Phillip Rubio
Phillip Rubio, 55, Bolivar, died at 2:07 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2001, in St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield.
He was an auto mechanic.
Services will be at a later date in Tennessee.
Cremation was under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, Springfield.
Johnnie Dean Seamster
Johnnie Dean Seamster, 70, Topeka, Kan., died at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001, at the Veterans' Administration Hospital in Kansas City after a lingering illness. He was born in Polk County on Oct. 6, 1930, the son of the Rev. Artie Elgie Seamster and Bessie Baby Lightfoot Seamster. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict and was given a medical retirement in March 1954. For health reasons, he spent most of his remaining years in veterans' hospitals, living the last 20 years at Colmery-O'Neil Veterans' Hospital in Topeka, Kan. He was a member of the Sentinel Missionary Baptist Church north of Polk, where he was saved and had retained membership throughout the years. He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Gertrude Seamster; two brothers, Edsel Ray and James Willard Seamster; one stepbrother, Leo McNatt; one sister, Nola Mae Storment; two nieces, two brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law. He is survived by four brothers, Junior Seamster of Wichita, Kan., Donnie Seamster of Town Creek, Ala., Alvie Seamster of Polk and Charles Seamster of Plantersville, Miss.; three sisters, Juanita Wilson of Polk, Betty Monier of Springfield and Shirley Potts of Half Way; two brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law; 34 nieces and nephews and a host of great- and great-great-nieces and nephews. Services were Saturday, Feb. 24, in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Donnie Lightfoot officiating. Casketbearers were Alan Seamster, Ted Young, David McNatt, Leroy Seamster, Terry Storment and Robert Monier. Burial was in the Payne Cemetery at Polk. Military honors were conducted by the Galmey V.F.W. Post No. 9638.
Bennie M. Spurgeon
Bennie Merle Spurgeon, 83, Pittsburg, was found dead Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001, in his home. Death was due to natural causes. He was born Nov. 16, 1917, in Udell, Iowa, the son of Charlie Clarence and Lillie Ann Nighswonger Spurgeon. He was married to his first wife, Mary, in 1942, and she preceded him in death in 1966. His second wife, Fay, preceded him in death in 1994. He was also preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Rhonda, in 1984; a brother, Maynard Spurgeon; and a sister, Winona Fern McCord. He was a carpenter and a lifetime member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, which he joined in 1938. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of Word War II, serving with the SeaBees in Pearl Harbor, Midway and Tinian. He was a longtime resident of the Kansas City area, retiring in 1973 and moving to Pittsburg where he bought and operated the Indian Hills Resort until he retired again in 1983. Surviving are one stepson, Dr. Edward Hicks of Pittsford, N.Y.; three stepdaughters, Barbara Wiktorski of Carrolton, Texas, Billie Jo Rawlings of Gilbert, Ariz., and Judy Dykstra of Buckeye, Ariz.; a sister, Twila Phillips of Pleasant Hill; two nephews, Ron Hurst of Houston, Texas, and Craig Tatro of Pine Mountain, Calif; a niece, Sharon Kimbirell of Lee's Summit; nine step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren. Graveside services were Saturday, Feb. 10, in the Floral Hills Cemetery in Kansas City. Arrangements were under the direction of Butler Funeral Home.
Vern Theakston
Vern Theakston, 80, Bolivar, died at 1:35 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2001, at the Parkview Health Care Facility after a brief illness. He was born Nov. 5, 1920, in Trousdale, Kan., the son of Elv Theakston and Lottie Unzicker Theakston. He was a longtime resident of Hutchinson, Kan., moving to Bolivar in 1976. Vern graduated from Trousdale High School in 1938. He then entered Ft. Hays State College, where he was a mile runner on the track team. After two years in college, he decided to join the U.S. Air Force Ground Crew and was a veteran of World War II. Vern returned to Trousdale and on May 22, 1949, was united in marriage to Viola Taylor. After attending trade school for two years in mechanics, he decided that it was not for him. They moved to Great Bend, Kan., where Vern was hired by a machine shop, and he learned to be a machinist. After moving to Missouri, Vern taught machinist tool and die making in the CEDA program in Lebanon Vo-Tech School until the government decided to close down that program and Vern decided to try retiring at an early age. When they first moved to Missouri, they lived between Louisburg and Urbana, then decided to move to the Bolivar area to be closer to doctors and hospitals. Vern and Viola were members of the Bolivar United Methodist Church. Vern always enjoyed yard and garden work, but the biggest joy of his life was fishing. He loved to go fishing with his fishing buddy, Jerry Routh. I'd have to get him a can of beanie wieners and fix him a bread and butter sandwich and they were off with a boat or canoe. It really didn't matter to them whether they caught any fish or not. They just floated the rivers and streams, enjoying the wonders of the world and wild life they saw. A lot of conversation went on between the two of them, and he was enjoying life to the fullest. May God be with him to enjoy the life hereafter. Surviving are his wife, Viola M. Theakston of the home, and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Services were Saturday, Feb. 24, in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dan Adkison and the Rev. Bill Maggi officiating. Inurnment was Monday morning at the Greenwood Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers were Jerry Routh, Darrell Strait, John Hancock, Steve Hancock, Frank Lisk and Mark Cross. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bolivar United Methodist Church.
