Marceline Brown
Marceline Brown of Auxvasse, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001, in Kansas City, Mo. She was 83.
Mrs. Brown was born on May 17, 1918, in Boone County to Everett and Bessie Slater Warren. She married Thomas Burch Brown on Oct. 16, 1937.
Mrs. Brown was a member of the New Richland Baptist Church in Fulton. She was also a member and served as president of the church's Rising Star Mission.
Mrs. Brown served as secretary and president of the Area Homecoming Union, and she worked with the North Callaway County School District.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Warren Funeral Chapel, 12 E. Ash St., and the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Services, conducted by the Rev. Larry Warren, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at New Richland Baptist Church, 3701 State Road HH, in Fulton. Burial will follow at the New Richland Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Brown is survived by four daughters, Bessie Henson of Columbia, Marva Stephens and Delores McGee, both of Kansas City, and Cynthia Garner of Olathe, Kan.; three sons, Thomas B. Brown Jr. of Raytown, Mo., Charles E. Brown of Kansas City, and Forrest O. Brown of Grandview, Mo.; 16 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her husband, four brothers, one infant daughter and one great-grandson died earlier.
Helen Frances Kraus
Helen Frances Kraus of Columbia, formerly of Clay County, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002, at the West Village Manor in Columbia. She was 90.
Mrs. Kraus was born on July 1, 1911, to Jesse L. and Mayme Best Hamilton in Galt, Mo., and she later married Frank E. Kraus. He died in 1972.
She moved to the Kansas City area in 1942. She also lived in Chillicothe, Mo., and had been a Columbia resident since 1996.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of North Kansas City and was active in senior citizens' groups.
Before retiring, Mrs. Kraus was a secretary for the Avondale United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Kraus is survived by her son, Bobby Lee Gorrell of El Cajon, Calif.; two daughters, Joe Ann Simons of Kansas City and Mary Ann Steyaert of Columbia; five grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.
Visitation will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today at the McGilley Antioch Chapel, 3325 NE Vivion Road, in Kansas City. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the chapel, and burial will follow in White Chapel Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the First United Methodist Church, 2100 Howell, North Kansas City, Mo. 64116.
Altha D. Moore
Altha D. Moore of Columbia died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002, at South Hampton Place. She was 90.
Mrs. Moore was born on March 19, 1911, in Batesville, Ark., to George and Virginia Hulsey Baxter. She graduated from high school in Wynnewood, Okla., and married Walton Moore on July 12, 1930, in Oklahoma.
Mrs. Moore moved to Columbia from Stroud, Okla., and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Stroud.
She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Stitch and Chatter Club, was a homemaker and loved gardening.
Mrs. Moore is survived by her daughter, Marilyn Mohatt of Columbia; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Her husband, two sisters and three brothers died earlier.
There is no visitation, and a private family service will be held today. Burial will follow at Columbia Cemetery.
Bobby Ray Baird
Bobby Ray Baird of Columbia, formerly of Flora, Ill., and Centralia, Ill., died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 69.
Mr. Baird was born in Kell, Ill., on Aug. 29, 1932, to Christina Tate Baird and John J. Baird.
He graduated from Vandalia High School in Vandalia, Ill. He attended and graduated from Kaskaskia Junior College in Kaskaskia, Ill., and Southern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in business and marketing. Mr. Baird was a veteran of the Korean Conflict.
He married Lucille Donoho on Sept. 14, 1960, in Illinois.
Throughout his life, Mr. Baird owned and operated several small businesses in Centralia, Flora and Salem, Ill. He and his wife received the Centralia Boys Club Service Award in 1972.
Mr. Baird is survived by his wife of Columbia; one son and daughter-in-law, Dr. John B. and Cathy Baird of Columbia; a cousin, James Baird of Flora; a stepdaughter, Konnie Karr Dadmun of San Diego, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and a niece and nephew.
A brother, Billy Gene Baird of Centralia, Ill., and an uncle, Ralph Baird of Salem died earlier.
