Melvin E. Neff
Melvin Ellsworth Neff of Columbia died Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2000, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mexico, Mo. He was 81.
Mr. Neff was born on April 5, 1919, in Chappel, Neb., to George and Metta Lent Neff.
Mr. Neff served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II. On April 9, 1943, he married Margaret Elliot in Indianapolis. Mr. Neff was a Christian.
"He was a family man," said his brother-in-law Ronald Elliot.
Visitation for Mr. Neff will be from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by John Culver and Ronald Elliot, will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Neff is survived by his wife, Margaret Neff of Columbia; a son, Mevlin Neff Jr. of Centralia; three daughters, Linda Sue Woollum of Leavenworth, Kan., Glenna Marie Calmes of Evanstown, Wyo., and Ellen Christine Nobbe of St. Louis; four sisters, Alice Dahl of Freemont, Neb., Anna May Whittington of Stella, Neb., and Hazel Crouse and Myrtle Vice, both of Wichita, Kan.; and eight grandchildren.
One sister died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Missouri Veterans Home, 1 Veterans Drive, Mexico, Mo. 65265.
T. Durwood Hoefer
T. Durwood Hoefer, formerly of Columbia, died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. He was 68.
Mr. Hoefer was born Sept. 29, 1932, in Columbia to Ray Hoefer and Leatha Farthing. He graduated from Hickman High School in 1950 and married Shirley Gray on Dec. 28, 1952.
Mr. Hoefer attended Fairbury Junior College in Nebraska on a full athletic scholarship. "He was one of those special people," his wife said.
Mr. Hoefer served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War before studying agriculture for three years at MU. He then started working in the insurance business and eventually became vice president of the American Republic Insurance Co. in Columbia. He moved to Des Moines in 1983 to start his own business.
His wife said Mr. Hoefer was very active in athletics.
A memorial service for Mr. Hoefer will begin at 1 p.m. today at Ashworth Road Baptist Church in West Des Moines, Iowa. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W., Columbia, followed by burial of the cremated remains in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Hoefer is survived by his wife; a daughter, Karen A. Moore of Kent, Wash.; and a brother, Roy L. Hoefer of Gladstone.
Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 8364 Hickman Road, Suite C., Des Moines, Iowa 50325.
Roy L. Keith
Roy L. Keith of Sturgeon died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000, at Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall. He was 45.
Mr. Keith was born Jan. 15, 1955, in Wellsville to Eugene Carl and Iona Mae Kavis Keith. He had lived at the Marshall Habilitation Center in Marshall since 1969.
Visitation for Mr. Keith will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by services at 10 at Meador & Son Funeral Chapel in Centralia. Burial will be at the Liberty Cemetery in Shamrock.
Mr. Keith is survived by one brother, Danny Keith of Moberly; and his stepmother, Evelyn Keith of St. Charles.
Wilfred S. Craig
Wilfred S. Craig of Columbia died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000, at Columbia Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. He was 84.
Mr. Craig was born Aug. 11, 1916, to Elmer and Maggie Parrish Craig. He married Avalon Moore on June 20, 1944, in Pike County.
He was in the U.S. Army for 4� years during World War II as a first lieutenant in the 10th Mountain Division serving in Europe and the Aleutian Islands. He received his bachelor's degree and master's degree in entomology at MU and his doctoral degree at Iowa State University in 1953.
Mr. Craig was the state entomologist in Iowa for 12 years before he came to Missouri as extension entomologist in 1965. He retired as entomology professor emeritus in 1985.
He was a member of Community United Methodist Church in Columbia. Other organizations in which he was involved include Golden K Kiwanis, Alpha Zeta, Gamma Sigma Delta, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Psi and Epsilon Sigma Phi.
Visitation for Mr. Craig will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Friday at Community United Methodist Church. Services, conducted by the Rev. Tom Adams, will be at the church at 10 a.m. on Friday. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Mr. Craig is survived by his wife; two sons, Philip S. Craig of Columbia and Maurice E. Craig of Las Cruces, N.M.; one daughter, Diana Joyce Wright of Weston; one brother, Elmer G. Craig of Belleville, Ill.; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Three brothers died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Community United Methodist Church, 3301 W. Broadway, Columbia, Mo. 65203. Donations can also be sent to the Entomology Museum through the Development Office, 2-4 Agriculture Building, Columbia, Mo. 65211. Checks for the museum can be made payable to the University of Missouri-Columbia with memo line "in memory of Wilfred S. Craig."
Helen V. Stocker
Helen V. Stocker of Columbia died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000, at her home. She was 77.
