Emma Jane Routh
Emma Jane Routh, 68, Bolivar, formerly of Dunnegan, died at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, 1999, at St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield, following a lingering illness. She was born Sept. 5, 1931, to Green Lafayette and Eldora Powell. On Aug. 21, 1954, she was united in marriage to Luther Guy Routh. They were the parents of two daughters. She was a homemaker and a member of Fairview Missionary Baptist Church. She is survived by her daughters, Orpha Pickel and her husband, Dale, of Wagoner, Okla., and Wilma Kirklin and her husband, Arnold, of Bolivar; four grandsons, James and Jeff Pickel of Wagoner, Okla., and Mike and Mark Blehm of Morrisville; two brothers, Albert Lee Powell and Billy Powell; a half-brother, Pearl Rucker and his wife, Mary; a half-sister, Hazel Yoachum and her husband, Charles; six stepchildren and their spouses, Ray and Josephine Routh, Billy and Mavie Routh, Lois and Obie Floyd, all of the state of Kansas, Junior and Waunita Routh of Dunnegan, Ruby Fox of Lathrop and Jewell and Winton Hargis of Greenfield; several step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins and her best friend, Florence McGee of Bolivar. She was preceded in death by her husband, Luther Guy Routh, and three brothers, Johnny Alfred and Roy Powell. Services were Monday, Oct. 25, in Murray Chapel, Humansville, with the Rev. James Friend officiating. Pallbearers were Dale Pickel, Jeff Pickel, Pearl Rucker, Jim Price, Arnold Kirklin and James Armburts. Interment was in Alder Cemetery.
Robert M. Stewart
Robert Merl Stewart, 87, Urich, died Sunday, Oct. 24, 1999, in St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield. The son of Frank W. and Elizabeth Hewitt Stewart, he was born at Wapello, Iowa, Feb. 4, 1912. He graduated from Seymour High School and was a member of Morning Sun Presbyterian Church at Morning Sun, Iowa. He was married to Beulah Bishop on Oct. 24, 1941, at Bolivar. She preceded him in death April 24, 1981. The date of his death marked the 58th anniversary of their marriage. A longtime resident of the Humansville and Collins area, he had lived at Urich the past 10 years. He was a retired farmer and worked several years as a Green Thumb worker. Surviving are four children, Merlan Ketchum of Independence, Ronald Stewart of Strafford, Leta DeHart of Urich and Rita Bucklew of Waynesville; a brother, Lester Stewart, Springfield; six grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, in Murray Chapel, Humansville, with the Rev. Ron Tennison and the Rev. Clay McGranahan officiating. Pallbearers will be Derrick DeHart, Clint Morgan, Jeffrey Paul, Steven Tracy, Jeff Scott and Clay McGranahan. Interment will be in Humansville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today (Wednesday) in the funeral home.
Lessie T. Stites
Lessie Thelma Stites, 94, Joplin, formerly of Springfield and the Polk and Greene county areas, died at 11:20 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, 1999, in St. John's Hospital, Joplin, after a short illness. She was born in Greene County on July 22, 1905, to Jessie and Jennie Miner Marshall. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Springfield. Survivors include her daughter, the Rev. Kerry Skidmore, pastor of Byers Avenue United Methodist Church, Joplin, and her husband, John; three grandsons, John V. Skidmore of Los Angeles, Calif., Marshall Allen Skidmore of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Michael Andrew Skidmore and his wife, Julie, of Lebanon; a great-granddaughter, Emily Christine Skidmore; a sister, Dorothy O'Neal of Springfield; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald, in 1965 and by her two brothers, Hugh and Frank Marshall, and her five sisters, Lois Platte, Helen Marshall, Jessie Marshall, Madge Phelps and Hallie Marshall. Services were Monday, Oct. 25, in St. Luke United Methodist Church, Springfield, with the Rev. Fred Royer officiating. Burial was in Clear Creek Cemetery under the direction of Klingner Mortuary, Springfield. Pallbearers were Joe Costello, Bill Manary, Marvin Marshall, Joe Neal, Danny O'Neal and Roy Tate. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church, 1505 West Atlantic, Springfield, MO 65803.