Bertha L. Timblin
Bertha L. Timblin, 57, Bolivar, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001, in her home following a short illness. She was born Aug. 10, 1943, to Edward and Juanita Solomon Timblin in Tulsa, Okla. She was a retired nurse. She is survived by two daughters, Shirley Vasquez and her friend, Santana Kirk, of Springfield and Angel Timblin of the home; her mother, Juanita Timblin of Harrisonville; three brothers, Bill Timblin of Harrisonville, Bob Timblin of Lane, Kan., and David Timblin of Harrisonville; one sister, Betty Wisdom of Amorette; and four grandchildren, Joseph Vasquez, Adreanna Vasquez, Breanna Vasquez and Christina Kirk. She was preceded in death by her father and a sister, Mary Brewster. Services were Saturday, Feb. 17, in Pitts Chapel. Burial followed in Mount Gilead Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the family in care of the funeral home.
Luella Anderson
Luella Anderson, 86, Bolivar, died Monday, March 5, 2001, in Citizens Memorial Health Care Facility following a lingering illness. She was born March 15, 1914, to Frank and Golden Beason Reynolds near Bolivar. She was a graduate of Bolivar High School. She was united in marriage to Marvin R. Anderson. She had been a homemaker and a medical secretary as well as a member of the Woodlawn Willing Workers Club and Barren Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She is survived by a sister, Anna Carson of Bolivar; a brother-in-law, Aubrey Anderson of the state of Missouri and two sisters-in-law, Mildred Schlap and Margaret Gregory, both of St. Joseph. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Marvin, in April 1995. Services will be at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Pitts Chapel with the Rev. Virgil Kearney officiating. Music will be provided by Dr. David Hacker. Burial will follow in Barren Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:30 p.m. until service time this afternoon in the funeral home.
Bertha Bays
Bertha Bays, 50, Half Way, died early Thursday morning, March 8, 2001, at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield after a brief battle with cancer. Bertha was born and raised in Polk County on her father's farm. On April 4, 1968, she was united in marriage to Clarence Larry Bays, and to this union, five children were born; Leonard Clarence, Larry Dale, Matthew Jacob, Mark Lee and Timothy John Bays. Bertha was saved in 1972 at Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in a revival meeting. She then joined and was baptized into the Goodson Missionary Baptist Church on April 23, 1972, where she remained a faithful member until her death. Bertha worked at Southwest Baptist University for 18 years, and upon leaving the University she joined the local Wal-Mart team in November of 1992. She continued working at Wal-Mart until her death. Bertha enjoyed practicing her quilting skills which she had learned from her mother before her death. Bertha enjoyed walking with her friends and coworkers at Southwest Baptist University. You could catch her walking everyday with someone on campus. She participated in the MS walk, as well as the Cancer walk each year. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren and all other family members and friends. She was a very loving mother. Bertha had many friends that she made during her years at the university and Wal-Mart. She enjoyed spending time with them and helping them in any way that she could. She was preceded in death by her mother, Lorene Mincks; two infant sons, Larry Dale and Mark Lee Bays; two brothers, Earl and Gene Mincks; and both sets of grandparents. Bertha is survived by three sons and their wives, Leonard and Megan Bays of Half Way, Matthew and Donna Bays of Fair Play and Timothy and Bonnie Bays of Pleasant Hope, and their father, Clarence Larry Bays; five grandsons, Dylan, Andrew, Adam, and Austin Bays and Bailey Jacobs; her father, Leonard Mincks; four brothers and their wives, Garley and Edna Mincks of Shallotte, N.C., Lloyd and Ginger Mincks of Pleasant Hope, Jeff and Angel Mincks of Bolivar and Scott Mincks of Bolivar; five sisters and their husbands, Joyce and Bill Ingram of Bolivar, Charlot Thompson of Springfield, Lenna and Charles Wilson of Half Way, Lena and Charles Pierpont of Ellsworth, Maine, and Linda and Billy Tosh of Muleshoe, Texas; and many nieces and nephews. Bertha enjoyed every precious day of her life. Services were Sunday, March 11, at the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Donnie Lightfoot, Bro. Donald Bybee and Bro. Mike McCurry officiating. Music was provided by the Goodson Missionary Baptist Church Choir, with Linda Jarman as pianist and Lucinda Crouch as soloist. Casketbearers were Earl Mincks Jr., Todd Hamilton, Lloyd Mincks, Jeff Mincks, Scott Mincks, Bill Ingram and Charlie Wilson. Burial was in the Payne Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Goodson Missionary Baptist Church.
