Ray Neill
Ray Neill, 81, Springfield, formerly of Cedar County, died at 1:31 p.m. Monday, June 5, 2000, in his home. He was born Dec. 21, 1918, in Cedar County, the son of Robert E. and Ella Galyan Neill. He lived in the Cedar County area for most of his life. He is survived by his wife, Ruby Neill of Springfield; one son and his wife, Joe and Janet Neill of Bolivar; one grandson, Jon Neill of Bolivar; one brother and his wife, Elden and Mary Catherine Neill of Stockton; one nephew, Garry Robinson of Springfield; and one niece and her husband and children, Ramona, Tom, Ian and Brenna Goth of Scottsdale, Ariz. Services were Thursday, June 8, in the Dunnegan Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Dunnegan, with the Rev. Robert Bornert officiating. Music was provided by Bette McClelland and Gay Lynn Mick. Casketbearers were Larry Nottingham, Ralph Stauffacher, Bueford Curl, Danny Curl, William J. Stewart and Joe Frieze. Burial was in Lindley Prairie Cemetery under the direction of Butler Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Highland's Child Placement Services, 5506 Cambridge, PO Box 300198, Kansas City, MO 64129.
Julian H. Pace
Julian Henry Pace, 93, Bolivar, died Friday, June 9, 2000. He was born in Mt. Calm, Texas, in 1907, the son of a Baptist minister. He was a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University and was associated with Hendrick Memorial Hospital in Abilene, Texas, for 13 years before moving to Waco, Texas, in 1943 to assume the role of administrator of Hillcrest Hospital, a role he held for the next 30 years. He was a member of numerous state and national hospital organizations and wrote several articles for professional hospital publications. He was Fellow of the American College of Hospital Administrators. He participated in many civic affairs, including Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, American Red Cross and the Masonic Lodge. He served for decades as a deacon of First Baptist Church of Waco, Texas, and was an avid supporter of Baylor University. He was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Ruby Hughes Pace, and his wife of seven years, Kathleen Stiteler Pace. He is survived by a sister, Sara Pace Mystrom of Amarillo, Texas; a brother, Ray S. Pace of Beaumont, Texas; two sons, Julian H. Pace of Bolivar and Ray H. Pace of Fairview, Texas; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Mr. Pace was truly a kind, homespun, laid-back gentleman of quiet dignity, a steady manner, a tolerant, caring spirit and great compassion who dedicated his life to Christian service. Services were Tuesday, June 13, in Wilkerson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, Waco, Texas, with Chaplain Curtis Holland officiating. Interment was in Oakwood Cemetery, Waco, Texas. Local arrangements were under the direction of Murray Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hillcrest Foundation, 3000 Herring, Waco TX 76708.
Jonathan M. Pettibone
Jonathan Michael Pettibone, infant son of Jamie Stevens and Shane Pettibone, Bolivar, died Thursday, June 22, 2000, at home.
Graveside services were Monday, June 26, at Greenwood Cemetery with Todd Walker officiating.
Arrangements were under the direction of Murray Funeral Home.
Helen Louise Pierce
Helen Louise Pierce, 61, Brighton, died Thursday, June 15, 2000, in Cox Medical Center South following a short illness. She was born Oct. 6, 1937, in Lawrenceville, Ill., to Ernest and Helen Shoulders Barrett. She had been a cashier and clerk for Southwest Electric Co-op. Survivors include her husband, Jerry, of the home; a daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Samuel Scroggins of Battlefield; a brother, Paul David Barrett of Selma, Calif.; four sisters, Deloris Knepper of Genoa, Ill., Shirley Kromer of Mt. Carroll, Ill., Margaret McClintock of Apopka, Fla., and Judith Schoffstall of Lawrenceville, Ill.; and one grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother and a sister. Services were Monday, June 19, in Pitts Chapel with burial following in Slagle Cemetery. Pallbearers were Bruce Ratcliff, Vernon Smith, George Koch, Ken Smith, Bud Norton and Art Buschmann. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Irma Ann Roberts
Irma Ann Roberts, 97, Bolivar, died Monday, June 12, 2000, in Citizens Memorial Health Care Facility. She was born Oct. 18, 1902, in Polk to Charles Burl and Elizabeth Higginbotham Jones. She was united in marriage to William Lovell Roberts, and to this union four sons were born. After her first husband preceded her in death, she was married to William Jennings Bryan "Bill" Roberts, and he also preceded her in death. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Bolivar and had been a cook at Southwest Baptist College for many years. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Carl and Virginia "Jenny" Roberts of Springfield; a daughter-in-law, Frances Roberts of Bolivar; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her stepfather, Ben Lusk; an infant son; her first husband, William Lovell Roberts, on May 16, 1968; a son, Scott M. Roberts, on Sept. 16, 1974; her second husband, William Jennings Bryan "Bill" Roberts, on Feb. 2, 1993; a son, Kenneth B. Roberts, on June 11, 1999, and his wife, Gloria Maxine Roberts, on Nov. 25, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 17, in Pitts Chapel with the Rev. Ray Leininger officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery.
