John William Dennis
John William Dennis, 84, Pittsburg, died at 1:25 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, 2001, at the Christian Health Care West in Springfield after a lengthy illness. He was born Nov. 7, 1916, in Pittsburg, the son of John Price Dennis and Helma Louise Johnson. He was a carpenter and cabinet maker for many years and had served for two terms as the presiding judge in Hickory County.
He was a member of the Pomme de Terre Southern Baptist Church at Pittsburg.
Surviving is one son, Gary L. Dennis of Springfield; a sister, Lillian Bell Jackson of Independence; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Services were Saturday, May 11, in the Pomme de Terre Southern Baptist Church with the Rev. Don Keelsey officiating. Burial was in the Pittsburg Baptist Cemetery north of Pittsburg under the direction of Butler Funeral Home, Bolivar. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pomme de Terre Southern Baptist Church.
Armand F. Desgagnes
Armand F. Desgagnes, 79, Bolivar, died at 10:35 a.m. Wednesday, May 23, 2001, in Citizen's Memorial Hospital, Bolivar, after a short illness.
He was born on Nov. 17, 1921, in Hatton, N.D., the son of Vincent and Alma Champeux, during childbirth his mother died and Armand was adopted and raised by his stepparents Herman and Anna Desgagnes. Armand spent his childhood in North Dakota, and shortly after high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II. Armand spent time in the European Theater assigned to an infantry unit. He was wounded and sent home to the states. During his time in the Army, he met and was united in marriage to Virginia Boyd, in Ventura, Calif., on Feb. 4, 1943, and to this union two children were born, Gary and Sherry. After the war he worked for the U.S. Postal Service and Northwest Airlines for a short period of time, but later moved to the milder climate of California in 1950, settling in Ojai and remaining there until his retirement. During his time in Ojai, he worked as a baker and with the Ojai School District for several years. He later took employment with the Ventura River Municipal Water District as a construction foreman, and ultimately finishing his career with the City of Ventura as a foreman for the Parks and Recreations Department. He retired in 1979 and moved to the Bolivar area to be near his wife's parents. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Desgagnes of Bolivar; one son, Gary Desgagnes of Camarillo, Calif.; one daughter, Sherry Dusinski of Parker, Colo.; a half-sister, Adeline Erickson of the state of Minnesota; three grandchildren, David, Derek and Arin; and three great-grandchildren, Devin, Anthony and Zachery. Services for Mr. Desgagnes were Tuesday, May 29, in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Harold Hendrickson officiating. Burial was in Mt. Gilead Cemetery, Bolivar. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, C/O Butler Funeral Home, Bolivar.
Herbert Hadley Dixon
Herbert Hadley Dixon of Bolivar was born Nov. 25, 1908, in Eudora, the second child of Lloyd and Jerema Sell Dixon, and enjoyed living his entire life in Polk County. He passed away on Wednesday May 30, 2001, at 12:10 p.m. in Citizens Memorial Health Care Facility, Bolivar, at the age of 92 years, 6 months, and 5 days. Hadley graduated from Scaritt-Morrisville Academy in 1925 and Marion C. Early High School in 1927. He attended Drury College in Springfield during the 1927-1928 school term. His grandson, Jack, would graduate from Drury 60 years later. Hadley was united in marriage to Esther M. Alexander on Feb. 12, 1929, and to this union two sons were born, Jackie Alex and John Lloyd. Hadley owned and operated a milk route for nine years serving the Aldrich, Karlin, Pleasant Hope and Morrisville communities. He also drove a school bus for a few years. Together, Esther and Hadley owned and operated a dairy and then stock farm in the Morrisville community for 38 years. Hadley served as Polk County Assessor from 1958 until his retirement in 1973. He was president of the State Assessor's Association during part of his public tenure. In 1960 and 1961, Hadley was chairman of the Missouri State Legislative Committee in Jefferson City. Over his long lifetime, Hadley enjoyed quail hunting, fishing, interacting with nature, and playing cards and checkers. He was the Polk County Checker champion and district runner-up in the early 1950s. Hadley accepted Christ as his Savior at an early age, and at the time of his death was a member of the Bolivar United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Esther M. Dixon. Hadley is survived by his two sons, Jack Dixon of Rogersville and John Dixon of Springfield; nine grandchildren, Jack Dixon II, Sherry Jorgensen, Gail Upp, Cindy Thomas, Chris Lill, and Sharon Davis all of Springfield, David and Mike Dixon of Bolivar and Jerri Whitecar of Seaside, Calif.; 15 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Friday, June 1, 2001, in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Harold Hendrickson and Rev. Dan Adkison officiating.
