Margie Spain
CASSVILLE, Mo. - Margie Spain, 68, Cassville, died at 4:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 23, 1996, at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, after a long illness.
Mrs. Spain was born Jan. 29, 1928, at Berryville, Ark.
She returned to Barry County about 14 months ago from Redway, Calif., where she had lived for 12 years.
She was a homemaker and a member of Community Faith Church, Cassville.
She married Jack Spain on Jan. 27, 1946, at Butterfield. He survives.
Additional survivors include a son, Jimmie Spain, Santa Rosa, Calif.; three daughters, Linda Hoover, Exeter, Jackie Wilson, Calpella, Calif., and Louise Slate, Titusville, Fla.; a sister, Geneve Gregg, Pleasant Hill; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Williamson Funeral Home, Cassville.
Doyle Russell, pastor, will officiate.
Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Butterfield.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Thelma Whisler
CARTHAGE, Mo. - Thelma Mae Christine Whisler, 92, Carthage, died at 12:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, 1996, at a local nursing home after a long illness.
Mrs. Whisler was born Nov. 30, 1904, at Phelps, near Carthage.
She was a lifetime Carthage area resident.
She worked for seven years at Carmo Shoes, 20 years at Smith Bros., and 5 years at Joplin Association of the Blind.
She was an evangelist for 34 years with Church of the Nazarene.
She was a member of First Church of the Nazarene, Carthage.
She was a member of Joplin Service Club of the Blind, American Council for the Blind and Missouri Council for the Blind.
She married John S. Whisler on April 26, 1936, at Columbus, Kan.
He preceded her in death.
There are no immediate survivors.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Church of the Nazarene at Carthage.
The Rev. Robert Shearer, the Rev. Joe Lee Tompkins and the Rev. Wilson Baker will officiate.
Burial will be in Goss Cemetery, south of Phelps.
Visitation will be at 9 a.m. Thursday in Ulmer Funeral Home, Carthage.
Contributions may be made to First Church of the Nazarene, Carthage, in care of the funeral home.
Byron Wolfe
NEVADA, Mo. - Byron Grant "Barney" Wolfe, 74, Nevada, died Sunday morning, Dec. 22, 1996, at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, after a short illness.
Mr. Wolfe was born Sept. 9, 1922, at Moundville.
He was a 1940 graduate of Bronaugh (Mo.) High School.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving from 1942 to 1945.
After the war, he worked for Cessna Aircraft at Wichita, Kan.
He later moved to Nevada, where he worked for Sears for 36 years.
He retired in 1983.
He was past master of Osage Lodge No. 303 of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, past high priest of Chapter No. 56 of Royal Arch Masons, past commander of O'Sullivan Commandery No. 15, past rajah of Nevada Shrine Club, past sovereign of Red Cross of Constantine, past commander of Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests, and past exalted ruler of the Nevada Elks Lodge.
He was a member of Royal Order of Scotland; the Mirza Shrine Temple at Pittsburg; Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Fort Scott (Kan.) Consistory; Grand Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill, and Ducks Unlimited.
He married Ann I. Irwin on Sept. 28, 1941, at Fort Scott, Kan. She survives.
Additional survivors include two sons, Leonald "Butch" Wolfe, Branson, and B.G. Wolfe, Nevada; a daughter, Linda A. Fries, Tampa, Fla.; a brother, Bill Wolfe, Republic; a sister, Pat Baker, Moundville; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church in Nevada.
The Rev. Scott Hall will officiate.
Burial will be in Worsley Cemetery, Bronaugh.
Masonic services will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.
Visitation will follow from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
Friends may call until noon Friday at the funeral home.
Contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church in Nevada.
Leo Grimmett
Leo D. Grimmett, 73, 102 E. Second St. Apartment No. 910, died at 2 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, 1996, at a local nursing home after a long illness.
Additional survivors include five stepdaughters, Norma Wolfe, Kansas City, Lavetta McCloud, state of Oklahoma, Mona Picket, Joplin route 6, Erma Carpenter, Carl Junction, and Deloris Handley, San Diego, Calif.; and two stepsons, Leonard Arehart, Carterville, and Gary Arehart, Joplin route 6.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary.
Donald White
Donald Wayne White, 63, Joplin, died at 8:54 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 1996, at Freeman Hospital West, Joplin, after a long illness.
Mr. White was born July 19, 1933, in Webb City.
In 1991 he came to Joplin, moving from Webb City.
He specialized in computers and had been a service manager for Montgomery Ward in Emporia, Kan.
He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War.
Survivors include two brothers, Victor White, Carl Junction, and Carl White, Joplin; and a sister, Carol Deininger, Sedalia.
The body has been taken for cremation.
Memorial services will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin.
Susan Shay
SHELL KNOB, Mo. - Susan Shay, 46, Shell Knob, died at 7:22 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, 1996, at Cox Medical Center South, Springfield, after a long illness.
Miss Shay was born Aug. 24, 1950, in Schenectady, N.Y.
She graduated from the Westchester (Penn.) State College in 1972.
After graduation she worked for Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, and in various 4-H and Headstart programs in Omaha, Neb.
She came to Shell Knob in 1992, moving from Omaha.
She was a 14-year member of the Girl Scouts and a volunteer for the Disabled and Junior Olympics.
Survivors include her mother, Shirley J. Shay, Shell Knob; and a sister, Carol Laurin, Kirkland, Canada.
Mass will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, 1997, at the Holy Family Catholic Church, Shell Knob. Tom Thro will officiate.
The body has been cremated.
Contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation or to the American Diabetes Association, in care of Williamson Funeral Home, Shell Knob.
Billy Sloan
MONETT, Mo. - Billy Dean Sloan, 58, Clarksville, Ark., a Monett native, died at 7 a.m. Friday, Dec. 20, 1996, at Johnson Regional Medical Center, Clarksville, after a sudden illness.
Mr. Sloan was born June 11, 1938, in Monett.
He had lived the last seven years at Clarksville, moving from Carthage.
He was a manager for a Clarksville shoe manufacturer.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church at Monett.
He was a Navy veteran.
He married Carolyn Smith on Oct. 9, 1968, at West Plains. She survives.
Additional survivors include a son, Christopher Gebhardt, Columbia; a daughter, Melissa Gebhardt, Columbia; a sister, Elizabeth Carr Miller, Duenweg; and five grandchildren.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett.
The Rev. Mark Mildren will officiate.
Burial will be in Monett IOOF Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
