Oren "Junior" Cowden
Oren Leon "Junior" Cowden, 60, Bolivar, died Monday, March 15, 1999, in Citizens Memorial Health Care Facility. The son of Oren Leon Sr. and Ruby Esther Standley Cowden, he was born Aug. 3, 1938, in Polk County. Survivors include his two sisters, Shirley McCormick of Bolivar and Debra Barton of Fordland; his five brothers, Robert Cowden of Springfield, Richard Cowden of Lee's Summit, Roger Cowden of Belton, Jimmie Cowden of Flemington and Mike Cowden of Bolivar; also many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents. Services will be at 10 a.m. today (Wednesday) in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Harold Hendrickson officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery south of Aldrich.
Genivee Coy
Genivee Coy, 81, Lee's Summit, died Tuesday, March 30, 1999, at Lee's Summit Hospital. She was born Sept. 17, 1917, in Cedar County and lived in Lee's Summit for more than 30 years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lee's Summit and had volunteered for the Red Cross for 30 years. Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Elmer P. Coy, of the home; one son and daughter-in-law, Dale E. and Judy Coy of Santa Fe, N.M.; two grandchildren, James Robert Coy and Karen Hudson; and two great-grandchildren, Gavin Coy and Mitchell Hudson. Services were Saturday, April 3, at Langsford Funeral Home, Lee's Summit, with burial following in Lee's Summit Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Lee's Summit.
John Crawford
John Junior Crawford, 76, Cross Timbers, died Wednesday, March 24, 1999, at Citizens Memorial Hospital. He was born May 26, 1922, at Fristoe, the seventh child of John Anderson and Maud McClaren Crawford. He was united in marriage to Marietta Burton on March 29, 1953, at Wheatland. Following their marriage, they made their home on the family farm near Cross Timbers. He was a well-known auctioneer in Hickory and surrounding counties for more than 55 years. He was a member of the Cross Timbers United Methodist Church and the Hermitage Masonic Lodge No. 288. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Ralph; and three sisters, Ola, Ula and Opal. Survivors include his wife, Marietta, of the home; two sons, Ricky Lee Snider and his wife, Kathy, Excelsior Springs, and Sam Crawford, Osceola; four daughters, Cheryl Foltz and her husband, Ben, of Lebanon, Cindy Phillips of Warsaw, Janie Wooldridge and her husband, Gary, of Fox River Grove, Ill., and Becky Taylor and her husband, Neal, of Bolivar; and 11 grandchildren, Samantha Snider of Excelsior Springs, Chase and Chance Crawford of Osceola, Jennifer and Jordan Foltz of Lebanon, Cody and Jody Phillips of Warsaw, Caitlyn and Paige Wooldridge of Fox River Grove, Ill., and Serena and Jared Taylor of Bolivar. Also surviving are two brothers, Carl Crawford of Peculiar and Lloyd Crawford of Van Nuys, Calif., and a sister, May Stover of Cross Timbers. Services were Sunday, March 28, at the Cross Timbers United Methodist Church with the Rev. Walter Admire and Wayne Doll officiating. Burial was in Cross Timbers Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Reser Funeral Home, Warsaw. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cross Timbers United Methodist Church in care of the funeral home.
Margaret P. Davis
Margaret P. Davis, 80, Pittsburg, died Friday, March 12, 1999, in Citizens Memorial Hospital following a short illness. A longtime resident of Hickory and Polk counties, she was born June 14, 1918, in Brewster, Neb., to Wallace Ernest and Christina Peal Huwalkt Ahrens. She was united in marriage to Joe R. Davis on Sept. 25, 1937, in Nebraska. To this union were born three sons. She and her husband owned and operated a grocery store and gas station in Pittsburg for many years. She was a member of Antioch Christian Church. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Emery and Paula Davis of Pittsburg and Wallace and Mabel Davis of Wheatland; two grandchildren, JoAnne Thompson of Springfield and Joseph Lloyd Davis of Pittsburg; and many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Jerry Ray Davis in September 1969; her husband in October 1989; three brothers, Roy W. Ahrens, John L. Ahrens and Ward W. Ahrens; and a sister, Ella M. McBride. Services were Monday, March 15, in Pitts Chapel with the Rev. Donald Hart officiating. Music was provided by Lyla Jenkins and Ruth Williams. Burial followed in Greenwood Cemetery.
