Doris I. Baker
Doris Irene Baker, 82, Dunnegan, died Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1998, at her home. The daughter of John William and Rhoda May Watts Gannaway, she was born May 20, 1916, in Cedar County. She was married to Athel Baker in August 1931. Three children, Helen, Bill and Buzz, were born to this marriage. She was a homemaker and housewife, and she worked alongside her husband in the fields. She was preceded in death by her husband, Athel; her parents; four brothers, Lonnie, Floyd, John and Oris Gannaway; and four sisters, Rose Stoll, Delphia Sheeks, Ethel Hammons and Dolly Whitner. Surviving are her three children, Helen Banker of Harrisonville, Bill Baker of Lincoln and Buzz Baker of Dunnegan; nine grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Services were Saturday, Oct. 10, in Murray Chapel, Humansville, with the Rev. Don Covington officiating. Interment was in Alder Cemetery, west of Humansville.
Bernice L. Baumgardner
Bernice Lucille Baumgardner, 83, Dunnegan, died Thursday, Oct. 15, 1998, in Parkview Health Care Facility. The daughter of Elijah Floyd and Lula Belle Rumans Summers, she was born Sept. 18, 1915, near Dunnegan. On Dec. 27, 1937, she was married to Earl Baumgardner, who preceded her in death Nov. 24, 1986. She was also preceded in death by two children, Sharon Sue Baumgardner and Royer Dale Baumgardner, and a sister, Dorles Carter. A lifelong resident of Polk and Cedar counties, she was a member of Ross Memorial Presbyterian Church in Stockton. She taught for many years in the rural schools of this area and in the Stockton School. She is survived by two granddaughters, Teresa Winchell, Lamar, and Sharon Dickey, Maize, Kan.; one brother, Carl Summers, Bolivar; and five great-grandchildren. Services were Saturday, Oct. 17, in Murray Chapel with the Rev. Robert E. McGinnis officiating. Pallbearers were Bob Butcher, Kevin Butcher, Adam West, Jerry West, Mike Summers and Harl Johnson. Interment was in Humansville Cemetery.
Ruel Eugene Bruce
Ruel Eugene Bruce, 92, formerly of Bolivar, died at 8 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, 1998, in the Colonial Springs Health Care Facility, Buffalo. He was born Feb. 14, 1906, in Dade County. On Aug. 18, 1928, he was united in marriage to Irene Degraffenreid, and to this union three sons and two daughters were born. He was a longtime farmer and carpenter in the Bolivar area. He was saved at an early age and united with Campbell Grove Missionary Baptist Church. In later years he was a member of the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents and five brothers. Survivors include his wife, Irene, of Colonial Springs Health Care Facility, Buffalo; three sons, Charles Eugene and his wife, Minnie, Des Moines, Iowa; Kenneth, Brighton; and George and his wife, Marie, Urbana; two daughters, Mary Bruce, Bolivar, and Evelyn Camp, Fullerton, Calif.; a brother, J.C. Bruce, Fair Play; eleven grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, nine step-great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends. Services were Monday, Nov. 2, in Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Austin McGinnis officiating. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery. Casketbearers were Robert Kifer, Jim Kirby, John Polk Campbell, Don Roberts, Cliff Bruce and Carrie Bruce.
Sarah E. Brumfield
Sarah Elizabeth Brumfield, 55, Flemington, died at 10:50 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, 1998, in St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield. The daughter of John and Dorothy Dew Keller, she was born May 30, 1943, at Urich. She was a homemaker and a Flemington resident since 1990. On June 11, 1994, she was married to Dean Brumfield. She was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Virginia Keller, Charlene Keller and Annie Morrison. Survivors include her husband, Dean, of the home; two children, Rob Gillispie, Osage City, Kan., and Terry Allen, Independence; three stepchildren, Mike Brumfield of Elkland, Cheryle Straw and Donna Straw, both of Sarcoxie; four brothers, Bill Keller of Browning, Charles Keller of Holden, Jim Keller of Chilhowee and Don Keller of Clinton; four grandchildren and seven stepgrandchildren. Services will be at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Murray Chapel, Humansville, with the Rev. Harold Hendrickson officiating. Pallbearers will be Jim Yates, Mark Straw, Mike Brumfield, Bill Spears, Ray Brumfield and Zack Straw. Interment will be in Rondo Cemetery, east of Humansville. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Irene M. Ditton
Irene M. Ditton, 81, Humansville, formerly of Bolivar, died at 3:39 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, 1998, in Citizens Memorial Hospital following a long illness. She was born Jan. 6, 1917, in Greeley, Colo., to Leslie and Betty McGrahahan Waller. She was united in marriage to Marion W. Ditton on April 28, 1935. She had been a nurse and had attended Mt. Gilead Methodist Church. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Leroy and Jane Ditton, Oak Harbor, Wash., and Charles and Artie Ditton, Kansas City; and a daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Paul Price, Tunas. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday) in Mt. Gilead Cemetery with the Rev. Harold Hendrickson officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Pitts Chapel.
