Obituaries

Alonzo L. Tidball, age 82, of Jasper, Missouri, passed away Tuesday afternoon, August 15, 2017, surrounded by his family at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.       Lon was born September 22, 1934, in Barton County, Missouri to Pedro Clifton and Lena Mae (Bright) Tidball.  Because his mother died while Lon was an infant, he and his two-year-old sister Evelyn were...

Floyd C. Lee, age 76, of Lamar, Missouri passed Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at Barton County Memorial Hospital.  Floyd was born December 8, 1940 in rural Barton County to Floyd Allen and Helen Irene (Shaw) Lee.        Floyd graduated Lamar Highschool in 1959 and then served his county in the United States Navy. On October 2, 1962, he married Barbara...

Howard J. Helms, age 82, of Lamar, Missouri, passed away Saturday morning, August 5, 2017, at Truman Healthcare Center.      Howard was born April 26, 1935, in Van Nuys, California, youngest of the six children of Dewey and Stella (Petty) Helms.  He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Edward Helms who was killed in World War...

Mario Alejandro Delapena, age 32, of Lamar, Missouri passed unexpectedly Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at his home.      Mario was born May 25, 1985 in Orange, California to Mario L. and Ana Marie (Silvidanio) Delapena. He graduated high school in Anaheim, California.  On August 25, 2007, he married Corina Angelica Contreres.  He was employed at Redneck Blinds and enjoyed working...

Velma Norine McKenzie, age 75, of Lamar, passed away Thursday night, July 27, 2017, at Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada, Missouri.      Velma was born December 2, 1941, in Ava, Missouri, the daughter of Monroe and Audra (Graham) Strong and was raised by her mother and step-father, Floyd Harris. Velma was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers,...

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. ...

Bill B. Woods, age 87, of rural Liberal, peacefully passed away Tuesday morning, July 25, 2017, surrounded by his family at home.       Bill was born September 3, 1929, at the family farm home in Barton County, Missouri, the son of George and Alice (Barr) Woods.  He graduated from Lamar High School in 1947 and enlisted in the Regular Army...

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,...