Mary Frances Harris
Mary Frances Briscoe Harris of Boonville died Monday evening, Oct. 2, 2000, at Cooper County Memorial Hospital in Boonville. She was 87.
Mrs. Harris was born Oct. 28, 1912, to John and Betty Briscoe.
She was a member of Jones Holy Chapel Church of God in Christ.
After that chapel closed, Mrs. Harris became a member of the New Life In Christ Ministries in June of 1991. Mrs. Harris was part of the Home and Mission Group. She also served on the executive board and as the senior mother of the church.
Mrs. Harris' husband died earlier.
She is survived by nieces Mary Wilson and Martha Finely of Kansas City and many great-nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services, conducted by the Rev. Wayne Jones, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at New Life In Christ Ministries, 521 Main, in Boonville. Mrs. Harris will be buried at Sunset Hill Cemetery.
Friends may call at H.T. May and Son Funeral Home, 405 Sycamore, Boonville at (660) 882-5404 from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday.
Verlene Downes
Verlene Downes of Columbia died Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2000, at Columbia Manor. She was 82.
Mrs. Downes worked for many years at St. Louis Children's Hospital in different departments, said daughter Sharon Downes Uebinger.
"She liked to cook, and she liked to do crafts," her daughter said.
Visitation for Mrs. Downes will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road.
Services, officiated by Jim Williams, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Mrs. Downes will be buried at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Laurel Hill Cemetery in St. Louis.
She was born on Oct. 11, 1917, in St. Louis County to Claude Maynard Howell and Alverta Pugh Howell.
She married George E. Downes on Nov. 6, 1943 in Wellston. He died on Oct. 5, 1996.
Mrs. Downes is survived by her daughter, Sharon Downes Uebinger of Columbia; her son, James E. Downes of Woodbridge, Va.; one brother, Maynard Howell of St. Louis; three grandchildren and three great-granddaughters.
Two sisters, a son-in-law and a grandson died earlier.
Eric S. McFarland
Eric Stephen McFarland of Lohman died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000, at Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City of injuries suffered in an automobile accident. He was 24.
Mr. McFarland was born Feb. 25, 1976, in Jefferson City to Robin and Judy Mengwasser McFarland. He was a graduate of Jefferson City High School.
Mr. McFarland was a mover for Heilig-Meyers Furniture Co. Chad Surface of Heilig-Meyers said Mr. McFarland was a good worker. "We wish he was still here with us," Surface said.
Mr. McFarland also worked for Tech Packaging and attended St. Peter's Catholic Church.
Visitation was held Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Houser-Millard Funeral Directors, Jefferson City Chapel, 2613 W. Main St.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. today at St. Peter's Catholic Church, 216 Broadway, Jefferson City, with the Rev. Donald W. Lammers officiating. Burial will be on the family farm.
Mr. McFarland is survived by his parents; a sister, Janis Surface, Holts Summit; a brother, Casey McFarland, Lohman; paternal grandparents, Charles and Hazel McFarland, Columbia; maternal grandparents, Ignatius and Angela Mengwasser, Lohman; a nephew, Michael Surface, Holts Summit; and a niece, Kendra Surface, Holts Summit.
Memorials may be made to the Helias High School Foundation at 207 E. High St., Jefferson City, Mo., 65101.
Kenneth Keith Burd
Kenneth Keith Burd of Boonville died Friday, Sept. 29, 2000, at Cooper County Memorial Hospital in Boonville. He was 90.
Mr. Burd was born April 6, 1910, in Boonville to Charles and Sally Elbert Burd.
He married Clara Hinkle, who died in January 1998.
Mr. Burd worked at Kemper Military Academy in Boonville before moving to Kansas City. He also worked at the Mercantile Bank in Kansas City as a security guard.
Mr. Burd was a member of the 8th Street Baptist Church in Kansas City.
Services will be conducted by the Rev. Horace Hopkins at 1 p.m. Friday at the H.T. May and Son Funeral Home, 405 Sycamore, Boonville. Friends may visit the funeral home from 10 a.m. Friday until the time of the services. Burial will follow at the Boonville Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Burd is survived by a nephew, Harold Keith Lucas of Boonville; a great-niece, Kaneshya Lucas of Columbia; and a number of cousins.
His brother, Harold Fredrick Lucas, died earlier.
Woman enjoyed dancing, traveling
Anna Lee Adkins
Anna Lee Adkins of Centertown died Saturday, Sept. 30, 2000, at Capitol Region Medical Center. She was 87.
Mrs. Adkins' life was full of dancing, traveling, friends and great parties. She could often be found playing cards or organizing a social event for family and friends.
"She was such a beautiful friend," said Dorothy Mutert, a friend who enjoyed camping with Mrs. Adkins, "We are going to certainly miss her."
Nancy Adkins, her daughter-in-law, said she was a great organizer and always liked to be busy. She was involved in businesses such as co-owning three dress boutiques in California, Mo., St. Charles and Boonville and as a partner in a local tire shop and garage.
