Beulah Mae Putnam
Beulah Mae Putnam, 91, Humansville, died Monday, March 29, 1999, in Sac-Osage Hospital, Osceola. The daughter of Albert and Carrie May Leffler Green, she was born Feb. 22, 1908, in Tuttle, Okla. She was married to John Putnam Oct. 12, 1931. To this union a daughter, Frances Darlene, was born. She spent nearly 35 years working in business in Humansville, from 1945 to 1959 at Putnam and Green Grocery Store, then at Branham Hardware Store and later at Camey Dry Goods, Payne Dry Goods and Ireland Dry Goods. She was a member of the Humansville Christian Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Putnam, on Sept. 24, 1951. Survivors include her daughter, Darlene, of the home; three cousins; dear friends Tom and Ruthellen Heitman; and many other friends and acquaintances. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Humansville Cemetery with the Rev. Bill Vernon and the Rev. Paul Brock officiating. Pallbearers will be Tom Heitman, Freddie Martin, Pat Kennedy, Roger Culbertson, Ross Vaughn and Bob Butcher. Arrangements are under the direction of Murray Funeral Home, Humansville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Humansville Christian Church, Humansville Fire and Rescue or St. Clair County Health Center.
Lester F. Quick
Lester Francis Quick 76, Weaubleau, died Sunday, March 14, 1999, in Citizens Memorial Hospital. The son of Charles Ellsworth and Donia Cecil Quick, he was born Nov. 10, 1922, at Monegaw Springs. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. A resident of Weaubleau for the past nine years, he had formerly lived in Humansville for 21 years. He was a retired truck driver, having driven for Crawford Oil Company in Humansville for 25 years. He was a member of the Antioch Christian Church at Pittsburg. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Henry Quick and Lindsay Quick; two sisters, Julie Floyd and Pearl Root; and a great-granddaughter, Miranda Baker. Survivors include his wife, Toni, of the home; a daughter, Patsy E. Sanderson, Lebanon; a brother, Homer Quick, Weaubleau; four sisters, Mabel Bastion of Pittsburg, Mary Cline, Opal Welch and Ruby Lightle, all of Weaubleau; three granddaughters, Beth Huskey and Macy Harmon, both of Hermitage, and Dustina Fitzpatrick, Moberly; and 10 great-grandchildren. Cremation was under the direction of Murray Funeral Home, Humansville. Burial will be at a later date in Antioch Cemetery at Pittsburg.
Iona Steely
Iona Ruth Valentine Steely, 83, died Friday, March 12, at Citizens Memorial Hospital. She was born Dec. 21, 1915, in Ildora, Iowa. She attended grade school in Butler County, Iowa, and graduated from Greenville High School in 1934. She was married to Leonard McDonald on Feb. 14, 1937. To this union, four daughters were born, who survive her: Jane Passi of McCoysville, Ga., Dixie Baetsle of Altoona, Iowa, Sally Anderson of Las Vegas, Nev., and Karen Kingsley of Colorado Springs, Colo. Also surviving are four sons-in-law, Leo, Jim, Ed and Harold; 14 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. Her husband, Leonard, passed away in 1971. On June 30, 1972, she married John Mitchell of Bolivar, where she lived until his death in 1987. Surviving stepchildren are Joyce, Bertha, Albert and Linda. On March 25, 1991, she married Lawrence Steely of Stockton, where she lived until his death in 1993. Surviving stepchildren are Carole, Shirley, Jane, Linda and Frank. She then moved to Bolivar, where she has resided until her death. Besides her children and grandchildren, she is survived by two brothers and four sisters, Ray Valentine of Des Moines, Iowa, Jim Valentine of Bradenton, Fla., Maureen Neesen of Waterloo, Iowa, Glennis Fallica of Boston, Mass., Neva Moravec of Iowa Falls, Iowa, and Marjorie Roy of Ogden, Iowa, as well as many nieces, nephews and step-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, three husbands, one granddaughter, three brothers and two sisters. She was a faithful member of the Church of the Nazarene in Bolivar. She will be deeply missed by her two special friends, Helen Reed and Faye Hughes, and many others. Services were Tuesday, March 16, in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Rod Campbell officiating. Burial was in the Mitchell Campground Cemetery southwest of Bolivar. Casketbearers were Robert Baetsle, David Anderson, Danny Dimmen, Bill Kingsley, Joe Seidenkrantz, Richard Pettinger, Peter Desbiens and Richard Gile, Jr.
