today (Thursday, Dec. 6) at the church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Adams Funeral Home, Nixa.
Abelia Hutchison, 73
Dec 6, 2007
On July 10, 1934, Juan and Maria Elena Gallegos Villa welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Abelia, into their growing family in Mexico. When she was 6 years old, the family moved to Kansas City to begin their new life.
On Nov. 28, 2007, Abelia Hutchison, 73, passed away in the Gainesville Health Care Center.
Twelve years ago, she and her husband, Samuel Hutchison, moved from El Paso, Texas, to Theodosia, to be closer to their family and the beautiful lake area.
Abelia spent her life dedicated to her family. She loved to cook her native Mexican foods for her family. She was a strong lady who had worked very hard during her lifetime and passed on her traditions to her family. Her laughter as she shared songs and dances of her childhood with her grandchildren will be treasured memories forever.
Abelia is preceded in death by her parents, Juan and Maria Gallegos Villa; seven brothers and sisters; and her husbands, Isauro Vega and Samuel E. Hutchison.
Abelia is survived by four sons, Steve R. Vega (Patty), John J. Vega (Delores), Isauro Vega Jr. (Carrie) and Benjamin Hutchison (Odessa); three daughters, Helen A. Vega (Shiela), Lourdes M. Smith (Charles) and Mona Myers (Darren); 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one brother, Edward Villa; one sister, Julia Rivera; and many other family and friends.
Graveside services were conducted Monday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m., in the Lutie Cemetery with the Rev. Paul Wightman officiating. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate love offerings to help defray expenses. All arrangements were under the care and direction of Ava Family Funeral Home.
Roxie Manning Cook, 90
Dec 6, 2007
Roxie Manning Cook, daughter of Augustus M. and Annie Florence Cornett Duckworth, was born Nov. 14, 1917 in Toledo, Mo.
She departed this life Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007 in St. John's Hospital Springfield, at the age of 90 years and 20 days.
On Sept. 11, 1936, Roxie was united in marriage to Richard H. Cook and to this union, seven children were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard, on Jan. 5, 1968; a daughter, Carolyn Cook; four sisters, Bonnie Saunders, Lelia Snelson, Goldie Kolb, and Sylvia Whitaker; two brothers, Oakley Duckworth and Orvel Lee Duckworth; two sisters-in-law, Laura Potter and Mildred Friend and her husband, Ray Friend; and a brother-in-law, Claudy Cook; as well as her step-father, Audie Roller.
Roxie is survived by her children, Marie H'Doubler and her husband, Francis, of Springfield, Earnestine Russell, of Grove, Okla., Shirley Scroggins, of Sherman, Texas, Kenneth Cook and wife, Eunice, of Tulsa, Okla., Linda O'Shea, of Tulsa, Okla., and Mary McHaffie and husband, George, of Fordland; 22 grand-children; 44 great-grandchildren, 27 great-great-grandchildren; a number of nieces and nephews along with a host of other relatives and friends.
Roxie spent most of her life in the Fordland area. She was a caring and loving mother who worked hard to make a good home for her family.
Early in life, Roxie had accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She became a member of West Finley Baptist Church in 1952, where she served as an elder. She was a devoted Christian who loved the Lord and her church, and read her Bible daily.
She loved the farm life and enjoyed the outdoors where she raised chickens and other livestock and also kept large garden, which she worked in almost everyday of her life.
In her spare time, she enjoyed doing handwork, making many beautiful quilts and embroidered works. She loved spending time with her grandchildren whom she loved dearly and considered them her most precious gifts. She especially enjoyed teaching them the basics of life and how to survive during the hard times.
Roxie was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and aunt and was a caring neighbor and friend.
Services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, in the West Finley Baptist Church, in Fordland, with Rev. Melvin Napier and Rev. Kelly Jones officiating, with burial to follow in the West Finley Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Seymour. No formal visitation will be held and friends may call at their convenience in the funeral home.
Floyd Bowcott, 59
Nov 29, 2007
Floyd Bowcott, the son of William (Bill) Bowcott and Virginia (Phillips) Bowcott, was born June 15, 1948, in Illinois, and departed this life Nov. 20, 2007, at the age of 59 years 5 months and 5 days.
Floyd was a resident of the Ava area most of his life. He was employed with the Douglas County Sheltered Workshop for several years. Floyd enjoyed going fishing and music.
