Obituaries

Willis “Jr.” Burchett, age 80 of Lamar, Missouri died Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at his home after a battle with cancer. Jr. was born March 4, 1938 in Collins, Missouri to Willis Adley and Lois Mary (Kennon) Burchett. On January 12, 1962, he married Sharon Kay Wilson and together they raised three children. Jr. is survived by his wife of...

Dorris Pauline Mayfield, age 91, of Lockwood, Missouri passed away October 28, 2018 at Good Shepherd Community Care in Lockwood , Missouri.      Dorris was born January 21st, 1927 in Bronaugh to Gilbert Harold Mayfield and Ida Mable (Sisseck) Mayfield . Dorris graduated Liberal High School in 1945. After graduating, she moved to Kansas City, Missouri where she attend Dickinson...

Rebekah "Becky" Ann Backs, age 70, of Lamar, Missouri passed away October 22, 2018 in Lamar, Missouri.     Becky was born June 2, 1948 in Lockwood, Missouri to Theodore “Murphy” Backs and Grace (Gilmore) Backs.  Becky graduated Lockwood High School in the class of 1966. Becky married Alan Maberry, and together, they had three sons and later divorced after 43...

Francis “Frank” Marion Walker, age 59, formerly of Liberal, Missouri died Saturday, October 6, 2018 in Moberly, Missouri after a long illness. Frank was born October 3, 1959 in Anderson, Missouri and graduated Liberal High School in 1978 where he was a member of the football team.  He worked at O’Sullivan Industries before becoming disabled.  He had been a member...

Paula Arlene Clawson, age 65, of Jerico Springs, Missouri passed away Friday, October 5, 2018 at her home after a lengthy illness.      Paula was born a twin on March 24, 1953 in Tracy, California to Norban and Betty (Crabtree) Wallen.  In 1965 Paula moved with her family to Arcola, Missouri, where her parents started a dairy farm.  Paula attended...

Roberta Manka, age 75 of Lamar, Missouri died Thursday, September 27, 2018 at Joplin Mercy Hospital. Roberta was born December 8, 1942 to Edward Olen Clyde and Ida Martha (DeLuce) Brockert in Wakenda, Missouri. She was a homemaker and had attended the Church of Christ and Assembly of God Church. On March 21, 2002 she married James K. Manka in...

James Patrick Watkins, age 79, of Lamar, Missouri died at his home Friday, September 21, 2018. Pat was born August 25, 1939 in Flintville, Tennessee to Riley and Lillian (Garrand) Watkins and graduated from Franklin County High School in 1957. James Patrick Watkins and Brenda Joyce Spier were united in marriage on March 15,1974 in Tyler, Texas, she survives. Pat...

Gary Wayne Lyden, age 59, of Liberal, Missouri died at his home Thursday, September 20, 2018. Gary was born September 1, 1959 in Pittsburg, Kansas to Lester Willard and Carol Ann (Mallory) Lyden and attended school in Pittsburg and Pratt, Kansas. He was a “Jack of all Trades” and had worked in the oil business and had owned and operated...

John Thomas Martin, age 69, of Lamar, Missouri died Friday, September 7, 2018 after an illness. John was born May 15, 1949 in Kansas City. He graduated Liberty High School in 1967 and had earned an associate’s degree from Crowder College. He enjoyed listening to his police scanner and messing around on his computer. John had worked at O’Sullivan Industries....

Thelma Lorene Jeffries, age 93, of Carthage, Missouri, died Monday, September 3, 2018. Lorene was born in Koshkonong, Missouri to Fred and Ida Alice (Brewer) Clark. Lorene was a high school graduate and on July 14, 1946 she married Noah N. Jeffries in Stanley, Kansas and together they raised two sons. She was a homemaker and enjoyed crocheting, quilting, growing...

Dr. Ted Allen Reavley DDS, age 71, of Lamar, Missouri passed away Friday, August 24, 2018 at Freeman Hospital West, after a short illness.      Ted was born May 26, 1947 in Lamar to Dr. Jackson Watson Reavley Jr. DDS and Mildred Irene “Mickey” (Barben) Reavley. He graduated Lamar High School in 1965 and graduated UMKC in 1978 with his...

Joyce Kay (Blake) Sullivan, age 72 of Lamar, Missouri passed away at her home, surrounded by her family Sunday, August 19, 2018. Joyce was born July 8, 1946 in Wellington, Kansas and was a 1964 graduate of Lamar High School. She was a member of CHIPS Church and had worked at Gilkey Chevrolet and as a service writer at John...

Kelly Renee’ Tedrick, age 60, of Lamar, Missouri passed away August 18th, 2018 at home surrounded by her family after a lengthy illness. Kelly was born January 4th, 1958 to Frederick Keith and Ella Ione (Pruett) Tedrick in Alton, Illinois. After moving to Lamar in 1975, she graduated from Lamar High School in 1976 and Missouri Southern State University in...

Ruth Nadine (Bennett) Overstreet, age 84, of Lamar, Missouri passed away Friday, August 17, 2018 at her home. Nadine was born, May 29, 1934 in Girard, Kansas to Alva Jacob & Mildred Ruth (Horton) Bennett.  On December 21, 1951, in Lamar, Nadine married Herbert George Overstreet and they have made their home in Lamar for many years. Nadine graduated as...

John Michael Stettler, age 66, of Lamar, Missouri died Sunday, August 12, 2018 at his daughter’s home. John was born March 20, 1952 to John Marvin and Helen Elizabeth (Niehaus) Stettler. He attended Prairie Rose Grade School and graduated Lamar High School in 1970 and then attended SMS in Springfield. Having a “Zest for Life”, he enjoyed hunting and fishing,...

Ruth Marie Harris, age 95, of Springfield, Missouri and formerly of Lamar, Missouri passed away, August 10, 2018. Ruth was born January 30, 1923 in Racine, Wisconsin to August and Annetta (Lui) Deragowski. She graduated Lamar High School in 1941. On April 16, 1949, she married Dwain Hunter Harris, and together they raised three children. Ruth taught many years in...

Elsie Ritchey, age 80, of Lamar, Missouri, passed away Tuesday July 31, 2018 at her home following a long illness. Elsie was born September 29, 1937 in Greenfield, Missouri, the daughter of the late Jim and Lela (Cowan) Stump. She was a 1955 graduate of Golden City High School and has been a lifelong area resident. Elsie married Charles Ritchey...

Michelle Dawn Schermerhorn, age 37, of Galena, Kansas passed away, July 19, 2018 at Freeman Hospital West as a result of an automobile accident on July 8, 2018. Michelle was born, July 7, 1981 in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. She had worked at Superior Industries in Pittsburg, Kansas. Michelle loved to swim and fish and just enjoyed life. Survivors include two...

Noah Jon Donahue, five-month-old son of Jon Claud and Kayla Marie (Howell) Donahue, passed away unexpectedly, Sunday July 8, 2018.      Noah was born, February 5, 2018 in Joplin. In addition to his parents, he is survived by a brother Matthew James Donahue, age two; a twin sister, Everly Jean Donahue, five month; grandparents, Neshawn and Richard Crowley, Lamar, Missouri,...

Thelma Jane Freeman, age 82, of Lamar, Missouri passed away, Monday, July 9, 2018 at Summerfield Assisted Living in Bradenton, Florida. Thelma was born April 1, 1936 in Milford, Missouri to James Franklin McCulley and Cora Opal Hayward. On the 5th of May 1951, she married Glen Freeman and together they raised three sons. Thelma was a homemaker and enjoyed...