Mrs. Stocker was born on Nov. 24, 1922, in Forest Green to Chester S. Shiflett and Vita Vesta Huston Shiflett. On Feb. 4, 1939, she married Baylor Stocker in Columbia.
Mrs. Stocker was a homemaker. She was also a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and served as treasurer for many years.
"She loved to read and write letters," Baylor Stocker said. "We took a trip to the northeast in the fall. She always loved vacations."
Visitation for Mrs. Stocker will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road. Albert Oetman will conduct services at 10 a.m. Friday at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1108 College Park Dr. A graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Walnut Hill Cemetery near Armstrong.
Mrs. Stocker is survived by her husband and her son, Roger Allen Stocker of Lee's Summit.
Gregory Mark Lytle
Gregory Mark Lytle of Columbia died Sunday, Oct. 23, 2000 at his home. He was 42.
Mr. Lytle was born Oct. 26, 1957, in Boone County to Bob and Judy Lytle.
He served in the Marine Corps and was an avid fisherman who enjoyed spending time with his friends and family.
Visitation for Mr. Lytle will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. Owen Acton, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Lytle is survived by his parents; a son, Justin Gregory Lytle of Columbia; and a brother, Matthew Wayne Lytle of Columbia.
Two brothers died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Option Home Health Care, 2909 Falling Leaf Lane, Columbia, Mo. 65203, or Missouri River Hospice, 850 Hospital Drive, Columbia, Mo. 65201.
Jack S. Green
Jack S. Green of Columbia died Saturday, Oct 21, 2000, at Columbia Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. He was 71.
Mr. Green was born Sept. 25, 1929 in Columbia to J.C. and Jewell Helen Gaines Green.
Private graveside services will be held Tuesday at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Green is survived by his father and several cousins.
Memorials may be given to the Fellowship of John, 3300 New Haven Road, Columbia, Mo. 65201.
Annabelle Stanley Roberts
Annabelle Stanley Roberts of Columbia died Saturday, Oct. 21, 2000, at her home. She was 81.
Mrs. Roberts was born Nov. 28, 1918, in Boone County to George and Bertha Evalyn Homesley Shelnutt. She married Oscar Floyd Roberts in Boone County in 1952. She was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church.
Visitation for Mrs. Roberts will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road. A graveside service, conducted by the Rev. Harold L. Smith, will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Memorial Park Cemetery, 609 Schwabe Lane.
Mrs. Roberts is survived by four sons, Robert C. Stanley, Daniel Eugene Stanley, Michael Ray Stanley and William Oscar Roberts, all of Columbia; one sister, Maedell Wasser of Columbia; and six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Her husband, two brothers, Robert Shelnutt and Edwin R. Shelnutt; one sister, Lillian Walters; and one granddaughter, Tammie Stanley Forsythe, died earlier.
Martha Francis Holt
Martha Francis Holt grew flowers and fruit trees in her garden for relaxation. It's not surprising she enjoyed beautiful things. She worked all over Columbia to bring beauty to the lives of others through volunteer work.
"She just enjoyed helping people," her niece Jane Sapp said. "She was always helping people." Mrs. Holt died Sunday, Oct. 22, 2000, at Boone Hospital Center. She was 86.
She was born Feb. 6, 1914, in Columbia, to Emmett and Susan King Crews. She married Kenneth Holt Dec. 31, 1936, in Columbia.
Mrs. Holt was a secretary at Ellis Fischel Cancer Hospital for close to 30 years before retiring. After retirement, she continued to serve the hospital as a a volunteer. She also worked as a volunteer helping senior citizens prepare their taxes.
Mrs. Holt was a long time member of New Providence Baptist Church of Columbia and served as church secretary for many years.
Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. John Foley, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Memorial Funeral Chapel.
Mrs. Holt is survived by her husband and several nieces and nephews.
Two brothers and four sisters died earlier.
Dona P. Little
Dona P. Little of Columbia died Saturday, Oct. 21, 2000, at Columbia Regional Care Center. She was 80.
Mrs. Little was born May 22, 1920, in Ashland to Elva and Edna Mae White Forbis. She married Hudson Little on June 30, 1939, in Ashland. Mrs. Little was a homemaker and a member of Little Bonne Femme Baptist Church in Columbia.
Services, conducted by the Elder Wallace Johnson, will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Robinson Funeral Home, 601 N. Henry Clay Blvd., in Ashland. Burial will be at New Salem Cemetery in Ashland.
Mrs. Little is survived by her husband; her son, Jimmy Little of Columbia; her daughter, Bobby Gladbach of Mendon; her brother, Wayne Forbis of Ashland; her sister, Aline Gilmore of New Bloomfield; and two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.
