Stanley F. Owens
Stanley F. Owens, 79, Bolivar, died Thursday, March 9, 2000, in his home following a lengthy illness. He was born April 24, 1920, in Blackwell, Kay County, Okla., to John W. and Elmira Owens. On Oct. 24, 1942, in Perry, Okla., he was united in marriage to Reta Arzetta "Bunny" Morris. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945, receiving a Purple Heart. He was a retired lumber salesman, moving from California in 1990. He was a member of the Bolivar First Baptist Church. Survivors include close friends Mary and Willard Scurlock of Morrisville and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Bunny, on November 7, 1997, as well as his brothers and sisters. Graveside services were Friday, March 10, in Greenwood Cemetery with Pastor Bill Hooper officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Pitts Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to Citizens Memorial Hospital Hospice.
Lorene Redford
Lorene Redford, 91, Bolivar, died at 4:10 a.m. Monday, March 6, 2000, in Citizens Memorial Health Care Facility where she had resided for the past six years. She was born Aug. 10, 1908, in Polk County, the daughter of Otis Wesley and Ethel Mae Owen Kirby. She was united in marriage to Alpha Redford on Dec. 31, 1932. To this union one daughter was born. She was saved as a young girl and united with Campbell Grove Baptist Church. She later moved her membership to Calvary Baptist Church, where her husband was pastor. She remained a member there until her death. Even though her health had prevented her from attending in recent years, she often spoke of the good memories there. She especially enjoyed the Sunday afternoon singings at the Health Care Facility,ญญ especially the churches where her husband had pastored. Lorene worked on the farm beside her husband and also worked at various places in the Bolivar area. Her last employment was at Hacker's Dress Shop for 13 years. At her request, her former employers are providing the musical selections for her funeral. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alpha; a brother, Owen Kirby, and his wife, Mary, whom she thought of as a sister. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Ethel Mae and Jim Tennis of Bolivar; two grandchildren who were the pride of her life, Brenda and Randy; Randy's wife, Tina, and their three children, Natalie, Trevor and Samuel; three nephews, Lee Kirby and his wife, Georgia, of Doniphan, Joe Kirby and his wife, Wanda, and Gary Redford, all of Bolivar; two nieces, Mary Lou McGeehee and her husband, Jerry, of Springfield and Judy McCracken and her husband, Gary, of Nixa; and several cousins, great-nieces and nephews and a host of friends, including many who worked at the CMH Health Care Facility. Lorene always put others before herself and was a very unselfish, giving person. During her grandchildren's school years, when she helped care for them, her home was always open to their friends, and food was always on the table. Although we know she has gone to a much better place and had often expressed her desire to go on, she will be greatly missed. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 9, in Pitts Chapel with Bro. Garland Pool officiating. Musical selections by Bill and Sandy Jones will be "Whispering Hope," "One Day at a Time" and "Amazing Grace." They will be accompanied by Rose Roweton. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today (Wednesday) in the funeral home.
Chad A. Seamster
Chad A. Seamster, 29, Wichita, Kan., died Sunday, March 5, 2000, in El Dorado, Kan. He was an iron worker for Hanger Door Co., Wichita, Kan. Survivors include his son, Jacob A. Seamster of Wichita, Kan.; his mother and stepfather, Cheryl and Richard Riley of Wichita, Kan.; his father and stepmother, Alan and Karla Seamster of Yates Center, Kan.; two sisters, Samantha Seamster and Tracy Anderson, both of Wichita, Kan.; four stepsisters, Sherry Reser, Amy and Angela Riley, all of Wichita, Kan., and Amy Blazer of Oklahoma City, Okla.; one stepbrother, Shane Skelly of Wichita, Kan.; his grandparents, Venna and Alvie Seamster of Polk, Betty Lafferty, Maxine Riley and Trella Fyler, all of Wichita, Kan.; his great-grandmother, Gertrude Seamster of Polk; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Services were Thursday, March 9, at Byrd Hillside Funeral Home, Wichita, Kan., with burial in White Chapel Memorial Garden, Wichita, Kan. Casketbearers were Chad Burnett, Chad Richardson, Rob Richardson, Brad Elmore, John Midiros and Shane Skelly. Honorary pallbearers were James and J.D. Seamster.
