Marie Renne
Marie Renne, 77, Bolivar, died Friday, Dec. 25, 1998, in St. Edward's Hospital, Fort Smith, Ark. The daughter of Homer and Neta Stuck VanSkike, she was born June 12, 1921, at Jacksonville. She was employed for 20 years at the Safeway store in Moberly. A resident of Bolivar for the past six years, she was a former resident of Camdenton and Moberly. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bolivar. She was married to William Renne in February 1979. Preceding her in death was her husband, Estlle LaForce, and and a son, Melvin LaForce. Survivors include her husband, William Renne, of the home; one daughter, Sue Ryan of Gridley, Ill.; one stepson, William Renne Jr. of Olathe, Kan.; four stepdaughters, Rose Nudson of LaVant, Kan., Ruby Camp of Overland Park, Kan., Barbara Bradfield of Wichita, Kan., and Peggy Holloway, Kansas City; one sister, Peggy Cline, Mexico; 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Liturgy of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. today (Wednesday) in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. David Hulshof presiding. Pallbearers will be Sam Swihart, William Glester, Joseph Cox, Mark Stanek, Charles Stanek and Cletus Heirigo. Interment will be in Crestview Memorial Gardens under the direction of Murry Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1405 W. Fair Play, Bolivar MO 65613.
Leslie Rowan
Elmer Leslie Rowan, 87, Aldrich, died at 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, 1998, in Citizens Memorial Health Care Facility. He was born July 8, 1911, in Dade County to Elmer and Carrie Boyd Rowan. He was united in marriage to Anna Lee O'Neill Aug. 26, 1933. They celebrated their 65th anniversary in August 1998. He lived on a farm near Aldrich until October 1998, raising hogs and cattle. He was a member of the Aldrich Christian Church. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Theo Rowan. Survivors include his wife, Anna Lee, and a sister, Ruth Taylor of Aldrich. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Services were Sunday, Jan. 3, in Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Lon Killingsworth officiating. Burial was in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Aldrich. Music was provided by Lon Killingsworth, soloist, and Martha Hite, pianist, and included "Amazing Grace" and "How Great Thou Art." Casketbearers were Gary Nickels, R.J. Serls, Gene Taylor, Brian Taylor, Sam Bowman and Randy Ankrom.
Wilma Russell
Wilma Russell, 64, Bolivar, died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1998, in Citizens Memorial Hospital following a long illness. She was born in Polk County on Jan. 10, 1934, to William and Edna Cates Sanders. On March 9, 1956, she was united in marriage to James A. Russell. A homemaker, she was a lifelong resident of Bolivar and Polk County and was of the Pentecostal faith. Survivors include her husband, James, of the home; four sons, Bill Wolf and his wife, Brenda, Mike Russell, John Russell and Daniel Russell and his wife, Jeanie, all of Bolivar; three daughters, Debbie Russell, Patsy Gilden and her husband, Jim, and Mary Long and her husband, Randy, all of Bolivar; as well as 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers and three sisters. Services were Saturday, Dec. 5, in Pitts Chapel with Bro. Norman Culbertson officiating. Burial followed in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Music was provided by Bro. and Mrs. Norman Culbertson. Pallbearers were her four sons. Memorial contributions may be made to the family and left at the funeral home.
James D. Shelton
James Dickinson Shelton, 83, Bolivar, died Monday, Dec. 14, 1998, in his home following a long illness. He was born April 6, 1915, in Dade County near Pilgrim, the third and youngest child of Douglas Jopes Shelton and Myrta Lora Dickinson Shelton. As a young man, James accepted Christ as his Savior. Later he and his wife, Evelyn, rededicated their lives to Christ following the death of their daughter, Anna Louise, as members of the Bona Church of Christ, where James attended as long as his health permitted. James also served his country during World War II in the army for a period of just over four years in North Africa and Italy. Following his years in the service, he married Evelyn and farmed in Dade county until 1961. At that time, he became a rural letter carrier at Aldrich, later being transferred to Bolivar, where he retired and lived until his death. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Thomas Randolph Shelton; his sister Miriam Lucille Shelton Jarrett; and a daughter, Anna Louise Shelton. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn, his stepdaughter, Martha Jones, and his stepson, Bob Jones, and wife, Arletta, all of Bolivar; his son, James Douglas Shelton, and wife, Shareen, Albuquerque, N.M.; his son, William Pierce Shelton, and wife, Mary, Bolivar. Also surviving are three nieces, two nephews, six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many friends. He was a faithful husband and father and will be greatly missed by his family members who loved him dearly. Services will be at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday) in Bona Church of Christ under the direction of Pitts Chapel. Friends and family may call at their convenience in the funeral home. (46c)
Kenneth D. Shields
Kenneth Duane Shields, 74, Bolivar, died at 5:32 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, 1998, in Citizens Memorial Hospital. The son of Simon Peter and Pearl Jacques Shields, he was born March 2, 1924, at Council Grove, Kan. He graduated from Council Grove HIgh School in 1941. Serving in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945, he saw action at Normandy, the Rhineland, northern France and central Europe. On April 20, 1947, he was married to Iney Margaret Arnold. She preceded him in death Nov. 18, 1989. He was also preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Selvin Shields, and a son, Francis Rice. A retired farmer, he had lived in Bolivar sincn 1989. He had attended First Church of God in Bolivar. Survivors include two daughters, Linda Shikles, Bolivar, and Diane Zigler, Wichita Falls, Texas; a sister, Nadine Watson, Leavenworth, Kan.; 10 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Services were Sunday, Dec. 6, in Murray Chapel, Bolivar, with the Rev. James O. Friend officiating. Interment was Monday, Dec. 7, in Memorial Park Cemetery, Sedalia.
