Marilyn Susan Bayless
Marilyn Susan Bayless, 54, Carthage, died at 6:15 a.m. Monday, Aug. 12, 2002, at McCune-Brooks Hospital in Carthage.
Mrs. Bayless was born March 17, 1948, in Mankato, Minn. to Darol Henry Bixby and Nellie Doris Hazel Hohrman. She worked as the district manager for the Wal-Mart jewelry department.
She was an active member of Central Christian Center in Joplin, and in the nursing home visitation ministry in Carthage. She was also a member of the Eastern Star - White Lily Chapter, and was the town clerk for the city of Fidelity. She was also a volunteer and sponsor at Turn-Around ranch and enjoyed helping and working with children.
She married David Bayles Jan. 17, 1980 at Miami, Okla. He survives.
Additional survivors include her parents of Wells, Minn.; two sons Lonnie Larkin of Clarksville, Tenn., and Anthony Bayless of Carthage; two brothers David Bixby of Wells, Minn., and Thomas Bixby Sr. of Florida; two sisters Josrene Klocek of Sommerseet, Wisc., and Barbara Stratton of Sioux Falls, S.D.; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by one daughter, Susan Appleton.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, 2002, at Central Christian Center in Joplin. Burial will be at Fullerton Cemetery in Carthage. Visitation will be from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14 at Ulmer Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions can be made to Central Christian Center in care of the funeral home.
Ida T. Carnes
Ida T. Carnes, 92, Carthage, died at 6:40 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, 2002, at Carthage Health & Rehabilitation Center after a lengthy illness.
Mrs. Carnes was born March 30, 1910, at Marionville, Mo., to John Cole and Mary Ann Garner. She worked at Big Smith and was a member of the Oak Street Tabernacle, Carthage.
She married Jessie R. Carnes on Nov. 28, 1928, in Carthage, and he preceded her in death.
Survivors include four sons, Jessie Carnes, Carthage, Ronald Carnes, Joplin, Chester Carnes, Huntington Beach, Calif., and John Carnes, Carthage; five daughters, Helen Stark, Jacquline Neese, Vivian Walker, Martha Carpenter, all of Carthage, and Barbara Pulliam, Springfield, Mo.; 54 grandchildren, 116 great-grandchildren and 64 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three sons, Harry Carnes, Freddie Carnes and Lawrence Carnes; a daughter, Evelyn Stirewalt; four brothers, three sisters, two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17 at Ulmer Funeral Home, Carthage. The Rev. Larry Graham will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Carthage. Visitation is set for 6-7 p.m. tonight at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Michael Carnes, Billy Neese, Harold Stirewalt Jr., Justin Carnes, Kevin Carnes, Leroy Stark, Homer Myers, Tommy Stark and Travis Neese.
Memorials are suggested to the Assembly of God Church in care of Ulmer Funeral Home, Carthage.
Mildred Mae Burnett
LOCKWOOD, Mo. -- Mildred Mae Burnett, 74, Golden City, died at 9:10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002, at Good Shepherd Nursing Home, Lockwood.
Mrs. Burnett was born Sept. 1, 1928, in Sylvania, Mo., to D.A. "Jack" and Florence (Holbert) Wolfe. She grew up in the Barton County area and graduated from Golden City High School in 1945. While she was in her teens she worked as a telephone operator. She lived in Hyattsville, Md., from 1962-1985 and then moved to Golden City.
She was a member of the Grace Baptist Church in Golden City, where she taught Sunday School.
She married William Eugene Burnett on March 8, 1946, in Girard, Kan. He survives of Golden City.
Other survivors include a daughter, Barbara Burnett-Jones, Portland, Ore.; a son, Richard Burnett, Golden City; her mother, Florence Wolfe, Willard, Mo.; a brother, Claude Wolfe, Willard, Mo.; and two grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father and her sisters, Lois O'Donnell and Lorene Berry.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17 at Pugh Funeral Home, Golden City. The Rev. Scott Houston will officiate. Music will be provided by Rayburn Mein, soloist, and Mary Probert, accompanist. Burial will be in Collins Cemetery, Lockwood.
Pallbearers will be James Wolfe, Tom Berry, Cliff McLain, Todd McLain, Steve Ramey and Jack Vauter.
Memorials are suggested to the Grace Baptist Church or Good Shepherd Nursing Home.
