Norma Ridgway
ORONOGO, Mo. - Norma J. Ridgway, 69, route 1 Oronogo, died Wednesday, March 5, 1997, at Freeman Hospital West, Joplin, after a long illness.
Mrs. Ridgway was born Oct. 21, 1927, at Medoc. She had lived in the Oronogo area for 50 years. She was graduated in 1945 from Mindenmines High School. She was a member of New Providence Baptist Church.
She married Calvin Ridgway on Dec. 9, 1945, at Columbus, Kan. He survives.
Other survivors include two sons, Gerald Ridgway, Oronogo, and Terry Ridgway, Asbury; two daughters, Wanda Hole, Joplin, and Cindy Burgess, Carl Junction; three sisters, Doris Scott, Silverton, Ore., Della Martin, Carl Junction, and Cora Bell Radford, Bradfordville, Fla.; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Simpson Funeral Home, Webb City. The Rev. Othal Hodson will officiate. Burial will be in Weaver Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Gordon Edwards, Melvin Rector, Craig Doubledee, Eddie Cawyer, David Miller and Doc Edwards.
Geraldine Smith
MARIONVILLE, Mo. - Geraldine "Jerry" Christopher Smith, 102, Marionville, died at 5:20 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, 1997, at a Marionville nursing home after a long illness.
Mrs. Smith was born Nov. 15, 1894, at Monett. She resided most of her life in Monett. She was a homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church, Monett, Etta Gardner Garden Club, Ruth Circle at First United Methodist Church and was a lifetime member of the Tulsa chapter of the Order of Eastern Star.
She married Earl Harrison Smith on Oct. 25, 1915, at Joplin. He died Aug. 31, 1968.
Survivors include three daughters, Mary Virginia McMasters, Green Valley, Ariz., Bettye Slater, Monett, and Jeanne S. Smith, Houston, Texas; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at IOOF Cemetery, Monett, with the Rev. Mark Mildren officiating. Visitation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett.
Memorials may be made to the nurses' scholarship fund at Ozark Methodist Manor.
Douglas Bean
AURORA, Mo. - Douglas Sherman Bean, 68, Aurora and a former Pierce City resident, died at 6:05 p.m. Thursday, March 6, 1997, at an Aurora nursing home after a short illness.
Mr. Bean was born on May 23, 1928, at Hugo, Okla. He was a retired lumberman. For many years, he managed the Tapjac Home Center in Monett, before moving to Pierce City, where he owned Bean Lumber Co. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, and a member of Ozark Post No. 65 American Legion, Pierce City.
He married Dianna Palmer on July 5, 1951, in Fayetteville, Ark. She survives.
Other survivors include two sons, Joe Bean, Jenkins, and Kevin Bean, Nixa; one daughter, Melissa Gould, Springfield; four sisters, Nannie Elmore, Colorado Springs, Colo., Houstine Cooper, Monett, and Kathlene Evans and June Neal, both of Springdale, Ark.; and five grandchildren.
The body has been cremated. Graveside services will be announced Lakin Funeral Home, Pierce City.
Contributions may be made to Heartline Hospice, in care of the funeral home.
Lyman Hemby
WEBB CITY, Mo. - Lyman D. Hemby, 60, 1316 S. Oronogo St., died at 11:35 p.m. Thursday, March 6, 1997, at his home after a sudden illness.
Mr. Hemby was born July 6, 1936, at Pittsburg, Kan. He lived in the Webb City area most of his life. He had worked for the Jasper County Highway Department and was a former Webb City police chief.
He was a member of Webb City Masonic Lodge No. 512, AF&AM; and was an honorary lifetime member of the Missouri Fur Company. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marines.
His wife, Cary Hemby, died Aug. 10, 1993.
Survivors include two daughters, Lynette Isenberger, Webb City, and Michele Hemby, Joplin; a sister, Judith Mynatt, Pittsburg; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Simpson Funeral Home, Webb City. Kent Williams, minister, will officiate.
The body will be cremated after the service.
Friends may call from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
John Larkin, Jr.
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. - John J. Larkin Jr., 73, Mount Vernon, died at 9:20 a.m. Thursday, March 6, 1997, at the Missouri Veteran's Home after a long illness.
Mr. Larkin was born Feb. 25, 1924, in Pierce City.
He was a lifelong area resident.
He was a retired pharmacist.
He was a member of the local Veteran's of Foreign Wars and American Legion.
He was of the Catholic faith.
His wife, Betty (Moody) Larkin died in 1987.
Survivors include two brothers, M.T. Larkin, Coffeyville, Kan., and James Edward Larkin, Beaumont, Texas; and a sister, Mary Looper, Derby, Kan.
Services will be 2 p.m. today at the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home.
The Rev. Dean Hendricks will officiate.
Burial will be at City Cemetery in Pierce City.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Dora Powell
WHEATON, Mo. - Dora A. Powell, 93, Wheaton, died at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 6, 1997, at Freeman Neosho Hospital, Neosho, after a short illness.
Mrs. Powell was born Nov. 19, 1903, at Stella.
She was a homemaker and a lifetime resident of the area.
She was a member of Wheaton United Methodist Church and the Senior Citizens of Wheaton.
She married Richard Powell in July 1923; he died in 1981.
Surviving are two sons, Dillard Powell, Wichita, Kan., and Donnie Powell, Wheaton; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She was proceeded in death by three sons.
Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Wheaton Funeral Home.
The Rev. Gloria Gold will officiate.
Burial will be in Rocky Comfort Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Gary Bates, Jerad Powell, Eddie Powell, Bub Hobbs, Doug Lee and Francis Washick.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Contributions may be made to Wheaton United Methodist Church.
Evelyn Parsons
SHELDON, Mo. - Graveside services for Evelyn Edna Parsons, 93, Sheldon, who died Wednesday, will be at 2 p.m. today at the Sheldon Cemetery.
Friends may call until service time at the Beeny-Ferry Funeral Home, Sheldon, where the family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. today.