There are no services planned.
Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 30638, Columbia, Mo. 65205; the American Diabetes Association, 1316 Parkade Blvd., Columbia, Mo. 65202; or the American Leukemia Society, 77 West Port Plaza, Suite 101, St. Louis, Mo. 63146.
Victoria M. Feller
Victoria "Vicky" M. Feller of Columbia died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001 at University Hospital. She was 57.
Mrs. Feller was born on Jan. 5, 1943, in Hartford, Conn. to William Francis and Dorothea Millward McGurkin.
She married Robert J. Feller on Aug. 25, 1962, at Hancock Field in Syracuse, N.Y.
Mrs. Feller was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. She was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and the University Hospital Auxiliary. She was also a member of the Missouri Women's Senior Golf Association, the Country Club of Missouri, and was past president of the Women's Golf Association.
She worked as the manager for women's sportswear at Macy's department store in Kansas City and also worked at Godcheaux department store in Baton Rouge, La.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by Msgr. Michael Flanagan, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, followed by burial at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Feller is survived by her husband of Columbia; two sons, William Feller of Charlottem, S.C., and James Feller Jr. of Overland Park, Kan.; and six grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one granddaughter.
Memorials may be made to Coyote Hill Children's Home or the Columbia Catholic School.
Golda A. Mustard
Golda A. Mustard, mother of Marvin Mustard of Columbia, died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001 in Chapman, Kan. She was 90.
Mrs. Mustard was born Nov. 29, 1911 in Talmage, Kan. to Walter C. and Cora N. Jolitz.
She graduated from Talmage High School in 1930. After receiving her teaching certificate, she taught all eight grades at the Flora and Hearts Content grade schools.
She married William Floyd Mustard on June 12, 1935 at her parents' home. They made their living farming in the Talmage community.
Mrs. Mustard was a member of the Talmage First United Methodist Church and later became a member of the Abilene, Kan., First United Methodist Church.
Visitation for Mrs. Mustard will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Danner Funeral Home in Abilene. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Danner Funeral Home.
Mrs. Mustard is survived by son Marvin Mustard of Columbia; daughter Lorieta Morgan of Wichita, Kan.; daughter Karen Kamm of Abilene; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Her husband, her parents and a brother died earlier.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Cecil A. Vaughn
Cecil A. Vaughn died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2001 at his home in Ashland. He was 71.
Mr. Vaughn was born March 22, 1930 in Miller County to Wesley and Desdia Watts Vaughn. He married Wilma Bunch Aug. 20, 1949 in Tuscumbia.
He worked for 28 years for the GTE telephone company, retiring in 1983. He then went to work for Contract Communication for 10 years. He also worked for the Eagle Knoll golf course in Hartsburg and at the Southern Boone County School in Ashland.
Mr. Vaughn was a member of the Ashland Baptist Church and the Ashland Optimist Club.
Visitation for Mr. Vaughn will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Robinson Funeral Home in Ashland. Services, conducted by the Rev. James West, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Robinson Funeral Home, followed by burial at New Salem Cemetery in Ashland.
Mr. Vaughn is survived by his wife Wilma Vaughn of Ashland; son Bill Vaughn of Harrisburg; daughters Brenda Weston of Ashland, Deborah Miles of Grain Valley and Paula Weston of Ashland; brothers Gaithel Vaughn of Chillicothe, Ill., Charles Vaughn of Eldon and Terry Vaughn of Fairfield, Ill.; sisters Pauline Stanton of Lake of the Ozarks, Neta Bunch of Eldon, Mary Bailey of Tucson, Norma Evans of Bolivar and Joyce Hammond of Clearwater, Fla.; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Three brothers and a grandson died earlier.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Missouri River Hospice.
Ruth Elizabeth Black
Ruth Elizabeth Black died Friday, Dec. 28, 2001, at the Stuart House in Centralia. She was 81.