"She loved going across the border to bicker with the salespeople in Mexico and bring the prices down," said Nancy Adkins.
Mrs. Adkins was born Aug. 9, 1913, in Centralia to Ira Frank and Mary Elizabeth Roberts Brown. She graduated from Hickman High School in 1931. She married Roy Clifford Adkins of Columbia on Oct. 24, 1932.
She was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2693 Auxiliary in Jefferson City.
Mrs. Adkins is survived by one son, Don Adkins of Centertown; one sister, Arlene Switzer of Saskatchewan, Canada; two grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Her husband and one son died earlier.
Private family services will be held. Arrangements are under the direction of Houser-Millard Funeral Directors, 2613 W. Main St., Jefferson City.
Memorials may be sent to a charity of donor's choice.
John C. Williams
John Clifford Williams died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2000, at Columbia Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center. He was 82.
Mr. Williams was born Aug. 4, 1918, in rural Callaway County to John C. and Minnie Bloodsaw Williams.
Mr. Williams farmed in Auxvasse for several years. He was a member of Paris Fork United Methodist Church and attended Callaway County public schools.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Henry Brewer, were held Monday at Paris Fork United Methodist Church in Fulton. Burial was at Paris Folk Cemetery in Fulton.
Mr. Williams is survived by two sons, John H. Williams of Columbia and Frank L. Williams of St. Louis; one stepdaughter, Georgia Collins of Columbia; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
His wife, Flossie, two sisters and five brothers died earlier.
Earnest R. Wren
Earnest Robert Wren of Columbia died Thursday, Sept. 28, 2000, at Columbia Regional Hospital. He was 83.
Mr. Wren was born to Earnest Albert and Dora Wren on June 7, 1917, in Boone County. He married Daisy Mae Farlow in Sedalia on Aug. 3, 1964.
Mr. Wren is survived by his wife; two sons, Earnest Robert Wren, Jr. of Millersburg and Samuel Earnest Wren of Mexico, Mo.; two daughters, Shirley Goodman of Thompson and Ruby Vahldick of Columbia; two sisters, Geraldine Swartz of Georgia and Bernice Sprount of Pennsylvania; three grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
A daughter, Patricia Zwonitzer, died earlier.
Mr. Wren was a member of American Association of Retired Persons and Iron Workers Local No. 10.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the Earnest R. Wren Memorial Fund at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W., Columbia, Mo., 65202.
Teen adored her family
Kimberlie Renae Simpson
Kimberlie Renae Simpson of Columbia adored her brothers and sisters.
After years of home schooling, the six Simpson children shared an uncommon bond. They had played together and learned together in a way that most families don't.
When the children decided to return to public schools this fall, it was difficult for them to be apart. Kimberlie said that all day long at school, she missed her brothers and sisters - especially the three youngest.
Kimberlie died Friday, Sept. 29, 2000, at Boone Hospital Center from a tumor in the brain. She was 13.
Kimberlie was born Feb. 15, 1987, in Hutchinson, Kan. to David Simpson and Tammy Simpson Stiverson. She was a seventh-grader at Lange Middle School and a member of Christian Chapel.
At Christian Chapel, Kimberlie had recently earned her Honor Star award after four years in the Missionette program, a girls club based on Bible study. She was also a member of Friends Bible Study, a program for teenage girls.
"She was an incredibly vivacious and bouncy girl," said Susan Harper, a Simpson family friend and Kimberlie's Missionette advisor. "She reached out to people and loved them and drew them in."
Since she was a little girl, Kimberlie had sung in the children's choir at her church. One of her greatest dreams was to attend North Central Bible College in Minnesota and become a professional Christian singer.
Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. tonight at Christian Chapel, 3300 S. Providence Road. Services, conducted by the Rev. Gary Denbow, the Rev. Tracy Cook and Kimberlie's uncle, the Rev. Kenneth R. Simpson, will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Christian Chapel. Burial will be Tuesday at Oakland Cemetery in Hamilton, Ill.
Kimberlie is survived by her parents, David and Jameda Simpson; her mother, Tammy Stiverson of Huntsville; her grandparents, John and Louise Hickey of Hamilton, Ill.; JoAnn and Jimmie Wilkerson of Riverton; and Donald and Annette Stiverson of Brooksville, Fla. She is also survived by her brothers: David, Daniel and Michael Simpson, all of Columbia; and her sisters, Shawna and Amie Simpson of Columbia and Melanie Ashford of Port Richey, Fla.
Memorials may be sent to the Christian Chapel Honor Star program, 3300 S. Providence Road, Columbia, Mo. 65203.
Ruth L. Gibson
When both her first and second husbands died young, Ruth L. Gibson went out and worked to support her children. Remembered by family members as a "sacrificing mother," she cared for others until her final days.
"She was always concerned about the people around her," her daughter, Ruth Allison, said.
