Paul U. Merrell
Paul Uhrig Merrell, 79, Marshall, died Sunday, April 9, 2000, at the Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall. He was born July 4, 1920, in Wakenda, the son of Ernest and Edith Uhrig Merrell. On Jan. 20, 1941, in New Franklin, he married Dorothy M. Cramer, and she preceded him in death on Nov. 9, 1993. He was then married to Bea Sheehan Merrell, and she survives of the home. He served as a radio operator in the U.S. Navy druing World War II and was awarded a victory medal. He was a member of the V.F.W. He worked as a route salesman for Wonder Bread in Marshall for 20 years. In 1974, he moved to Lake Pomme de Terre, where he owned and operated the Captain Jack's Amusement Center. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Marshall. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, James Merrell and his wife, Lela, of Lincoln, Ron Merrell and his wife, Debbie, of Altamonte Springs, Fla., and Randy Merrell and his wife, Jan, of Lee's Summit; two brothers, Nelson Merrell and his wife, Grayce, of Clearwater, Fla., and Raymond Merrell and his wife, Helen, of Liberty; five sisters, Ernestine Wheeler of Florissant, Dorothy Turner of Kansas City, Coralee Morris of Harlingen, Texas, Norma Jones of Hamilton and Mildred Malan of Gravois Mills; two brothers-in-law, James Cramer of Blue Springs and Pete Cramer of Sweet Springs; eight grandchildren, Jennifer, Julie, Paul, Aaron, Stacey, Lindsey and Jessica; eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife and one sister. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at the First United Methodist Church, Marshall, with visitation following. Arrangements are under the direction of the Sweeney-Reser-Wills Funeral Home, Marshall.
Bill E. Mooney
Bill E. Mooney, 42, Springfield, died Friday, April 14, 2000, at Citizens Memorial Hospital. He was a mechanic and a U.S. Army veteran. Survivors include his wife, Terry Mooney, of the home; two children, Shawn Mooney and Christopher Mooney; and two sisters. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 20, at Greenlawn Funeral Home North, Springfield, with burial following in the Missouri Veterans' Cemetery. Visitation will be after 5 p.m. today (Wednesday) at the funeral home.
Jonathan L. Neuhart
Jonathan L. Neuhart, 19, Jefferson City, died Sunday, April 9, 2000, at the University of Missouri Health Sciences Center, Columbia, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born June 27, 1980, in Jefferson City, the son of Eddy and Margene L. Wakefield Neuhart, who both survive in Jefferson City. A lifelong resident of the Jefferson City area, he was a 1999 graduate of Jefferson City High School. He was attending State Fair Community College. He had been employed part time by the Sub Shop for the past two years. He was a member and served as the sound engineer for Memorial Baptist Church of Jefferson City. Besides his parents, he is also survived by a sister, Jessica Neuhart of Jefferson City, and his paternal grandfather, Charles E. Neuhart of Bolivar. Services will be at 10 a.m. today (Wednesday) at Memorial Baptist Church, Jefferson City, with the Rev. Ken Lumley and the Rev. Mike Rapp officiating. Graveside services and interment will be at 2 p.m. in the Mount Olive Cemetery, Bolivar. Arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary, Jefferson City. Memorial contributions may be made to Memorial Baptist Church.
Hellen R. Parson
Hellen Ruth Breshears Parson, older of identical twin daughters born to Birchie M. and Loie Miller Breshears, was born Sept. 11, 1920, and finished her journey at the Christian Care Center in Hermitage on Friday, April 14, 2000. She had suffered a debilitating stroke in February of this year and had continued to decline in health until her death. During this recent illness, she received the best of medical care from the professionals at Citizens Memorial Hospital and the Christian Care Center of Hermitage. The commitment, concern and love given to Hellen by members of these two facilities will continue to console and encourage the family in the future. There have been many men in Hellen's life, but only two who remained and received her truest love: the first, her Saviour Jesus, whom she acknowledged in her youth, and the second, her husband, Victor, whom she took as her husband at the very young age of 16 and remained with him for just over 63 years. There were very few nights in those 63 years that they spent apart. Hellen leaves behind her husband of 63 years, Victor; her four sons and their families, Kent and his wife, Shirley, of Wheatland, Lee of Riverside, Dwight and his wife, Nancy, of St. Joseph and Mike and his wife, Teresa, of Bolivar; two sisters, Mable Smith of Hermitage and her identical twin sister, Ellen Thompson, and her husband, Everett, of Redlands, Calif.; three sisters-in-law, Velma Reed, Bernita Parson and Ruby Parson; 10 grandchildren, Diamela and Devin, Elizabeth, Lisa and Jeff, Marlene, Bridget and Larry, Stephanie and Kelly; 11 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and numerous friends. Services were Sunday, April 16, in Hathaway-Peterman Funeral Home, Wheatland, with burial following in Dooley Bend Cemetery.
Evelyn O. Patton
Evelyn Orene Patton, 79, Bolivar, died Friday, April 7, 2000, in the home of her caregiver following a lingering illness. She was born Jan. 15, 1921, in Delphos, Kan., to Leslie and Alice Fay Nye Penn. On June 29, 1941, in Redfield, Kan., she was united in marriage to Cecil V. Patton. She was a homemaker and a member of Southern Hills Baptist Church. Survivors include a brother, William Penn of Dixon, Ill., and her caregiver, Nina Thirion of Bolivar. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Cecil, who died on Feb. 5, 2000. Graveside services were Monday, April 10, in Greenwood Cemetery with the Rev. Berman Grant officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Pitts Chapel.
