Thomas R. Mustain
Thomas Richard Mustain, 61, Bolivar, died Monday, Jan. 10, 2000, in Cox Medical Center South, Springfield. The son of Harrison and Dora Mitchem Mustain, he was born near Fair Play Aug. 26, 1938. A longtime resident of Bolivar, he attended Bolivar High School and was a truck driver. He married Connie Young Oct. 22, 1966. Survivors include his wife, Connie, of the home; his mother, Dora Mustain, Bolivar; two daughters, Ann Mustain of Springfield and Linda Miller and her husband, Glen, of Bolivar; two brothers, Ted Mustain of San Jacinto, Calif., and Robert Mustain of Brighton; three sisters, Lula Kent and Shirley Trammell, both of Bolivar, and Cookie Witt of Bois D'Arc; and three grandchildren, Toni Miller, Joshua Miller and Haley Miller. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 13, in Murray Chapel. Eulogies will be given by Ann Mustain and Shirley Trammell. The Rev. Bruce Trammell will officiate at the graveside committal service. Pallbearers will be John Jackson, Jay Jackson, Darrell Riley, Russ Orrell, Delbert Bailey and David Goldsberry. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today (Wednesday) in the funeral home.
Zoe Norwood
Zoe Irene Woods Norwood, 97, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000. She was born April 19, 1902, in Bolivar to William and Cora Woods. She was saved in 1916 at Center Point Missionary Baptist Church and remained a member there until her death. She married Henry Kuhn in 1920, and they moved to California in 1923. Their son, Larry, was born in 1924. Henry died in 1928. She married Chester Norwood in 1932, and their son, William Henry, wasn born in 1933. Chester died in 1956. Their son, William, died in 1980. She was also preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Zela Bandel; and five brothers, John Woods, James Woods, Arley Woods, Fennie Woods and Clifford Woods. She moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in 1992, living at the Loyalton Inn. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Bobby Kuhn; a daughter-in-law, Sharon Norwood; her grandchildren in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Mark and Trudi Kuhn, and her great-grandchildren, Kristi and Jessica Kuhn. Five more grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren also survive, as well as a half-sister, Willena Walker, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held Jan. 13 at Loyalton Inn and services were Jan. 14 at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Funeral Home with burial following in Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens.
Lillie Irene Perry
Lillie Irene Perry, 93, Bolivar, died Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2000, in Citizens Memorial Hospital following a lengthy illness. She was born May 4, 1906, in Cloverdale, Kan., to John R. and Nancy Alice Martindill Kennedy. She was a homemaker and helped on the family farm for many years. She was united in marriage to Elmer J. Perry, and to this union two sons were born. She was a member of Sentinel Missionary Baptist Church. Survivors include her two sons and daughters-in-law, Dean and Lorada Perry of Grandview and Jimmie and Nora Lee Perry of Cleveland; six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elmer, on March 3, 1997; two brothers and two sisters. Services were Saturday, Jan. 29, in Pitts Chapel with Bro. Leon Meadows and the Rev. Pete Davidson officiating. Burial followed in Payne Cemetery.
Joseph P. Pfitzner
Joseph P. Pfitzner, 71, Wichita, Kan., died Monday, Jan. 10, 2000. He was a retired Boeing machine operator. Survivors include four brothers, John J. Pfitzner of Bolivar, Stephen Pfitzner of Morrisville, Matthew Pfitzner of Lenexa, Kan., and Frank Pfitzner of Lake View, Ark.; and two sisters, Agnes Pfitzner of Morrisville and Tracy Colburn of Bolivar. Services were Thursday, Jan. 14, at Christ the King Catholic Church, Wichita, Kan., under the direction of Resthaven Mortuary, Wichita, Kan.
Ella Mae Pitts
Ella Mae Pitts, 80, Flemington, died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2000, at Citizens Memorial Hospital. She was born at Urbana, the daughter of Joseph Marrion and Sarah Ollie Burns Shaw. She was the owner of the Elkton Store for several years and a longtime area resident. She was a member of the Elkton Christian Church. Survivors include her husband, Leland Pitts of the home; one son, Bob Pitts of Flemington; one daughter, Gloria Gist of Wheatland; two sisters, Zella Narron of Marshall and Monnie Dailey of Commerce, Calif.; five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Services were Sunday, Jan. 23, at Hathaway-Peterman Funeral Home Chapel, Wheatland, with the Rev. J.R. Earson and the Rev. Charles Johnson officiating. Burial was in Rondo Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Elkton Christian Church, Flemington.
