Ruby Cowden
Ruby Cowden, 76, Bolivar, died at 2:55 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1998, in Citizens Memorial Hospital. She was born March 6, 1922, in Polk County, and she was a homemaker and a lifelong resident of the Bolivar area. She is survived by two daughters, Shirley McCormick of Bolivar and Debra Barton of Fordland; six sons, Oren "Junior" Cowden, Bolivar; Robert Cowden, Springfield; Richard Cowden, Lee's Summit; Roger Cosden, Belton; Jimmie Cowden, Flemington; and Mike Cowden, Bolivar; four sisters, Rhoda Porter, Ventura, Calif.; Beulah Lobaugh, Olatha, Colo.; Betty Beck, Truth or Consequences, N.M.; and Mary Earwood, Las Vegas, Nev. Other survivors include one brother, Luther Standley, Bolivar, nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, in Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Harold Hendrickson officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery near Aldrich. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home.
Richard Derossett
Richard Derossett, 71, Springfield, died Thursday, Nov. 12, 1998, in Cox Medical Center South, Springfield. He was born at Burns on May 27, 1927. Even as a youngster, he loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping and the farm. He was a member and president of the Bolivar FFA. An accomplishment that Richard and his family were very proud of was that he attended all 12 years of school without being tardy or missing a single day. He was given a silver dollar in elementary school which he still has today. He joined the Navy just a few weeks prior to graduation and his diploma was presented to his parents, Lynn and Rose Derossett at the class graduation. After leaving the Navy, Richard went to work at Federal Engineers, Stringing Line in Greenfield. He later went to work as a lineman for City Utilities, Springfield. Richard was given an award from City Utilities in 1987 for 40 years without a lost-time accident. Richard later retired as a supervisor with City Utilities after 44 years of service. Richard Derossett and Frances Pickett were married in Springfield in 1947. To this union, were born two children, Vicki Derossett Burk and Ricki Derossett. Since retirement, Richard and Frances were avid SMS Lady Bear basketball fans. They attended all of the Lady Bear games and traveled as far away as South Carolina to cheer their team on. Richard, like his dad, loved building and carpentry. He loved building on the barn for horses at his daughter Vicki's or helping Vicki and her husband, Gerald, take their horses to the fairs and parades. He quickly knew all the members of the Haflinger Draft Pony Club and could be seen helping whenever he could. Richard is survived by his wife, Frances, of the home; a daughter, Vicki, and her husband, Gerald Burk, of Spokane; a son, Rick, and his wife, Elaine Derossett, of St. Louis; one sister, Mildred, and her husband, H.E. "Buck" Seiner, of Bolivar; and grandchildren, Jeff and Shelley Alexander and Tyler Alexander of Springfield and Jessica, Lauren and Joshua Derossett of St. Louis. Service were held Monday, Nov. 16 in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dennis E. Spear officiating. Musical selections were "God Walks the Dark Hills," "Daddy's Hands" and "Amazing Grace." Burial was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Casketbearers were Rick Derossett, Doyle Barham, Jeff Alexander, Tyler Alexander, Tony Beasley and Richard Marley. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pleasant Hill Cemetery Fund in care of Butler Funeral Home.
James A. Emory
James A. Emory, 81, Bolivar, died at 12:40 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 1998, in Citizens Memorial Hospital following a lingering illness. A lifelong resident of Polk County, he was born Oct. 3, 1917, in Goodson to James Harmon and Nancy Catherine Payne Emory. He was a farmer and a member of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church. On Dec. 25, 1938, he was united in marriage to Helen M. Deane. Survivors include his wife, Helen, of the home; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Jesse Emory of Ventura, Calif.; J.L. and Gladys Emory of Santa Paula, Calif.; and Johnny and Betty Emory of Independence; four sisters and a brother-in-law, Willetta and Carl Reser, Ica Scrivener, Roxie Rush and Anna Mashburn, all of Bolivar; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be at 10 a.m. today (Wednesday) in Pitts Chapel with the Rev. Jimmy Scrivener officiating. Burial will follow in Payne Cemetery. Musical selections will be provided by Ben Deane and Haley Hawkins. Pallbearers will be Franklin Mashburn, Jerald David Emory, James Rush, Rick Deane, Carl Reser and Leslie Roberts. Honorary pallbearers will be Ova Scrivener, Olen Black, Ralph Lawrence, Olen Scrivener and Albert Roberts.