Clyde E. Ross
Clyde Elliott Ross, 74, Aldrich, died at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, 2000, in Citizens Memorial Hospital from an apparent heart attack. He was born at Morrisville and was a lifelong resident of the area. He retired from Kraft Foods in May 1985 after 32 years of service as a forklift driver and leadman of the pasta department. He was a member of the Eudora Baptist Church and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was married to Ruth Staas on May 21, 1948, and together they shared 52 years. To this union three children were born. He was preceded in death by his father, George Woodward Ross, in July 1979 and his brother, George Wilbur Ross, in January 1970. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, of the home; one son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Kathy Ross of Springfield; two daughters, Phyllis Taylor of Springfield and Cheryl Gomes and her husband, Louis, of Honolulu, Hawaii; four grandchildren, Brian Keith Taylor and his wife, Sonja, of Aldrich, Betsy Clayton of Warrensburg, Natalie Gilmore and her husband, Paul, of Aldrich and T.J. Ross of Springfield; five great-grandchildren, Tiffany, Elliott, Micheal and Bryant Taylor and Shelby Paul Gilmore; his mother, Myrtle Ross of Springfield; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Joe L. and Blanche Ross of Springfield and Daniel Lee and Aneta Ross of St. Louis; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Faye and Earl Janes of Byron, Calif., and Dorothy and George MacDougall of Fairfield, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews. Services were Saturday, July 1, in Eudora Baptist Church with the Rev. Lon Killingsworth officiating. Interment was in Morrisville Cemetery under the direction of Wilson Brim Daniel Funeral Home, Walnut Grove. Full military rites were conducted at graveside under the auspices of the Missouri Veterans Bravo Team of Springfield.
Richard S. Smith
Richard Sylvester "Dick" Smith, 84, Bolivar, died Tuesday evening, June 27, 2000, at the Christian Health Care Center in Lebanon after a lingering illness. He was born June 28, 1915, in Bates, Okla., to John F. and Hattie Smith. He was retired from the construction business and had operated a welding shop for many years. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Alta G. Smith, in 1978 and his second wife, Pearl Smith, in 1997. Services were Friday, June 30, in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Harold Hendrickson officiating. Burial was in the Greenwood Cemetery.
Dale E. Squibb
Dale Eugene Squibb, 76, Humansville, died Tuesday, June 6, 2000, in the Veterans Hospital, Fayetteville, Ark. The son of Glen and Gladys McCracken Squibb, he was born near Flemington Jan. 8, 1924. He had been a resident of Humansville since 1974, coming from Springdale, Ark. He attended school at Flemington and graduated from Humansville High School. He joined the U.S. Army in July 1944 and served until June 1946. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds suffered during World War II. He attended college for a year at Oxford University in England and at Southwest Missouri State College in Springfield. He worked as a salesman of office equipment and supplies, retiring in 1969. He grew up attending the Rondo Baptist Church, and he was a life member of Amvets Post No. 114. His parents and three sisters, Pauline Warren, Billy Jean Bumps and Glendena Butler, preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife, Elaine, of the home; two children and their spouses, Deonn and Mike Swearingin, Humansville, and Steve and Kathryn Squibb, Summerdale, Ala.; and three grandsons, Travis Guess, Michael Dale Swearingin and Hunter Swearingin. Services were Friday, June 9, in Rondo Cemetery east of Humansville with the Rev. Martin Micke officiating. Amvets Post No. 114 Honor Guard conducted military rites. Arrangements were under the direction of Murray Funeral Home, Humansville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Rondo Cemetery in care of Carroll McCracken, 3219 Highway 83, Flemington, MO 65650.
Kathleen M. Vaughn
Kathleen M. Vaughn, 55, Bolivar, formerly of Festus, died Wednesday, June 7, 2000, at Barnes-Jewish Medical Center, St. Louis. She was born Sept. 11, 1944, at Bonne Terre. She was a retired claims adjuster with Galleger-Bassett Insurance Co. in St. Louis County. She was a member of the Bolivar Sewing Guild. She was preceded in death by her parents, Aaron Horton and Blanche Son Cole. She is survived by her husband, Michael J. Vaughn, Bolivar; her stepmother, Antoinette Schulte Vaughn of Crystal City; her son and daughter-in-law, Michael P. and Stephanie Vaughn, Hillsboro; a brother, Stephen Cole, Belleville, Ill.; and a sister and brother-in-law, Susan and James Lambert of Bonne Terre. Services were Friday, June 9, at Vinyard Funeral Home, Festus, with Elder Dan Morse of Hillsboro Christian Church officiating. Interment was in Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens, Crystal City. Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Cancer Society.
Wilma L. Willhite
Wilma Lucile Willhite, 74, Independence, died at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 14, 2000, at the Monterey Park Nursing Center in Blue Springs after a brief illness. She was born June 30, 1925, near Pleasant Hope, the daughter of Charles Alanthus and Mary Jane Calvin Patterson. She was a retired bookkeeper in the banking industry and had been a former resident of Springfield, where she worked for the Farmers and Merchants Bank, moving to the Independence area in 1960. She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Sylvia Case; and her first husband, Willie "Bill" Boatright. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Ray Eggers of Independence; two brothers, Cloyce Patterson of Springfield and Wayne Patterson of Linn; three granddaughters, Kimberly, Traci and Cassandra Eggers of Independence; three nieces and three nephews. Graveside services were Friday, June 16, in the Brighton Cemetery with Pastor Craig Fields officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Butler Funeral Home.
Hoyt Adkins
Hoyt "H.T." Adkins, 78, Urbana, died Wednesday, July 19, 2000, at St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield. He was born Oct. 21, 1921, at Dale, Ark., the son of Hoyt and Jewell Taylor Adkins. He was a farmer and a longtime resident of the area. He was a member of the Nemo Baptist Church. Survivors include his sister, Berniece McCaslin, and her husband, Charles, of Wheatland, three nieces and three great-nieces. Services were Saturday, July 22, at Hathaway-Peterman Funeral Home Chapel, Wheatland, with the Rev. Kent Parson officiating. Burial was in Nemo Cemetery.