Fannie E. Pratt
Fannie Evelyn Pratt, 100, Humansville, died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000, at her home. She was born at Sullivan on July 17, 1899. She married Francis Columbus Pratt, and they were the parents of four children, Lewis, Mable, Bertha and Gertha. She was preceded in death by her husband, Francis, on April 16, 1962; infant daughters Bertha and Gertha; a daughter, Mable Root; a brother, Jesse Henson; and three sisters, Pearl Muse, Tina Pratt and Mary Pratt. Survivors include a son, Lewis Pratt of New Franklin; a sister, Leona Hale of Springfield; six grandchildren, Charles, Roger, Dennis, Val, Ernest and Lori Pratt; 10 great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren and one great-great-great-grandson. Services were Saturday, Jan. 8, in Murray Chapel, Humansville, with the Rev. Roger Pratt officiating. Honorary pallbearers were Shannon Pratt and Chris Pratt. Pallbearers were Val Pratt, Charles Pratt, Dennis Pratt, Ernest Pratt, Roy Pratt and Tempton Hall. Interment was in Humansville Cemetery.
Wilma G. Reed
Wilma Gesye Reed (Gothard), 69, Bolivar, died Jan. 2, 2000, at St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield. She was born Oct. 18, 1930, in Rushing, Ark., the daughter of John and Bertha Best Moore. She had been a restaurant owner and was a member of High Praise Assembly of God Church. Surviving are three children, Phillip Reed and his wife, Marie, of Huntington Beach, Calif., Deborah Othic and her husband, Mike, of Tucson, Ariz., and Rebecca Jones and her husband, Jeff, of Bolivar; five grandchildren, John Reed and his wife, Frita, of Springfield, Brian Ratzlaff and Nathan Ratzlaff, both of Denver, Colo., and Brittany Jones and Abigail Jones, both of Bolivar; two great-grandchildren, LeAnn Reed and Aiyana Ratzlaff; two sisters, Johnnie Divelbiss of Dewey, Ariz., and Robbie Mitchell of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and five brothers, Dale Moore of Humboldt, Ariz., Walt Moore of Rushing, Ark., Paul Moore of Bakersfield, Calif., Neil Moore of Laverne, Calif., and Sam Moore of Sedona, Ariz. Services were Thursday, Jan. 6, in Murray Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. David Tice and the Rev. Reggie Chandra officiating. Pallbearers were George Garrett, Leonard Draschil, Brian Ratzlaff, John Reed, Nathan Ratzlaff and Wesley Jones. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery.
Mildred W. Roberts
Mildred Wells Roberts, 92, Humansville, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2000, at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton after a brief illness. She was born June 6, 1907, in Lowry City to William W. and Myrtle Lee Baker Wells. She accepted Christ at a young age, serving her Lord and church in many ways, including Sunday school teacher, children's church, choir director, pianist and a variety of mission activities. Most of her married life was spent at Humansville, with 10 years in Florence, Kan. After attending Southwest Missouri State Teachers' College in Springfield, she taught in Kansas as well as in the Humansville school system. She was united in marriage with Harold LeRoy Roberts of Adonis on Aug. 15, 1928. He preceded her in death June 22, 1992. In addition to her husband of 64 years, she was preceded in death by an infant son, Harold LeRoy Jr.; her parents; two sisters, Winnie and Faye; and two brothers, Roy and Reed. Survivors include a daughter, Sue Short, and her husband, Don, of Joplin; a son, LeRoy Roberts, and his wife, Jeannine, of Raleigh, N.C.; two granddaughters, Donna Simmons and her husband, Woody, of Columbia and Debbie Stephens and her husband, Glenn, of Joplin; two grandsons, Dr. Mark Roberts and his wife, Pam, of Livermore, Calif., and David Roberts of Burlington, N.C.; five great-grandchildren, Jessica Hodge, Daniel Roberts, Amber Roberts, Emily Roberts and Adam Roberts; one sister, Ferne Wells Duzan of Lowry City; and a host of other relatives and friends. One of the greatest joys of her life was her family. Services were Friday, Feb. 4, in the Humansville First Baptist Church with the Rev. Martin Micke and Dr. Tim Sumners officiating. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery, Bolivar, under the direction of Murray Funeral Home, Humansville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gideons International or the Harold and Mildred Roberts Scholarship Fund, Southwest Baptist University, 1601 S. Springfield Ave., Bolivar, MO 65613. (2c)