Mearl Irene Todaro
Mearl Irene Todaro, 87, Nixa, died at 10:10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, 1999, at the Life Enhancement Village in Nixa. The daughter of William and Martha Ella Whittlock Newman, she was born Feb. 1, 1912, in Christian County near Nixa. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Springfield. Surviving are three nieces, Beverly Thieme and Barbara Riebold, both of Springfield, and Jackie Hanson of Napa Valley, Calif.; two nephews, Richard Kessinger of Springfield and Ralph Kessinger of Napa Valley, Calif.; and a sister-in-law, Vivian Kessinger Akins of Springfield. Graveside services were Monday, Oct. 25, in the Hopedale Cemetery north of Ozark with the Rev. Donald Foley officiating. Burial was under the direction of Butler Funeral Home.
Lige Edward Williams
Lige Edward Williams, 67, Bolivar, died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999, at Balanced Care Center West in Springfield following a long illness. He was born Feb. 2, 1932, in Fordland to Lige O. and Lillian Stevens Williams. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict. He was a retired sales representative for a linen supply company and a member of High Praise Assembly of God Church. He is survived by his wife, Joyce, of the home; two stepsons and daughters-in-law, Hollis R. and Denise Hall and Danny and Trish Hall, and one stepdaughter, Beverly Matthews, all of Bolivar; a brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Aline Williams, England; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Mary Lou and Tom Shoffner, Eula Mae and Huston Williamson and Joni Murray, all of Springfield; an aunt, Viola Davis; 15 grandchildren and four great-granddaughters as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter-in-law, Joan Hall; and a son-in-law, Wayne Matthews. Services were Monday, Oct. 11, in Pitts Chapel with Bro. Lyle Shaulis and Bro. Doyle Walls officiating. Music was provided by Randy and Connie Matheny and Lyle Shaulis, accompanied by Evelyn Shaulis. Burial followed in St. Wenceslaus Cemetery. Pallbearers were Johnny Hall, Andy Hall, David Sconce, Trey Salinas, Larry Drake and Brandon Harris. Honorary pallbearers were Huston Williamson, Tom Shoffner, Bobby Williams, Stacey Sikes, Jason Sikes, Robert Matthews, Elbert Sconce and Ray Batson. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimers Association.
Eva A. Wollard
Eva Angeline Wollard, 88, Humansville, formerly of Dunnegan, died at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, 1999, in Citizens Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. The daughter of William Perry and Amanda Benedict Yazel, she was born May 30, 1911, near Muscotah, Kan. She had been a resident of Missouri since 1925 and had lived in the Dunnegan and Humansville area since 1933. She attended Central Missouri State College at Warrensburg. She was saved as a young girl and was united with the Rondo Baptist Church. She had been a member of Bismont Baptist Church since 1956. She was a former school teacher, Sunday school teacher and 4-H leader. On March 22, 1936, she was united in marriage to Clarence Wollard, who preceded her in death in 1986. To this union were born three children. She is survived by her two sons and their wives, Bob and Kay Wollard of Walnut Grove and Wayne and Russella Wollard of Monroe, Wash.; her daughter and her husband, Dorothy and Bill Morton of Springfield; a sister, Eda Pitney of Columbia; seven grandchildren, Jan Cox, Keith Wollard, Stephanie Rawie, Paula Judson, Angie Nelson, Brad Morton and Kim Morton; and nine great-grandchildren, Devin Morton, Trevor Judson, Dylan Judson, Amanda Nelson, Jessica Nelson, Shannon Campbell, Jamie Campbell, Kylie Rawie and Alexia Wollard. Services were Sunday, Oct. 24, 1999, in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Gary Campbell officiating. Music was provided by Anna Lee Lower and Ron and Barbara George. Burial was in the Dunnegan Cemetery. Casketbearers were Brad Morton, Keith Wollard, Shannon Campbell, Jamie Campbell, Jim Cox and Jeff Rawie.
