Obituaries

Louise “Becky” Nichols, age 90, of Liberal, Missouri passed Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at Via Christi Village, Pittsburg, Kansas.       Becky was born July 10, 1926 in Leavenworth, Kansas to Joseph E. Becker and Eunice Lilly (Dobbs) Becker.  She attended Leavenworth and McLouth Schools and was a high school graduate. On October 14, 1947, she married Richard C. Nichols in...

Max Todd, age 88, of Lamar, passed away Saturday April 1, 2017, at his home in Lamar, Mo.       Max was born in Perry, OK to Samuel O. and Emma (Hise) Todd on February 21, 1929. The family moved to Kenoma when he was eight years old and Max attended Kenoma schools, Glendale schools, and, finally, Lamar High School.      ...

Wiley Lucas Jr., age 83, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, passed Friday, March 31, 2017 at Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee.       Wiley was born May 29, 1933 in Saratoga, Mississippi to Wiley Leroy Lucas Sr. and Molly (Thompson) Lucas. After High School, he served his country in the United States Air Force from 1950 to 1967.  He was...

Harold Clinton “Clint” Butler, age 85, of Lamar, Mo. went to his heavenly home on Monday, March 27, at Mercy McCune-Brookes Hospital in Carthage, Mo. following an aortic aneurism.      Clint was born on October 4, 1931 in Fair Play, Mo. to the late Lester Butler and Ethel Jeffries Butler. They moved to Lamar in 1938 where he graduated from...

Henrietta Callen, age 98, formerly of Liberal, Missouri, passed away Sunday, March 26, 2017, at Good Shepherd Community Care in Lockwood.      Henrietta was born July 15, 1918 in Liberal, one of the four children of Taylor and Bertha (Comby) Palmer.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Sam Callen; two brothers, Gerald and Harl Palmer; and...

Lillie Johnson, age 86, of Lamar, passed away Tuesday, March 21, 2017, surrounded by the love of her family at St. Luke’s Nursing Center in Carthage.       Lillie was born October 27, 1930, in El Dorado Springs, Missouri, one of the thirteen children of Charles and Millie (Herring) Plain. In 1956, Lillie married Jewell McCall and he died in an...

Robert Gene Lawrence Sr., age 68, of Lamar, Missouri passed Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at Barton County Memorial Hospital after a two-year battle with cancer.       Robert was born August 4, 1948 in Kiesar, Arkansas to Larry Lawrence and Nora E. (Card) Lawrence.  He had worked as a truck driver for many years until his health caused him to retire....

Joyce LeAnn Braudaway, age 54, of Carl Junction, Missouri, passed away Monday night, March 13, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin.      Joyce was born April 26, 1962, in Lamar, to Marion and Leila (Clark) Giger.  She grew up in Barton County where she was active in 4-H, band and basketball, graduated from Lamar High School in 1980 and worked...

Maxine Anderson, age 68, of Nevada, Missouri, passed away Saturday, March 11, 2017 at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. A private committal of ashes will be held at a later date.

Clarice D. McKay, age 85, of Lamar, passed away Friday, March 10, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin.      Clarice was born August 4, 1931, in Anthony, Kansas, the youngest of the five children of Henry and Clara (Fitz) Podschun.  She attended Anthony schools, graduating in 1949.  On June 16, 1953, in Pittsburg, Kansas, Clarice married John Gilbert Jr and...

On September 29, 2016 Katie Rutledge and Russell Barnes welcomed Adam Roy Barnes into this world along with his older brother, Ethan Blake Rutledge.  Adam had a smile that lit up a room and his giggle warmed your heart. Adam loved the sound of his mama’s voice as she sang "Adam's Song" and he shared a special bond in the...

Shane Cole Nunn, age 44, of Mindenmines, Missouri, unexpectedly passed away Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at his home.      Shane was born September 11, 1972 in Visalia, California.  A natural athlete and sports enthusiast, he excelled in football and was an award-winning wrestler in high school.  Shane had a life-long love of music, was a dance instructor and a self-taught...

Leta Lorraine Barnes, age 97, of Lamar, MO passed Monday, February 27, 2017 at Good Shepherd Nursing Home.      Leta was born January 8, 1920 in Hocomo, Missouri to John S. and Amelia Iva (Rogers) Hunter.  She graduated from Bakersfield High School, in 1937. On June 18, 1939, she married Leslie Eugene “Gene” Barnes at Amy Union Chapel in Hocomo,...

Eugene Herbert Willet, age 90, of Lamar, passed away Friday night, February 24, 2017, at Truman Healthcare Center following a long illness.      Gene was born November 7, 1926, at the family farm in the Newport community, to Earl and Nora (Archer) Willet.  At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving on the USS Austin in...

William Dewain “Wild Bill” Eads, age 55, of Mulberry, Kansas, unexpectedly passed away Saturday, February 18, 2017 at his home.      Bill was born July 28, 1961, at Port Smith, Virginia, to William B. and Connie (Carroll) Eads.  He had lived in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas, working as a heavy equipment mechanic and miner in rock quarries for many...

Ramona Mae Wessler, age 83, of St. Peters, Missouri passed Saturday, February 18, 2017 at St Joseph Hospital, St. Charles, Missouri.      Ramona was born October 8, 1933 in Hebron, Nebraska to Henry John and Laura Remona (Holtzen) Wessler.  After graduating from Lamar High School in 1951, she pursued her education in nursing and earned her PhD.  She taught at...

Wayne Allen “Winnie” Wilson, age 57, of Lamar, Missouri, passed away Monday evening, February 13, 2017, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.      Wayne was born November 29, 1959 in Broken Bow, Nebraska, one of the four children of George and Josephine (Wright) Wilson.  He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Barry Wilson; and a sister, Betty...

Gene Ray Davis, age 77, of Lamar, Missouri passed unexpectedly in his sleep, Monday, February 13, 2017.      Gene was born October 9, 1939 in Lamar, Missouri to Clint LeRoy and Thelma Blanche (Trout) Davis. He graduated from Jasper High School in 1957, moving from Mindenmines during his senior year. On October 14, 1961, he married Theresa Marie Cronister in...

Ellen Irene (Holstin) Fitzpatrick, age 98, passed Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at Hermitage Nursing & Rehab.      Irene was born September 10, 1918 in Pearsonia, Oklahoma.  She was the daughter of the late Everett and Mary (Sanger) Holstin.  In 1945 Johnny Fitzpatrick and Ellen Irene Holstin were united in marriage. He passed April 21, 2006.  They had two children, a...

Mary “Marcella” (Holt) Norton, age 94, of Lamar, passed away on Sunday, February 5, 2017, at Truman Healthcare.      Marcella was born on October 8, 1922 in rural Lamar, one of seven children, to Dennis and Flora (Faurot) Holt. She graduated from Lamar High School with the Class of 1940. After graduation, she worked in Kansas City at the Ammunition...