Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
LOTTIE KEESAMAN
Lottie Keesaman, 92, of Lee’s Summit passed away Tuesday, June 13, 2000, at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Services are 1 p.m. Thursday, June 15, at the Newcomer Floral Hills Chapel, with burial in Floral Hills Cemetery.
Friends may call from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at the chapel.
Lottie was born July 13, 1907, in Oakland City, Ill., to Albert Logan and Millie Florence (Shoaf) Masters, and lived in the Independence area most of her life.
She was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Guy Keesaman in 1982.
She is survived by a son, Bobby Daen Campbell, Sunrise Beach, Mo; two daughters and sons-in-law, Elizabeth Joan and George Hays, Greenwood, and Donna and Michael Loftus, Independence; a brother, Albert Masters, Grand Rapids, Mich.; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
LEONARD L. BRADSHAW
Leonard L. Bradshaw departed this life on June 13, 2000, at Research Medical Center, Kansas City, Mo., at the age of 86 years, 2 months and 27 days.
Services were 2 p.m. Friday, June 16, at Wallace Funeral Home, with Rev. Wyatt Shanks officiating and burial in Pleasant Hill cemetery. Casket bearers were Doug Etheridge, Bill Truninger, John Truninger, Glen Frazier, Jeremy Etheridge and Mike Brooks.
Leonard was born March 16, 1914, in Chilhowee, Mo.
He was the son of Ira Clark Bradshaw and Elizabeth Jane (Howard) Bradshaw.
Leonard spent the early years of his life in the Holden, Mo., and Kingsville, Mo., area.
He was a farmer and a salesman for Rymer Furniture Co. and Bell-Godde Farm Equipment Co.
He also worked at Lake City as a tool and die setter until he retired in 1979.
On Jan. 31, 1942, he was united in marriage with Annabelle How in Clinton, Mo., and they lived in the Holden - Kingsville area until 1966, when they moved to Pleasant Hill.
Leonard was a wonderful husband, dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa, and was dearly loved by all of his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers; two sisters; a son, Kenneth Harold Bradshaw; a granddaughter, Carol Larson; a second granddaughter, Justine Larson; and a son-in-law, George Brooks.
He is survived by his wife, Annabelle Bradshaw, of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, George and Peggy Bradshaw, Archie, Mo.; a daughter and fiancé, Mary Anna Brooks and Steve Pokonich, Lee’s Summit; a sister, Hallie Rhoads, Warrensburg, Mo.; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
NATHALIE M. NESMITH
Nathalie M. Nesmith, 76, died.
Our gracious Father took her home quickly and with great care on June 9, 2000.
She went to eternal rest while visiting in her homeland, France, with her daughter Diana, son-in-law Warren, and granddaughter Natalie.
Celebration of Life services are 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 19, with visitation at 9:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church, Murray Road, Lee’s Summit, with burial in Lee’s Summit Historical Cemetery.
Arrangements are being handled through Roblot Funeral Home in Cannes, France, and Langsford Funeral Home here in America.
She was born January 25, 1924.
Nathalie was a dearly beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.
Although born and raised in France by Russian immigrants, she married and came to America in 1953 and received American citizenship on March 10, 1964.
Nathalie was a Food Service manager with the Lee’s Summit Independent School District.
Many years of faithful service in several school cafeterias earned her great respect and admiration.
She made sure that no child went without a lunch, and often gave milk and cookies to those children who had to wait after school for parents who worked a little late.
Her fondest memories were of the years she spent at Meadow Lane Elementary School.
Her survivors include son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Sandy Nesmith, Grandview, Mo.; three daughters and sons-in-law, Diana and Warren Kurtz, Kansas City, Mo., Tania and Mike Hardin, Belgrade, Mont., and Evelyn and David Guerin, Dallas, Texas, who will lovingly remember her. She also leaves to cherish her memory eight grandchildren, Michael Heffner, Lori Lager, Adam Heffner, Jolene Nesmith, Paul Nesmith, Renee Hardin, Tommy Hardin, Natalie Kurtz, and four great-grandchildren, Erika and Savanna Heffner, and Tyler and Kyler Heffner.
She will be greatly missed by her family in France and dear friends Ruth, Oscar, Marilyn, Monica and Matt.
She was a caring friend to countless others.
MARY FRANCES (CRENSHAW) STEPHENSON
Mary Frances (Crenshaw) Stephenson, 81, of Kansas City passed away Tuesday, June 13, 2000, at Independence Regional Health Center.
Services are 10 a.m. Saturday, June 17, at Blue Ridge Boulevard Christian Church, Independence, with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Independence.
The family receives friends 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 16, at Speaks Suburban Chapel, Independence.
Mary Frances was born Oct. 27, 1918, in Jackson County, Mo., and was a graduate of William Chrisman High School, Independence.