Chester W. Stokes
Chester White Stokes, 95, Flemington, died Friday, March 17, 2000, in Citizens Memorial Hospital. The son of John and Eliza Ann Hawkins Stokes, he was born July 24, 1904, near Rondo. He married Ella Johnson in 1924, and they were the parents of a daughter, Wilma Jean. He later married Retta Floyd in 1934, and they were the parents of two daughters, Loretta and Neoma. He spent most of his life in Polk and Hickory counties. He and Retta operated the Rondo Store for a few years, and he was a farmer. He also worked as a janitor for Banquet Foods and as a Pinkerton guard in Marshall. He was a member of Rondo Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Frank Stokes; five sisters, Ocena Stokes, Pearl Fisher, Jesse McCracken, Mitt Durnell and Bess Inglis; a stepson, Willard Floyd; a grandson, Joseph Fuller; and a great-grandson, Andrew Joseph Fuller. Survivors include his wife, Retta, of the home; three daughters, Wilma Jean Fuller of Bolivar, Loretta Degraffenreid and her husband, Donald, of Green City and Neoma Stacy and her husband, Dee, of Flemington; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Services were Sunday, March 19, in Murray Chapel, Humansville, with Bro. Kent Parson officiating. Honorary pallbearers were Noah Floyd, Stanley Lear, Lionel Lear, Jack Fuller, Ben Rogers, Kenneth Floyd, Pat Watkins, Frank Floyd and Fred Floyd. Pallbearers were Jeff Stacy, Marvin Crawford, Martin Crawford, Leon Rhoads, Shannon Pearson and Bill Fuller. Interment was in Flemington Cemetery.
Roy C. Stokes
Roy C. Stokes, 97, Flemington, died Monday, March 27, 2000, in Big Spring Care Center, Humansville. The son of Robert and Celestie Henderson Stokes, he was born near Flemington on Nov. 23, 1902. He married Bernice G. Flint on May 1, 1924. She preceded him in death April 1, 1999. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Mabel Sands, and a brother, Clyde Stokes. He was a retired farmer and stockman and a member of Durnell Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Survivors include three children, Lela Fern Phillips, Oscar Stokes and his wife, Edith, and Trixie Vanderford and her husband, Gerald, all of Flemington; three grandchildren, Ginger Roweton, Kent Vanderford and Jennifer Periman; and eight great-grandchildren. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 30, in Murray Chapel, Humansville, with the Rev. Ron Tennison officiating. Interment will be in Durnell Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today (Wednesday) in the funeral home.
Iva Thomas
Iva L. Thomas, 84, Springfield, formerly of Bolivar, died March 6, 2000, in Manor Care, Springfield. She was born May 22, 1915, in Lela to Everett and Elisa Shaw Haynes. On Sept. 20, 1935, she was united in marriage to John W. Thomas, and to this union two daughters were born. She was a member of the Bolivar United Methodist Church and had been a homemaker. Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Irene and Orval Woods of Springfield and Carol and Homer Yount of Lincoln; two sisters, Pearl Thomas of Princeton and Helen Morlan of El Dorado Springs; two brothers, Floyd Haynes of Stockton and Clayton Haynes of Anaheim, Calif.; seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband, John, on April 3, 1985. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Pitts Chapel with burial following in Crestview Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Dr. David Hacker will sing "How Great Thou Art" and "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere." Pallbearers will be Scott Woods, Gary Woods, Dwight Fitzwater, Rick McHenry, Brandon Haynes, Gerald Bittle and Carroll Pritchard. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 2021 S. Waverly No. 100, Springfield, MO 65804-2417.