Her brother and three sisters died earlier.
Dorothy May "Jean" Wiles
Family recalls an avid collector
The walls of her kitchen buzzed with the ticking of 30 clocks. A ceiling fan that spun overhead proudly displayed the Coca-Cola label. Knickknacks and gadgets crowded the tables and countertops in the home of Dorothy May "Jean" Wiles of Columbia. "She was a hoot," said Patti Sweeney, Mrs. Wiles' daughter.
The colorful collector died Thursday, Oct. 19, 2000, at Columbia Regional Hospital. She was 71.
She lived a life filled with love and family and spiced by the thrill of collecting. Garfield and Coca-Cola memorabilia fought for space with collectible cows, owls and clowns in Mrs. Wiles' home.
When she exhausted one theme, she moved on to another, Sweeney said.
Family members could not escape Mrs. Wiles' home empty-handed. There were always gifts - often bagfuls - that she had picked out and purchased especially for her loved ones.
"I was blessed with the most loving, giving and concerned mother that a person could ask for," Sweeney said.
Mrs. Wiles was born Nov. 4, 1928, in Evansville, Ind., to John and Norma Corn Purdue. She married J.W. Wiles on June 22, 1945, in Evansville.
Mrs. Wiles was a member of Eastern Star, VFW Ladies Auxilliary Post 280 and the Owls of Evansville.
Visitation is from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. Rod Casey, will take place at 1 p.m. Monday at Memorial Funeral Home.
Mrs. Wiles is survived by a brother, John Purdue Jr. of Swansboro, N.C.; one son, Richard Glenn Wiles of Columbia; two daughters, Patti Jean Sweeney of Columbia and Gloria Dee Lackey of Indianapolis; her companion, Lester Grimes; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Her husband and a sister died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 33 E. Broadway, Suite 100, Columbia, Mo. 65203.
Ralph Eugene Olson
Ralph Eugene Olson of Centralia loved many things, but above all his family.
"Family meant a lot to him," his sister-in-law Mary Olson said.
Mr. Olson died Thursday, Oct. 19, 2000, at Pin Oaks Nursing Center in Mexico, Mo. He was 75.
With his agreeable manner and love of card games, he brought fun to family gatherings. "He was so kind," Raymond Bradley, 10, said of his great-uncle.
Mr. Olson was born on June 18, 1925, in Rock Island, Ill., to Theodore R. Olson and Dora Olson Johnson. He married Sally J. Brenton in Odessa on Sept. 11, 1955.
He served in World War II from 1944 to 1946 as part of the U.S. Army Combat Engineers. Mr. Olson also worked as a route salesman for Crown Linen in Mexico.
Mr. Olson is survived by his wife; a daughter, Debora Cullen of Peoria, Ill.; a brother, Ray Olson of Columbia; a sister, Faye Williams of Columbia; and two grandchildren. A son, Raymond E. Olson, died earlier.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W., and services will follow. Mr. Olson will be entombed at Memorial Park Mausoleum with military honors.
Memorials may be sent to the American Diabetes Association, 1316 Parkade Blvd., Columbia, Mo. 65202.
William Boyd Wilson
William Boyd Wilson always put others before himself.
Whether it was volunteering at Truman Veterans Hospital or cooking for the Elks Club, he was always there to help, said his sister, Sally Ann Wilson.
Mr. Wilson, of Hallsville, died Thursday, Oct. 19, 2000, in a car wreck on Route B near Hallsville. He was 59.
He was born July 10, 1941, in Boone County to William Carl Wilson and Irene Crane Calvert. He married Sharon Nelson in 1993 in Boone County.
Mr. Wilson, a cousin of Gov. Roger Wilson, was a boiler technician at Stephens College, a U.S. Navy veteran, a member of the Elks Club and a member of the Memorial Baptist Church. He also participated in Civil War re-enactments, and he enjoyed fishing.
Services for Mr. Wilson will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road in Columbia. Visitation will be one hour before the services at the funeral home.
Mr. Wilson is survived by his wife, Sharon Nelson-Wilson of Hallsville; two sons, William Brent Wilson of Boonville and Roger Eric Wilson of Fulton; two brothers, Michael P. Wilson of Ashland and Roger Owen Wilson of Belleville, Ill.; a sister, Sally Ann Wilson of Jefferson City; two stepsons; and eight grandchildren.
Memorial contributions can be sent to the Suzanne Nelson College Fund care of Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road, Columbia, Mo. 65202.
