John W. Singer
John William Singer, 84, Billings, Mont., died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 1998. He was born Aug. 30, 1914, in Steeleville. He was raised in that area and with his brothers and father owned and operated flour mills, including the mill in Aldrich. In 1942 he married Dimple Stroud Hodge in Little Rock, Ark. In 1943 he joined the U.S. Army and was stationed on Guadalcanal during the last years of World War II. After the war he returned to his career as a flour miller in Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. He retired in 1990 at the age of 77 from the Gilt Edge Mill in Richmond, Utah, and returned to Aldrich, where he resided until 1997, when he moved to Billings, Mont. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dimple, in 1971 and his son, Tom, in 1988. He is survived by his children, John Hodge and his wife, Pat, of Melba, Idaho; Jim and his wife, Lurline, of Mozambique, Africa; Janet of Billings, Mont.; his daughter-in-law Gloria of Spokane; his brothers, Harry of Kansas City and David of Deland, Fla.; his six grandchildren, Lance, Bret, Bruce, Sherry, Cody and Kristina; and two great-grandchildren, Lias and Taigon. Graveside services were Wednesday, Oct. 14, in Terrace Gardens Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Saint Vincent Foundation, P.O. Box 35200, Billings, Mont. 59107.
John F. McGarity Sr.
John F. McGarity Sr., 68, Bolivar, died Friday, Oct. 23, 1998, in Citizens Memorial Hospital emergency room following a short illness. He was born Nov. 21, 1929, in Meadow Grove, Neb., to Ben and Florence Schinck McGarity. He had been an over-the-road dairy truck driver. A member of Zion Lutheran Church and the Disbled American Veterans, he was a longtime resident of Bolivar and Polk County, moving here from Texas. Survivors include his wife, Jeanette, of the home; six sons, John F. McGarity Jr. of Bolivar, J. Michael McGarity of Springfield, Jeffrey McGarity and Phillip McGarity of the state of Texas, Pat Hennager of Aldrich and Randy Hennager of Bolivar; four daughters, JoAnn Schaffer and her husband, Bill, Theresa Melton and her husband, Randy, and Susan Burns and her husband, Danny, all of the state of Texas, and Teresa Hennager, Bolivar; his mother, Florence McGarity, Bolivar; two brothers-in-law, Paul Hennager and Kenneth Lamb; a sister-in-law, Joyce Kelberer; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Services were Tuesday, Oct. 27, in Pitts Chapel with the Rev. Mark Lavrenz officiating. Burial followed in Greenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers were Lawrence Ahart, Ronnie Cook, Danny Hubbard, Keith Smith, Harold Hobbs and Junior Davis. Memorial contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church to provide hearing-impaired sound systems.
Freida M. Stark
Freida M. Stark, 87, Carrollton, died Wednesday, Oct. 28, 1998, at the Carrollton Nursing Center. She was born in Carroll County on Feb. 1, 1911, the daughter of Boyd and Estella Taggart Weicher. She attended rural schools and worked as a companion to elderly ladies in their homes. She was first married to James Edgar Crockett. To this union two daughters were born. He preceded her in death. She later married George Stark, who also preceded her in death. She attended the Baptist and Assembly of God churches. Survivors include two daughters, Dixie Bradshaw and her husband, Everett, of Mexico, Mo., and Donna Hensley and her husband, Harry, of Bolivar; four grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Besides her husbands, she was also preceded in death by her parents, one brother and one sister. Serivces were Friday, Oct. 30, at the Gibson Funeral Home in Carrollton. Burial was in Wharton Cemetery, Bosworth. Memorial contributions may be made to the Assembly of God Church in care of the funeral home.
Frances Stiles
Frances Stiles, 81, Fair Play, died Monday, Oct. 12, 1998, in Everett, Wash. She was born Aug. 10, 1917. She was a homemaker and the widow of Leonard P. Stiles Sr. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, L.P. Stiles Jr. and his wife, Susan, of Drumwright, Okla., and John J. Stiles and his wife, Lavon, Everett, Wash.; a daughter and son-in-law, Retta Turley and her husband, Joseph, Everett, Wash.; two sisters, Lois Box, Bashor, Kan., and Alta Mosier, Aldrich; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two sons, Sammy Clark Stiles and Delbert Lee Stiles; and a brother, Leonard Davis. Graveside services were Monday, Oct. 19, in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery with the Rev. Jim Johnson officiating. Pallbearers were John Stiles, L.P Stiles Jr., Joseph Turley, Perry A. Krootzko, Fred Box and Charles Box. Arrangements were under the direction of Pitts Chapel.
Irene Stull
Irene Stull, 75, Bolivar, died Saturday, Oct. 3, 1998, in Cox Medical Center South following a short illness. She was born Dec. 21, 1922, in Aldrich, the daughter of Eli F. and Lillie McGinnis Cornell. She had lived in Bolivar since 1985. She was a homemaker and was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, James W. and Wilma Stull, Brighton, and Larry and Donna Godfrey, Moses Lake, Wash.; five daughters and sons-in-law, Kay and Michael Dodd of Walnut Grove, Annette and David Gray of Morrisville, Becky and Ralph "Bud" Savard of North Little Rock, Ark., Carolyn and Jimmy Cossins of Brighton and Alice and Ernie Baugh of Reeds; a brother and sister-in-law, Ray and Marjorie Cornell, Bolivar; 17 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, Joe Godfrey (father of Alice and Larry) and many other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, J.W. Stull; a grandson, Larry Wayne Godfrey, and his mother, Rosemary; four sisters and four brothers. Services will be at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday) in Pitts Chapel with the Rev. Lon Killingsworth and the Rev. Jim Tolliver officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery near Aldrich. Pallbearers will be Timmy Cossins, Shawn Cossins, Troy Stull, Toby Stull, Mark Swinson and Kerry Dunn. Honorary pallbearers will be Nathaniel Dodd, Darren Gray, Levi Godfrey, Quade Godfrey, Dave Smith and Matt Baugh.