Mrs. Black was born Aug. 3, 1920, in Callaway County, to Elmer Norton and Grace Lee Scholl Wren. She lived her entire life in Callaway and Boone counties, where she was a member of the Olivet Christian Church in Columbia.
On Oct. 2, 1942 she married Wesley Black in New London, Mo.
Mrs. Black worked for the Division of Family Services, retiring in 1982. She enjoyed card games and traveling.
The Black family traces their roots to Daniel Boone and Mrs. Black was Boone's great-great-great granddaughter.
Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. Dennis Swearngin, will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Black is survived by two daughters, Barbara Sue Greicius of Little York, Ill., and Brenda Kay Long of Columbia; and two grandchildren, Melissa Kay Robison and Brandon Alan Robison, both of Columbia.
Her husband died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Olivet Christian Church, 1991 S. Olivet Road, Columbia, Mo. 65202.
Cecil Paul Davis
Cecil Paul Davis, a retired carpenter, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001, at his daughter's Columbia home. He was 74.
Mr. Davis worked as a migrant farm worker in his youth and later worked in a family-owned sawmill in Texas. He served as fire chief in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947 in Ja-
pan.
He worked as a carpenter, building houses in Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri from 1949 to 1966. He then worked for the University of Missouri in the general services department as a master carpenter from 1966 until his retirement in 1993.
During his retirement, he concentrated on his lifelong hobby of homing pigeon racing and was an active member of the Columbia Racing Pigeon Association. He was also an avid deer hunter and outdoorsman.
Mr. Davis was born Dec. 14, 1927, in Rockdale, Texas, to Richard Daniel Davis and Mamie Sqyres Davis. He married Rose Mae Keck in 1949. She died earlier.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. Services, conducted by the Rev. Christopher Cook, will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Mr. Davis will be buried with military honors in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Survivors include his long-time companion, Audrey Davis; daughters, Anne McClelland of Arlington, Texas, and Carol Davis of Columbia; one son, Cecil
Paul Davis, Jr. of Elsworth, Kan.; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild and a brother. He also regarded his niece, Penny Schouten, as a third daughter. His three brothers and one sister died earlier.
Myrtle E. Dilworth
Myrtle Evelyn Dilworth of Columbia died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2001, at the Columbia Manor Care Center. She was 101.
She was born May 14, 1900, in St. Charles to John C. and Rachel Guyton.
She was a member of Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kan., where she taught Sunday school and worked in the youth department for many years. She moved to Columbia in 1997.
Visitation for Mrs. Dilworth will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Warren Funeral Chapel, 12 E. Ash Street. The family will receive friends from 6 to
7 p.m.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Raymond W. Hayes, will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the St. Luke United Methodist Church, 204 E. Ash St.
Mrs. Dilworth is survived by three nieces, Helen Warren, Celestine Hayes and Evelyn Butler, all of Columbia; two nephews, John W. Guyton and Leon Guyton, both of Columbia; and several other out-of-town nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Mrs. Dilworth's two husbands, B.J. Johnson and Zilanon Dilworth; two brothers; and one sister died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Myrtle Guyton Dilworth Memorial, Epworth Children's Home, 4800 Santana Circle, Suite 300, Columbia, Mo. 65203.
Harold E. Thompson
Harold Edward Thompson, a retired car salesman with University Chrysler and Dodge City Motors in Columbia, died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001, at the Callaway Community Hospital in Fulton. He was 75.
He was born Oct. 10, 1926, in Columbia, to John Charles and Levia Neal Thompson. Mr. Thompson was a 1945 graduate of Hickman High School and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
On Nov. 19, 1963, he married Shirley J. Ott.
Visitation for Mr. Thompson will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Memorial Funeral Home.
Mr. Thompson is survived by his wife; two sons, Leonard Charles Thompson of Sunrise Beach, and Steve Thompson of Fulton; a daughter, Rene Thompson of Fulton; a brother, Leon Thompson of Columbia; a former wife, Shirely Brown of Sunrise Beach; and four grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 33 E. Broadway, Suite 100, Columbia, Mo. 65203.
