Patrick M. Hyer
Patrick M. Hyer, 60, Humansville, died Friday, March 2, 2001, at his home. The son of James O. and Bernice Cernas Hyer, he was born Feb. 21, 1941, in Jackson County. A resident of Humansville the past 30 years, he was a brick mason and U. S. Army Vietnam War veteran. A member of Amvets Post No. 114, he served with the Amvets Honor Guard. Preceding him in death were his father, James, and his wife, Rebecca, on Nov. 23, 1999. Survivors include two sons and their wives, Troy and Marie Hyer of Humansville and Matt and Robin Matthews of Collins; his mother, Bernice Hyer, Chicago, Ill.; two grandchildren, Rebecca Marie Hyer and Cody James Hyer; and two brothers, Jim Hyer and Jerry Hyer, both of Chicago, Ill. Services were Tuesday, March 6, at the Amvets Post No. 114 in Flemington. Inurnment was in Souders Cemetery north of Humansville under the direction of Murray Funeral Home.
Salvatore M. LaTorre II
Salvatore Mario LaTorre II, 66, Flemington, died Wednesday, March 28, 2001, in Cox Medical Center South. The son of Salvatore M. and Marie DeCole LaTorre, he was born March 2, 1935, in New York City, New York. He moved to Flemington nine years ago from Pine Bush, New York. A retired electronic switching technician for Ninex Telephone Company, he was a member of Communication Workers of America Local No. 1101. He was Catholic. His parents and two brothers, Dominik and Iggy LaTorre, preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy, of the home; six children, Dorothy Marie LaTorre of the home, Maria J. Huebner of Stockton, Marisa Goldfarb of Peekskill, N.Y., Susan Zabowski of Dover Plains, N.Y., Joseph E. LaTorre of Wimama, Fla., and Salvatore M. LaTorre III of Pine Bush, N.Y.; a brother, Joseph LaTorre, Boca Raton, Fla.; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Services were Sunday, April 1, 2001, in Murray Chapel, Humansville, with the Rev. Bill Levergood officiating. Cremation followed the service under the direction of Murray Funeral Home.
Walter H. Kates
Walter H. Kates, 59, of Bolivar was born Nov. 29, 1941, in Bolivar and died March 26, 2001, in Cox Medical Center South after a long illness. He was born affected with Downs Syndrome and was able to live his entire angelic life at home. He was a special little guy who touched all who opened their hearts to him. He will be sadly missed. He is survived by one sister of the home, Treva Orrell and her husband, Kenneth, and one brother, Danny Kates and his wife, Cherie, all of Bolivar, as well as a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Walter A. and Altha Kates. Services will be at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church with Bro. Doyle Mayfield officiating. Music will be provided by the church choir and will include "We Shall Meet," "Gathering Home" and "I'll Fly Away." Pallbearers will be Doug Roberts, Lee Kates, Gene Kates, Arnold Wilson, Charlie Wilson, Terry Fox and Kenneth Orrell. Burial will follow in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Pitts Chapel.
Marilyn B. Kunkel
Marilyn B. Kunkel, 77, Bolivar, died at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 10, 2001, at the Parkview Health Care Facility after a lingering illness. She was born Sept. 4, 1923, in Wheaton, Ill., the daughter of Harry Joseph and Lucille Adeline Leverenz Barnard. She was a retired clerical office worker in county government and was a U.S. Army Wave veteran of World War II. She had been a resident of Wheaton, Ill., for many years, moving to Bolivar more than two years ago. Surviving are two daughters, Barbara J. Essex of Bolivar and Cathy Lynn Schmieding of Woodstock, Ill., and a son, Roy C. Kunkel of Lovelock, Nev. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. At her request, the body is being cremated and her remains will be placed in the St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church Columbarium in Miami, Fla., at a later date. Arrangements were under the direction of Butler Funeral Home.
Thelma Lynn
Thelma Lynn, 89, Bolivar, died Wednesday, March 7, 2001. She was born on a farm near Pleasant Hope on Jan. 14, 1912, to Edgar and Alice Smith. She was the youngest of three children; her brother, Elmer Smith, and her sister, Ada Purlsey, both preceded her in death. Thelma was raised on the farm and attended a one-room school close to the farm. After consolidation, she attended Pleasant Hope schools, often rooming in Pleasant Hope during bad weather. During the Depression of the 1920s, Edgar temporarily moved the family to California. This was one of the most exciting times in Thelma's life. She often told stories of the trip and her experiences living there. While in California, she learned to ride a motorcycle, which was quite scandalous at the time. Upon returning to Missouri, she married R.L. "Roy" Lynn on Sept. 13, 1930, and moved to his farm, which remains in the family to this day. To this marriage came two sons, James and Keith. As she followed Roy in his career as a school superintendent, she lived in Dadeville and Richards. Even with these moves, they always maintained and worked their family farm. When Roy became the superintendent at Half Way and later Pleasant Hope, they lived on the farm full time until his death in 1969. She remained on the farm following his death. Thelma was a faithful wife and mother, often having to do the farmwork of milking, putting up crops and feeding animals by herself as Roy's work often kept him away from home until late at night. She greatly enjoyed her sons' participation in sports and followed them closely. Thelma was a 58-year member of the First Baptist Church in Pleasant Hope. Following a period of declining health which included a broken pelvis and cancer surgery, she moved to Butterfield Retirement Center in Bolivar where she remained until her death. Surviving are her son Jim and his wife, Carolyn, of McAllen, Texas; her son Keith and his wife, Laura, of Norman, Okla.; five grandchildren, Shannon Lynn and his wife, Anita, and Charese Cozad and her husband, Terry, all of Pleasant Hope, and Jordan Lynn, Cory Lynn and Larissa Lynn, all of Norman, Okla.; one great-grandson, Skyler Cozad; plus numerous nieces and nephews living in California. Services were Saturday, March 10, in Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Neil Graham officiating. Burial was in the Pleasant Hope Cemetery. Casketbearers were Mark Bilyeu, Mickey Hillenburg, Shannon Lynn, Jordan Lynn, Terry Cozad and Jerry Francka. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church in Pleasant Hope.
