Ruby McHan
Ruby Mildred Wicker McHan, 82, Springfield, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2000, after a brave battle with congestive heart failure. She was born March 13, 1917, to Fred and Idella Hardcastle Wicker near Bakersfield. Educated in one-room schools, she graduated from Bakersfield High School. At the age of 18 she went to New York, N.Y., where she worked as a cook for wealthy families, sending much of her pay to her parents and young siblings during the Great Depression and drought. After attending Southwest Missouri State College for one year, she began her teaching career at Big Springs School in Howell County. On March 22, 1943, she married Daniel Webster McHan, who had been the previous teacher at the little school. She worked for Boeing Aircraft during World War II while Daniel was in Europe. In 1962 she completed her B.S. degree at Drury College and taught 16 years in West Plains and 13 years in Ozark, where she retired in 1987. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma honorary teachers' society and was nominated by Ozark PTA for state teacher of the year in 1986. Teaching was her "God-called profession." She gave her heart to Christ as a young girl and was a teacher of ladies' classes and children's groups for more than 40 years at the Southern Baptist churches where she was a member. She not only taught but lived her Christian principles. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Daniel; a daughter, Idella Warden and her husband, Marvin; a son, Danny McHan and his fiancee, Teddy Sue Wethington; three grandchildren, Dylan Warden and his wife, Bunnie, Branden Warden and Katie McHan; two sisters, Ruth Mustion and Geraldine Tucker; three nieces, four nephews and a large extended family which was very important in her life. She was preceded in death by her parents and four brothers. The family deeply appreciates Cynthia Rowland and Lloyd Jones, whose care and assistance allowed Ruby to spend her last months at home. Services will be at 10 a.m. today (Wednesday) in Greenlawn North Funeral Home, Springfield, and at 2:30 p.m. at Amy Union Church south of West Plains. Burial will be Amy Union Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ruby McHan Scholarship Fund, c/o Ozark Schools, P.O. Box 166, Ozark MO.
Guy Carl Nickels
Guy Carl Nickels, 76, Humansville, died at 9:55 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, 2000, in Big Spring Care Center, Humansville, following an extended illness. He was born Sept. 2, 1923, in Humansville, the only son of Arthur and Oval Wilson Nickels. He was marred to Bonnie Potter on June 26, 1947. He was a farmer and a school bus driver. For 14 years he was the bus contractor for the Humansville Schools. He was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Gary Lee Nickels. Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Bonnie, of the home; one son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Karen Nickels, Humansville; one grandson, Ricky Nickels, Springfield; and two great-grandchildren, Kindra and Cody Nickels. Services were Friday, Feb. 18, in Rondo Cemetery with the Rev. Martin Micke officiating. Services were under the direction of Murray Funeral Home.
James D. Nunn
James D. Nunn, 77, Blue Springs, died at 11:55 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000, in St. Luke's Hospital, Kansas City. The son of James S. and Rose Truitt Nunn, he was born Feb. 7, 1923, at Long Beach, Calif. On March 3, 1946, he married Beatrice Bishop. She preceded him in death Oct. 3, 1995. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy. He was a retired barber. Survivors include two children, Debra G. Nunn and James R. Nunn, both of Blue Springs, and two granddaughters, Tonya and Shari Nunn. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, in Murray Funeral Home, Humansville. Burial will be in the Humansville Cemetery.
Virginia Owens
Virginia Owens, 72, Buffalo, died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2000. She was born Dec. 17, 1927, to Charles Thomas and Lula Martha Love Clinkenbeard at Meeker, Okla. On Dec. 19, 1944, she married Albert E. Owens at Reno, Nev. To this union two children were born. Albert died July 5, 1994. She married Kenneth H. Grant on July 10, 1996, and this marriage ended in April 1998. She retired as director of Dallas County Family Services in April 1991 after serving the DFS for 25 years. She accepted Christ at the age of 13 at Concord, Calif. She was a charter member of Calvary Chapel Freewill Baptist Church, Buffalo, where she was church librarian and senior adult Sunday school teacher. She is survived by her children, Thomas Owens and his wife, Joanne, of Marshall and Terri Phillips and her husband, Terry, of Bolivar; seven grandchildren, Shawn Phillips, Janel Owens Oertle, Thad Owens, Timothy Phillips, Jessica Owens, Jennifer Owens and Jennie Phillips Chappell; and seven great-grandchildren. Also surviving are one sister, Ella Drake of Duncan, Okla., and three brothers, Bud Clinkenbeard of Bolivar, Kenneth Clinkenbeard of Lawton, Okla., and Bill Clinkenbeard of Powderly, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Mary McKnight; a brother, Carl Clinkenbeard; and her husband, Albert Owens. Services were Monday, Feb. 7, in the Calvary Chapel Freewill Baptist Church, Buffalo, with the Rev. Doug Earls officiating. Music was by Randy Boggs, soloist, who sang "If That Isn't Love." The congregation sang "Anywhere With Jesus" and "The Family of God." Piano selections of "A Mighty Fortress" and "Fairest Lord Jesus" were played by Betsy Earls. Casketbearers were Dal Chappell, Robert Clinkenbeard, Shannon Clinkenbeard, Thad Owens, Shawn Phillips and Tim Phillips. Burial was in the Macedonia Cemetery, Buffalo, under the direction of Montgomery-Viets Funeral Home, Buffalo.