Shirley Pearce
JOPLIN, Mo. -- Shirley Pearce, 62, LaRussell, died at 5:15 a.m. Monday, Dec. 16, 2002, at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, after an illness.
Mrs. Pearce was born September 1940 in Kansas City. She had been a long time resident of the LaRussell area. She worked in an envelope factory, a garment factory and was a waitress at Kleeman Cafe in Sarcoxie.
She married Billy Joe Pearce in 1954, and he survives.
Other survivors include four sons, Bill Pearce, Greenfield, Charles Pearce, Sarcoxie, Michael Allen Pearce, LaRussell, and Dale Pearce, LaRussell; one brother, six sisters, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one grandchild.
Arrangements are under the direction of Housh Funeral Home, Sarcoxie.
Carl A. Royer
Carl A. Royer 61, Carthage, died at 10:55 a.m. Friday December 13, 2002, at McCune-Brooks Hospital, Carthage.
Mr. Royer was born March 17, 1941 in Carthage to Arlo S. Royer and Mabel Benschoter Royer. His family moved to California in 1958, he graduated from Downey High School, Downey, Cal. in 1959 and attended Fullerton Junior College, Fullerton, Cal. for two years. He married Sandy Bohannan on June 22, 1963 in Buena Park, Cal.. They returned to Carthage in November 1976.
He owned and operated Royer's Radiator Shop for 21 years. He owned and operated Royer's Hauling Service, was a clerk for White Oak Auction Service, a salesman for Royer's Tire, Joplin, Mo. and was a driver for Boswell Trucking Co., Mt. Vernon, Mo.. He attended the First Baptist Church, Carthage. He was active in Gideon's International and the Maple Leaf Car Show.
Survivors include his wife Sandy of the home, one son, Shawn Royer, Carthage, one daughter, Michelle Simmons, Carthage, one sister, Anna Mae Sellers, Yorba Linda, Cal. and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Monday, December 16, 2002, in the First Baptist Church Sanctuary. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday December 17 in the First Baptist Church Sanctuary. Rev. Fred Royer and Dr. Keith Miles will officiate. Burial will be in Emanuel Cemetery, southeast of Carthage. Memorial gifts may be made to Gideon's International. Arrangements are under the direction of the Knell Mortuary.
Irwin Stanley Dockery
Irwin Stanley Dockery, 80, Lamar, Mo., died at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002 at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.
Mr. Dockery was born March 11, 1922, at Irwin, Mo. to Z.B. and Edna (Harmon) Dockery. He moved here from Belton, Mo. and had lived in the area for the past 19 years. He worked as a model maker for Bendix Corp. in Kansas City.
He served in the Army in World War II, and was a member of First Baptist Church in Lamar and Sheldon Masonic Lodge #371 AF&AM.
He married Martha Viola King in 1948 at Bentonville, Ark. She preceded him in death Sept. 13, 1963.
He married Lucille Ford April 9, 1971 at Belton. She survives.
Additional survivors include three sons, Wayne Dockery of Houston, Texas, Michael Ford of Baton Rouge, La., and Steve Ford of Albany, N.Y.; four daughters, Jane Nie of Belle, Mo., Janice Walker of West Monroe, La., Anita Liverman of Huntsville, Ala., and Linda Ford of Fort Worth, Texas; three brothers, Lee Dockery of Lamar, Loren Dockery of Sheldon, and Howard Dockery of Dallas, Texas; two sisters, Nadine Walters of Irwin and Helen Foley of Escondino, Calif.; 16 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother and two sisters.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 16, 2002 at First Baptist Church in Lamar. Rev. Rob Hodson will officiate. Burial will be at Memory Gardens in Lamar. Visitation will be from 4-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002 at Lohmeyer-Konantz Funeral Home. Memorials can be given to the First Baptist Church Building Fund.
Ercle Thurman Lee
Graveside services for Ercle Thurman Lee, 73, who died Dec. 9, 2002, were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2002, at Reeds Cemetery, Reeds. The Rev. Roy Moody officiated.
Pallbearers were Kenneth Lee, Tom Gripka, Dickie Lee, Dan Lee, Bruce Shields, Charles Lee, Alvin Lee and Jerry Edwards.
Arrangements were under the direction of Knell Mortuary, Carthage.
Marian A. Stokes
Memorial services for Marian A. Stokes, 76, who died Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002, were held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 12 at the Grace Episcopal Church, Carthage. The Rev. Steve Wilson officiated.