Bryan L. Wood
Bryan L. Wood, 26, Costa Mesa, Calif., formerly of Pleasant Hope, died Oct. 10, 1999, in his home. He is survived by his father and mother, Bill and Hazel Wood, Pleasant Hope; a brother, Brad Wood, Blue Springs; his maternal grandmother, Dora North, Pleasant Hope; his paternal grandmother, Stella Wood, Macks Creek; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Services were Monday, Oct. 18, in Greenlawn Funeral Home North, Springfield, with burial in Macks Creek Cemetery, Macks Creek.
Bradford Ahart
Bradford Ahart, 77, Bolivar, died Monday, Nov. 15, 1999, at Cox Medical Center South, Springfield, after a short illness. The son of Harvey and Martha Todd Ahart, he was born March 20, 1922, in Gerster. He was saved at an early age. On April 7, 1939, he was married to Chestine Mincks. He was a retired truck driver for Jump Oil Co. Survivors include his wife, Chestine, of the home; two sons, Jerry Ahart and his wife, Edith, of Lebanon and William Ahart and his wife, Donna, of Bolivar; three daughters, Betty Payne of Bolivar, Georgia Gaddy and her husband, Nyle, of Fair Play and Helen Payne and her husband, Sidney, of Bolivar; a brother, Lawrence Ahart of Bolivar; four sisters, Willa Manes, Frances Thompson and Neta Gaddy, all of Bolivar, and Ruby Campbell of Fair Play; 16 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son-in-law, Joe Payne. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, in Pitts Chapel with the Rev. Dennis Payton and the Rev. Neil Graham officiating. Burial will follow in Payne Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons Tommy Ahart, Gene Ahart, Kelly Ahart, Joe Dale Payne, Jamie Payne, Tony Hill and Jason Gaddy. Honorary pallbearers will be Roger Cook, Le Allen Lockhart, Jim Wilson, Jeff Case, Paul McNeil, Danny Dalton, Ricky Feast, Tom Benning and Jared Hendrickson. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today (Wednesday) in the funeral home.
Trusa Artz
Trusa Artz, 93, Bolivar, died at 5:40 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999, in Parkview Health Care Facility. She was born Dec. 23, 1905, in Sholten, Stone County, to Jonah and Trusa Etta Hancock Wilson. She was raised by her aunt and husband, Martha Ella and Thomas Newman, following the death of her mother when she was 10 days old. She was a homemaker and was a pianist for many area churches over a 50-year period. She was a member of Morrisville United Methodist Church and a former member of the Morrisville Garden Club. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Frank and Barbara Artz of Walnut Grove; two daughters and sons-in-law, Martha and Bill Bell of Bolivar and Helen and George Miller of Beggs, Okla.; as well as eight grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her foster parents; her husband, Peter Artz; a brother, Bueford Wilson; and a half-sister, Georgia Horn. Graveside services were Saturday, Dec. 4, at Marionville Cemetery in Marionville with the Rev. Lon Killingsworth officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Pitts Chapel.
Emma J. Bachtel
Emma Jane Jackson Bachtel, 105, Bolivar, died at 7:14 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999, at Big Spring Care Center in Humansville after a brief illness. A longtime resident of Bolivar, she had been living in Humansville for the past four years. She was born Feb. 17, 1894, in Kingston, the daughter of Dan and Rebecca Reynolds Gudgell. She was a homemaker and was of the Methodist faith. She was preceded in death by her husband Milo Jackson in 1943, her husband Archie Bachtel, her son, Lavern Jackson, in 1998 and her sister, Coleen Bethel. Surviving are one daughter and son-in-law, Virginia and Emil Stanek of Bolivar; nine grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Pat Wissman officiating. Musical selections will be "How Great Thou Art" and "Whispering Hope." Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery. Casketbearers will be Victor Stanek, Mark Stanek, Matthew Sukovaty, Andy Stanek, Chris Stanek and Nick Stanek.
