Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
GEORGE EDWIN RHODES JR.
George E. Rhodes Jr., 80, of Lee’s Summit, died Aug. 29, 2004, at his home.
Services are at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, at Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church, Second and Douglas streets.
Visitation is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, at Floral Hills Funeral Home, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd.
The Masonic and Eastern Star services will be at 6:30 p.m.
Donations may be given to your favorite charity in George’s memory.
George was a lifelong resident of Lee’s Summit.
He served in World War II, 42nd Infantry, Rainbow Division, in the European theater.
He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
He was a lifelong member of Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church, a past Commander of VFW Post 5789, a member of the MO-KAN Rainbow Veterans, and Disabled American Veterans.
He was also a 50 year member of the Masonic Lodge #263, Scottish Rite, the Ararat Shrine, and Eastern Star Summit #101.
George was a Lee’s Summit City Councilman for two terms from 1961 to 1964.
He was a two-term president of Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce in 1959 and again in 1986.
He also served on the Jackson County Insurance Committee during construction of the Truman Sports Complex.
He was admitted to the Lee’s Summit High School Hall of Fame in 1997.
He was also a member of the Tribe of Mic-o-say.
George is survived by his wife of 50 years, Louise Rhodes; sons, George E. Rhodes III and wife, Beverly, and Frederick W. Rhodes, Bedford, Texas; daughter, Elizabeth (Rhodes) Wilson and husband, Chase, Leawood, Kan.; his very dear friends, Roy and Karen Criss, Des Moines, Iowa; grandson, Ryan L. Butler; and granddaughters, Emily Wilson, Kerri Wilson and Maizy Criss.
He was a man of discipline, honor and courage, who believed in community, country and friendship.
His family will always love and miss him.
(Arrangements: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Floral Hills Funeral Home, 816-353-1218)
MARY L. SMAY SWANK
Mary L. Smay Swank, 86, Lee’s Summit, passed away Aug. 19, 2004.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004, at the John Knox Village Care Center.
Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, in Nodaway Memorial Gardens in Maryville, Mo.
Mary was born July 5, 1918 in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa.
She married John L. Smay in 1937.
In 1947, they moved to Maryville, Mo., where John was a professor and administrator at Northwest Missouri State University.
Mary was active in civic and religious organizations, particularly the Maryville Methodist Church.
Upon John’s retirement, they moved from Maryville to John Knox Village in Lee’s Summit.
Mary continued her volunteer activities including the Lee’s Summit Methodist Church, PEO, Eastern Star and the John Knox Village library.
John died in 1985.
In 1989, Mary married Ben R. Swank, Sr. and they were devoted to each other for the next 15 years.
Mary is survived by her husband, Ben; her son, Stephen L. Smay (Marcia Koslov), of Tucson, Ariz.; stepson Ben R. Swank, Jr. (Joy), of Overland Park, Kan.; and two step daughters, Ruth Ann Swank (Maggie Mahan), Denver, Colo., and Helen May Kilker (Jim), of St. Charles, Mo.
She was preceded in death by her stepson, Allen N. Swank and brother Hubert A. Sargent.
(Arrangements: Park Lawn Funeral Home, 816-523-1234)
BLANCHE C. THOMAS
Blanche C. Thomas, 82, Lee’s Summit, passed away Aug. 29, 2004, at Medical Center of Independence, of a heart attack.
Private graveside services will be held for the family; burial will be in Iowa.
(Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home, 115 S.W. Third St., Lee’s Summit, 816-524-3700)
LOIS A. CHRISTOPHERSON
Lois A. Christopherson, 81, John Knox Village, Lee’s Summit, died Friday, July 16, 2004, at Lee’s Summit Hospital.
Memorial services were 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, at D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Floral Hills Chapel.
Sunset inurnment services in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens are pending.
The family suggests flowers due to her love of her flowers and her garden.
She was born in Farber, Mo., and moved to the Kansas City area in 1942.
Lois was a loving person and her home was always open to people, and she knew no stranger.
She loved her flowers, ice cream, crafts and her family, along with a favorite pastime of Bingo and cards.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lytle G. “Chris” Christopherson, in 1991.
Lois is survived by her three daughters, Sherry McCallister and husband, Larry, Lenexa, Kan., Melonie Hale and husband, Dean, Independence, and Becky Minshall and husband, Ed, Belton; and six sons, Todd Christopherson and wife, Linda, South Kansas City, Mo., Lance Christopherson and wife, Carolyn, Raymore, Larry Christopherson and wife, Margaret Babe, Raymore, Mark Christopherson and his friend, Kathy Hofmann, Lee’s Summit; Brian Christopherson and wife, Laura, Lee’s Summit, and Eric Christopherson and wife, Glenda, Raymore. She was also blessed with 18 grandchildren, Heather Christopherson, Heidi Roma, Dan McCallister, Wendy Newton, Sandy Triebel, Debbie Bollinger, Tabitha Harris, Allyson Dropinski, Kylie Vannaman, Jacob Christopherson, Kristina Buyatt, Nicole Mauch, Josh Christopherson, Phillip Christopherson, Lauren Christopherson, Conner Christopherson, Sara Christopherson and Cole Christopherson.
