Wilbur "Bill" Grant
Wilbur F. "Bill" Grant, 89, Ash Grove, died Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 7, 2001, in the Ash Grove Health Care Center following a short illness. He was born near Morrisville and was a lifelong resident of the Everton and Ash Grove area. He was a retired farmer and had been a pipeliner. He was a member of the Hopewell Baptist Church. He was united in marriage with Aileen Berry Dec. 24, 1929, and they were together for more than 41 years. To this union, seven children were born. Aileen preceded him in death Aug. 29, 1971. On June 8, 1984, he was married to Margaret Cotter, and they shared 13 years together. She preceded him in death July 16, 1997. Also preceding him in death, were two sons, Morris Berry Grant and Bill Wayne Grant. He is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Stanley and Ruth Grant of Everton, Larry and Helen Grant of Liberty and James Gordon and Erma Grant of Kansas City; two daughters, Mary Frances Welsh of Kauii, Hawaii, and Jane Ann Fihn of Concord, Calif.; 19 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Services were Monday, Feb. 12, in Wilson Brim Daniel Chapel, Ash Grove, with the Rev. Kenneth Wilson officiating. Interment followed in Sinking Creek Cemetery, Everton.
Eleanor A. Hennings
Eleanor A. Hennings, 82, Buffalo, died at 2:10 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26, 2001, in Citizens Memorial Hospital. She had been a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; one brother and two sisters. She is survived by two daughters, Joan Kirksey and her husband, Wayne, of Aldrich and Marlyn Morgans and her husband, Don, of Buffalo; five grandchildren, Mitzi, Ginger, Steve, Greg and Dusty; 11 great-grandchildren, five step-great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and two step-great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Wilma Rahn of Yanton, S.D.; and one brother, Marion "Sam" Nelson of St. Helena, Neb. Graveside services were Friday, March 2, in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home North, Springfield.
Cora E. Kirksey
Cora Elviria Kirksey, 80, Aldrich, died Friday morning Feb. 16, 2001, in Cox Medical Center South, Springfield, following a long illness. She was born Aug. 14, 1920, in Aldrich to George Thomas and Cora Ellen Shuler McKinney. She was a homemaker and a member of the Pleasant Ridge Missionary Baptist Church. She lived most of her life in Aldrich. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gordon Kirksey; three sisters, Mary, Della and Eunice; and five brothers, Paul, Buck, Arley, Jess and Eura. She is survived by one daughter, Mary Elaine Emmert and her husband, Howard, of Aldrich; one sister, Dorothy Kinder of Carthage; two granddaughters and their husbands, Mary D. and Shannon Crites and Deborah L. and Randy Presley; five great-grandchildren, Sarah, Sheena, Ryan, Andrew and Randy; and several nieces and nephews. Services were Monday, Feb. 19, in Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Lon Killingsworth officiating. Burial was in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery. Casketbearers were Paul McKinney Jr., Buddy Hagarman, Shannon Crites, Randy Presely, Kerry Kinder and Bill Shuler.
Ed J. Kroutil
Ed James Kroutil, 87, Bolivar, died at 7:40 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001, in his home following a short illness. He was born in Polk County and was a lifelong resident of the Bolivar and Pleasant Hope area. He was a retired farmer and stockman and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, receiving two Bronze Stars. He was united in marriage with Julia Francka on Feb. 12, 1947, and they shared 54 years together. To this union, one son was born. He was preceded in death by his parents, Anthon and Marie Vodicka Kroutil, and eight brothers and sisters: Mary Novak, Jim, Joe, Tony, Frank, Fred and Charlie Kroutil and Anne Francka. He is survived by his wife, Julia, of the home; one son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Mary Kroutil of Bolivar; five grandchildren, Oksana, Andrey, Svetta, Anya and Dustin Kroutil; one sister, Helen McNally of Excelsior Springs; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral Mass was Monday, Feb. 19, in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father William Hodgson and Deacon Joseph Kroutil officiating. Interment followed in St. Wenceslaus Cemetery south of Bolivar with full military honors under the auspices of the Missouri Bravo Military Honors Team of Springfield. Arrangements were under the direction of Wilson-Brim-Daniel Funeral Home, Ash Grove. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Wenceslaus Cemetery, 1405 W. Fair Play St., Bolivar, MO 65613.