Music was provided by Arvil and Carol Krueger. Burial was in the Hickory Grove Cemetery south of Morrisville. Casketbearers were Mike Dixon, Jack Dixon II, David Dixon, Chris Upp, Jay Upp, Jeremy Thomas and Todd Elder.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hickory Grove Cemetery in care of Butler Funeral Home, P.O. Box 11, Bolivar, MO 65613.
Madelyn R. Duby
Madelyn Rachelle Duby, age four months, died at 2:30 a.m. Saturday, May 12, 2001, in her home. She was born Jan. 7, 2001, in Springfield, the daughter of Shawna Duby. In addition to her mother, she is survived by a sister, Katelyn Marie Duby; her maternal grandmother, Shirley Jones and Jerel Brittain of Hollister; her maternal grandfather, Michael Duby and his wife, Kay, Hastings, Okla.; two aunts, Mieka Duby of Hastings, Okla., and Shelly Bassham and her husband, Jay, of Pleasant Hope; and many other relatives and friends. Services will be at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Morrisville United Methodist Church with the Rev. Robert McGinnis officiating. Burial will follow in Morrisville Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Ayre-Goodwin-Lee Funeral Home at Rivermonte, Springfield.
William H. Evans
William H. Evans, 71, Springfield, formerly of Hermitage, died Wednesday, May 2, 2001, at Manor Care, Springfield. He was a retired insurance broker. He had lived at Kansas City and Hermitage several years prior to moving to Springfield four and a half years ago. He was a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church of Springfield and a former member of the Pomme de Terre Golf Club. He was born April 19, 1930, at Little Rock, Ark., the son of Edward Sidney and Marguerite Linziner Evans. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Stephen E. Evans. Survivors include his wife, Roberta "Bobbie" Evans of Springfield; one grandson, Brent A. Evans of Warrensburg; and one sister, Georgia A. Klein of Port Huron, Mich. Services were Saturday, May 5, at Hathaway-Peterman Funeral Home Chapel, Wheatland, with Pastor William Marler officiating. Burial was in Dooly Bend Cemetery.
Richard Lee Fillman
Richard Lee Fillman, 58, Wheatland, died Saturday, May 26, 2001, in his home, following a lengthy illness. He was born in Monmouth, Ill., on March 18, 1943, to Lawrence Paul and Esther Marie Fillman. He was a manager for a lumber company and baptized member of the First Christian Church of Monmouth, Ill. He is survived by his wife, Shirley of the home; his father, Lawrence Fillman of Illinois; his mother, Esther Hays of Illinois; two daughters of Illinois; and two brothers of Illinois. Also surviving are two stepsons; four step-grandchildren, Tyler Steele, Amber Steele, Britney Steele and Bailey Waddell; and many special friends. Private family services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Pitts Chapel in Bolivar.
Edith L. Graves
Edith Lucille Graves, 84, Half Way, died Sunday, May 20, 2001, in Citizens memorial Hospital following a short illness. She was born in Polk County on Nov. 24, 1916, to Archie Julen and Addie Golden Waggoner Childress. On April 28, 1935, she was united in marriage to Loren Silas Graves and to this union two children were born. She was a homemaker and a member of Providence Missionary Baptist Church. She is survived by her son, Jerrell Graves of the home; a brother and sister-in-law, Clifford and Carolyn Childress of Springfield; a sister, Velma Tummons of Elsworth, Kan.; three stepsisters, Thelma Graves of Flemington, Helen Shanahan of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Sylvia Wilson of Half Way; as well as many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bro. Loren S. Graves; an infant daughter, Zelda Graves; three brothers, Arthur Childress, Ralph Childress and Richard Childress; three sisters, Crystall Bell Childress, Fern Childress and Geneva Childress; a stepmother, Macy Fulk; and a stepbrother Cecil Fulk. Services will be Thursday, May 24, in Pitts Chapel with Bro. Red Ankrom officiating. Burial will follow in New Bethel Cemetery. Music will be provided by the Providence and Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church choirs with Mary Childress as accompanist. Pallbearers will be Randy Childress, Doug Childress, Glenn Childress, Kenneth Childress, Bob Tummons and Terry Childress. Honorary pallbearers will be Clifford Childress, Donald Lee Tummons, Sam Tummons and Greg Childress.