When Allison visited her in a nursing home about a week ago, Mrs. Gibson asked about the woman she shared a room with. Too frail to sense her presence, Mrs. Gibson wanted to be reassured that her roommate was okay, Allison said.
Mrs. Gibson died Thursday, Sept. 28, 2000, at South Hampton Place in Columbia. She was 95.
Mrs. Gibson was born on March 10, 1905, in Callaway County to Thomas Peyton and Martha Souder Ligon. She married Perry John Dunbar on March 8, 1923, in Hallsville. Mr. Dunbar died in 1944. Mrs. Gibson then married John Norris Gibson on Sept. 8, 1945, in Columbia. Mr. Gibson died in 1951.
Mrs. Gibson worked in the laundry department at Boone Hospital Center for several years. She then worked as a laundry manager at the Daniel Boone Hotel.
She dedicated her life to working and raising her children, Allison said.
"She always said that she was just thankful to have a roof over her head, money to pay the bills and put food on the table," her daughter said.
Mrs. Gibson also loved to travel and took trips to the East Coast and to Arizona to see her daughter.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Michael Keith, were held Saturday at Parker Funeral Service.
Mrs. Gibson is survived by two daughters, Ruth Allison of Tucson, Ariz., and Phyllis Parmer of Columbia; and a stepson, John Gibson Jr. of Columbia.
Two sons, five brothers, four sisters, one grandson and one great-great-grandchild died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the Special Olympics, 144 South Limit, Sedalia, Mo. 65301.
Kenneth Giboney
Kenneth Giboney of Columbia died Friday, Sept. 29, 2000, at his home. He was 64.
Mr. Giboney was born Feb. 29, 1936, in Fulton to William Harley and Helen Frances Richards Giboney.
He married Fran Cox on Oct. 26, 1957, in Callaway County. He was a member of St. Peters Catholic Church in Fulton.
Mr. Giboney worked at the Missouri Department of Corrections as a teacher and for the city of Columbia and Columbia Regional Hospital before his retirement.
Mr. Giboney is survived by his wife, Fran Giboney of Columbia; three sons, Kenneth, Anthony and Mark Giboney of Columbia; his daughter, Penny Walker of Wilmington, N.C.; three brothers, Ronald Giboney of Indiana, Donald Giboney of Fulton and Richard Giboney of Ohio; five sisters, Frances Acison of Fulton, Doris Ann Crump of New Bloomfield, Virginia Stephens of Mexico, Mo., Dorothy Maddox of Fulton and Katherine Wilmarth of Texas; and eight grandchildren.
Two brothers, William and Paul Giboney, died earlier.
Visitation for Mr. Giboney will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at Nilson Funeral Home. Services, conducted by Father Don Wallace and the Rev. Mike Kelleher, will directly follow. His remains will be interred at Callaway Memorial Gardens in Fulton.
Memorials may be sent to the Kenneth Giboney Memorial Fund, care of Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road, Columbia, Mo. 65202.
Hansel Clay Again
Hansel Clay Again of Columbia died Thursday, Sept. 28, 2000. He was 84.
Mr. Again was born Sept. 11, 1916, in Harg to Ray and Clara Pearl Tekotte Again. He married Nellie White on Oct. 10, 1946.
He worked at Missouri Motor Car Co. for 19 years, and then at Columbia Auto Parts for 16 years. He served in World War II from 1941 to 1945 and was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church.
Visitation for Mr. Again will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. Services, conducted by the Rev. Webster Brown and Robert Lively, will immediately follow. Burial will be at Columbia Cemetery.
Mr. Again is survived by his wife, Nellie Again; two sons, James Ray Again of Hawaii and Terry Clay Again of Columbia; a daughter, Linda Nell Coats of Columbia; a brother, Coy M. Again of New Franklin; a sister, Betty Goodson of Hamel, Minn.; and three grandchildren.
One sister died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Calvary Baptist Church, 606 Ridgeway Ave., Columbia, Mo. 65202, or Missouri River Hospice, 1440 Aaron Court, Columbia, Mo. 65202.
Freda Fern Payne
Freda Fern Payne of Columbia died Thursday, Sept. 28, 2000. She was 74.
Ms. Payne was born Feb. 24, 1926, in Mississippi County, Mo., to William and Zettie Elrod McCutchen. She lived in South Carolina until 1994, when she moved with her family to Columbia.
Visitation for Ms. Payne was Saturday at Memorial Funeral Home. Services, officiated by the Rev. Greg Dickerman, followed. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Berlin Cemetery in Murrells Inlet, S.C.
Ms. Payne is survived by three brothers, Morris McCutchen of East Prairie, Ernest McCutchen of Jefferson City and Joe McCutchen of Columbia; four sisters, Juanita Troutt of Seminole, Okla., Thelma Simmerman of Grand Junction, Colo., Virginia Dickerman of Granite City, Ill., and Faye Jeffries of Kansas City; and several nieces and nephews.
Her husband, Edward L. Payne; a son; two brothers; and a sister died earlier.