Jeff Wilcoxson
Jeff Wilcoxson, a proud father of two young girls who a few years ago left the family farm in Harrisburg to work for a Columbia steel working company, died Friday after falling 30 feet from a one-story structure at a construction site in north Columbia.
Mr. Wilcoxson's co-workers at W&L Steel Erectors don't know how he fell from the steel-beam structure, an addition to the rear of the Textron Automotive Interiors plant at 4000 Waco Road. W&L is a subcontractor doing work for Coil Construction, which was contracted to build the addition to the Textron plant.
Wanda Hardin, who owns W&L with her husband Charles, said she has contacted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for further investigation of the accident.
"Nobody actually saw him fall," Hardin said. "We had four of our people out there and none of them saw it. We really don't know what happened."
Columbia fire fighters and paramedics where dispatched to the construction site at 3:24 p.m. Mr. Wilcoxson was breathing when medical personnel arrived, and he was transported to University Hospital.
Before arriving at the hospital, he went into cardiac arrest. Mr. Wilcoxson died at 5:40 p.m. He was 34.
His death came as a shock to his family, which three days earlier gathered for Christmas.
"We were just devastated when we learned of his death," said Donald Schmitz, Mr. Wilcoxson's brother-in-law of Shelbyville. "Jeff was in a really good physical shape."
Mr. Wilcoxson was born July 28, 1967, in Howard County, to Larry D. and Nancy J. Wilcoxson.
He married Angela Taylor on Dec. 28, 1991, in Hannibal. He and Angela lived in Harrisburg, where they were members of the Harrisburg Baptist Church. Mr. Wilcoxson was also a member of the Iron Workers Local #396, a steelworkers union.
But family, not work, was the center of Mr. Wilcoxson's life, Schmitz said. He lived for Angela, who he met while attending MU, and their two daughters, Emily, born in 1996, and Abigail, born in July.
Nothing - not hunting, golfing or watching his Kansas City Royals - was more enjoyable to Mr. Wilcoxson than playing with his girls, Schmitz said.
"He worshipped them. They were an integral part of his life," Schmitz said. "He loved his girls."
His family was so important to him that a few years ago Mr. Wilcoxson left his family's cattle farm, where he worked for much of his life, to take a job with W&L. He left the family farm because the W&L job paid so well, Schmitz said.
"He was a dedicated worker," Schmitz said. "He enjoyed the gratification of putting something up, of using his hands. "
Visitation for Mr. Wilcoxson will be at 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road. Services, conducted by the Rev. Mike Kelleher and the Rev. Hubert Shaw, will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Harrisburg Baptist Church. Burial will be at the Harrisburg Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife and daughters; his parents; his brother, Jason B. Wilcoxson of Lee's Summit; his grandparents, Beryl and Betty McBride of Harrisburg; two nieces and two nephews.
Memorials may be sent to the Harrisburg Baptist Church, P.O. Box 24, Harrisburg, Mo. 65256.
Ronald Dean Black
Ronald Dean Black, a longtime employee of the grounds department for Columbia Public Schools, died Monday, Dec. 24, 2001, in Columbia. He was 53.
He was born Feb. 20, 1948, in Boone County, to James A. and Thelma E. Hopper Black.
Mr. Black was a veteran of the U.S. Army and was employed with the Columbia Public Schools for more than 30 years in the grounds department, supervising the athletic fields.
Chester Edwards, director of building services for Columbia Public Schools, characterized Mr. Black as a very dependable employee and worker.
"He was what I would call a utility player: He could and would do any task," Edwards said.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. A service, conducted by Rev. Jim Smith, will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
The burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Black is survived by a son, Dalton Black of Columbia. His parents and a sister died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the American Diabetes Association, 1316 Parkade Blvd., Columbia, Mo. 65202.
