Elsie B. Erwin
Elsie B. Erwin, 87, Bolivar, died late Friday, Jan. 8, 1999, at Citizens Memorial Health Care Facility, where she had been a resident for the past three and a half years. She was born Feb. 3, 1911, in Long Lane, the daughter of Nellie Octavia Bradley and James Lewis Howser. On June 1, 1938, she married Willard B. 'Buck' Erwin. They owned and operated the Erwin Funeral Home from the 30's until 1958. For four years, 1965-1969, she was part owner and operated the Stuckey's Store at Republic. She served as Polk County Treasurer from 1970-1978. Upon retirement, she was a homemaker and a dedicated member of the First Christian Church in Bolivar. She was also a supporter and member of the original board of the Bolivar Nursing Home. She was also a member of the Rebecca Lodge in Bolivar, the Christian Women's Fellowship and the Republican Women's Club. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She had a great love of family and friends and always helped others as long as she was able. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Willard B. 'Buck' Erwin, her daughter, Evelyn Sue, three sisters, Daisy Alford, Earlie Blankenship and Dorothy Vincent, and three brothers, Vernon Howser, Victor Howser and Guy Howser. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Willard B. Erwin Jr. and Kim Calder of Ashburn, Va.; Kent Erwin and Jeanie Cowan Erwin of Topeka, Kan.; one daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Charles Pirkle of Overland Park, Kan.; eight grandchildren, Tom Goslar, Germany; Missy, Kristina, and Kent, all of Ashburn, Va.; Lauren and Andrea Pirkle, both of Overland Park, Kan. and Kellie and Paul Cowan of Topeka, Kan. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and many friends. Services were Monday, Jan.11, 1999, at in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. G. Scott Carlton and the Rev. Jack Daniel officiating. Musical soloist was Jason Cochran with Barbara Cochran as the pianist. Burial was in Mt. Gilead Cemetery south of Bolivar. Casketbearers were John R. Smith, John Pirkle, Bill Barnhouse, Richard Rhoads, Gary Short, Kent Brummell, Jim Faulkner and David Scott. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church in Bolivar.
Glen R. Gannaway
Glen Robert Gannaway, 89, Humansville, died Wednesday, Jan. 13, 1999, in Big Spring Care Center, Humansville. The son of Allen and Stella Ray Gannaway, he was born March 21, 1909, in Cedar County. On July 3, 1942, he was married to Irene Clifford. They were the parents of two sons, Douglas and Scott. He was employed at Hammon's Products in Stockton for several years, retiring because of failing health. He was a member of the Dunnegan Community Bible Church. He had resided at Jolley's Shady Rest in Humansville since 1991, until going to Big Spring Care Center nine months ago. Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Irene; and his son, Douglas. Surviving are his son, Scott, Humansville; two brothers and their wives, Warren and Peggy Gannaway of Leslie and Shelton and Phyllis Gannaway, Nehawka, Neb.; a sister and her husband, Clara and Nealie Fox of Stockton; three sisters-in-law, Marjorie Halstead of Kansas City, Doris John of Weaubleau and Opal Maxwell of Kansas City; two brothers-in-law, Howard Clifford of Des Moines, Iowa, and Calvin Clifford of Kansas City; and several nieces and nephews. Services were Friday, Jan. 15, in Murray Chapel, Humansville, with the Rev. Leon Smith officiating. Music was by J.R. and Natalie Oldham. Pallbearers were Marvin Fox, J.R. Oldham, Mark Gannaway, Lonnie Peck, Mark Childs and Wayne John. Interment was in Alder Cemetery west of Humansville.
Tina Lee Gazaway
Tina Lee Gazaway, 29, St. Louis, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield, of complications from breast cancer. She was born Jan. 12, 1970, in Fort Scott, Kan. Her family lived in Nevada until 1983 when they moved to Carthage. She graduated from Carthage High School in 1988. After her graduation from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 1992, she worked as a chemical engineer for ABB Nuclear Engineering in Herculaneum. Survivors include her parents, Glen and Judy Gazaway of Springfield; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Rick and Debbie Gazaway of Fair Play and Danny and Candace Gazaway of Carthage; a sister, Toni Gazaway, Strafford, Va.; five nephews and one niece; maternal grandparents, Verner and Mildred Franks, Nevada; and close friends Jennifer Ward of St. Louis and Kathy Stryker of Wheatland. A memorial service was held Sunday, Jan. 24, at Pleasant View (Large) Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kan. Her ashes will be placed around a tree planted at her parents' home at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to The Wellness Community of Greater St. Louis, 10425 Old Olive Street Road, St. Louis MO 63141. Arrangements were under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home South, Springfield.