Edith Louise Syphert
Edith Louise Syphert, 79, Bolivar, died Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998, in her home. She was born Sept. 14, 1919, in Graham County, Kan., to Fred and Millie Morris Ambrosier. On Dec. 20, 1941, she was married to Sherman Syphert. One daughter and four sons were born to this union. She was preceded in death by her parents, two infant sons and her husband. Survivors include a daughter, Evelyn Cossins, Bolivar; two sons, Vern Syphert, Bolivar, and Johnny Syphert, Louisburg; a brother, Lee Ambrosier, Hanston, Kan.; two sisters, Inez Hawk, Nampa, Idaho, and Elsie Cotton, Ellis, Kan.; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Graveside services were Tuesday, Oct. 27, in Mission Ridge Cemetery, Urbana, with the Rev. Dave Barger officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Butler Funeral Home.
Helen L. Tilghmon
Helen Lucille Tilghmon, 85, Humansville, died Friday, Oct. 2, 1998, in Parkview Health Care Facility. She was born July 19, 1913, at Sedalia, the daughter of Abe and Minnie Rogers Siard. A longtime resident of Kansas City, Kan., she was a member of Bethany Baptist Church. She had resided in Humansville since 1976. Survivors include a daughter, Earlene Nash, Humansville; two grandchildren and their spouses, Helen and Bert Gallardo, Independence, and Bill and Alice Bailey, Buckner; three great-grandchildren, Paul Stumph and her husband, Randy, Kansas City, Patrick Beldsoe and his wife, Robin, Fort Hood, Texas, and Jim Bailey, Buckner; and three great-great-grandchildren, Nikki, Randy and Miranda Stumph, Kansas City. Graveside services were Monday, Oct. 5, in Maple Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, Kan., with the Rev. Martin Micke officiating. Services were under the direction of Murray Funeral Home, Humansville.
Dorothy E. Wilkinson
Dorothy E. Wilkinson, 74, Kansas City, died Friday, Oct. 9, 1998, in her home following a long illness. She was born January 18, 1924, in Aldrich to Willis A. and Estella E. Stiles Mann. On Dec. 23, 1943, she married Eugene Wilkinson and moved to the Kansas City area. She was of the Baptist faith and a homemaker. Survivors include her husband, Eugene, of the home; two daughters and sons-in-law, Kay and Jerry Jones of Deepwater and Sharon and Ken Miller of Brownington; a brother, Willis E. Mann, Concord, N.C.; a sister, Grace Mustain, Springfield; six grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers and one sister. Services were Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Pitts Chapel with the Rev. Guy Lawyer officiating. Burial followed in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery near Aldrich. Pallbearers were Kris Miller, Mike Day Jr., Ed Jones, Phillip Betterton, Bryan Bagley and Steve Hawkins.
Darlene Wooten
Darlene Wooten, 51, Bolivar, died at 12:19 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, 1998. She was born Oct. 6, 1947, in Bolivar to Everett and Pearl West. She was united in marriage to Terry Wooten and moved with him to Kansas City. This union ended in divorce, but her marriage was blessed with the birth of three children. She returned to Bolivar and became an active member of Berean Baptist Church, where she had been saved at an early age. She was preceded in death by an infant son, Jeffrey Wooten, and a brother, Evan West. She is survived by a daughter, Tonetta Beard, and her husband, James, Bolivar; a son, Carl Wooten and his wife, Melissa, Seymour; her parents, Everett and Pearl West, Bolivar; two sisters, Anna Marie West of San Jose, Costa Rica, and Christine Brich, her husband, Garland, and their son, Aaron; as well as four grandchildren, Cody and Samantha Phillips and Jessica and Kayla Wooten. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Butler Funeral Home Chapel wil Bro. Ernie Presley officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Music will be provided by Bill Yeargain, soloist, and Josh Yeargain, accompanist. Additional music will be by the Slagle Church choir. Casketbearers will be Eugene Ervin, John Meese, Kenneth Winfrey, James Lewis, Jeff Shelenhamer and Paul McKnight.
Sarah Ruth Arnote
Sarah Ruth Arnote, 84, Bolivar, died Monday, Nov. 23, 1998, in the home of her nephew following a sudden illness. She was born Aug. 26, 1914, in Dearborn to Elijah and Ruby Kelly Stagner. She was a former resident of St. Louis, St. Joseph and the state of Texas before moving to Bolivar two years ago. She is survived by three nephews and their families, Harry Taylor of Kearney, Donald Stagner of Warsaw and James Stagner of Bolivar; and a brother, Milton "Kelly" Stagner of Dawn. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband of 46 years, Jackson A. Arnote. Services and disposition will take place at a later date in the state of California. Local arrangements are under the direction of Pitts Chapel.