Jerry Allen Slagle
Jerry Allen Slagle, 56, died Monday, Dec. 7, 1998, in Cox Medical Center North, Springfield, following a short illness. He was born Nov. 28, 1942, in Kansas City and grew up in the Dadeville area, graduating from Dadeville High School in 1961. He was a construction inspector with C.N.S. Contract Service and a member of Combat Controllers, serving seven years in the U.S. Marine Reserves. He was saved at an early age at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his father, Keith Slagle, on Sept. 2, 1969, and by his mother, Marjorie, on Nov. 10, 1982. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Stan and Susan Slagle, and daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Joe Cave, all of Springfield; six grandchildren, Christopher Griffin, Shayla and Jessica Slagle, Zackary, Chelsea and Jordan Cave; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jerry and Sue Slagle of Lockwood and Jack and Linda Slagle of Mexico; one sister and brother-in-law, Glenda and Olen King of Danbury, N.C.; and several nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts and cousins. Services were Thursday, Dec. 10, at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Aldrich, with the Rev. Joe Crooks officiating. Interment was in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery under the direction of Wilson Brim Daniel Funeral Home, Walnut Grove.
Ashley Smith
Ashley Elizabeth Smith, 14, Buffalo, died at 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, 1998, at the University of Missouri Medical Center, Columbia, of injuries sustained in a car accident near Sedalia. She was a freshman at Buffalo High School. Survivors include her mother, Cheryl Sharp, Buffalo; her father, Randy Smith, Louisburg; her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Smith of Buffalo and Bobby and Glenda Jenkins of Louisburg; her great-grandmother, Ethel Vest, Long Lane; and two stepbrothers, Evan and Colton Smith. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, in the First Baptist Church of Buffalo with interment following in the Benton Branch Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Montgomery-Viets Funeral Home, Buffalo. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Buffalo HIgh School.
Ruth Marie Smith
Ruth Marie Smith, 84, Bolivar, died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1998, at the home of her daughter from complications associated with cancer. She was born Sept. 19, 1914, in Greene County, the daughter of Fred Gideon and Ida Augusta Bryan Sage. She was saved at the age of 10 in Springfield. On Aug. 12, 1932, she was united in marriage to Hershel Smith. To this union were born one daughter, June, and one son, Gail. She attended First Assembly of God Church, where she taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible school for many years. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Hershel, her son, Gail, and a granddaughter, Patty Lemmon. Surviving is her daughter, June Lemmon, and her husband, Joe, Bolivar; her daughter-in-law, Bonnie Smith, Roach; nine grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Services were Saturday, Dec. 5, in First Assembly of God Church with Danny Hitchcock and Roy Harms officiating. Music included Penny Brandt, Pam Grider, Jackie Hitchcock, Sheila Crockett and Sherill Cowden singing "Eastern Gate" and "What a Day That Will Be" with Myrna Walker, pianist, and Danny Hitchcock singing "Amazing Grace." Casketbearers were Jody Lemmon, Jerry Lemmon, J.J. Lemmon, Dennis Smith, Darren Smith and Jason Cooper. Memorial contributions may be made to Citizens Memorial Hospital Hospice.
Noble "Ted" Stansbarger
Noble H. "Ted" Stansbarger, 94, Bolivar, died Friday, Dec. 4, 1998, at Citizens Memorial Hospital. He was born Nov. 4, 1904, in Horton, Kan. He and his wife, Myrtle Ruth, were married 55 years. They lived in Kansas City during the 26 years he was employed by Kansas City Power and Light Company. After his retirement in 1969, he and his wife made their home in Pleasant Hill and in 1970 moved to their home on Pomme de Terre Lake, where they lived until her death in 1992. In 1994 he moved to Parkview Health Care Facility. He is survived by a son, William H. Stansbarger, Kansas City, and two granddaughters and their husbands, Gail Stansbarger and Kon Glee, Overland Park, Kan., and Pam and Ken Courson, Leawood, Kan. His daughter, Betty Foster, preceded him in death. The body will be cremated, with memorial services to be announced at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Children's Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64108.
Karen M. Stehr
Karen M. Stehr, 78, Anchorage, Alaska, died at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, 1998, in the Dade County Nursing Home. She is survived by her husband, Gilbert Stehr, and one son, Steven Stehr, both of Anchorage, Alaska; two brothers, Mel Sparr, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Edward Sparr, Ogden, Utah; two sisters, Ruth Mather, Portland, Ore., and Greta Bailing, Camas, Wash.; three grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Helen Brumley, Morrisville. Arrangements are under the direction of Pitts Funeral Home. Details will be announced at a later date.