Aleen L. Stephens
Aleen L. Stephens, 92, Bolivar, died Tuesday, March 16, 1999, in Citizens Memorial Hospital following a short illness. She was born Oct. 28, 1906, in Aldrich to C.C. and Jeanie DeGraffenreid. On Feb.15, 1928, she was united in marriage to William Drew Stephens, and to this union four children were born, Morris Eugene, Joyce Ellen, Gladys Fay and Georgia Ann. She was converted at an early age and united with Pleasant Ridge Missionary Baptist Church in Aldrich. In later years, she moved her membership to Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, where she remained a member until her death. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Drew; one son, Morris Stephens; two daughters, Joyce Rowan and Georgia Rogers; one grandson, Bradley Epperson; two brothers, Paul and Billy DeGraffenreid; and three sisters, Adrian Hickman, Lucille Moyer and Nellie DeGraffenreid. Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Gladys and Johnny Epperson, Springfield; a daughter-in-law, Wilma Stephens, Bolivar; two sons-in-law and their wives, Clinton and Rayetta Rowan, Aldrich, and Carl and Ann Rogers, Morrisville; three sisters and two brothers, Faye Miller, Doris Manuel, Florence Cloyd, Charles DeGraffenreid, all of Bolivar, and Lee DeGraffenreid, Clinton; 10 grandchildren, Susan Gravatt, Stephen Rowan, Gayla Hancock, Carol Ann Kahler, Ruth Medley, Ken Stephens, Alan Rogers, Anita Wilson, Jill Rosell and Beth Rogers; 22 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. Services were Friday, March 19 in Pitts Chapel with Elder Doug Skinner and the Rev. Lon Killingsworth officiating. Burial followed in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Aldrich. Music was provided by Lon Killingsworth and the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church choir. Pallbearers were Stephen Rowan, Ken Stephens, Alan Rogers, Kim Hancock, Brent Watson, Sutton Medley, Rick Rosell, Kevin Kahler and Dave Gravatt.
Mildred I. Stevenson
Mildred Irene Stevenson, 78, Bolivar, died Sunday, March 14, 1999, in Citizens Memorial Health Care Facility. The daughter of Lloyd and Bess Bilyeu Warren, she was born Jan. 15, 1921, at Scooterville, Texas. A homemaker, she had been a resident of Bolivar since 1985, formerly living at Warrensburg and in the state of California. Her husband, Elmer L. Stevenson, preceded her in death March 5, 1994. Survivors include six children, Kirby Stevenson and Doris Walsh, both of Bolivar, Boyd Stevenson of Warrensburg, Richard Stevenson of South San Francisco, Calif., Ronney Stevenson of Redwood City, Calif., and Don Stevenson of Moscow, Idaho; a brother, A.J. Warren, Citrus Heights, Calif.; a sister, Bertha Williams, state of Alabama; 21 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Cremation was under the direction of Murray Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Arthur E. Stringberg
Arthur Edwin Stringberg, 72, Humansville, died Tuesday, March 16, 1999, at his home. The son of Arthur E. and Mildred Dudley Stringberg, he was born Dec. 27, 1926, at Kansas City. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1948. On July 29, 1949, he was married to Naomi Cooper. He was a carpenter working out of Union Local 61 in Kansas City. He was active for 14 years in the Boy Scouts, serving 11 years as scoutmaster. He was a member of the Humansville VFW Post, American Legion, Eastgate Masonic Lodge, Independence and Ruskin Heights Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Naomi, of the home; three children, David Stringberg of Kansas City, Debi Yeager of Peculiar and Diana Schrock of Garden City; a sister, Florence Simpson of Kansas City, Kan.; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Cremation was under the direction of Murray Funeral Home, Humansville, with burial Thursday, March 18, in Springfield National Cemetery.