Ruth Aileen Cunningham
Ruth Aileen Cunningham died Friday, Dec. 28, 2001, at her Columbia home. She was 85.
Mrs. Cunningham was born Oct. 5, 1916, in Elmer, Okla., to Floyd and Maggie E. Wooley Williams.
On Aug. 29, 1940, she married Orville W. Cunningham in El Dorado, Okla.
Mrs. Cunningham was a member of Memorial Baptist Church in Columbia.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Bob Webb and Bart Tichenor, will be at 3 p.m. today at Memorial Baptist Church, 1634 Paris Road, Columbia.
Another service will be held Tuesday at First Baptist Church in McLean, Texas.
The burial will take place at Hillcrest Cemetery in McLean, Texas.
Mrs. Cunningham is survived by her husband; a daughter, Karon Tomerlin of Columbia; a sister, Berneice Briscoe of Abilene, Texas; a grandson; and a great grandson.
A brother and a sister died earlier.
Jane D. Henley
Jane D. Henley, a retired administrative assistant for the University of Missouri, died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2001, at Boone Hospital Center. She was 76.
She was born April 22, 1925, in Port Arthur, Texas, to Harley Knox and May Cavin Deason.
On June 7, 1947, she married Lowry Henley in Port Arthur, Texas.
Mrs. Henley attended Texas Women's University in Denton, Texas.
She later became an employee of the University of Missouri. She retired as an administrative assistant from the MU Center for Agroforestry's extension division.
Mrs. Henley was a member of Procter St. Baptist Church in Port Arthur, Texas.
Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. Paula Ritchie, will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.
She is survived by her husband; a daughter, Barbara Ware of St. Louis; and a son, Robert Henley of Independence.
A brother died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Texas Women's University, c/o Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W., Columbia, Mo. 65202.
Virginia Alieen Level
Virginia Alieen Level, a longtime deli and bakery manager at Nowell's grocery store, died Friday, Dec. 28, 2001, at her Columbia home. She was 72.
She was born on Dec. 12, 1929, in Harrisburg, to Green F. and Mary Ellen Rouse Carey. She lived her entire life in Boone County and attended Red Rock School in Harrisburg.
She married Robert T. Level on Dec. 13, 1980.
Mrs. Level worked at several restaurants in Columbia before working at Nowell's on Worley Street. She became the deli and bakery manager at Nowell's on Keene Street. She retired in 1993.
Visitation will be between 6 and 8 p.m. today at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. 10th Street. Services, conducted by Rev. Elma Certain, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Parker Funeral Service. Burial will be at Red Rock Cemetery in Harrisburg.
Mrs. Level is survived by her husband; daughters, Yvonne Chapman of Olathe, Kan., Doris Kamp of Columbia, and Betty Carter of Hallsville; a sister, Sue Sutton of Columbia; brothers, Bob Carey of Hallsville, Don Carey of Harrisburg, and Bill Carey of Harrisburg; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Her parents and one brother, Ernest L. Carey, died earlier.
Irene Meredith
Irene Meredith, a longtime resident of Centralia, died Friday, Dec. 28, 2001, at the Stuart House in Centralia. She was 80.
She was born April 13, 1921, in Anutt, to Arthur and Mabel Marie Brown Tune.
Mrs. Meredith lived in Centralia since 1947.
She was owner and operator of Tunes locker in Centralia until 1984.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Centralia. She was a former member of the Centralia Chamber of Commerce and of the VFW in Centralia.
She was married to Bill Decker and later married Jerry Murphy, who died earlier.
On April 13, 1985, she was married to Gail Meredith. He survives.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Meador & Son Funeral Home in Centralia. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Rolla Cemetery in Rolla.
She is survived by her husband, a son, William Arthur Decker of McLean, Va.; a daughter, Beverly Browning of Dallas; a stepdaughter, Kay Ann Lewis of Columbia; nine grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.
A sister, Doris Davis, died earlier.