William Ronald "Ron" Griffin
William Ronald "Ron" Griffin, age 52, Bolivar, passed away on Sunday, May 27, 2001, at 3:30 p.m. in Citizens Memorial Hospital, Bolivar, after a short illness. He was born on Dec. 4, 1948, in Springfield, the son of Billy Harding and Daisy Marie Akins Griffin. Ron worked as a carpenter and was in the U.S. Army during the Viet Nam Era. Ron spent many happy hours drinking coffee with his friends at Hannah's Store. He loved to fish, tinker with cars and trucks and took great pains with his carpentry.
Ron was a hard worker at any job he did. Ron took great joy in his family.
He was always quiet, kind and loving, and he always put others first. He was a wonderful husband, loyal and patient son, loving father, grandfather, brother, and helpful friend. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Griffin of Fair Play; one son, Bryan Griffin of Fair Play; one daughter, Bethany McGuire of Overland Park, Kan.; his mother, Daisy Marie Griffin of Bolivar; one brother, Terry Griffin of Fair play; his mother-in-law, Marie Brakebill of Bolivar; and one grandson, Luke McGuire of Overland Park, Kan. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday) May 30, 2001, in Butler Chapel with Bro. Jack G. Brakebill and Bro. Harlan L. Graham officiating. Burial will be in New Bethel Cemetery. Casketbearers are Donald Sterling, Jeff Shover, Terry Vines, Rodney Fleeman, James Robert Fleeman and Jerry Sukovaty.
Honorary Casketbearers are Dusty Garzee, Joe Freeze, Ron Drake, Lonnie Dorth, Kyle Fleeman, Jack McGuire and Clyde Gibson. Services are under the direction of the Butler Funeral Home, Bolivar.
Frank D. Grisham
Frank D. Grisham, 64, Pleasant Hope, died at 2:39 p.m. Thursday, May 31, 2001, in Springfield. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He had worked for Dayco for 10 years. He loved auctions. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Tessie Grisham, and two brothers, Milford and Willard. Survivors include his wife, Patty; two children and their spouses, Allen and Amy Grisham of Springfield, and Glenda and Phil Hamilton of Kenosha, Wis.; a stepson and his wife, Larry and Connie Robertson of Fair Grove; six grandchildren, Kayla and Calley Roberston, Justin and Kevin Grisham, and Gregory and Jordan Hamilton; and many friends. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, June 8, at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Ruby Louise Hyder
Ruby Louise Hyder, 81, Fair Grove, died at 2:30 a.m. Thursday, May 17, 2001, at Citizens Memorial Hospital. She was born June 12, 1919, at Coldwater, Kan. The first born of Robert and Calla Guyer Keesee. She was the retired manager of the Fair Grove High School Cafeteria. During her life she had been a member of the Fair Grove United Methodist Church and the Marshfield Eastern Star, a homemaker and a professional seamstress and quilt maker. She married Joseph Lorenza Hyder Jr. on Nov. 27, 1937.
He preceded her in death April 15, 1988. She is survived by one son, Donald D. Hyder and his wife, Nancy, of Bolivar; one daughter, Polly Ann Williamson and her husband, Jim, of Springfield; three granddaughters, Dawn Shive and her husband, Allen, of Mt. Hope, Kan., Mary Ellis and her husband, Doug Terry, of Fair Grove, and Sheila Swihart and her husband, Kurt, of Bolivar; a grandson, Jody Wilson and his wife, Lisa of Springfield; six great-grandchildren, Ruby Grace Shive, Sydnee Ruth Shive, Joey Wilson, Rachel Swihart, Ashley Swihart and Seth Swihart; two sisters Opal Hoffman and Dorothy Kyser, both of Wichita, Kan.; and 19 nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends. Services were Saturday at the Fair Grove United Methodist Church.
Burial followed at the Pleasant Ridge Cemetary, Fair Grove.