Opal M. Pfitzner
Opal May Pfitzner, 81, Bolivar, died Monday, April 3, 2000, in St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield. The daughter of Charlie Lyle and Marie Anna Bauer Steinshouer, she was born Jan. 11, 1919, in Bolivar. She attended Southwest Baptist College and taught school for two years. On June 2, 1949, she married John J. Pfitzner. She was a homemaker and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Lester Steinshouer. Survivors include her husband, John, of the home; two children, Charles Pfitzner of Bolivar and Mary Ann Penn of Overland Park, Kan.; and four grandchildren. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 6, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Pat Wissman officiating. Interment will be in St. Wenceslaus Cemetery. Parish prayer services will be at 7 p.m. today (Wednesday) at the funeral home followed by visitation.
Mildred I. Pressler
Mildred Irene Pressler, 84, of Long Lane died Wednesday afternoon, April 12, 2000, at the home of her son after a brief illness. She was a retired Registered Nurse and a long time resident of Ft. Wayne, Ind. She had moved to this area about four years ago. She was preceded in death by her husband, J.D. Pressler. Surviving are two sons, Ronald Pressler and his wife, Linda, of Long Lane and John Pressler of Layton, Utah; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Her body was sent to the D.O. McComb and Son Funeral Home in Ft. Wayne, Ind., where services will be held next week. Burial will be in the Covington Memorial Gardens at Ft. Wayne, Ind. Local arrangements were under the direction of Butler Funeral Home of Bolivar.
Juanita Robertson
Juanita "Deedo" Robertson, 94, Brighton, died at 2:10 a.m. Wednesday, April 26, 2000, in Maranatha Manor, Springfield, following a lengthy illness. She was a homemaker and had attended Spring Hill and Brighton schools. She was a member of Brighton Baptist Church. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Harold and Marlene Robertson of Brighton and William and Claudette Robertson of San Clemente, Calif.; three grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and one great-grandson, two great-great-grandsons and several nieces and nephews. Services were Saturday, April 29, in Pitts Chapel. Burial followed in Brighton Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jim Walker, Keith Bacon, Bubba Boyd, Don Dotson, Ron Blehm and Banner Agundez.
Gertrude Seamster
Gertrude Crawford Seamster, 85, of Polk died Tuesday, April 18, 2000, at Citizens Memorial Hospital. She was born August 4, 1914, in Hickory County to Dave and Martha Nelson Crawford. She attended school at the Browder School. She was united in marriage to Olin McNatt in 1933, and to this union, one son was born. She farmed in Hickory County on her parents' farm, and then she bought a farm next to their place. After five short years of marriage, Olin passed away in 1938. Then in 1953, she was married to Artie Seamster. They stayed on the farm as well as Artie's farm in Polk County. Later on, they retired to Polk County, where Artie passed away in 1979. Gertrude stayed home where she loved to garden, raising tomatoes, potatoes and green beans. She enjoyed sewing and cooking. She always said you were put on this earth to work, and that is what she did. She enjoyed visiting with her family, friends and neighbors. She was saved when she was a girl, then joined Nemo Missionary Baptist Church, where she was a lifelong member. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dave and Martha; both of her husbands, Olin McNatt and Artie Seamster; her son, David Leo McNatt; two brothers, Oral and Elvie Crawford; two sisters, Sadie Blackwell and Mildred Bandel; one stepson, Willard Seamster; and one stepdaughter, Nola Mae Storment. She is survived by three grandsons, Dennis McNatt, David McNatt and Duane McNatt; one sister, Bertha Hooper of Hermitage; five stepsons, Junior Seamster of Wichita, Kan., Donnie Seamster of Towncreek, Ala., Johnnie Seamster of Topeka, Kan., Alvie Seamster of Polk and Charles Seamster of Tupelo, Miss.; three stepdaughters, Juanita Wilson of Polk, Betty Monier of Springfield and Shirley Potts of Half Way; five great-grandchildren, 34 step-grandchildren, 82 step-great-grandchildren, eight step-great-great-grandchildren and a host of other family and friends who will all sadly miss her. Services were conducted Friday, April 21, at the Cantlon Otterness Funeral Chapel of Urbana with Brother Donnie Lightfoot officiating. Joyce Noblitt sang "Amazing Grace" and "In the Garden," accompanied by Carla Moore, pianist. Pallbearers were Denton Roberts, Carl Jones, Eddie Ben Gorden, Wayne Vest, Bob Darby and Donnie Brannon. Burial was in the Nemo Cemetery. Memorial contributions made to the Nemo Cemetery may be left at the funeral home.
Lenora L. Severns
Lenora Lucille Severns, 87, Springfield, died at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 25, 2000, at Greene Haven in Springfield after a lingering illness. She was born Nov. 6, 1912, in Urbana, the daughter of Everett and Mamie Howard Williams. She was a former longtime resident of Bolivar and a member of the Bolivar First Baptist Church. She was the widow of the late Chauncey S. Severns, who preceded her in death in 1972. She is survived by one daughter, Noretta Holt of Willard, and three sons, Jim Severns of Prescott, Ark., Ronald Severns of O'Fallon and Durward Severns of Bolivar; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27, in Oaklawn Cemetery, Buffalo, with Bro. Donald Bybee officiating. Casketbearers will be Donald Severns, Darrell Severns, William Severns, Mark Holt, Brad Holt and Doug Severns. Arrangements are under the direction of Butler Funeral Home.