Her blessings continued with 23 great-grandchildren.
(Arrangements: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Floral Hills Funeral Home, 816-353-1218)
WANDA N. POOS
The spirit of Wanda N. Poos entered Heaven on Saturday, July 17, 2004.
Funeral services are 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, at Langsford Funeral Home; burial in Lee’s Summit Cemetery.
Friends may call 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, prior to services, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in memory of Henry and Wanda Poos to the Lee’s Summit Christian Church, 800 N.E. Tudor Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO 64063.
Wendy was born in 1922, in Nash, Okla., and spent her childhood traveling throughout much of the United States with her parents, Lawrence H. “Shorty” Nave and Dollie Nave, who owned and raced greyhounds.
After the return of troops from World War II, she married her beloved husband, Henry R. Poos, on Dec. 30, 1945, and lived in Lee’s Summit.
Wendy devoted the rest of her life to raising and nurturing her family.
She retired as head bookkeeper from the Bank of Lee’s Summit, working tirelessly to provide all she could for the benefit of her husband, son and daughter.
She was a member of Lee’s Summit Christian Church, where she was a soloist in the church choir, as well as active in other church functions.
Both she and Henry were avid fishermen, spending precious time together in search of the largest trout in Lake Taneycomo.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry; and sister, Billie Jean Chiles, in 1997.
Wendy is survived by her sister, Theda Meyer, Massachusetts; her son, Lawrence E. Poos and wife, Sandy; her daughter, Laura L. Hillman and husband, Norman; and her three granddaughters, Jana Lynn Poos, Amy Beth Poos and Martha Lee Poos.
Her strength, courage and determination in the face of pain and suffering is an inspiration to all who knew her.
May she rest at last in peace in the arms of those who love her.
(Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home, 115 S.W. Third, Lee’s Summit, 816-524-3700)
JO-YVONNE LYONS
Jo-Yvonne Lyons, 77, of Lee’s Summit, passed away Friday, July 16, 2004, at Wilshire at Lakewood.
Cremation.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Hospice.
(Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home, 115 S.W. Third, Lee’s Summit, 816-524-3700)
ERIKA H. LAVENDER
Erika H. Lavender, 83, of Raytown, passed away Friday, July 16, 2004, at Research Medical Center.
Memorial services are 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 21, at Covenant Reformed Church, 9511 Lane Ave., Kansas City, Mo.
Graveside services are 11 a.m. Wednesday, at Lee’s Summit Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Covenant Reformed Church Building Fund.
(Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home, 115 S.W. Third, Lee’s Summit, 816-524-3700)
PATRICIA ANN BOYD
Patricia Ann Boyd, 75, Lee’s Summit, died July 13, 2004, at St. Joseph Health Center.
Memorial services were 1 p.m. July 16, at Langsford Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society.
(Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home, 816-524-3700)
BETTY (BROWN) BASS
Betty (Brown) Bass passed away July 17, 2004.
Services are 2 p.m. July 21, at Hackleman & Sons Funeral Home, El Dorado Springs, Mo.
Visitation is at 2 p.m. Wednesday, prior to services.
Betty drove a school bus for the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District for 15 years.
TIMOTHY MICHAEL YERDON
Timothy Michael Yerdon lost his battle with cancer July 11, 2004, at his home.
Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 15, at Longview Funeral Home; burial in Longview Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Kansas City Hospice, the American Cancer Society or Cancer Action.
Tim was born March 11, 1957, in Watertown, N.Y., to Elnora and James Yerdon, Sr.
He attended schools at General Brown school districts in Dexter, N.Y.
He was a U.S. Marine serving during the Vietnam War era.
He moved to Missouri in 1995.
He was a truck driver for 23 years for SMX, TRL, and Jones Vending in Independence, retiring in 2001.
He then customized vehicles at Black Jack, Lee’s Summit.
He loved racing, football and having fun with his friends at Dr. Pikls.
He is survived by his parents, Elnora and James Yerdon Sr., Limerick, N.Y.; his partner, Sonia Frederico, her sons, Shaun and Brian, and their daughter, Brandi, all of the home in Lee’s Summit; daughters, Tammy Jo Yerdon, Adams, N.Y., and Sarah Yerdon, Watertown; stepdaughter, Katherine Barnett, Colorado; stepson, Daniel Stamps, Orting, Wash.; brother, James Yerdon Jr. and wife, Barbara, Calcium, N.Y.; sister, Pamela Mancino, Carthage, N.Y.; six grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and a host of family and friends.
(Arrangements: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Longview Funeral Home and Cemetery, 12700 S. Raytown Road, Kansas City, Mo., 816-761-6272)
DOROTHY J. LEWIS
Dorothy J. Lewis, 69, of Lee’s Summit, passed away Tuesday, July 13, 2004, at her home.
Mass services are at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 16, at Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church, Lee’s Summit.
Visitation is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, prior to services, at the church.
(Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home, 115 S.W. Third, Lee’s Summit, 816-524-3700)