Jack H. Lee
Jack H. Lee, 70, Pittsburg, died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, at his home. He was born April 8, 1930, in Pratt, Kan. He was a real estate agent with Hoover and Associates. He was retired from the city of Springfield where he had been a 911 dispatcher. He was a member of the Pomme de Terre United Methodist Church and a member of their Men's Club, the Hermitage Masonic Lodge No. 288 and the Pomme de Terre Shrine Club. He was also involved in various community activities and services. Survivors include a son, Kent Lee of Braidwood, Ill.; a daughter, Denise Lee of Pontiac, Ill.; a stepson, Wayne Ryder Jr. of Lyons, Ill.; four stepdaughters, Debbie Geren of Springfield, Patty Ramey of Marshfield, Laura Sanwald of Lebanon and Sharon Salman of Herscher, Ill.; eight grandchildren and one great-grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents, John R. Lee and Helen Ross; his wife, Mary Ann; a daughter, Kim; and a son, Keith. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9, at the Pomme de Terre United Methodist Church at Carson's Corner with burial at 2 p.m. in East Lawn Cemetery in Springfield. Arrangements are under the direction of Hathaway-Peterman Funeral Home, Wheatland. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, at the funeral home with Masonic service immediately following.
Solomon E. Lollar
Solomon Edward Lollar, 64, Bolivar, died at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, 2001, in his home after a long battle with diabetes. He was born Nov. 15, 1936, in Pilot Knob, the son of Grove and Letha Lollar. He married Rosalie Skaggs on Nov. 17, 1956. Together they had three children. He spent most of his life working as a builder. His first love was Christ and he had a passion for telling other about him. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bolivar. He had been a resident of Bolivar for the past 41 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Grover and Leona Lollar; two sisters, Delia Harding and Goldie Kryston; and a brother, Monroe Lollar. Surviving are his wife, Rosalie, of the home; two sons, Eddie Lollar and his wife, Beth, and Brian Lollar, all of Bolivar; a daughter, Cheryl Friesz and her husband, Mike, of Independence; one brother, Clyde Lollar of Granby; three sisters, Isabell Diesel of Piedmont, Essie Swan of St. Louis and Shirley Seufert of Bolivar; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. today (Wednesday) in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Ray Leininger, the Rev. Mike Friesz and the Rev. Joe Coppedge officiating. Music will be provided by Gary and Sharon Swan. Casketbearers will be Frank Cunningham, Wesley Gott, Bernie Jenkins, Don Jump, Darrell Strait and Dean Voris. Honorary casketbearers will be Frank Ross, L.D. Silvey, John Vaughan, Carl Huser, Porter Harryman and Kurt Caddy. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Butler Funeral Home.
