Gerald Smith
CARTHAGE, Mo. - Gerald Lee Smith, 67, Carthage, died at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 16, 1996, at a Jasper residence after a short illness.
Mr. Smith was born Sept. 30, 1929, in Carthage.
He had lived in Carthage since 1965.
He was retired from the Air Force.
He served in World War II and the Korean War.
He was a past priest commander of the York Rites Shriners; past commander of Jasper County American Legion; and past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Carthage.
He was a member of Fellowship Lodge No. 345, Joplin, and Abou Ben Adhem Shriners at Springfield.
He married Betty Jo Youngblood on Aug. 1, 1951, at Phoenix, Ariz. She survives.
Also surviving are a son, Gerald Michael Smith, Carthage; a daughter, Betty Lynne Harrold, Las Cruces, N.M.; two brothers, Charles L. Nixon, Carthage, and Wayne Nixon, Marysville, Ohio; a sister, Vivian Crow, Carthage; and two grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Oak Hill Cemetery, Carthage.
Bill Whitfield, minister, will officiate.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ulmer Funeral Home, Carthage.
Lillian Sturgis
CARTHAGE, Mo. - Lillian L. Sturgis, 70, Carthage route 6, died at 3:20 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1996, at McCune Brooks Hospital, Carthage, after a sudden illness.
Mrs. Sturgis was born Nov. 28, 1926, in Hockerville, Okla.
She moved to Carthage in 1970 from Grants, N.M.
She retired in September 1993 after 23 years as owner and operator of Western Bar, Joplin.
She married Calvin Wayne Sturgis on May 21, 1946, in Columbus, Kan. He died Feb. 26, 1985.
Survivors include Ron Wayne Sturgis, address unknown; a daughter, Mrs. Jack Stapp, Murfreesboro, Tenn.; a sister, Joan Copeland, Elko, Nev.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Derfelt Funeral Home, Galena, Kan.
Roy Derfelt will officiate.
Burial will be in Gandy Cemetery, Galena route 2.
Pallbearers will be Terry Sturgis, J.D. Sturgis, Deuane Ellis, Douglas Klouse, Doyle Klouse Jr. and Travis Klouse.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Paul Cress
Paul W. Cress, 70, Joplin, died at 5:50 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, 1996, at his home after a short illness.
Mr. Cress was born June 16, 1926, at Monett.
He had lived in Joplin most of his life.
He was a 1944 graduate of Joplin High School, where he held the rank of lieutenant in the Army ROTC.
He owned and operated the former El Rancho Drive-In at 27th and Main streets and owned and operated the former Paul Cress Restaurant at 32nd and Main streets for 20 years.
He also owned and operated several coin-operated laundries in Joplin until retiring in 1985.
He was a member of Fellowship Lodge No. 345, AF&AM Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Joplin; Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple at Springfield, and Joplin Shrine Club.
He was a former member of Joplin Elks Lodge No. 501.
He served in the Army Military Police during World War II in the European Theater of Operations.
He married Marjorie D. Smith on Sept. 3, 1949, at Wichita, Kan.
She died June 9, 1986.
Survivors include a son, Alan Cress, Joplin; three daughters, Cathy Updegraff, Carthage, Susan Petty and Kim Ray, both of Joplin; a brother, Floyd Cress, Joplin; a sister, Alice Pantoja, Joplin; and six grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Parker Mortuary.
The Rev. Keith Jackson will officiate.
Burial will be in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Alan Cress, Chad Jimerson, Ralph Updegraff, Floyd Cress, Dennis Spencer, Terry Ensor and Pedro Pantoja.
Masonic rites will be conducted at 7 p.m. today at Parker Mortuary, followed by Fellowship Lodge No. 345, AF&AM.
The family will receive friends after the Masonic rites until 8 p.m. at the mortuary.
Contributions may be made to Joplin Humane Society.
Irene Duggan
Irene Frances Duggan, 85, Colorado Springs, Colo., formerly of Joplin, died at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, 1996, at her home after a several-week illness.
Mrs. Duggan was born March 22, 1911, at Joplin.
She moved to Colorado Springs in 1989 from Joplin.
She was associated with The Area Agency on Aging.
She was a homemaker.
She married Richard E. Duggan on Sept. 5, 1936, at New York, N.Y. He died May 2, 1976.
Surviving is a daughter, Sally Callahan, Colorado Springs.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary.
The Rev. Larry Six will officiate.
Burial will be in Osborne Memorial Cemetery.
Carl Hefly
Graveside services for Carl E. Hefly, 86, Joplin, who died Saturday, will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery, Joplin.
The Rev. Gary Reed will officiate.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin.
Ivan Harold Beebe
Mo. - Ivan Harold Beebe, 57, Richards route 1, died Sunday, Dec. 15. 1996 at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, after an illness.
Mr. Beebe was born at Independence, Mo. on Sept. 21, 1939.
He worked for Fisher Body, GM from 1961 to 1973.
He established Beebe batteries at Independence, Mo. where he worked from 1974 to 1984.
He moved to Richards about thee years ago.
He was a member of Blue Ridge Masonic Lodge and Pro-Bass Club.
He married Merri Kay Richards on Nov. 19, 1994. She survives.
Additional survivors include three sons, Steven Beebe and Brian Beebe, both of Independence, and Mark Beebe, Kansas City; a daughter, Dawn Beebe Smotherman, Kansas City; six brothers, Robert Hill, David Beebe and Philip Beebe, all of Independence, Myron Beebe, Delta Junction, Ark., Stephen Beebe, Anniston, Ala., and Carl Beebe, Kansas City; four sisters, Lois Ann Belt, Mountain Grove, Dorothy Sanders, Kansas City, Ruth Neel, Mesa, Ariz., and Alice Green, Willard; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday followed by funeral services at 2 p.m. at Milster Funeral Home, Nevada.
Burial will be in Antioch Cemetery, Pittsburg, Mo.
Virginia Case
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. - Virginia Mae Case, 75, Mount Vernon, died at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, 1996, at a local nursing home after an illness.
Mrs. Case was born Oct. 30, 1921, at Mount Vernon.
She was a homemaker and a member of First Presbyterian Church, Mount Vernon.
She married Warren Case on April 21, 1946, at Monett. He survives.
Additional survivors include a son, Dan Case, Daluth, Ga.; and a daughter, Kay Davis, Mount Vernon.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church.
The Rev. Warren Fikejs will officiate.
Burial will be in I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Mount Vernon.
Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, Mount Vernon.