Floyd was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by one brother, Ora Bowcott, Ava; one sister, Teresa Day, Enid, Okla.; cousins, Mary Jane Wintjen-Edwards, Donald Phillips, George Phillips and Gary Phillips, all of Ava; and other relatives and friends.
Graveside services were held Friday, Nov. 23, at the Murray Cemetery, Squires, with the Rev. Oren Alcorn officiating. Services were under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
Trish Bryant, 37
Nov 29, 2007
Trisha Ann (Moore) Bryant, of Springfield, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007, at the age of 37 years, 2 months and 26 days, during the evening in her home from complications associated with Multiple Sclerosis.
Trisha was born Aug. 31, 1970, to Elvia Ray and Betty Lou (Epps) Moore, of Ava.
She grew up in the Ava area and graduated from Ava High School.
On Jan. 2, 1988, she was married to Christopher Bryant, at Girdner Church south of Ava, and to this union, two sons were born.
She was a charter member of Nixa General Baptist Church, where she attended faithfully when her health permitted.
She was preceded in death by her father, Elvia Moore.
Trisha is survived by her husband, Christopher, of the home, Springfield; two sons, Daniel and James, of the home, Springfield; her mother, Betty Moore, of Ava; four brothers, Dwain Moore and wife, Gloria, and Keith Moore and wife, Charlotte, all of Ava, Bobby Joe Moore and wife, Sheila, of Lebanon, and Terry Moore and wife, Christy, Mtn. Home, Ark.; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Nov. 30, at 10 a.m., in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home Chapel, Ava, with the Rev. Bob Comer and the Rev. Freeda Holt officiating. Burial will be in the Girdner Cemetery south of Ava in Douglas County.
Visitation will be held today (Thursday, Nov. 29) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. The family requests that memorial donations be made to Gideons International or the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Trellis Dewhirst, 98
Nov 29, 2007
Trellis Dewhirst the daughter of Joseph Ellison and Joyce (Hailey) Ellison, was born May 8, 1909, in Douglas County near Crossroads, Mo., and departed this life Nov. 27, 2007 at the age of 98 years 6 months and 19 days.
Trellis Ellison Dewhirst grew up in the Crossroads community and had the privilege of attending the first demonstration school sponsored by what is now Southwest Missouri State University. After finishing eighth grade, she entered Ava High School and was graduated in 1927. Her mother had died the year before and she chose to stay with her father until his death in 1929.
She then entered SMSU in Springfield and went to college for two years before being hired to teach in a rural school in Ozark County at Souder. After two years at Souder, she was hired to teach the seventh grade in the Ava school system. Later, she was placed in the high school where she taught business and girls' physical education. Trellis received her bachelor of science degree in education in 1940, with departmental honors in business, which was her major.
Trellis helped organize FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) in the Ava school system and took students to six national conferences held all over the United States to compete in various contests.
Trellis was married to Wilborn "Bob" Dewhirst in 1932.
During World War II Mr. Dewhirst took a job in Oak Ridge, Tenn. She took a vacation from teaching and joined him there. She describes that time as an exciting adventure in her life. She worked on the Manhattan Project for such companies as Ford, Bacon and Davis, and Carbide and Carbon Chemicals. First trained as a pipe inspector, she was soon transferred to the plant superintendent's office as office manager. Trellis worked in that position until the end of the war and then learned with the rest of the world that she had, in a small way, been helping to build the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima.
After returning to Ava, she resumed her teaching, and Wilborn, a life member and a certified judge on the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association, introduced her to what she describes as her most enjoyable hobby, riding a Missouri Fox Trotter.
Since 1974, she had been active with the Douglas County Library and was president of the board for some time. She is a member of Pi Omega Pi, a national honorary business organization. She was a charter member of the Business and Professional Women's Club and was for two years the district director. She was a member of Chapter Iota Theta of the PEO Sisterhood. a philanthropic organization of women who own and operate Cottey College in Nevada, Mo. In 1950, she was initiated into Xi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International, an honorary society for women teachers.
Trellis was a life member of the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Assoc. and Ava Saddle Club.
Trellis was preceded in death by parents, her husband, one brother, Cap Ellison, two sisters Una Ellison and Minnie Dean. She is survived by many, many friends.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Marty Blakey and Rev. Oren Alcorn officiating.
Interment will follow in the Ava Cemetery.
Visitation will be Saturday, 9 a.m. until service time.
Memorials may be made to the Douglas County Library.