Lloyd K. Ervin
Lloyd Kenneth Ervin, 90, formerly of Lincoln, died Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1998, at the Parkview Health Care Center. He was born near Red Willow, Neb., on May 11, 1908, the son of Elmer E. and Clara Bell Ervin. He grew up on a farm in Red Willow County, Neb., and attended the University of Nebraska. In 1941 he was united in marriage to Mary A Piper. On June 18, 1942, he was inducted into the U.S. Army, and he served overseas in the Pacific during World War II. Following his discharge he returned to the Nebraska farm where he raised corn and wheat. In 1953 he moved his family to Lincoln, where he owned and operated a dairy farm until 1965. He then attended Sedalia Business College and sold federal crop insurance to farmers. He has been a nursing home resident since 1987. His wife, Mary, died in January 1989. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Ernest Ervin of McCook, Neb., and Carl Ervin of Omaha, Neb., and one grandson. He is survived by two sons, John E. Ervin, Indonesia, and Tom Ervin, Dunnegan; one daughter, Alice Marie Schawo, Columbia; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; one brother, John Willis Ervin, Evergreen, Colo.; two sisters, Verda Ervin and Lois Boson, Rocklin, Calif.; several nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends. Services were Saturday, Oct. 17, at the First Baptist Church in Lincoln with the Rev. Wayne Isgriggs and the Rev. David Schawo officiating. Burial was in the Lincoln Cemetery.
Milford L. Fisher
Milford L. Fisher, 40, Bolivar, died at 1:48 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, 1998, in St. John's Regional Health Care Center, Springfield, following a short illness. He was born Oct. 23, 1958, in Sedalia to Milford and Wanda McNeal Fisher. On July 18, 1998, he was united in marriage to Lori Blair. He was employed as a printing pressman, and he was a member of the Masonic Lodge. Survivors include his wife, Lori, two sons, Richard Fisher and Caleb Fisher, and one daughter, Rachael Fisher, all of the home; two brothers, Daniel Fisher, Sedalia, and Tim Aldrich, Lawrence, Kan.; five sisters, Tammie Peters of Lawrence, Kan., Vickie Bradshaw of Jefferson City, Kathy Roobel and Latrisha Jennings, both of the state of Alaska, and Connie Fisher, Sedalia. Services with Masonic rites were Sunday, Nov. 1, in Pitts Chapel with the Rev. James Lawley officiating. Graveside services and burial were Monday, Nov. 2, in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Syracuse. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Joe David Goldsberry
Joe David Goldsberry, 20, Bolivar, died Thursday, Oct. 22, 1998, in his home. The son of David and Janice Goldsberry, he was born Nov. 30, 1977, in Cox Medical Center North, Springfield. He was a graduate of Marion C. Early High School, Morrisville, class of 1996. Survivors include two sisters and brothers-in-law, Tina and Doug Morgan, Bolivar, and Cheryl and Larry McCarthy, Buffalo; one brother, Mike Goldsberry, Bolivar; a grandmother, Juanita Butler, Bolivar; two nieces and four nephews. Services were Sunday, Oct. 25, in Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ronald D. Day officiating. Burial was in New Bethel Cemetery, Half Way. Casketbearers were Chris and Rick Love, Peter Edwards, Patrick Sikes, Steve Simmons, Kraig Jones, Warren Burr and Travis Ash.
Russie Greer
John Russie Greer, 91, Bolivar, died at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1998, in Parkview Health Care Facility. Russie was born July 13, 1907, in Greene County, the son of John R. Greer and Ora A. Moore Greer. He was a longtime resident of the Goodson community, where he was a farmer. He also owned and operated school busses for the Half Way school district and owned and operated a Surge dealership in Bolivar with his son John. On June 27, 1926, Russie married Ressie Corlus Jones. To this union six children wer born. The marriage lasted 58 years before Ressie preceded him in death in December 1983. Russie was remarried in 1985 to Mary Bybee, who also preceded him in death. Russie was a very spiritual man. He loved his God and lived his life as close to the teaching of the scriptures as any human could have. He was a longtime member and deacon of his church, Lindley Creek Missionary Baptist Church northeast of Goodson. In addition to his parents and wives, he was preceded in death by his older brother, Hershal, and a grandson, Frank Foster Vincent. He is survived by his children, Betty Parker and her husband, Alden, Golden City; Joyce Crowl and her husband, Dean, Buffalo; JoAn Vincent and her husband, Bill, Goodson; Linda Bacon and her husband, Jim, Bolivar; John Greer and his wife, Shirley, and Jim Greer and his wife, Judy, all of Goodson. He is also survived by one brother, Arthur "Buck" Greer of Goodson, and 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Services were Saturday, Oct. 31, in Butler Funeral Home with the Rev. Jim Bybee officiating. Burial was in Lindley Creek Cemetery northeast of Goodson. Casketbearers were John Robert Greer, Jay Greer, Jimmy Greer, Dean Crowl, Gus Acreback and Sia Hemmat.
Leda Belle Grisham
Leda Belle Grisham, 95, Pittsburg, died Thursday, Oct. 22, 1998. She was born April 4, 1903, the daughter of John Christopher and Etta Jane Snow Richards. She had one brother, Christopher, who was nine years younger. At the age of 14, she joined the Pomme de Terre Southern Baptist Church. She was united in marriage with Garrett Lee Grisham on Sept. 14, 1933. To this union was born one son, James Lee Grisham. She was the oldest living member of the Pittsburg Southern Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Garrett Lee Grisham; and her brother, Clifford Richards. Survivors include her son, James Lee Grisham, and his wife, Ramadean; one granddaughter, Shirley Evans, and her husband, Melvin; one grandson, James Michael Grisham, and his wife, Shawna; five great-grandchildren, Airanna Lee Kinslow, Billy Joe Evans, Patricia Sue Evans, Dalton Michael Girsham and Samantha Dale Grisham; and one great-great-grandson, Austin Lee Kinslow. Services were Saturday, Oct. 24, in the Cantlon Funeral Chapel, Urbana, with the Rev. Doug Earls officiating. Teresa Mabary accompanied herself and sang "I'll Fly Away" and "Amazing Grace." Escorts were Ivan Breshears, Gene Truner, Dale Pitts, Ron Wallace, Joe Huber and Jessie Eidson. Interment was in the Pomme de Terre Missionary Cemetery.