William C. Derossett
William C. "Bill" Derossett, 79, Kansas City, died Tuesday, March 2, 1999, at his home. He was born Dec. 21, 1919, in Bolivar to Effie and Floyd Derossett. He was a member of Countryside United Methodist Church and American Legion Post No. 596. He worked for Unisys (formerly Sperry-Rand) for 39 years. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Robert and Eugene, who were killed while serving in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Survivors include his wife, Ruth Derossett, of the home; a daughter and son-law, Carolyn and Ed Jones, Kansas City; two grandsons, Brian and Eric Jones, Kansas City; a granddaughter, Michelle Glassinger, Kansas City; three brothers, Carl Derossett of Camarillo, Calif., Jim Derossett of Albuquerque, N.M., and John Derossett of Little Rock, Ark.; and two sisters, Betty Bushnell of Sequin, Texas, and Marjorie Popejoy of Marshfield. Services were Friday, March 5, at Hinton-Gibson Funeral Home, Raytown. Burial followed in Green Lawn Cemetery, Kansas City.
Roy L. Dillard
Roy Lafayette Dillard, 94, Willard, died at 7:02 p.m. Saturday, March 20, 1999, at Cox Medical Center South from the effects of congestive heart failure, pneumonia and leukemia. The oldest of eight children, he was the son of Edmund Wesley and Minnie Leatitia Chrisman Dillard. He grew up in the Ebenezer community and lived his entire life there except for a few years in the Flemington-Weaubleau area and two years in Milwaukee, Wis., working for International Harvester. He worked for many years at Swift and Co., Springfield. He and his wife, Ruby, owned and operated a store and gas station on Mo. 13 near their home and later had a store at Ebenezer. He was employed at Southwest Baptist College for a few years and also worked as a carpenter, building houses in the Bolivar, Willard and Springfield area. He was a member of the Robberson Prairie Baptist Church. His first wife and the mother of his four children, Ruby Mabry Nunn Dillard, died of cancer 39 years after their marriage. He then married Eva Piper Dillard, who died of cancer four years later. His third wife of 28 years, Malinda Robertson Dillard, survives him. Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons and their wives, Wayne and Wanda Dillard of Brighton, Jim and Betty Dillard of Springfield and Dwight and Shirley Dillard of Venice, Fla.; a daughter and her husband, Carol and Vernon Keltner of Strafford; and seven grandchildren, Bruce Dillard and Phillip Dillard and his wife, Kay, all of Brighton, James Keith Dillard and Brenda Bolin and her husband, Mark, Springfield, Cindy Keltner of Strafford, Michael Dillard with the U.S. Navy in Hawaii and Michelle Arciaga and her husband, David, of Layton, Utah. Also surviving are 10 great-grandchildren; one brother, Eugene Dillard of Springfield; two sisters, Helen Robertson and Annalea York and her husband, Clyde, Spokane, Wash.; three brothers-in-law, Glen Robertson, Jerry Robertson and his wife, Pauline, Springfield, and Virgil Robertson and hiw wife, Myrtle, Highlandville; 11 nieces, nine nephews and many friends. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Kenneth Doyle Dillard, due to an automobile accident three years ago. Services were Tuesday, March 23, at the Robberson Prairie Baptist Church with the Rev. Joel Childers officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were his grandsons and great-grandsons. Arrangements were under the direction of Klingner Mortuary, Springfield.
Arthur E. Esther
Arthur Ezra Esther was born Feb. 17, 1948, in Columbia, Boone County, the second of three children born to Calvin Dean Esther and Melba Lee Schneider Esther. He passed away in Springfield on March 10, 1999, being 51 years and 21 days of age. Arthur graduated from Bolivar High School in 1966, going on to graduate from Central Missouri State University at Warrensburg in 1971. He worked as a bank teller and an insurance salesman and helped his dad with farming operations as long as his health permitted. Arthur made friends easily and had a good sense of humor. He had a fantastic memory and, being an avid sports fan, could quote plays outstanding from long-ago games. He played baseball on an independent team for a number of years. He enjoyed playing the piano. Arthur was saved at an early age during a revival meeting at Lebanon and was baptized and joined the Bolivar First Baptist Church. On. Nov. 20, 1980, he was married to Buena Ann Merryboy. One daughter, Audrey, was born to this union. He was preceded in death by his mother, Melba Lee Schneider Esther, in February 1987. Survivors include his daughter, Audrey Esther, Springfield; his father and stepmother, Dean and Harlene Esther, Bolivar; one sister, Deanna Burns, Bolivar; one brother, Robert Esther, Springfield; a stepsister, Roberta Doke, Brighton; one nephew, three nieces, and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Arthur is at peace, free from illness and pain. He will be missed by all. Graveside services were Friday, March 12, in Lebanon Cemetery, Lebanon, with the Rev. Ray Leininger officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Butler Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Arthur Esther