She was secretary-treasurer of Stephenson’s Orchard’s, Inc.
She was a member of the Jackson County Historical Society, the Friends of the Old Jail, Friends of Vaile Mansion, the Palateers, the Independence Saturday Club, Lee’s Summit Women’s Federated Club, and the Blue Ridge Boulevard Christian Church.
Mrs. Stephenson is survived by her sons, Norman Stephenson, Nashville, Tenn., and Ronald R. Stephenson, Kansas City; a daughter, Janice Stephenson Stallings, Kansas City; Brian G. Stephenson, Nashville, Amy C. Stephenson, Rachel E. Stephenson, Caitlin M. Stallings and Niall E. Stallings, all of Kansas City; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Nell Liddle Crenshaw, Independence, Shirley W. Crenshaw, Blue Springs, Myra Harreld, Kansas City, Loyd and Wanda Stephenson, Leslie W. and Mabel Stephenson, Independence, Naomi Stevens, New York, N.Y.
(Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel)
OPAL E. AKIN
Opal E. Akin, 91, passed away on Saturday, June 17, 2000, at the home of her daughter, Raytown, Mo.
Cremation with interment in the City Cemetery, Lee’s Summit.
Memorial services may be held at a later date.
The family suggests no flowers, but does suggest memorial contributions to Kansas City Hospice.
Opal was born June 29, 1908, in Ames, Iowa, to W.A. and Myrtie Tripp.
On Sept. 6, 1928, she was united in marriage to George H. Akin.
Three children were born to this union.
The family moved to the Kansas City area in 1943, where she lived until her retirement from the office of the Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra in 1971.
That year, she and her husband moved to Rogers, AR.
She remained in Rogers until early 1994, when she moved to John Knox Village, Lee’s Summit.
In August 1999, she moved to Raytown.
Opal was preceded in death by her husband.
She is survived by her three children, Nancy G. Hill, Raytown, Dennis P. Akin, Boiling Springs, Pa., and Michael L. Akin, Missoula, Mont.; nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
(Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home)
HAROLD HALL RICE
Harold Hall Rice, 82, of Lee’s Summit died Saturday, June 17, 2000, at John Knox Village Care Center, Lee’s Summit.
Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 20, at Langsford Funeral Home, with burial in Lee’s Summit Cemetery.
Friends may call from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 19, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, the First Baptist Church of Lee’s Summit, or Hospice Care of Kansas City, Mo.
Mr. Rice was born Oct. 20, 1917, in Dresden, Mo.
He graduated from Lee’s Summit High School in 1936.
For more than 30 years, Mr. Rice was president of the R.B. Rice Sausage Company, founded by his step-father in 1926.
He also owned and operated TRAK-W, a recreational vehicle dealership.
He had been a member of the First Baptist Church since 1937, where he served as trustee.
His memberships included the Board of Directors of the Bank of Lee’s Summit, Board of Governors American Royal, Lee’s Summit Planning and Zoning Commission, and Board of Directors for Baptist Memorial Hospital.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Wanda; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Wayne and Jill Rice, Lee’s Summit, and Lynn Rice, Dodge City, Kan.; five grandchildren, Todd, Ryan, Karla, Andy and Whitney Rice; a sister, Elberta Hertzog; a brother and sister-in-law, Verle and Joyce Rice; and a host of nieces and nephews.
(Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home)
CARLA (THOMAS) VALDEZ
Carla (Thomas) Valdez departed this life on June 2, 2000, at her home in Hesperia, Calif., at the ages of 51 years, 11 months, and 29 days. Visitation is 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, June 22, at the Wallace Funeral Home, Pleasant Hill, Mo., with services at 2 p.m. Thursday.
Rev. Don Canfield officiating, burial in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
Casket bearers include Kelly Valdez, Jamie Puglisi, James L. Thomas, Gilbert Pendley, John Thomas and Ron Newport.
She was born June 3, 1948, in Kansas City, Mo.
She was the daughter of Howard I. Opal Elleen Shuert Thomas.
Carla lived in the early years of her life in this area and when about 7 years old, the family moved to California.
She had made her home in California for nearly 45 years.
On Sept. 21, 1998, she was united in marriage with Jose Maria Valdez, Jr., in Hesperia, Calif. She was a homemaker.
She is survived by her husband, Jose Maria Valdez, Jr., of the home; three sons, Kelly Joseph Valdez, Burbank, Calif., Jamie Jeffery Puglisi, Santa Clarita, Calif., and Joaquin Carlton Shuert Valdez, of the home; a daughter, Carlee Jean Puglisi, of the home; her father, Howard L. Thomas, Blue Springs; a brother, James Lee Thomas, Riverside, Calif.; and many other relatives and friends.