Mary Ann Andrews played the organ and the congregation sang "Abide With Me," "Amazing Grace" and "I am the Bread of Life."
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Grace Episcopal Church, St. Paul's Episcopal Church or the Sandusky Historical Society.
Services were under the direction of Knell Mortuary, Carthage.
DONALD G. SIMMONS
Donald Gene Simmons, 69, Carthage, died at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21, 2003, at Freeman West Hospital, Joplin.
Mr. Simmons was born July 13, 1933, in Webb City to Harry Simmons and Martha Dunn Simmons. He was a graduate of Webb City High School, class of 1951.
He married Barbara Fay Jordan on April 12, 1953, in Webb City.
He was a fireman for the Webb City Fire Department from 1954 to 1961, joining the Carthage Fire Department in 1963 where he earned the rank of lieutenant in 1969, assistant chief in 1977 and then led the department as chief from 1977 until his retirement on Nov. 18, 1994. In 1997, he served as department chief of the Redings Mill Fire Department until 1999. He later became a salesman for Mertz, Inc., Ponca City, Okla., a company specializing in fire equipment.
Mr. Simmons served as chairman of the Local Emergency Planning Committee and coordinator of the Fire Mutual Aid for Jasper County. He was the first president of the Gateway Fire Chiefs, a board member of the Missouri State Firemen's Association, a member of the Carthage Civil Defense, State Emergency Management Association, a charter member of the Southwest Missouri Fire Fighters Association and an officer in numerous other professional organizations.
The achievements of Chief Simmons were acknowledged in the form of numerous awards and honors, including the 1988 Citizen of the Year award for the Carthage Lion's Club, the 1992 Richard M. Webster Memorial Citizen of the Year award from the Carthage Chamber of Commerce and service awards from the American Red Cross, Carthage Jaycees and National Exchange Club.
Chief Simmons was a tireless volunteer and played an active role in the Carthage Lion's Club, Innovative Industries, the local Salvation Army, the Optimist Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Webb City Cerebral Palsy Association.
He and his wife were active members of the First Christian Church, Webb City.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara, of the home, ad daughter, Janice Marie Duncan, Carthage; two sons, Donald Ray Simmons, Claremore, Okla., and Douglas Gene Simmons, Carthage; seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24 at Fairview Christian Church, Carthage.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Fairview Christian Church. Minister Stan Parkinson will officiate. Burial will be in Park Cemetery, Carthage
Memorial contributions may be made to the Carthage Salvation Army, the American Diabetes Association, the Webb City Cerebral Palsy Center or the Over 60 Center, Carthage.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Knell Mortuary, Carthage.
Larry D. Green
OLATHE, Kan. - Larry Dayton Green, 59, Olathe, Kan., died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2003, at his home.
Mr. Green was born June 5, 1943, in Neosho to Beryl Dayton Green and Berniece Ballantine. He was a 1962 graduate of Sarcoxie High School and attended the Rolla School of Mines in Rolla. He owned Green's Embroidery in Gardner, Kan. and retired from Hercules Inc., Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in DeSoto, Kan. He was a member of Barnstormers, RC Model Airplane Club.
On Aug. 4, 1984, he married Wanda Lou Easley, who survives.
Additional survivors include his mother Berniece Green, Sarcoxie; three daughters, Christine Bene, Louisville, Ky., Michele DuPont, Olathe, Kan., and Victoria Green, Kansas City, Kan.; three stepchildren, Scott Fitzwater, Eldon, Brad Fitzwater, Austin, Texas, and Nicci Netter, Olathe; three sisters, Carol Nimsick, Springfield, Glenda Rowland, Branson and Cynthia Green, Sarcoxie and 10 grandchildren.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday at W.L. Frye and Son Chapel, Olathe.
The family suggests memorials to Parkinson's Foundation.
Ferba G. Medley
Services for Ferba Medley, Liberty, Mo., formerly of Lamar, who died Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003, were held Friday at Weng Funeral Chapel, Jasper. The Rev. Keith Brumfield officiated.
Lucille Kahl was organist. Keith Brumfield sang "How Great Thou Art" and "My Redeemer Liveth."
Pallbearers were Lynn Thomas, Claude Fowler, Kirk Runnels, Clay Runnels, David Anthony Dunagan, George Boushell and Rob Powell.
Burial was in Mitchell Cemetery.