Bobby L. Miller
Bobby Linden Miller, 73, Bolivar, died at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001, at his home after two-year battle with multiple myeloma. He was born Nov. 4, 1927, near Fair Play, the son of Ira Ingle "Bob" and Fay Degraffenreid Miller. He was united in marriage to Dorothy June Agee on March 29, 1951, and to this union three daughters were born. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Nancy Marie; his father, Bob Miller; and a brother-in-law, Victor Jacobson. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of the home; two daughters and their husbands, Patricia and Richard Johnson of Burlington, N.C., and Teresa and Rick Lindsay of Bolivar; two grandchildren, Benjamin and Callie of Burlington, N.C.; two step-grandsons, Todd Lindsay and his wife, Sara, and Matt Lindsay and his wife, Ann, both of Bolivar; and two step-great-grandchildren, Lauren and Colton Lindsay of Bolivar. Also surviving are his mother, Fay Miller of Bolivar; a sister, Wilda Jacobson of Bolivar; a brother, Wayne Miller and his wife, Melba, of Springfield; and many loved nieces, nephews and cousins. Bobby graduated from Fair Play High School in 1945 and later joined the U.S. Army in 1946. He began working for Empire District Electric Company in 1952 and retired in 1990 after 37 years of service. He was an avid sports fan and had followed the St. Louis Cardinals since he was a boy. At the time of his death he was a member of Southside Missionary Baptist Church. Bobby was saved at home at age 44 and spent the remaining years of his life testifying what the Lord had done for him. He loved the fellowship with his brothers and sisters in Christ. Bobby's family was the light of his life, especially his beloved grandchildren. Services were Friday, Feb. 9, in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Gayland Lightfoot officiating. Musical selections were by Lisa Jarvis, Barbara McMurren and Charley Ealy with Mary Childress as the accompanist. Burial was in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery southwest of Aldrich. Casketbearers were Billy D. Lightfoot, Dennis Miller, Mick Hood, Travis Jones, Joe Kirby and Dale Agee.
Mildred P. Millican
Mildred Pauline Millican, 98, Waynesville, formerly of Humansville, died Friday, Feb. 9, 2001, at Sunset Village of the Ozarks, Waynesville. The daughter of W. W. and Sallie Henson Mack, she was born Dec. 14, 1902, at Humansville. On June 10, 1920, she married Burr Millican, who preceded her in death March 27, 1981. She graduated from Southwest Baptist College with a degree in piano. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, St. Robert. In addition to her husband, she was also preceded in death by six brothers, Harry Mack, Herbert Mack, George Mack, McKinley Mack, Buford Mack and Raymond Mack; and one sister, Lydia Harmon. Surviving are nieces and nephews and a special friend, Noma Carter of St. Robert. Services were Sunday, Feb. 11, in Humansville First Baptist Church with the Rev. Thomas A. Moore Jr. and the Rev. Dennis Crowder officiating. Pallbearers were Bob Brown, Bysor Shelenhamer, Earl Ball, Roy Austin, Chuck Springer and Charles Bays. Interment was in Humansville Cemetery under the direction of Murray Funeral Home.
William Moore
William "Bill" Moore, 71, Pleasant Hope, died at 11:05 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001, in St. John's Regional Health Center.
He was a retired truck driver.
No services were held.
Arrangements were under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home North, Springfield.
Atha P. Ragsdale
Atha Pearl Ragsdale, 91, Kearney, formerly of Polk, died Friday, Feb. 9, 2001, in Plattsburg. She was born Oct. 2, 1909, in Polk, the daughter of Amos and Martha Payne Roberts. She was united in marriage to Ruby Leonard Ragsdale, and to this union, four children were born. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church of Kearney. She is survived by a son, Clifford Ragsdale, and two daughters, Martha Ragsdale and Marcella Babcock, all of Kearney; three brothers, Ester Roberts, Albert Roberts and Leslie Roberts, all of Polk; two sisters, Annie Walker and Ada Jump, both of Bolivar; and five grandchildren, Ray Babcock Jr., Mike Babcock, Russell Babcock, Darrin Ragsdale and Amy Ragsdale. She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant daughter, Edna Pearl Ragsdale; her husband, Ruby, on Feb. 5, 1988; and five brothers, Fred Roberts, Claude Roberts, Clifford Roberts, Cleo Roberts and Jesse Roberts. Services were Tuesday, Feb. 13, in Pitts Chapel with Bro. Glenn Roberts officiating. Music was provided by Jim Collins accompanied by Marla Roberts. Burial was in Payne Cemetery. Pallbearers were Wendal Roberts, Dr. Donald Jump, Mike Babcock, Russell Babcock, Ray Babcock Jr. and Darrin Ragsdale. Honorary pallbearers were Denzil Roberts, Leonard Roberts, Kelly Roberts, Dr. Jeff Roberts, Hardy Roberts, Gale Roberts, Denton Roberts, Durward Walker and Velbert Walker.