Glen O. Harris
Glen Overton Harris, 80, Stockton, died at 9:10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1999, at St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield. He was born Dec. 9, 1918, near Caplinger Mills to Charles A. and Edith Caldwell Harris and attended school at West Union, two years at Caplinger Mills High School, and two years at Stockton High School, graduating in the class of 1937. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946 and was a member of the Stockton Masonic Lodge No. 283, Bolivar Chapter No. 5, St. Elmos Commandry, Zabud Council, Abou Ben Adhem Temple and American Legion Post No. 230. He was married in the 1940s to Veda Lorton Steward, and they had one son, Donald Glen Harris. Then on May 2, 1953, he married Beulah Sortors Mitzner, and they had one daughter, Vickey Elaine Harris. He owned and operated a feed and farm supply business in Stockton for 25 years. He was a substitute and regular rural route mail carrier for 28 years before retiring in 1986. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Raymond Harris; and two sisters, Irene Phipps and Ruth Harris. Survivors include his wife, Beulah, of the home; one son, Donald Harris, and his wife, Sharon, Lee's Summit; one daughter, Vickey Davis and her husband, Terry, Bolivar; two stepdaughters, Anita Krummel and her husband, Charles, Odessa, and Linda Steward, Dallas, Texas; one stepson, Max Steward and his wife, Sally, Lee's Summit; five grandchildren, two nieces, two nephews and other relatives. Services were Saturday, Jan. 23, in Brumback Funeral Home, Stockton, with burial following in Pankey Cemetery. Pallbearers were Gene D. Bryant, Ralph E. Clayton, Todd Clayton, Bradley Davis, Earl Johnson and Chad Krummel. Honorary pallbearers were Lewis Rosenbaum and Eldon Neill.
Marilou Houser
Marilou Houser, 81, Bolivar, died Saturday, Jan. 30, 1999, in Citizens Memorial Hospital following a short illness. She was born Sept. 15, 1917, in Kansas City, Kan., to Jess Larkin and Lilly Belle Bigler Miller. She graduated from Wheatland High School in 1935. On Oct. 6, 1934, she was united in marriage to Frank William Houser. She had been a clerk for Bruce Dodson Insurance Agency and a PTA president in the Kansas City, Kan., area. She was formerly of the church family from First Christian Church of Bolivar and was active in the CWF and Lydia's Circle. She was most recently a member of Antioch Christian Church. Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Frankie and John Walker of Bolivar and Carol and Ron Rohrer of Topeka, Kan.; one sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and John Robertson, Houston, Texas; one aunt, Alice HIcks of Bolivar; three grandchildren, John W. Walker and his wife, Kathy, Overland Park, Kan., Debbie Srna and her husband, Jon, Manhattan, Kan., and Darin Rohrer, Topeka, Kan.; six great-grandchildren, Brian, Johnny and Christie Walker and Ashley, Joshua and Megan Srna, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends that she loved very much. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Frank, on April 2, 1981; a brother, James Larkin Miller; an infant daughter, Judith Belle Houser; and a granddaughter, Karen Lee Rohrer. Services were Tuesday, Feb. 2, at Antioch Christian Church with the Rev. Don Hart and the Rev. Scott Carlton officiating. Music was provided by Tom and Pat Arnold and Lila Jenkins. Burial followed in Antioch Cemetery. Pallbearers were grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a nephew, John W. Walker, Jon Srna, Darin Rohrer, Brian Walker, John Michael Walker and Jim Robertson. Honorary pallbearers were Debbie Srna, Christie Walker, Josh Srna, Kathy Walker, Ashley Srna and Megan Srna. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church of Bolivar, Antioch Christian Church or the American Cancer Society. Arrangements were under the direction of Pitts Chapel.