Morris Blanton
Morris Blanton, 74, Bolivar, died Friday, March 23, 2001, in Citizens Memorial Hospital following a lingering illness. He was born Dec. 4, 1926, in Hickory County. He was united in marriage to Wilma L. Harris on July 2, 1945. He was a self-employed hay and wood deliverer. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter, a daughter, Christina Blanton, and a brother, Albert Blanton. He is survived by his wife, Wilma, of the home; five sons, Morris Blanton Jr. of Oak Grove, Robert Blanton and Bobby Blanton, both of Springfield, and James Blanton and Ronald Blanton, both of Bolivar; a daughter, Ruby Clark of Strafford; a half brother, Bill Blanton of Independence; and 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Services were Sunday, March 25, in Pitts Chapel. Burial followed in the Mt. View Cemetery, Polk, with Bro. Leon Meadows officiating. Pallbearers were Glenn Lemmon, Lyle Barber, Bill Ethridge, Curtis Lockhart, Rick Lemmon and Gary Lockhart.
Dalton J. "Tony" Brown
Dalton J. "Tony" Brown, 84, Walnut Grove, died at 11:19 p.m. Saturday, March 3, 2001, in Cox Medical Center South following a short illness. He was born near Walnut Grove and was a lifelong resident of the area. He was a retired farmer and stockman and was active with the National Farmers Organization, Greene County Farmers Association, Greene County Planning and Zoning Board and Greene County Soil and Water Distribution. He graduated from Walnut Grove High School in 1935 and from the Springfield College of Commerce. He was a longtime member of the Walnut Grove United Methodist Church. He was a 50-year member of the O'Sullivan No. 7 Masonic Lodge A.F. and A.M. of Walnut Grove, the Walnut Grove Chapter No. 72 of Order of the Eastern Star and a longtime member of the Billie McMehen V.F.W. Post No. 5333. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army for 39 months and receiving five Bronze Stars. He was active in Democratic party politics, being a member of the Greene County Democratic Committee and former Committeeman of Walnut Grove. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Mattie Bridges Brown; four sisters, Marina Rummel Steeley, Minnie Murray, Nora Brown and an infant sister; and five brothers, Ralph, Willard, Dillard "Scotty," John Howard and Leonard E. Brown. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Edna E. Brown of Springfield; two nieces, Kay Ann Sherill and Ann Glenn; three nephews, John Rummel, James Murray and Kevin Brown; and several great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews. Services will be at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Walnut Grove United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in Greene Lawn Cemetery, Walnut Grove, with military honors under the auspices of the Missouri Military Honors "Bravo" Team of Springfield. Arrangements are under the direction of Wilson-Brim-Daniel Funeral Home, Walnut Grove. The body will lie in state in the family home this morning from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Bonnah A. Burton
Bonnah Avis Burton, 86, Pleasant Hope, died at 10:10 a.m. Saturday, March 3, 2001, in Greene Haven Nursing Home.
Graveside services were Tuesday, March 6, in Reed Cemetery, Half Way.
Arrangements were under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home North, Springfield.