Arthur Esther, 51, Springfield, formerly of Bolivar, died Tuesday, March 9, 1999, in his home after a brief illness. He was a laborer and a member of the First Baptist Church, Bolivar. Survivors include his father and step-mother, Dean and Harlene Esther, Bolivar; one daughter, Audrey Esther, Springfield; one brother, Robert Esther, Springfield; and one sister, Deanna Burns, Bolivar. Graveside services were Friday, March 12, in Lebanon Cemetery with the Rev. Ray Leininger officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Butler Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Harold J. Garretson
Harold James "Jim" Garretson, 54, Bolivar, passed away peacefully with his family around him at 3:45 p.m Thursday, March 25, 1999, at St. John's Regional Health Center after a courageous fight with cancer. He was born Sept. 15, 1944, in Cliquot to Harold L. and Mary Lee Dunn Garretson. In 1961 Jim was united in marriage to Sharon Phillips. He attended Cliquot and Mitchell elementary schools and graduated from Bolivar High School in 1962. He attended Southwest Baptist College and Southwest Missouri State College, graduating in 1968. Jim was a grain merchandiser. He started his career with MFA and was among the youngest to trade grain on the floor of the Kansas City Board of Trade. He also worked for Central Soya, Farmers Export, Farmland and Central States Grain. He played baseball, football and basketball through high school. He was on Bolivar High School's Class M state championship basketball team. He continued with a lifelong interest in sports. He coached youth soccer and baseball in Johnson County, Kan. Jim and his brother coached an AAU basketball team that went to the National Junior Olympic Tournament in South Bend, Ind. He was preceded in death by his father, Harold L. Garretson, and his stepfather, Virgil Engleman. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; his mother, Mary Lee Garretson Engleman; his three sons, Jim Garretson and his wife, Tammy, John Garretson and Joe Garretson; a grandson Rob Garretson and his fiancee, Stephanie Sneed; a granddaughter Tanya Garretson; a sister, Millie McCain and her husband, Bob; Two brothers, Lyle "Buster" Garretson and his wife, Kay, and Fred "Bud" Garretson and his wife, Jenna; a stepsister, Mary Ellen Chapman; a stepbrother, Wayne Engleman; his father- and mother-in-law, Max and Lillie Phillips; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Farmer and her husband, Claude; aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews whose antics he so enjoyed. He is also survived by some very special people whom he thought of as his children and grandchildren: Jim, Mindy and Justin Nicoson, Liz and Todd Langford, and Anthony, Cathy and Ryan Shoemake. Services were Tuesday, March 30, at Pitts Funeral Home with burial following in Greenwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Citizens Memorial Hospice, 326-3585.
Olive Lorene Gorden
Olive Lorene Gorden, 83, Springfield, formerly of Polk, died Thursday, March 4, 1999, at Cox Medical Center South. She was born in Polk on August 24, 1915, to William and Effie Pope Payne. She was saved in August 1927 at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church and was baptized and became a member of Mountain View Missionary Baptist Church on Nov. 27, 1927, making her a 71-year member of that church. After moving to Springfield, she attended True Hope Missionary Baptist Church. She was united in marriage to Bernell Gorden, who preceded her in death. To this union were born three children, Wanda, Janice and Eddie. After raising her children and caring for her ailing parents on their farm, she attended Draughn's Business College and worked as a bookkeeper for MFA Milling Company in Springfield until her retirement. In addition to her husband and her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Noel and Russell Payne, and her sisters, Beulah and Zella Payne and Alene Bridges. Survivors include her children, Wanda Lorence and her husband, Rex, of Rogers, Ark.; Janice Pendergast and her husband, Fred, of Cuppertino, Calif.; and Eddie Groden and his wife, Glada, of Goodson. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Rick Lorence and his wife, Kim, Brad Lorence and his wife, Tina, Tammy Lorence, Brian Gorden and Jason Gorden; four great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Clara Payne and Felicia Gorden; four brothers-in-law, Lyle Gorden, Okell Gorden, Marlyn Gorden and Ray Ragsdale; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Lorene lived and portrayed the fruit of the spirit, which is love, joy, peace, long-suffering (humility) and temperance (self-control). Jesus says, "Seek peace." Lorene was consistently a true, godly peacemaker to all. Services were Sunday, March 7, in Pitts Chapel with Bro. Paul Cofer and Bro. Jerry Crain officiating. Music will be provided by the Mountain View and Goodson Missionary Baptist Church choirs and the Parsons family. Burial followed in Greenwood Cemetery. (6c)