Roberta E. Searcy
Roberta Ellen Searcy, 87, Humansville, died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000, in her home. She was born March 23, 1912, at Trenton, the daughter of Jacob Burton and Zelpha Inez Field Sigler. In 1930 she married Leon A. Moberly, who preceded her in death in 1975. In 1976 she married Wallace Searcy, who preceded her in death in 1980. She was also preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Kenneth Sigler and Kessler Sigler; and four sisters, Catherine Miller, Marvel LeHew, Nell Rains and Ruth Morrow. She was a homemaker and worked for 11 years at Trenton Memorial Hospital as a housekeeper in surgery and delivery rooms. A member of Trenton First Baptist Church, she had resided at Circle Drive Apartments in Humansville since January 1993. Survivors include three daughters, Jo Ellen LeAn of Humansville, Karen Sue Clark and Janet I. Lentz, both of Winchester, Kan.; 11 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Services were Saturday, Jan. 8, at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens, Trenton, with Dr. Rick Seaton officiating. Cremation was under the direction of Murray Funeral Home, Humansville.
Esther H. Seiner
Esther Hazel Seiner, 92, Bolivar, died at 6:25 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2000, in Citizens Memorial Hospital. She was born June 15, 1907, in Polk County, the daughter of John Wesley and Van Rachel Stafford Brashears. She spent most of her life in the Bolivar area except for a few years when she lived in Kansas City and Clinton. She was united in marriage to Cecil Seiner on July 16, 1924, and to this union four children were born; Leroy, Bobby Gene, Maxine and Geraldine. Esther was converted at age 13 in Bolivar First Baptist Church and was baptized on Dec. 9, 1920. These records she proudly kept in her Bible. She was a great mother and was always there to cool our fevered brows, to wash our clothes on an old washboard, to cook us delicious meals and always kept a neat and clean house. She was content with her life. She was a good wife and beloved mother, a hard worker and a talented singer. She taught us children to sing at a young age. She even taught us to sing harmony--something that she was very proud of. She lived, she loved, she was loved and has now gone home. A precious one from us is gone, a voice is stilled. A place is vacant at our old home, which never can be filled. God, in his wisdom, has recalled the love he had given in the form of Esther. Though her body slumbers, her soul is in heaven. Every time her daughter would come to visit her, Esther would say how lonely she was and how she wanted to go home. Maxine would tell her that as soon as she could walk, she could go home. One day, not long ago, Esther wanted to see if she could walk, so Maxine got her up and tried to put her little feet on the floor, but Esther could not walk. Esther said, "I cannot make it today, but maybe next time." It seems that Esther's next time has come, and today she is walking all around heaven with Jesus in her new home. Esther is survived by two daughters, Maxine Smith of Bolivar and Geraldine Effenbeck of Redding, Calif.; two sons, Leroy Seiner of Humansville and Bobby Gene Seiner of Aurora; two sisters, Zula Coy of Fort Worth, Texas, and Vanetta Beck of Tucson, Ariz.; 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren and a host of other family and friends. Services were Sunday, Jan. 23, at the First Assembly of God Church in Bolivar with the Rev. Gary Ankrom and the Rev. Lyle Shaulis officiating. The music was provided by the Ankrom brothers, Randy and Connie Matheny, Barbara Wegzryn and the Rev. Lyle Shaulis. Casketbearers were Ronald Entlicher, Randall Walker, Shawn Glaser, Greg Seiner, Leonard Mauck and George Glor. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Butler Funeral Home.
