Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
JOSEPH A. GAONA
Joseph A. Gaona “Grandpa Joe,” 69, of Kansas City, Mo., passed away from lung cancer on May 20, 2004, at Research Medical Center.
Memorial services were at 7 p.m. Monday, May 24, at Langsford Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions, in Joseph’s memory, to the American Lung Association, 2400 Troost Avenue, Suite 4300, Kansas City, MO 64108.
(Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home, 115 S.W. Third St, Lee’s Summit, 816-524-3700)
MARJORIE JEANNE ELLIOTT
Marjorie Jeanne Elliott, 96, of Lee’s Summit, died Sunday, May 16, 2004, at John Knox Village Care Center.
Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Friday, May 21, at Mt. Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road; burial in Mt. Moriah Cemetery. Visitation is from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, prior to the service, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her memory to the Lee’s Summit Charitable Foundation, 1812 N.W. Chipman Road, Lee’s Summit, MO 64081, or to the Lee’s Summit Symphony Orchestra, P.O. Box 351, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063.
Marjorie, born Marjorie Tarwater on April 22, 1908, was a lifelong resident of metropolitan Kansas City.
She graduated from Northeast High School and Kansas City Teachers College and held degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia (B.S.) and U.M.K.C. (M.A.).
She taught 45 years in the Kansas City Missouri School District, finishing her career as a teacher of science at Southwest High School.
She also taught at Border Star, Blenheim, Seven Oaks and J.S. Chick Schools.
She was a member of Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral and belonged to numerous organizations including American Association of University Women, Sigma Delta Epsilon (graduate women in sciences), Tau Kappa Delta Sorority, Ozark Wilderness Waterways Club, Heart of America Geology Club, Sierra Club, Association of High School Women (past president) and Kansas City Science Teachers (past president).
After retirement, she devoted several thousand hours as a volunteer at Trinity Lutheran Hospital.
From 1978 to 1983, she served as mayor of the Village of Theodosia Hills, Mo. (also known as Sundown).
She was a lifelong traveler, and even after she lost most of her sight, was known for the interesting travelogues she produced and presented from her own slides taken all around the world.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ashley Dwinnell “Dee” Elliott; her sister, Laura Edwards; and her brother, Bill Tarwater.
She is survived by her sons, David E. Elliot and wife Christel, Lee’s Summit, and Robert L. Elliott and wife Sandy, Modesto, Calif.; granddaughters, Jennifer A. Elliott, M.D., Shawnee, Kan., and Peggy Doornbos, Allendale, Mich.
(Arrangements: Mt. Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 816-942-2004)
RUTH G. HARDING
Ruth G. Harding, 91, of Pleasant Hill, formerly of Warrensburg, Mo. and Lee’s Summit, passed away Monday, May 17, 2004, at Saint Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City, Mo.
Funeral services are at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 22, at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home, Warrensburg.
The Rev. Frank E. Myers will be officiating.
Burial will be in the Sunset Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Bill Kendrick, Joey McKinstry, Stephen McKinstry, Robert Robinson, Russell Robinson Jr., and John Storey.
The family will receive friends on Saturday afternoon from 1 p.m. until service time at the funeral home.
Ruth was born Nov. 20, 1912, in Hardin, Mo., the daughter of the late Thomas Farris and the late Lizzie (Nicholson) Farris.
She married Marion E. Harding on Oct. 31, 1932, in Sedalia, Mo., and they shared 46 years of marriage.
She was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church of Warrensburg.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Marion Harding, on Sept. 2, 1979; one son, Earl Edwin Harding; and three sisters, Sylvia Farris, Marie Barb and Lena Oxley.
She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Keith (Mariam) Cameron, Lee’s Summit; three granddaughters; 10 great-grandchildren; and three great great-grandchildren.
(Arrangements: Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home, 660-747-9114)
JAMES A. LADDEN
James A. Ladden, 91, of Lee’s Summit, passed away May 16, 2004, at Lee’s Summit Hospital.
Funeral services are at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 22, at Langsford Funeral Home.
Burial in Lee’s Summit Cemetery.
Visitation is from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Saturday, prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Heart Association, American Lung Association, American Kidney Fund or a charity of choice.
Jim was born in Moorehead, Minn.
He attended Catholic grade school in Minneapolis, Minn., and in 1931, graduated from Central High School in Kansas City, Mo.
He was a graduate of A&M; School of fighters and bombers at Keesler Field, received B-26 training at Salt Lake City Air Base, and B-29 training at the Renton Washington Factory School.
He was a pilot in the Civil Air Patrol in 1943, based at the Kansas City Airport.
A veteran of World War II, he was discharged a Master Sergeant in September 1946.
Jim was employed at the Chevrolet Leeds Plant for 38 years where he retired as Supervisor in Security in 1972.
He was a former member and Lieutenant in the Kansas City Power Squadron and an editor of the “Rhumb Line” publication.
Jim was also a member of the American Legion Post No. 189 in Lee’s Summit.
He is survived by his wife, Lutie, with whom he would have celebrated 60 years of marriage this September; daughter, Linda Lang, her husband, Larry; and two grandchildren, Douglas and Ashley.
(Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home, 115 S.W. Third St., Lee’s Summit, 816-524-3700)
A. PAULA MCCLELLAN
A. Paula McClellan, 78, of Kansas City, Mo., passed away Wednesday, May 19, 2004, at her home.
Memorial services are at 3 p.m. Monday, May 24, at Silent Unity Chapel at Unity Village.
Friends may call from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, at Langsford Funeral Home.
The family is very grateful for the care of Northland Hospice who cared for Paula.
(Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home, 816-524-3700)
HAZEL L. BEARD
Hazel L. Beard, 96, passed away on May 16, 2004 at the John Knox Village Care Center after a brief illness.
Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 20, at the Langsford Funeral Home.
Burial in Lone Jack Cemetery.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 19, at the Langsford Funeral Home.
Hazel was born on June 4, 1907, to Nellie and Emmett Burk near Virginia, Mo.
She graduated from Butler High School, and was a teacher in Bates County, Mo.
She married Fremont Beard on June 27, 1928, and settled on a farm in Deepwater Township in Bates County.
They had two children, Dale and Danene, and later moved to a farm near Grain Valley, where they lived until Fremont’s death in 1964.
Hazel moved to Lee’s Summit, eventually living at John Knox Village.
She was a member of Lone Jack Christian Church, and was a faithful volunteer at Lee’s Summit Hospital.
Her Christian faith was of great comfort to her, and sustained her throughout her life.
She loved visiting with her family, gardening, and studying the Bible.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Nellie and Emmett; her husband Fremont; her son and daughter-in-law Dale and Sonia Beard; brothers Virgil and Glen Burk; and sisters Jane Hellwig and Mildred Hellwig.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Danene and Glen Simmering of Washington Ill.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Doris and J.D. Kropf and Gertrude and Willard Steiner of Butler, Mo., grandchildren Karen and Rick McKernan of Kearney, Mo., Jon and Cathy Simmering of Chicago, Glenda and Joe Marks of Arcola, Ill., Jay and Lisa Simmering of Plainfield, Ill., Lisa Simmering and Larry McDowell of Nashville, Tenn.; and six great-grandchildren.
She was loved and respected by all who knew her and will be greatly missed.
(Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home, 115 S.W. Third St., Lee’s Summit, 816-524-3700)
SHIRLEY M. (MCKNABB) BURGESS
Shirley M. (McKnabb) Burgess, 66, of Indianapolis died May 14, 2004. Services were at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 18, at Flanner & Buchanan Washington Park East Funeral Center.
Mrs. Burgess was a former Lee’s Summit resident and had worked at AT&T; in Lee’s Summit.
She is survived by her children; David Burgess, and his wife Susette, and Darryl Burgess; and four grandchildren.
(Arrangements: Flanner & Buchanan Washington Park East Funeral Center)
SHIRLEY CARROLL
Shirley Carroll, 68, of Blue Springs, passed away Monday, May 17, 2004, at Research Medical Center.
Funeral services are at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 19, at Langsford Funeral Home.
Burial in Lee’s Summit Cemetery.
Visitation is from 2 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, prior to the service at the funeral home.
(Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home, 115 S.W. Third St., Lee’s Summit, 816-524-3700)
WILLIAM (BILL) COLLINGS
William “Bill” Collings, Pleasant Hill, died May 14, 2004, peacefully in his sleep.
Celebration of life services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 16, at the Stanley & Son Funeral Home in Pleasant Hill.
Masonic services were conducted at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 16 at the funeral home.
Burial in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
Rev. Tony Reynolds and Rev. D. Kent Deubner officiated.
Casket Bearers were Duane Brock, Gary Carter, Danny Gray, Donnie Gray, Ralph Gray and Ronnie Parris.
Honorary bearers were Henry Funkhouser, Russ Parris, David Parris and Bob White.
The family suggests contributions be made to the American Heart Association.
Bill was born to Ralph and Nellie (Mehrer) Collings on February 5, 1921 at the home.
He was born on the same farm where he lived until his death.
Bill met his wife, Norene “Pegi” Carr, at his cousin’s home in Kansas City on February 10, 1960.
They were engaged on July 10, 1960 and married at Community Christian Church in Kansas City on Sept. 10, 1960.
In addition to being a dedicated Christian and family man, Bill was an enthusiastic gardener, a successful farmer, a talented carpenter, a generous volunteer for the Lee’s Summit Hospital and a 56-year member of the Masonic Lodge.
Bill was an elder emeritus of the First Christian Church of Pleasant Hill.
Bill and Pegi took many bus trips and have also been to Alaska twice and Hawaii once.
He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, especially playing cards and other games.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Nellie; and his two sisters Rose Gray and Pauline Carter.
He is survived by his wife of almost 44 years, Pegi; his daughters Kelly Collings and Nancy Collings, both of Lee’s Summit; his grandpup, Bo; many nieces and nephews including, Ralph Gray, his nephew who lived with Bill for several years; and many other family members and friends.
(Arrangements: Stanley & Son Funeral Home, 203 N. Armstrong, Pleasant Hill, 816-540-5550)