Cecil V. Patton
Cecil V. Patton, 87, Bolivar, died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2000, in the home of his caregiver, Nina Thirion, following a lengthy illness. He was born April 27, 1912, in Crabtree, Ore., to Carl N. and Bessie Bean Patton. He was united in marriage to Evelyn O. Penn on June 29, 1941, in Redfield, Kan. He was a retired farmer, a World War II army veteran and a member of Southern Hills Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn, who resides with Mrs. Thirion; a cousin, Jim Patton of Newton, Kan.; and his caregiver, Nina Thirion of Bolivar. His parents, a brother and a sister preceded him in death. Graveside services were Tuesday, feb. 8, in Greenwood Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Pitts Chapel.
Emma Lee Reed
Emma Lee Reed, 72, Bolivar, died Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2000, in Cox Medical Center South, Springfield, following a short illness. She was born June 21, 1927, in Greenfield, the daughter of Clovis and Sarah Tefferteller Carmack. She was a homemaker and of the Lutheran faith. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charles Clarence Reed Jr.; and nine brothers and sisters. Survivors include five sons, Darwin Reed of Dexter, Wayne Reed, Calvin Reed and Daniel Reed, all of Bolivar, and Michael Reed of St. Louis; a brother, Frank Carmack of Lockwood; three sisters, Faye Erickson of the state of California, Floy Hartwell of the state of Arizona and Evelyn McMasters of Stockton; seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Services were Saturday, Feb. 12, in Pitts Chapel with burial at a later date at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.
James Marvin Reynolds
James Marvin Reynolds, 77, Urbana, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2000, in St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield. He was born in Sentinel on May 10, 1922, the son of George and Mary Storment Reynolds. He was reared in the Sentinel area and was baptized at the Sentinel Baptist Church in 1935. He was united in marriage to Gladys Elaine Pitts on July 3, 1943, in Fort Scott, Kan., and to this union three children were born. They moved to Ohio after their marriage. They later moved to the Kansas City area where he was a paving contractor for many years. Following his retirement, they moved to Sentinel. They then moved to Urbana, where they attended Olive Point Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Leonard, Ray, Hallie, Arlie and Elbert; and a sister, Vera Talion. He is survived by his wife, Gladys, of the home; two sons, James Reynolds and his wife, Lajuana, and David Reynolds and his wife, Patty, all of Polk; one daughter, Judy Kaiahua and her husband, John, of Raytown; a sister, Ira Lichty of Olmstead, Ohio; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and other family and friends. Services were Monday, Feb. 28, in the Cantlon Otterness Funeral Chapel, Urbana, with the Rev. Terry Gentry Jr. officiating. The Olive Point Church choir sang "Amazing Grace" and "In The Garden," accompanied by Carol Barker, pianist. Escorts were his grandsons Eric Reynolds, Chris Reynolds, James Crawford, Jason Crawford, Scott Reynolds, Jim Duryee and Mike High. Interment was in the Sentinel Cemetery.
Abner Ralph Rulifson
Abner Ralph Rulifson, 99, Eudora, died Friday, Feb. 4, 2000, in Sac Osage Hospital, Osceola, following an extended illness. He was born in Springfield and was a longtime resident of the Ash Grove and Eudora area. He had attended the Pentecostal Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Louise, on Feb. 23, 1988, and his mother, Stella Hicks. He is survived by his son, Abner L. Rulifson of Springfield. Graveside services were Tuesday, Feb. 15, in the Eudora Cemetery with the Rev. Long Killingsworth officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Wilson Brim Daniel Funeral Homes of Walnut Grove.
James Leo Saye
James Leo Saye, 81, Fair Play, died Friday, Feb. 4, 2000, in Cox Medical Center South, Springfield. He was born Feb. 24, 1918, near Aldrich, the youngest child of James Benjamin and Lucinda McCrory Saye. He spent most of his childhood on the family farm and attended College Hill School and College Hill Methodist Church. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945, seeing action as an ambulance driver in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. On May 2, 1946, he married Helen Dickinson. They bought a farm west of Fair Play in 1947, and he spent the remainder of his life engaged in farming. He was preceded in death by his parents and his stepmother, Josie; a brother, Dwight Saye; and two sisters, Cora Lee Saye and Doris Winfield. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Helen Saye, of the home; a sister and brother-in-law, Orlena and Phillip Evans of Rawlings, Md.; a sister-in-law, Hope Saye of Collinsville, Va.; 10 nieces and nephews and several cousins. Services were Monday, Feb. 7, 2000, in Murray Chapel with Elders Doug Skinner and Ralph Redman officiating. Music was provided by Kent Welch, Marcia Skinner and Marla Roberts. Burial was in Barren Creek Cemetery. Pallbearers were James Phillips, McCrory Phillips, Alan Phillips, Ronald Saye, Delynn Bishop, Bill Bartow, Stephen Skinner and Bob Keech.
Roxie Faye Shelten
Roxie Faye Shelten, 85, Humansville, died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2000, in Big Spring Care Center, Humansville. She was born May 31, 1914, at Quincy, the daughter of George and Eda Hemphill Bishop. She accepted Christ as a young woman at a brush arbor meeting at Shiloh. She had been a resident of Humansville since 1955, coming from Hickory County. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Wardie Durnell and Orlie Shelten; two brothers, Wilbur Bishop and Ernest Bishop; and a sister, Fern Shelten. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Twila and Jack Burrell of Humansville; a grandson and his wife, Jack Hall and Pam Burrell of Springfield; a great-grandson, Wesley Burrell; and nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends. Graveside services will be today (Wednesday) in Butcher-Fairview Cemetery northeast of Weaubleau with the Rev. Martin Micke officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Murray Funeral Home, Humansville.
