Billie Griesemer
Zachary Griesemer
GALENA, Kan. - Billie Belinda Griesemer, 25, Bellevue, Neb., a former Galena resident, died at 3:04 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 1996, and her day-old infant, Zachary Taylor Griesemer, died at 4 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 1996, in the University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha after a two-vehicle accident at 5:55 p.m. Friday.
Zachary Griesemer was born shortly after the accident Friday evening at the medical center.
Ms. Taylor was born May 7, 1971, at Denver, Colo.
She grew up in Galena and graduated in 1990 from McAuley Regional High School at Joplin, Mo.
She had lived a year at Bellevue, moving from Biloxi, Miss.
She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Galena.
She married Shane Griesemer on May 18, 1995, at Biloxi. He survives.
Additional survivors include a daughter, Alysha Griesemer, of the home; her parents, Rick and Barbara LaTurner, Galena route 1; a sister, Christy House, Bodega Bay, Calif.; her maternal grandmother, Helen McDougal, Dewey, Okla.; and paternal grandparents, Joe and Ruby LaTurner, Galena.
Arrangements are pending with Derfelt Funeral Home, Galena.
Mary Cantrell
EUCHA, Okla. - Mary A. Cantrell, 77, Eucha, died at 9:07 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 1996, at her home after a long illness.
Mrs. Cantrell was born Jan. 25, 1919, in Lone Pine.
She was a member of the Southside Church of Christ, Jay.
She married Clyde Cantrell on Sept. 23, 1934, in Wister, Okla.
He died June 1, 1991.
Survivors include three sons, Charles Cantrell, Hudson, Colo., Wayne Cantrell, Independence, Mo., and Stanley Cantrell, Eucha; eight daughters, Betty Brown and Sarah "Janie" Davis, both of Eucha, Edith Pickle, Jay, Connie Dawson and Susan Ramero, both of Spavinaw, Nora Shriver, Tyrone, Mo., Charmon Tennison, Sand Springs, and Janice Vickers, Canyon Lake, Texas; 33 grandchildren; and 53 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Monday at the Southside Church of Christ.
Bill Richardson, minister, will officiate.
Burial will be in the Mose Ridge Cemetery, Topsy, west of Jay.
Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. today at Hinderliter-Woodard Funeral Service, Jay.
Leanna Glisson
FAIRLAND, Okla. - Leanna Glisson, 71, 327 N. Smith St., was found dead at 9 a.m. Saturday at her home after suffering an apparent heart attack.
Mrs. Glisson was born Jan. 30, 1925, in Eucha.
She moved to Fairland from Jay in 1965.
She and her husband retired as owners and operators of Ted's Grocery Store, which they ran while living in Jay and Fairland in 1975.
She was a Cherokee Indian.
She was a member of the Drowning Creek Baptist Church, Jay.
Her husband, Ted Glisson, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Fred Easter, Tahlequah; a sister, Josephine Buzzard, Fairland; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church, Fairland.
The Rev. Ron Mimms will officiate.
Burial will be in the Fairland Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cooper-Althouse Funeral Home, Fairland.
Hiram Parker
Hiram Moline Parker, 88, 201 Northpark Lane, died at 8:32 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, 1996, at St. John's Regional Medical Center after a short illness.
Mr. Parker was born July 28, 1908, at Neosho.
He lived most of his life at Neosho.
He owned and operated Parker Shoe Store, Neosho, for many years.
He was a Navy veteran of World War II.
He was a member of Northside Baptist Church and American Legion Post No. 163, both of Neosho.
He married Wanda Hickle on Nov. 10, 1928, at Neosho. She survives.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Neosho IOOF Cemetery, with the Rev. Tom Casady officiating.
American Legion Post No. 163 will conduct graveside flagfolding ceremonies.
Pallbearers will be Jack M. Johnson, Dennis O. Johnson, J.L. Johnson, Dale Rowe, Glenn Rowe and Martin Owens.
Family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Clark Funeral Home, Neosho.
Chet Powers
John C. "Chet" Powers, 84, 135 Friendship Circle, died at 12:40 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 1996, at a local nursing home after a two-month illness.
Mr. Powers was born July 27, 1912, at the Tipton Ford community south of Joplin.
He was raised in Augusta, Kan.
He returned to Joplin in 1991 from Midland, Texas.
He was an engineer for 41 years for the pipeline division of Mobil Oil Corp.
He retired in 1976.
He was a member of Forest Park Baptist Church, Joplin.
He was a past president of the American Association of Retired Persons at Midland.
He married Margaret Boucher on Jan. 29, 1938, at Augusta. She survives.
Also surviving are a daughter, Elaine Davis, Thornton, Colo.; two sisters, Wilma Perry, Joplin, and Nell Lytton, Beaumont, Texas; two grandchildren; and a great-grandson.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Mason-Woodard Mortuary.
The Rev. John Swadley will officiate.
Burial will be in Osborne Memorial Cemetery at Joplin.
Pallbearers will be Verlin Snider, Richard Johnson, Paul Cook, John Jordan, Milton Nielson and Arthur Gulick.
Family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the mortuary.
Contributions may be made to Forest Park Baptist Church.
Ralph C. Williams
Ralph C. Williams, 85, Joplin, died at 4:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 1996, at a residence in the Smithfield community, near Carl Junction, after a long illness.
Mr. Williams was born Feb. 23, 1911, on a farm southwest of Purdy.
He was a lifelong Joplin area resident, except for the years between 1954 and 1974, when he lived in Chicago, Ill.
He had been a farmer and retired in 1974 as a driver for the former Campbell 66 Express Co., Joplin.
He was a member of United Teamsters Union, Local No. 710, in Chicago.
He attended Fellowship Baptist Church in Joplin.
He married Jewel Smith in 1953. She died Nov. 10, 1985.
Survivors include two sons, Rowayne Williams, Tulsa, Okla., and Larry Williams, Joplin; two daughters, Patsy Loyd, Joplin, and Linda Starkweather, Olive Branch, Miss.; a stepdaughter, Wanda Schlosser, Chicago; seven grandchildren; a step-grandchild; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-step-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery, Joplin.
The Rev. John Sherwood will officiate.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 1:45 p.m. today at Parker Mortuary, Joplin.
The family will be at the home of Patsy Loyd, Joplin.
Contributions may be made to the St. John's Hospice program, in care of the funeral home.
W. Garland Keithly
NEVADA, Mo. - W. Garland Keithly, 78, Nevada, died at 12:34 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 1996, at Nevada Regional Medical Center after a long illness.
Mr. Keithly was born Oct. 4, 1918, in Vernon County.
He was a longtime Vernon County resident.
He was an Army veteran of World War II and served in the European Theater in the Medical Corps.
He received an honorary doctorate of education degree from Southwest Baptist University, Boliver, and in 1983 retired after 44 years as Nevada High School principal and assistant superintendent in the Nevada school system.
He was a deacon for many years at First Baptist Church, Nevada, was past president of the 50-year Club of Southwest Baptist University, and was member of the Retired Teachers Association of Vernon County.
He married Florence Gail Kemp on May 26, 1940, in Schell City. She survives.
Additional survivors include a son, Garland Kemp Keithly, Enid, Okla.; a daughter, Janet Sue Keithly Muller, Albany, N.Y.; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church.
The Rev. William Cox, the Rev. John Nichols and the Rev. O.V. Dodson will officiate.
Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery at Dedrick.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. Monday to 9 a.m. Tuesday at Milster Funeral Home, Nevada.
Contributions may be made to the Nevada High School Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of the funeral home.