Lyndell Freeze
Lyndell Chloe Freeze, 88, Aldrich, died Monday, Nov. 30, 1998, in the Dade County Nursing Home. She was born Dec. 20, 1909, in Dadeville to Hailey and Mattie Pyle Maze. A graduate of Dadeville High School, she was a homemaker and a member of the Bona Church of Christ. She married James Riley Freeze April 4, 1933, in Greenfield, and he preceded her in death in October 1973. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Anna Freeze; two brothers, Powell Maze and George Maze; and two sisters, Louise Stever and Mazine Mangels. Survivors include three sons, Jack Freeze of Aldrich, Jimmy Freeze of Dadeville and Joe Freeze of Fair Play; one daughter, June Beach of Arcola; three brothers, Dick Maze of Visalia, Calif., and Claude and Everett Maze, both of Exeter, Calif.; eight grandsons, Jackie Freeze of Springfield, Jay, Robbie and Brian Freeze, all of Dadeville, Ken Freeze of Aldrich, Gary Beach of Kansas City, Mickey Beach of Brookfield and Joe Dee Beach of Brighton; 12 great-grandchildren, six step-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Services were Thursday, Dec. 3, in the Bona Church of Christ with Jim Poland officiating. Burial followed in Bona Cemetery under the direction of the Greenfield Funeral Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fair Haven Childrens' Home or the American Cancer Society.
Cordie V. Henson
Cordie V. Henson, 77, Nevada, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1998, at Balanced Care, Nevada. She was born Oct. 27, 1921, in Humansville, the daughter of Melvin and Inez Ross Hensley. On Sept. 11, 1940, she was married to Stanley Henson in Polk County. She had been a resident of Vernon County since 1947. She was employed at the Nevada State Hospital for 33 years, retiring in 1985. After retirement, she volunteered with Hospice for a time. She was a member of the Community Christian Church. Survivors include her husband, Stanley Henson, of the home; one son, Dale Henson, Nevada; four daughters, Mary O'Hair, Deerfield; Margie Thron and Debbie Hilt, both of Nevada; and Barbara Gordon, Moundville; one sister, Joan Goodman, Nevada; one brother, Harry Evert Hensley, Bolivar; 16 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Ben, Lanny and Billy Hensley, and three sisters, Annis Brenner, MayBelle Richards and Wanda Hensley. Services were Friday, Nov. 6, at the Evergreen Memorial Chapel, Nevada, with Pastor Wes Anderson officiating. Burial followed in Salem Cemetery, Cliquot. Memorial contributions may be made to the Community Christian Church in care of the funeral home.
John Holton
John Holton, 87, Bolivar, died Monday, Nov. 2, 1998, in his home following a long illness. He was a lifelong resident of Bolivar and Polk County, born here on Nov. 1, 1911, to James and Laura Ellen Copeland Holton. He worked for many years at Polk County Electric and was of the the Assembly of God faith. On Jan. 3, 1946, he was united in marriage to Belva Combs. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was an anti-tank gun crewman, participated in the Guadalcanal campaign and Northern Solomons campaign and received an Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars. He was an excellent woodcarver and has work on display at the Dunnegan Gallery of Art. He is survived by his wife, Belva, of the home, and relatives Jean Goodman of Lenexa, Kan.; Dema Dougherty of Crawfordsville, Ind.; Lloyd and Olivia Combs of Joplin; the Rev. Joe and Ada Combs, Houston; Tate Combs of Hollister; and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and two sisters. Services will be at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Pitts Chapel with the Rev. Joe Combs officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jack Glendenning, George Glendenning, James C. Faulkner, Leon Holton and Denny Austin.
