Obituaries

Helen Jean Keithly, age 74, of Lamar, Missouri, passed Monday, July 24, 2017 at KU Medical Center after suffering a stroke on Saturday.      Jean was born May 5, 1943 in Irwin to Harvey and Iva (Greer) Mayfield.  She graduated Lamar High School in 1961 and on June 16, 1963 she married Bob Keithly and together they raised two children. ...

Betty Eloise Gordon-Dennis, age 72, of Lamar, peacefully passed away Sunday morning, July 16, 2017, at Truman Healthcare Center, surrounded by her family.      Betty was born January 22, 1945, in Madera, California, third of the six children of Willis and Martha (George) Gordon.  On September 2, 1989, Betty married Luther Lee Dennis and he preceded her in death September...

Jerry Ray Noyes, age 60, of rural Liberal, Missouri, passed away Friday, July 14, 2017, at Truman Healthcare Center in Lamar.       Jerry was born March 6, 1957, at Pittsburg, Kansas, one of the four children of James and Luella (Bunton) Noyes.  He graduated from Liberal High School in 1975.  On June 23, 1978, in Jasper, Missouri, Jerry married Jane...

Merle Marlene Sprenkle, age 78, of Springfield, formerly of Lamar, passed away Sunday, July 9, 2017 at Neighborhoods at Quail Creek where she was recovering from back surgery.         Merle was born May 13, 1939, in Lamar, Missouri, the only child of Walter and Mary (Clements) Haile.  She attended Forest Grove Rural School and graduated from Lamar High School in...

Viola Charlene “Charlie” Colley, was born Tuesday, July 4, 2017 at 9:45 pm  to Mary Jo Colley and departed this life at 12:44 am Wednesday.      Charlie leaves behind her mother Mary Jo; a brother Saige Colley; grandparents Paula Colley, Miller, Missouri, Ray Colley, La Russell, Missouri; great grandparents, Lois Baird, Jasper, Missouri and Mason Colley, La Russell, Missouri; aunts,...

William “Bill” Joseph Rogers, age 39, died at his home Thursday, June 29, 2017.      Bill was born August 25, 1977 in Springfield, Missouri to Jess Rogers and Lana Joyce (Olinger) Rogers.  He had attended school in Greenfield, Missouri.  Bill had been a factory worker and a truck driver before becoming disabled due to diabetes.  Bill loved trucks and his...

Gene “Breezy” Armstrong, of Lamar, Missouri died Friday, June 23, 2017 at Barton County Memorial Hospital at the age of 84. Gene was born April 14, 1933 in Golden City, Missouri to Birdie Thurman.  He attended a county grade school in Golden City, and later attended the Aurora High School.  On June 30, 1951, he married Wanda Childers and together...

Ruby Janet Willet Fowler Poe, age 84, passed away Saturday evening, June 17, 2017, surrounded by family at her home.       Ruby was born November 20, 1932, in the Newport community of Barton County, to Earl and Nora (Archer) Willet. On May 7, 1956, she married Freddie Fowler, Jr. and they had shared nearly 36 years before his death March...

Lila Sue Achey, age 81, of Lamar, passed away Saturday, June 17, 2017, at Joplin Health and Rehabilitation Center. Lila and her twin sister, Ila, were born February 13, 1936, at their family home in Wentworth, Missouri, to Hugh and Jennie (Ross) Reynolds. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Wayne Reynolds and Bill Reynolds; and six...

Bud R. McCulley, age 83, of Lamar, Missouri, passed away early Friday morning, June 16, 2017, at his home.      Bud was born March 19, 1934, in the Newport community of Barton County, to James and Cora (Hayward) McCulley.  He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Bob McCulley and an infant brother; and five sisters, Flossie Tuck,...

Lewis “Red” Sanders, age 74, of Lamar, passed away early Thursday morning, June 15, 2017, at his home.      Lewis was born May 29, 1943, in Lead Hill, Arkansas, to Lewis Sr. and Almedia (Waggoner) Sanders.  He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers, Tom, Dewy, David, and Billy Joe Sanders.      Lewis held a variety of...

Margaret (Peg) Ann Miller, 74, of Lamar, MO, formerly of Uniontown, PA passed away on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at Barton County Memorial Hospital.   Peg, born on December 31, 1942, was the only child of Evelyn and Wilson Romesburg of Uniontown, PA.  She graduated from Uniontown High School in 1960 and Grove City College in 1964 with degrees in...

Helen Verda (Dockery) Foley, age 91, of Carthage, Missouri passed away, Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at her home after a short illness.      Helen was born January 30, 1926 in Irwin, Missouri to Zella Beecher and Edna Mae (Harmon) Dockery.  She graduated high school in La Jolla, California and lived most of her life in the San Diego, California area...

Thomas W. Carroll, M.D. passed away Saturday, June 10, 2017, at Barton County Memorial Hospital, after ninety-three years of life.      He was born to Thomas Paschal Carroll and Lucy Irene Tharp Carroll on July 18, 1923, in England, Arkansas.      Tom attended schools in North Little Rock and Little Rock, Arkansas, graduating from Central High School in May 1940,...

Noah Martin Hobbs, age 80, of Sheldon, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.       Noah was born November 21, 1936, in Bartonville, Illinois, to Harley and Vivian (Wilkinson) Hobbs.  After serving in the U.S. Navy, he began a career as a High Voltage Electrician. He completed many projects, living in many places before...

Emmett Franklin Lucas, age 87, of Lamar, Missouri passed away, Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at Freeman Hospital West, Joplin.      Frank was born March 9, 1930 in Bushnell to Oscar and Ada (Felkner) Lucas. He served his country in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953.  On June 8, 1974, he married Beverly Thomas.  Frank had worked at Thorco...

Michael Allen White, age 36, of Pittsburg, Kansas, unexpectedly passed away Saturday evening, June 3, 2017, at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg.      Michael and his twin brother, Kevin, were born February 22, 1981, in Pittsburg, to Dale and Teresa (Ison) White.  He graduated from Frontenac High School in 2000. Michael enriched others though his cheerful disposition, generous nature, and...

LaVerne Florence Mason, age 77, of Lamar, Missouri, passed away of an apparent heart attack while vacationing with family in Florida.      LaVerne was born December 27, 1939, in Portland, Oregon, to Bill and Dorothy (Cheatham) Wiseman.  On November 15, 1958, at Stevenson, Washington, she married Harlan A. Mason and they lived in several states before settling in Barton County,...

David Jackson Stevens, 68, of Burgess, Missouri passed unexpectedly at his home Tuesday, May 30, 2017.      David was born September 16, 1948 in Alton, Missouri to William and Reva (Switzer) Stevens.  He graduated high school in Waterford, California.  On November 5, 1976, he married CarolLyn Williams and she preceded him in death in 2010. He worked at Pitt Plastics...

Sue Carol Ratzlaff, age 76, of Lamar, passed away Monday, May 29, 2017 at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.      Sue was born March 30, 1941, in Kansas City, Missouri, the second of the four daughters of the late Gordon and Edna (Martin) Boyer.  Moving to Lamar with her family in 1943, she graduated from Lamar High School in 1959....