Linda M. Stephens
Graveside services for Linda Marie Stephens, 46, Carthage, who died Feb. 15, 2003, were held Feb. 21 at Carterville Cemetery, Carterville, Mo. The Rev. Carolyn Jean Rhodes and Genice O'Neil officiated.
Roger Price sang "The Rose." Penny Hancock sang "Precious Lord." Friends and family sang "Amazing Grace." Special recorded music, "I Will Never Be the Same," was played.
Mrs. Stephen's daughter, Carroll Bird, and sister, Sheilah Hartman, gave words of remembrance.
Services were under the direction of Knell Mortuary, Carthage.
Bob Duncan
LAMAR, Mo. - Robert C. "Bob" Duncan, 79, Lamar, died at 5:47 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, 2003, at Barton County Memorial Hospital, following a sudden illness.
Mr. Duncan was born Jan. 1, 1924, in Barton County to Charles W. and Mamie Marlatt Duncan. He lived and farmed in Barton County all of his life.
On Jan. 26, 1946, he married Lois Lowe in Girard, Kan. She survives.
Additional survivors include a son, Jim Duncan, Lamar, daughter, Linda Robertson, Lamar; three brothers, Ralph Duncan and Orville Duncan, both of Golden City, and Glen Duncan, Lamar; two sisters, Esther Wilhelm, Lockwood, and Alice Robertson, Lamar, and three grandchildren.
Services were held at 2 p.m. today at Daniel Funeral Home. Minister Doug Oakes officiated. Burial was in Moorehead Cemetery.
Memorial are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice.
Nathan "Leon" Murray
Nathan "Leon" Murray, 61, Carthage, died at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2003, at Freeman West Hospital, Joplin, after a sudden illness.
Mr. Murray was born Jan. 7, 1942, in Carthage, to J.B. and Pauline Brown Murray. He lived his entire life in Carthage. He worked for Missouri Department of Transportation for 35 years as a field mechanic and field mechanic supervisor until his retirement in July 2000. He was also a farmer.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Carthage where he served as a deacon, usher and the general officer of the Sunday School Department. He was a 1960 graduate of Miller High School. He was a member of the Wrinkled Rooster Coffee Club in Carthage and the Carthage R-9 Advisory Committee. He served in the National Guard for eight years.
He was united in marriage to Margie Neely on Jan. 13, 1962, at Stone Bible Chapel in LaRussell, Mo. She survives.
Additional survivors include his mother Pauline Roper, Carthage; two daughters, Brenda and her husband, Jerry Spry, Carthage, Cheryl and her husband, Marty Jones, Carthage; two brothers, John Murray, Reston, Va., and Robert Murray, Memphis, Tenn.; a sister, Nancy Buchanan, Euless, Texas; four grandchildren, Amy and Carrie Spry, Meagan and Kaleb Jones and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, J.B. Murray in 1969 and his brother, James Murray in May 2000.
Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at First Baptist Church.
Services will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, at First Baptist Church, Carthage. Burial will be in Red Oak Cemetery in Lawrence County. Arrangements are under the direction of Weng Funeral Chapel, Jasper.
Memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church, Gideons or the American Heart Association.
Don C. Mitchell
Don Carl Mitchell, 77, Carthage, died at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 24, 2003, at his home.
Mr. Mitchell was born April 13, 1925, in rural Golden City, Mo., to McKinley Mitchell and Erma Pearl Wright. He was a mechanic at Baird Motor Company and self employed mechanic since 1961. He also farmed. He was a graduate of Carthage High School. He serviced in the U.S. Army, military police division, during World War II. He was a member of Fairview Chrstian Church, Disabled Veterans of America in Carthage. He enjoyed helping with tractor pulls.
He married Betty Paugh, on Feb. 17, 1945, in Kansas. She survives.
Additional survivors include a son, Wesley Mitchell, Springfield; Wydonna Gaddy Porath, Destin, Fla., three sisters, Joyce Harrison, Peoria, Ariz. and Wilda Pecore, Houston, Texas, Norma Dell Gleason, Independence, Mo.; five grandchildren, Kent Gaddy, Kraig Gaddy, Wendy Mitchell Brower, Chandi Mitchell DeWeerd, Dondi Mitchell Walker, and five great-grandhchildren and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, at Fairview Christian Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, at Fairview Christian Chruch. Minister David Lang will officiate. Burial will be in Fasken Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Fairview Christian Church.