Frank Huser
Frank Huser, 86, Lockwood, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1998, in the Dade County Nursing Home. He was born June 20, 1912, in Berne, Ind., to the late Peter and Lillie Gerber Huser. He married Evelyn McCoy on Sept. 30, 1939, in Greenfield. He was a member of the Lockwood First Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon for many years. He was a tractor mechanic for 37 years before retiring. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn, of the home; one son, Carl Huser, Bolivar, and one daughter, Kay Blom, San Jose, Calif.; two grandchildren, Cary Wayne Huser and Catheryn Kay Huser; two brothers, John Huser, Golden City, and Lawrence Huser, Lockwood; and two sisters, Betty David, Kansas City, and Ada Merrill, Canyon City, Colo. Services were Saturday, Nov. 7, in the Lockwood First Baptist Church, with the Rev. Cameron Moles and the Rev. Gordon Rhodes officiating. Burial followed in Lockwood Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of the Lockwood Funeral Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gideon Memorial Bible program or to the Lockwood First Baptist Church.
Cecil W. Jenkins
Cecil Wayne Jenkins, 82, Dunnegan, died Monday, Nov. 16, 1998, at the home of his daughter, Sharon Truitt. The son of Harley and Bessie Greer Jenkins, he was born Dec. 13, 1915, at Dunnegan.With the exception of five years in California, he lived in Polk County all of his life. He was a farmer and a member of Dunnegan Community Bible Church. He was preceded in death by a son, Ronald Jenkins, who died in infancy; and a sister, Burnell Hammons. Survivors include five children, Wayne Jenkins of Stockton, Janice Chaney of Flemington, Sharon Truitt of Bolivar, Tommy Jenkins of Dunnegan and Deryl Jenkins of Bolivar; three brothers, Lyle Jenkins of Stockton, Greer Jenkins of Bolivar and Keith Jenkins of Independence; two sisters, Ruth Nottingham of Redlands, Calif. and Rowene Mead of Fair Play; a special friend, Pauline Broyles of Stockton; 10 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Service are 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Dunnegan Community Bible Church with the Rev. Bill Levergood officiating. Music was by Barbaa George and Anna Lee Lower. Interment was in Dunnegan Cemetery under the direction of Murray Funeral Home, Humansville.
Donnie Gene Kessler
Donnie Gene Kessler, 25, died at 6:23 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, 1998. He was born March 13, 1973, in Springfield, the son of Ronald and Nina Reeves Kessler. For the past 19 years he had resided at Mashburn Residential Center. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Henry L. and Margaret Kessler, and his maternal grandfather, Glenn Reeves. Survivors include his parents, Nina and Ron Kessler, Morrisville; a brother, Dustin, and a sister, Melinda, both of the home; his maternal grandparents, Melvin and Reva Bell, Morrisville; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Graveside services were Saturday, Nov. 21, at Brighton Cemetery with the Rev. Terry Hartley officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Murray Funeral Home, Bolivar.
Viola Kropf
Viola Catherine Shrock Kropf, 88, Buffalo, died Friday, Nov. 20, 1998, at her home from heart complications. She was born near Shelbyville, Ill., on Jan. 14, 1910, to William and Laura Miller Shrock. On Jan. 1, 1931, she was united in marriage to Allen Kropf at Shelbyville, Ill. The family moved to Buffalo in 1965, then to Mena, Ark., in 1971 and back to Buffalo in 1981. Survivors include three sons, Wayne Kropf and his wife, Barbara, Half Way; Ervil Kropf and his wife Carol, Half Way; and Charles Kropf and his wife, Anna, Vandalia; one daughter, Beulah Headings; one brother, William Shrock, Tampico, Ill.; one sister, Lela Hostetler, Deer Grove, Ill; 30 grandchildren and 73 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; six brothers, Russell, John, Paul, Melvin, Leo and Carl Wilbur; one sister, Esther Kropf; one grandson, Richard; one infant granddaughter, Ellen; and one great-grandson, Jacob. Services were Tuesday, Nov. 24, at Pleasant View A.M. Church under the direction of Cantlon Funeral Home, Buffalo. Burial was in Pleasant View A.M. Cemetery, Buffalo.