Gladys I. Hull
Gladys I. Hull, 83, Collins, died Friday, Jan. 22, 1999, at her home. The daughter of James Nelson and Addie Elizabeth Brown Holder, she was born Oct. 9, 1915, in Cedar County. She was married to Walter Hull June 8, 1941. She was a homemaker and teacher, teaching in several rural schools at Collins, Weaubleau and Humansville. She was a member of Coon Creek Baptist Church and the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter No. 30, Osceola. She was preceded in death by her parents, two infant children and a brother, Glenn Holder. Survivors include her husband, Walter, of the home; a daughter, Charlotte Johnson, Stockton; two sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law, Dorothy Holder and Wilma and Allen Broyles; two grandchildren, Vanessa Underwood and Chris Johnson; five nieces and nephews; 14 great-nieces and nephews; seven great-great-nieces and nephews; and a cousin, Florence Carter. Services were Monday, Jan. 25, in Murray Chapel, Humansville, with Bro. David Keller officiating. Music was by Lisa Avery and Kerry Coffel accompanied by Regina Broyles. Pallbearers were Bud Keller, Don DeShazo, David Baker, Howard Ball, Tim Tadlock and Clayton Hughes. Interment was in Robinson Cemetery, Collins.
Lee Roy Johnson
Lee Roy Johnson, 69, Stockton, died Sunday, Jan. 10, 1999, in Cox Medical Center South following a long illness. He was born Aug. 30, 1929, in Flemington to George and Mary Johnson. He was united in marriage to Joyce M. Higginbotham on April 8, 1950, in Harrison, Ark. He was a retired stone mason and a member of Berean Baptist Church in Bolivar. Survivors include his wife, Joyce, of the home; two daughters, Vera Roach, Sedalia, and Janie Gwin, Little Rock, Ark.; two sons, Earl Johnson and Clifford Johnson, both of Stockton; his mother, Mary Johnson, Butler; two sisters, Mabel Irene Henry, Rich Hill, and Betty Ridley, Stockton; a brother, Howard Johnson, Belton; six granddaughters, six grandsons and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father and two brothers, George W. Johnson and Kenny Johnson. Services will be at 1 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Pitts Chapel with Bro. Bill Dollinger officiating. Burial will follow in Lindley Prairie Cemetery at Bear Creek. Pallbearers will be his grandsons and nephews, Brian Pritchard, Brent Pritchard, Kevin Johnson, Dustin Roach, Mike Johnson, Steve Cox, Tim Ridley and Howard Johnson Jr. Honorary pallbearer will be grandson Garrett Johnson. He was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. He will be deeply missed.
William E. Jones
William E. "Bill" Jones, 95, Springfield, formerly of Polk County, died Sunday, Jan. 10, 1999, in Cox Medical Center South following a short illness. He was born June 6, 1903, the oldest of five children of John Calvin and Dessie Dell Faulkner Jones. He lived and farmed in Polk County most of his life before moving to Springfield in 1978. On Nov. 16, 1929, he was united in marriage with Alma I. Cobb, and to this union six children wer born. He was a member of Schofield Missionary Baptist Church. Survivors include four sons and three daughters-in-law, Calvin and Emma Lee Jones of Lamar, Dr. Harold and Geraldine Jones of Springfield, Shelby and Frances Jones of Rogersville and Harlan Jones of Springfield; two daughters and a son-in-law, Maxine and Herbert Lawson of Ashford, W.Va., and Joye Sumner of Springfield; a sister, Laura Eagon, Lebanon; 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Alma, on Jan. 3, 1994; two brothers, one sister and one grandson. Services were Tuesday, Jan. 12, at Rock Prairie Missionary Baptist Church with Bro. Dennis Spear and Bro. Doyle Mayfield officiating. Music was provided by the Schofield and Rock Prairie Missionary Baptist Church choirs. Burial was in Rock Prairie Cemetery under the direction of Pitts Chapel.
Harley A. Boaz Jr.
Harley A. Boaz Jr., 83, Kansas City, died Friday, Jan. 22, 1999, at Beverly Health Center, Smithville. He was born May 15, 1915, in Polk County. He was retired after 25 years as a mechanic for TWA. Survivors include his wife, Winifred Boaz, of the home; one daughter, Bernice Bradley, Gladstone; one brother, Dennis Boaz, Arlington, Texas; seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Services were Monday, Jan. 25, at D.W. Newcomer's White Chapel Funeral Home, Gladstone. Graveside services and burial were later that afternoon at Slagle Cemetery south of Bolivar.
Elie Edward Kirby
Elie Edward Kirby, 89, Blue Springs, died Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1999. He is survived by a daughter, Mary Stafford, of Bolivar. Services were Friday, Jan. 29, at Mount Moriah and Freeman Chapel, Blue Springs. Burial was in Mount Moriah Cemetery.
