Neal Thompson
Neal S. Thompson, 68, Joplin, died at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 17, 1997, at St. John's Regional Medical Center after a long illness.
Mr. Thompson was born on Sept. 19, 1948, in Joplin.
He lived in Joplin until 1958, when he moved to the state of California.
He returned to Joplin in 1992.
He worked as a meat cutter in California.
He was an Army veteran of the Korean War.
Surviving are three sons, Mike Thompson, Wichita, Texas, Steve Thompson, state of Texas, and Tom Hedworth, Phelts, N.Y.; a daughter, Nancy Miller, Miami, Okla.; a sister Doris Bigbee Crackl, state of California; three grandsons; and a great-grandson.
The body has been taken for cremation. Arrangements for memorial services are pending with Parker Mortuary, Joplin.
Bertha Blankenship
CASSVILLE, Mo. - Bertha Blankenship, 80, Cassville, died at 4:10 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, 1997, at a local nursing home after a long illness.
Mrs. Blankenship was born June 17, 1916, at Shell Knob.
She was a homemaker.
She was a member of Fairview Pentecostal Church.
She married Virgil Blankenship on April 21, 1934, at Exeter.
He died Sept. 22, 1992.
Survivors include two sons, Kenneth Blankenship, Marionville, and Sterling Blankenship, Cassville; a sister, Ruby Carpenter, Green Forest, Ark.; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Clio Cemetery, Jenkins.
The Rev. James Madewell will officiate.
Pallbearers will be Brad Blankenship, Cody Blankenship, Freddie Blankenship, Robert Blankenship, Rocky Blankenship, Scotty Blankenship and G.W. Fare.
Friends may call after 2 p.m. today at Williamson Funeral Home, Cassville.
Earnest Buckles
ANDERSON, Mo. - Earnest C. Buckles, 93, Anderson, died at 6:05 p.m., Monday, Feb. 17, 1997, at a nursing home in Girard, Kan., after a short illness.
Mr. Buckles was born June 16, 1903, at Cedarville, Ark.
He moved to Anderson in the late 1930s.
He had lived in Girard since 1994.
In the late 1920s, he worked for Eureka Tool Co., Cedarville.
In the late 1930s, he owned and operated Buckles' General Store, Anderson.
He also operated Gospel Visitor Press, Anderson, and worked for newspapers in Anderson and Southwest City.
He married Beulah Taylor on Dec. 6, 1924, at Claremore, Okla.
She died March 26, 1925.
Survivors include a brother, James Buckles, Pittsburg, Kan.; and three sisters, Marie French, Frontenac, Kan., Nella Buckles, Mulberry, Kan., and Claudia Hardesty, Sand Springs, Okla.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Ozark Funeral Home, Anderson.
Lloyd Hubbard, minister, will officiate.
Burial will be in Cummings Chapel Cemetery.
Friends may call after noon today at the funeral home.
Charles Craker
MONETT, Mo. - Charles Earl Craker, 55, Springfield, formerly of Monett, died Monday, Feb. 17, 1997, at his home after a sudden illness.
Mr. Craker was born March 11, 1941, at Monett.
He was a graduate of Monett High School.
He worked several years for Jumping Jack Shoe Co., Monett.
He was a Navy veteran.
His wife, Alice Louise Foster, died May 11, 1966.
Survivors include a son, Sam Craker, address unavailable; a brother, Calvin Craker, Topeka, Kan.; and five sisters, Juanita Duff, Denver, Colo., Lucille Cisler, Swanton, Neb., Ilene Amos, Fair Play, Mary Petlitzer, Nixa, and Evelyn Alyea, Monett.
The body will be cremated. No services are planned.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home, Monett.
Daisy Crandall
NEOSHO, Mo. - Daisy B. Adams Crandall, 88, Springfield, a Neosho native, died at 8:10 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, 1997, at a Springfield nursing home after a short illness.
Mrs. Crandall was born March 9, 1908, near Neosho. She was a bookkeeper for Jaybird School, Neosho, where served as its Parent Teachers Association president and helped start the hot-lunch program. She later was crafts director and taught ceramic classes at the local senior citizens' center.
She was a member of United Methodist Church, Neosho, where she was president of the United Methodist Women's Organization and the church circle. She also was in charge of the church thrift shop for many years. She served as Noble Grand and held other titles of the Rebekah Lodge.
Her husband, Ralph B. Crandall, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Selph, Springfield; two stepsons, Ralph Crandall Jr., Palm Springs, Calif., and Loomis Crandall, Ridgecrest, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Doris Fisher, Ashland, Ore.; and three grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Neosho IOOF Cemetery. The Rev. J.C. Harp will officiate. The casket will be closed at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. today at Clark Funeral Home, Neosho.
Pallbearers will be Mike Selph, Ryan Hashagen, Jim Schnyder, Bruce Bell, Bob Clarenson and Don Adams.
Leo Howard
MILLER, Mo. - Leo M. Howard, 84, Miller, died at 7:07 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17, 1997, at his home after a long illness.
Mr. Howard was born Dec. 22, 1912, at Bridgeport, Ill. He moved to the Miller area 24 years ago after retiring as a truck driver in Michigan.
He was a member of Blake Baptist Church, La Russell, where he was a deacon. He also was a member of Teamsters Local No. 299.
He married Doris Meyer Danner on March 28, 1941, at Sullivan, Ind. She survives.
Other survivors include two sons, Donald Howard, Miller, and Jimmie Howard, New Haven, Mich.; three daughters, Betty Jagoda, Richmond, Mich., Joyce Newman, Algonac, Mich., and Alta Maguire, Miller; 16 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home, Miller. The Rev. Roy Moody and the Rev. Gary Fields will officiate. Burial will be in Miller Memorial Gardens Cemetery, south of Miller.
Friends may call after 9 a.m. today at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today.
Contributions may be made to Blake Baptist Church, in care of the funeral home.
Margaret McNier
LAMAR, Mo. - Margaret Pearl Miller McNier, 89, Lamar, died at 11:48 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, 1997, at a Lamar nursing home after a long illness.
Mrs. McNier was born March 4, 1907, at Golden City. She lived most of her life in Barton County. She was a homemaker and a member of Lamar United Methodist Church.
She married Paul Pierpont McNier in 1937. He died May 26, 1987.
Survivors include a daughter, Janis Murphy, Odessa; two grandsons; and a great-granddaughter.
The body will be cremated. Graveside memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, at Lake Cemetery, Lamar. The Rev. Clif Crockett will officiate.
Arrangements are under direction of Daniel Funeral Home, Lamar.
