Obituaries

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....

Emily Ann Blanchard, age 73, of Lamar, passed away Friday, May 26, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin following a short illness.      Emily was born September 11, 1943, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Bill and Lottie Puckett.  On September 28, 1972, in Bentonville, Arkansas, she married Kenneth Blanchard and they have made their home in Barton County for many...

William Thomas “Tom” Maberry, age 91, of Lamar, Missouri died Friday, May 26, 2017 at his home.      Tom was born May 30, 1925 in Dade County, Missouri to Earl and Mona (Matthews) Maberry.  He attended Lockwood High School and served his country in the United States Army during World War II in the 34th Infantry in the Philippines and...

Jack William Foster, age 94, of rural Lamar, passed away Sunday, May 21, 2017 while visiting family in Fort Smith, Arkansas.      Jack was born September 6, 1922, in Dade County, Missouri, to John and Ramola (Leivan) Foster.  He entered the U.S. Army in 1942 and served in the European Theater during World War II.  Returning home in 1946, Jack...

Loren E. Morey, age 82, of rural Lamar, passed Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at his home after a short illness.      Loren was born November 29, 1934 in Lamar, Missouri to George A. and Edna (Millard) Morey.  He graduated Lamar High School and then served his country in the United States Army.  On December 11, 1960, he married Ellen Jo...

Warren Allen Grove, Jr., age 67, of Lamar, passed away Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.      Warren was born April 5, 1950 in Colby, Kansas, to Warren Sr. and Elizabeth (Ward) Grove. Early in Warren’s life, his father died and he was raised by his step-father, Charles W. Ward.  After graduating from Fairmont High School,...

Larry Robert "Hymer" Cook, age 72, of rural Jasper, Missouri, passed away Saturday morning, May 13, 2017, at Mercy Hospital Carthage, following an apparent heart attack.      Larry was born October 29, 1944, in Pittsburg, Kansas, the second of the four sons of the late Walt and Reba (James) Cook.  He graduated from Jasper High School and served his country...

William “Bill” Robert O’Brien Sr., age 85, of Lamar, Missouri passed Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at Joplin Health & Rehab Center.      Bill was born January 2, 1932 in St. Joseph, Missouri to William Francis and Edna Mae (Potter) O’Brien.  In 1949, he graduated Central High School in St. Joseph.  He served his country in the United States Marine Corps...

Donald Dean Holland, age 72, of Lamar, passed away Monday, May 1, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin.       Don was born February 17, 1945, in Sheldon, Missouri, second of the two sons of Howard T. and Ruth (George) Holland.  After graduating from Bronaugh High School in 1962, he worked for a short time for Halmark in Kansas City before...

Nadine Stansberry, age 96, of Lamar, passed away Sunday, April 30, 2017, at Truman Healthcare Center.      Nadine was born September 1, 1920, in Kenoma, Missouri, one of the six children of Lester and Fern (Nall) Harris.  On August 24, 1940, at Lamar, she married Clark Stansberry and they made their home and raised their four children in Barton County. ...

Randall Eugene Stevens, age 57, of rural Lamar, Missouri passed unexpectedly, Sunday, April 30, 2017 at his home.      Randy was born April 18, 1960 in Modesto, California to Damon Everett Stevens and Martha Jane (Bronson) Stevens.  On October 3, 1977, he married Jane Ann Burns in Girard, Kansas and together they raised five children.  Randy worked in constructions, building...

Mary Jean Schiernbeck, age 88, of Lamar, passed away Monday evening, April 17, 2017, at Truman Healthcare, surrounded by the love of her family.      Mary was born June 18, 1928 in Odebolt, Iowa, one of the thirteen children of Bernard and Irma Jean (Dinges) Bengford.  On October 25, 1946, at Papillion, Nebraska, she married Hugo Schiernbeck and they had...

Lonnie Gene Wilson, age 74, of Lamar, Missouri, passed away Saturday, April 15, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin following a long illness.      Lonnie was born November 4, 1942, in Sheldon, Missouri, to William and Lillie (Dockery) Wilson.  He attended Valley Rural School, graduated from Lamar High School in 1960, and served in the Army National Guard until honorably...

Carolyn Jean Thompson, age 66, of Liberal, Missouri, passed Monday, April 10, 2017 at Truman Healthcare Center after a long illness.      Carolyn was born July 13, 1950 in Ft. Scott, Kansas to Wilbert Wayne Spurling and Ethel Marie (Bogart) Spurling. She had attended Liberal schools as was proud that she was able to earn her GED. On September 8,...

Linda Sue Gant Smith, age 70, of Lamar, Missouri passed Thursday, April 6, 2017 at Truman Healthcare Center, after a long illness.      Linda was born July 31, 1946 in Lockwood, Missouri to John Laytham Tindill and Ruby May (Gibson) Tindill.  After graduating High School, she furthered her education in nursing.  She married Charles Arthur Smith and he preceded her...