Jo Ella Buffington
SENECA, Mo. - Jo Ella Buffington, 76, Shirley, Ark., died at 10:35 a.m. Tuesday at Freeman Neosho Hospital, Neosho, after a short illness.
Mrs. Buffington was born Sept. 6, 1920, at Eden, Texas. She had been living in Seneca the past three months because of ill health. She was a homemaker and a member of Church of Christ in Shirley, Ark.
She married James O. Buffington on March 19, 1938. He survives. Other survivors include a son, Jimmie C. Buffington, Baytown, Texas; two daughters, Bonnie Robison and Naomi Wyman, both of Seneca; a brother, Johnny C. King, Orlando, Fla.; a sister, Naomi Stewart, Seguin, Texas; 16 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home, Clinton, Ark. Burial will be in Eglantine Cemetery, Shirley. Family will receive friends from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. today at Campbell-Biddlecome Funeral Home, Seneca.
Harley Hagins
LAMAR, Mo. - Harley Hagins, 84, Lamar, died at 10:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, 1997, at Barton County Memorial Hospital, Lamar, after a short illness.
Mr. Hagins was born Nov. 3, 1912, at Newport. He was a lifetime Barton County resident.
He operated the Phillips 66 service station at Lamar for 34 years.
He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II.
He was a member of First Christian Church, Lamar.
He married Lorna Belle Westbay on Aug. 10, 1946, at Girard, Kan. She died Jan. 26, 1986.
Survivors include a daughter, Pam Ryder, Lamar; two brothers, Claude Hagins and Wilmer Hagins, both of Lamar; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Lohmeyer-Konantz Funeral Home, Lamar, with Doug Oakes, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Moorehead Cemetery, east of Lamar.
Pallbearers will be Jim Ryder, Jim Slinker, Steve Slinker, Kent Slinker, Stevie Slinker and Tim Jeffries.
Visitation will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the home of Jim and Pam Ryder, 206 E. Third St.
Contributions may be made to First Christian Church, in care of the funeral home.
Ila Lassek
IANTHA, Mo. - Ila Jean Lassek, 60, 558 NW Sixth Rd., Iantha, died at 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1997, at Barton County Memorial Hospital after a short illness.
Mrs. Lassek was born on Oct. 15, 1936 at Guthrie Center, Iowa. She had lived in Iantha for 17 years after she moved from Omaha, Neb. She was a homemaker.
She married Bill Lassek on June 6, 1973, at Omaha. He survives.
Other survivors include four sons, Daryl Leib, Lamar; Bill Cunningham, Mindenmines, Payton Lassek, Omaha; and Kevin Cunningham, Iantha; three daughters, Debbie Leib, Atlantic, Iowa, Kathy McFarland, Liberal, and Kim Cunningham, Hutchins, Texas; her mother, Hazel DeWitt, Lamar; two brothers, Max DeWitt, Casey, Iowa, and Eldon DeWitt, Lamar; a sister, Kathleen Stewart, Guthrie Center; and 12 grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Lohmeyer-Konantz Funeral Home. The Rev. Gary Thomas will officiate. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery, Lamar.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Bill Newman
WEBB CITY, Mo. - Bill Newman, 63, 107 N. Ball, Webb City, died at 3 a.m. Tuesday at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, after a sudden illness.
Mr. Newman was born Feb. 19, 1934 in Joplin and had lived in Webb City most of his life. He retired in 1982 as a truck driver with Tri-State Motor Transit Inc., Duenweg. After he retired, he was associated with his brother at Newman Auto Sales in Webb City. He was an Army veteran and a member of Webb City American Legion Post No. 522.
Survivors include his wife, Janie; a son, Chad Wheatley, of the home; a daughter, Crystal Wheatley, Kansas City; three brothers, Bob Newman, Carterville; and Don Newman and Jim Newman, both of Webb City; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Hedge-Lewis Funeral Home, Webb City. Burial will be in Webb City Cemetery. Nephews who will serve as pallbearers are Bryan Newman, Allan Newman, James Newman, Chris Newman, Chance Hines and Tim Reid. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Hedge-Lewis chapel.
Gene Ramsey
SHELL KNOB, Mo. - Francis E. "Gene" Ramsey, 85, Shell Knob, died at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, 1997, at Berryville Health Care Center, Berryville, Ark., after a brief illness.
Mr. Ramsey was born Oct. 28, 1911 at Bois D'Arc. He worked in management for Swift & Co., Springfield, for 43 years. He retired in 1971 and moved to Shell Knob. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He married Bessie Helen Murphy on Feb. 15, 1929, at Springfield. She died Oct. 18, 1987.
He was also preceded in death by a son.
Surviving are a son, Bob Gene Ramsey, Cape Giradeau; a daughter, Rosita Ramsey, Shell Knob; and three granddaughters.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Greenlawn North Funeral Home, Springfield. Bishop Kelvyn Cullimore will officiate. Burial will be in Maple Park Cemetery, Springfield.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Williamson Funeral Home, Shell Knob.
Contributions may be made to Haven of the Ozarks Animal Shelter, in care of the funeral home.
Helen Robbins
AURORA, Mo. - Helen Robbins, 88, Aurora, died at 1:20 a.m. Tuesday at Aurora Community Hospital after a long illness.
Mrs. Robbins was born Sept. 23, 1909, in Polk County. She lived most of her life in northern Barry County and the past 15 years at Aurora. She was a member of Aurora Fundamental Methodist Church and was a homemaker.
She married Orville L. Robbins on Oct. 3, 1931, at Galena, Mo. He died Feb. 19, 1997.
Survivors include a son, Wayne Robbins, Marionville; two daughters, Allene Fulp and Carolyn Henson, both of Verona; two brothers, Howard Vincent, Jenkins, and James Vincent, Wenatchee, Wash.; a sister, Betty Higgs, Exeter; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, Aurora. The Rev. Jerry Nickle will officiate. Burial will be at Maple Park Cemetery, Aurora. No visitation is planned.
Donations may be made to Fundamental Methodist Church or to the church campground.
Kaleb Fanning
Kaleb Dominick Fanning, infant son of Dustin and Julie Fanning, Joplin, died shortly after birth at 5:11 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1997, at St. John's Regional Medical Center.
Additional survivors include maternal grandparents, Richard and Ellen Hummel, Joplin, and paternal grandmother, Lucy Smith, Joplin.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. The Rev. J.K. Wright will officiate.
Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.
