J.B. Smith
DIAMOND, Mo. - John Byron "J.B." Smith, 74, 403 S. Washington, died at 9:10 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, 1997, at the home of a daughter, Charlotte Messer of Joplin, after a long illness.
Mr. Smith was born Dec. 24, 1922, at Mount Vernon. He lived most of his life in the Diamond area. He owned and operated Smith Motor Sales in Diamond. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Galena, Kan.
He married Gertrude "Trudy" Jennings on March 7, 1942. She died March 21, 1993.
He married Flossie Weems on Dec. 12, 1994, at Joplin. She survives.
Also surviving a son, Harold Weems, Diamond; two additional daughters, Donna Harrington and Iris Graham, both of Joplin; 15 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Mason-Woodard Mortuary, Joplin. Jeff Martin, minister, will officiate. Burial will be in Diamond Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Weems, Bud Bell, Bruce Baker, Rick Baker, Larry McAllister, Jack Rubottom and Laverne Allen.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the mortuary.
Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or Hospice at St. John's Regional Medical Center.
Elmus Snook
WASHBURN, Mo. - Elmus Dean Snook, 90, Washburn, died at 2:15 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27, 1997, at a Granby nursing home after a short illness.
Mr. Snook was born Feb. 10, 1906, in Arkansas. He was a lifelong resident of Barry County. He received his education at VanZandt School near Washburn. He was a retired carpenter.
He was a Baptist.
He married Elsie Lee on Oct. 23, 1926. She preceded him in death. He married Lula Brandon Clogston on Sept. 25, 1968. She survives.
Other survivors include three daughters, Lois Rose, Exeter, Loretta Tilford, Washburn, and Judy Amos, Rogers, Ark.; a stepson, Wayne Clogston, Baxter Springs, Kan.; a brother, Garland Snook, Galena, Kan.; seven grandchildren; seven stepgrandchildren; and 14 great-great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Maplewood Cemetery, Exeter, with the Rev. Ben Loudermilk officiating.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville.
Bryce Vickers
WEBB CITY, Mo. - Bryce Anthony Vickers, 2-year-old son of Tony and Michelle Vickers, 915 N. Main St., died at 9:16 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, 1997, at his home after a lifetime illness.
He was born April 20, 1994, in Joplin and was a lifetime area resident.
Additional survivors include a sister, Brittany Nicole Banta, of the home; paternal grandparents, Joe and Loretta Vickers, Carterville; maternal grandfather, Jack Banta, Redings Mill community, south of Joplin; and maternal great-grandparents, David and Annabelle Taylor, Saginaw community, south of Joplin.
Arrangements are pending with Parker Mortuary, Joplin.
Gary Willhite
ROCKY COMFORT, Mo. - Gary James Willhite, 39, Bentonville, Ark., formerly of Rocky Comfort, died Sunday morning, Jan. 26, 1997, at his home of complications from an automobile accident in November.
Mr. Willhite was born Oct. 17, 1957, at Inglewood, Calif. He worked for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. at Bentonville.
Surviving are two sons, Cory Willhite and Travis Willhite, both of Bentonville; his parents, James and Annette Willhite, Springfield; and a sister, Shirley Close, Nixa.
A son preceded him in death.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Rocky Comfort Church of Christ. Burl Young will officiate. Burial will be in Rocky Comfort Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Wheaton Funeral Home.
The family will gather from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday at United Methodist Church, Stella.
Gerald McCord
Gerald McCord, 64, Joplin, died at 2:34 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 28, 1997 at a St. John's Regional Medical Center emergency room, after a long illness.
Mr. McCord was born Jan. 6, 1933, in Sapulpa, Okla. He moved to Joplin two years ago from Sapulpa. He had worked as a foreman for Tulsa Sand, Tulsa, Okla. He was a member of People's Home Mission Church, Joplin.
He married Lucille M. Buckley in June 1995. She survives.
Additional survivors include five sons, Tim Doyle, Joplin, Leroy DeClue, Carl Junction, Jimmy DeClue and Glenn Doyle, both of St. Clair, and Matthew Doyle, San Antonio, Texas; three daughters, Kathy Loveall, Joplin, Coleen Walker, Sullivan, and Diana Russin, St. Louis; his mother, Martha P. Edwards, Galena, Kan.; a brother, Charles C. McCord, Sapulpa, and 21 grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today at Fairview Cemetery. The Rev. Frances Hartje will officiate.
Visitation will be from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. today at Mason-Woodard Mortuary.
Clarice Pafford
Clarice C. Pafford, 80, 2201 Duquesne Road, died at 5 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997, at Freeman Hospital East, Joplin, after a short illness.
Mrs. Pafford was born July 1, 1916 in Marble Falls, Texas. She moved to Joplin 14 years ago from Pittsburg, Texas. She attended the Church of Christ.
Her husband, Frank Pafford, died in November 1968.
Survivors include four sons, Doyle Pafford, Dale Pafford, Don Pafford and Jerry Pafford, all of Joplin; two daughters, March Smith, De Queen, Ark., and Patsy Comstock, DeSoto, Texas; a sister, Laree Hill, Pittsburg, Texas; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Rose Hill Cemetery, Pittsburg, Texas. Jamie Duncan, minister, will officiate. Burial will follow under direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary, Joplin.
Friends may call today at the mortuary.