Floyd C. Thomas
Floyd C. Thomas, 94, Bolivar, died Friday, March 19, 1999, in his home. He was born June 27, 1904, in Bates County, the son of Oliver and Annie Genevieve Ferguson Thomas. He was a retired carpenter and a member of the Fairview United Methodist Church at Huron. In October 1927, he was united in marriage to Velma B. Losey, who preceded him in death in 1992. Also preceding him in death were two infant sons, Floyd Jr. and Troy, his parents and a son-in-law, Gail Smith. Survivors include five children, Betty Jump and her husband, Marion, and Roy Thomas and his wife, Elaine, all of Bolivar; Paul Thomas and his wife, Ann, Raytown; LaVonne Smith, Roach; and Sharon Coffey and her husband, Richard, Bolivar; a sister, Hazel Edwards, state of California; 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. Graveside services were Monday, March 22, in Greenwood Cemetery with the Rev. Harold Hendrickson officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Butler Funeral Home.
Robert T. Varnado
Robert Tyrone Varnado, 23, Jackson, Miss., died as a result of a traffic accident. A 1994 graduate of Clinton High School, Clinton, Miss., he was a senior sports management major at Southwest Baptist University. He was an offensive lineman for the SBU Bearcat football team and a member of the track team. He is survived by his fiancee, Allison Williams, Bolivar; his mother, Joyce Marshall, Jackson, Miss.; his father, Bobby Bell Sr., Brookhaven, Miss.; his brothers, Stanley Douglas Smith, Jackson, Miss., and Bobby Bell Jr., Brookhaven, Miss.; his grandmothers, Georgia Bell and Hannah Smith, both of Jackson, Miss.; and an uncle, Cecil Varnado, Jackson, Miss. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 18, in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Kurt Caddy officiating. Steve Morrow and students from Southwest Baptist University will deliver the eulogy. The body is being sent to the Peoples Funeral Home in Jackson, Miss., for burial on Saturday at the Garden Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Butler Funeral Home.
Roy H. Vincent
Roy Hadley Vincent, 90, Bolivar, died Thursday, March 11, 1999, in his home. He was born Oct. 3, 1908, at Polk to William L. and Maggie Cowden Vincent. A lifelong resident of Polk County, he was an active farmer until his death and had worked for the state and county road departments. He was united in marriage to Pearl Barnes on March 18, 1933, and to this union two children were born. He was saved as a young married man during a revival at Mountain View Missionary Baptist Church at Polk and united with the church and was baptized. Later, moving to Goodson, he united with Goodson Missionary Baptist Church where he remained a faithful member, attending as health permitted. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Pearl, of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, Deral Joe and Joan Vincent, and a daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Randy Barham, all of Bolivar; six grandchildren, Mark and Alan Vincent, Debbie Rains, Diane Vincent, Cindy Francka and David Barham; 10 great-grandchildren a sister-in-law and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Jean Huckaby and Pauline Byrum; and a brother, Ray Vincent, who died as a young child. Roy was blessed with a very kind nature, loved his family dearly and was a joy to know and be around. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Services were Sunday, March 14, in Pitts Chapel with Bro. Mike McCurry officiating. Music was provided by the Goodson Missionary Baptist Church choir. Burial followed in Crestview Memorial Garden Cemetery.
Jewell Mae Vire
Jewell Mae Vire, 84, Buffalo, died at 2:54 a.m. Monday, March 29, 1999, in Citizens Memorial Hospital following a sudden illness. She was born Jan. 6, 1915, in Greene County to John Samuel and Martha Buckner Butts. On Oct. 11, 1935, she was united in marriage to Jesse M. Vire, and to this union two sons were born, Valdon and Vern. Survivors include her husband, Jesse, of the home; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Valdon Vire of Hannibal and Vern and Angie Vire of Springfield; and two grandchildren, Denise Hall and her husband, Scott, of Monett and Gerry Vire of Springfield. Services will be at 1 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Pitts Chapel with the Rev. Harold Hendrickson officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Hope Cemetery.