John C. Martin
John C. Martin, 80, Buffalo, died Thursday, March 29, 2001, in Citizens Memorial Hospital following a lengthy illness. He was born Oct. 10, 1920, in Flomit, Texas, to Claude and Florence Freyer Martin. He was united in marriage to helen Kwet on Feb. 2, 1943, in Casper, Wyo., and to this union three children were born. He served his country in the Air Force during World War II. He was a retired rancher. Survivors include his wife, Helen, of the home; one son, John C. Martin Jr. of Gainesville, Texas; two daughters, Jeannette Ray of Lancaster, Calif., and Celeste Burdette of Pleasant Hope; one sister, Kathryn Russell of Matador, Texas; and eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Mae Dell Woods, and Four brothers, Louis Martin, Quinn Martin, Norman Martin and Glenn Martin. Services were Saturday, March 31, in Pitts Chapel with Fr. Patrick Wissman officiating. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery.
Gerald "Lee" Montgomery
Gerald "Lee" Montgomery, 78, Aldrich, formerly of Springfield, died at 7:42 p.m. Friday, March 9, 2001, in Citizens Memorial Hospital, Bolivar.
He was born Sept. 27, 1922, in Aldrich to Forrest and Tina Tygart Montgomery.
He worked for Frisco Railroad for more than 30 years.
He was a member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Humansville, American Legion in Bolivar and the Elks Lodge in Springfield.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother and his wife, Ellen.
He is survived by two sons, a granddaughter, two great-granddaughters and many cousins.
Services were Tuesday, March 13, in Gorman-Schaprf University Chapel with the Rev. Frank Childers officiating.
Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ozark Food Harvest, 615 N. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802.
Arnold G. Oldaker
Arnold Gaston Oldaker, 62, Humansville, died at 12:10 a.m. Sunday, March 18, 2001, in Citizens Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.
He was born on Jan. 23, 1939.
He lived at Lake Shores Residential Care Center in Humansville.
He is survived by his mother, Onia Sybil Oldaker, of Stockton; three sisters, Georgia McBurks of Urich, Jeanie Dudley of Harrisonville and Stella Shook of Stockton; and one brother, Emory Oldaker of Kansas City.
No services are planned at this time.
Cremation was under the direction of the Butler Funeral Home of Bolivar.
Helen Ruth Parker
Helen Ruth Pruitt Parker died Tuesday, March 20, 2001, in Oklahoma City, Okla. She was born on Oct. 14, 1926, in Decatur, Ala., and was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Pruitt. After graduation from Riverside High School in 1944, she attended Bob Jones College in Cleveland, Tenn., from 1944-46. She was married to her husband, Charles G. Parker of Decatur, Ala., for 54 years. She was a member of the Central Baptist Church in Decatur, Ala., for 68 years. During her years of ministry in Decatur, she sang with her trio in radio and evangelistic services, served at Central Baptist as a member of the adult choir, and assisted for over twenty years in the special education department of the Sunday School. She served the legal profession as an executive secretary for more than 25 years. After moving to Oklahoma City in 1995, Helen Ruth and Charles became members of the Surrey Hills Baptist Church where they sang in the adult choir. She also joined the Surrey Hills Garden Club, and enjoyed playing games with her neighborhood game club as well as substituting for her daughter's Bunco group. Her parents, four brothers and two sisters, and one son-in-law preceded her in death. Survivors include her husband, Charles; three children, Cheryl (Parker) Scroggins of Oklahoma City, Okla.; the Rev. Richard G. Parker and wife Cindy of Perry, Ga.; and Dr. Gregory B. Parker and wife Lori of Bolivar; grandchildren Brad and Scott Scroggins of Oklahoma City, Okla.; Andrew and Hannah Parker of Perry, Ga.; and Alex and Brianna Parker of Bolivar. Additional survivors include one brother, Robert H. Pruitt of Topeka, Kan.; one sister, Catherine Marie (Pruitt) Watkins of Decatur, Ala.; one brother-in-law, J. Pat Brock of Decatur, Ala.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services were Saturday, March 24, at the Central Baptist Church in Decatur, Ala., with Roselawn Memorial Funeral Home officiating. Memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 2,9 at Surrey Hills Baptist Church, 12421 North Mustang Road, in Yukon, Okla. Memorial contributions may be made to the Helen Ruth Parker Memorial Scholarship Fund at Southwest Baptist University, Development Office, 1600 University Avenue, Bolivar, MO 65613-2597.
Arthur H. Proehl
Arthur H. Proehl, 89, Bolivar, died Tuesday, March 27, 2001, at Parkview Health Care Facility. He was born April 1, 1911, in Parker's Prairie to Henry and Ida Johnson Proehl. On Sept. 12, 1941, he was united in marriage to Mary Zeithhamer and to this union, two sons were born. Together they dairy farmed in Minnesota until 1962, when they moved to Bolivar and farmed until retirement in 1972. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Karl Proehl in November of 1996, and an infant great-granddaughter. He is survived by his wife, Mary, of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, Ron and Linda Proehl of St. Cloud, Minn., and two grandchildren. Services were Saturday, March 31, in Pitts Chapel with the Rev. Mark Lavrenz officiating. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery.