Marcella G. Vandergrift
Marcella Gale Vandergrift, 76, Bolivar, died at 7:20 a.m. Wednesday, March 22, in St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield. She was born May 26, 1923, to Alfred and Inez Hutchison Jump in Bolivar, where she graduated from high school. She married Clarence "Arkie" Vandergrift on Jan. 10, 1945. They moved to the Kansas City area in 1952 and lived there until Clarence's death in 1977. She was of the Baptist faith. She is survived by her two daughters, Sharon and her husband, Jeff Tatum, and Janet Fortner, all of Carthage; four brothers and their spouses, Marion and Betty Jump, W.J. and Dorothy Jump, Bob and Gloria Jump and Sonny Jump, all of Bolivar; two sisters and their husbands, Francis and Chuck Avis of Laurie and Willa Mae and George Brewster of Tuscon, Ariz.; six grandchildren, Beth Brown of Carthage, Donna Tucker of Branson, Rick Tucker and his wife, Andrea, and Randy Tucker, all of Belton, Jeremy Randolph and Chris Randolph and his wife, Crystal, all of Carthage; two great-grandchildren, Amanda and Jake Tucker of Carthage; and many in-laws, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and a brother, Lee Jump. Services were Friday, March 24, in Pitts Chapel with Pastor J.T. Brown officiating. Burial followed in the Bolles Cemetery, Lebanon.
Gregory S. Williams
Gregory Scott Williams, 39, Springfield, died at 4 p.m. Monday, March 13, 2000, as the result of a grand mal seizure. He was an auto mechanic. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 8, in Americus Cemetery, Americus. The body was cremated.
Dora Louise Woodford
Dora Louise Newby Woodford, 93, Bolivar, died Wednesday, March 1, 2000, in Parkview Health Care Facility, Bolivar. The daughter of Powell and Vassie Williams Newby, she was born Nov. 6, 1906, in Randolph County near Clifton Hill. She attended Vaughn grade school and graduated from Clifton Hill High School in 1925. At the age of 21 she professed her faith in the Christian church, and at the time of her death she was a member of the First Christian Church of Bolivar. On Feb. 12, 1942, she was united in marriage to W. Mills Woodford, who preceded her in death in January 1987. They spent their married life in Kansas City until he retired in 1968, and they moved to Bolivar. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and many other loved ones. Surviving are a sister-in-law, Louise Hopkins of Bolivar; a brother-in-law, Homer DeLozier of St. Louis; two cousins, Mary Garhart of Moberly and Ester Ashley of Alamo, Texas; a special friend, Nelda Collins; and several great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews. She leaves a host of friends in Moberly, Kansas City and Bolivar. Services were Saturday, March 4, in Butler Chapel with the Rev. G. Scott Carlton officiating. Music was provided by Cheryl Bowers and Jobeth Maas. Casketbearers were Michael Greenlee, Kevin Mayes, Gary Stewart, Tim Collins, James Lewis, Ray Lewis and Roy Lewis. Honorary casketbearers were John Jarrell and Tyler Lewis. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church in Bolivar.
Nolan P. Blosser
Nolan Paul Blosser, 13, Buffalo, beloved son of Nathan and Elaine Hostetler Blosser, was born Sept. 10, 1986, in Springfield. He passed away at 8:37 p.m. Friday, April 14, 2000, at St. John's Regional Medical Center on the operating table from massive chest and abdominal injuries following a four-wheeler accident. He is survived by his sorrowing parents, three brothers, Rylan, 11, Travis, 9, and Jason, 3, and two sisters, Merlene, 6, and Melanie, 5, all of the home; his maternal grandparents, John and Leona Hostetler of Buffalo; his paternal grandparents, John and Sylvia Blosser, Half Way; his maternal great-grandparents, Owen and Lily Kropf of Buffalo; 10 uncles, eight aunts, 67 cousins and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his maternal great-grandparents, Ova and Mary Hostetler; paternal great-grandparents, Joseph and Katie Blosser; maternal great-great-grandparents, Ora and Bessie Hostetler; one uncle and three cousins. Nolan was a happy boy, a willing worker, and will be so greatly missed. Although we weep, we mourn not as those who have no hope, looking forward to a glad reunion in heaven. The day of the accident he lead the song in school, "I Want My Life to Tell for Jesus," and was planning to lead it in the last day of school program, when he would graduate from the eighth grade, which was planned to be in two weeks. His desire was to be baptized this summer. Services were Tuesday, April 18, in Pleasant View Amish Mennonite Church, Buffalo, with burial in Pleasant View A.M. Cemetery under the direction of Cantlon-Otterness Funeral Home, Buffalo. The family wishes to thank everyone for their prayers, help and kind expressions of sympathy during this time of sorrow.
