Obituaries

Carollyn Louise Stevens, born December 30, 1954 in Oregon City, Oregon, went to be with our Lord on October 10, 2010 in Burgess, Missouri after a long battle with cancer.  She died in her home, surrounded by her family and loved ones.  She is survived by her husband David Stevens, and daughter Chrissy Stevens of the home; daughter Jennifer Stevens,...

Jennifer Anne Swaim, age 47, of Jasper, Missouri, passed away Monday, October 4, 2010 at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin following a courageous battle with breast cancer.        Jennifer was born June 23, 1963, at Maryville, Missouri, one of the 11 children of LeRoy Wilmes and Ada Mae (Holt) Wilmes. After graduating from Maryville High School, she earned a...

Ethel Elizabeth Butler, age 99, of Lamar, passed away Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at Truman Healthcare Center.        Ethel was born January 12, 1911, in Cedar County, Missouri, the second of the fifteen children of J.N. and Effie (Gordon) Jeffries.  On December 20, 1930, at Fair Play, Missouri, she married Lester Butler and they celebrated more than fifty-one years...

Trula Enola Cain, age 90, passed away Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at Barton County Memorial Hospital.      Trula was born January 20, 1920, in Latimer, Kansas.  She was the daughter of Lillian (Sutherland) and Otto Theel.  She was a resident of Lamar for over half her life.       After graduating from Emporia High School in 1938, Trula attended the College...

Frank Harmon Balster, Sr., age 83, of Jasper, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at Barton County Memorial Hospital in Lamar.        Frank was born May 1, 1927 at Hartford, Kansas to William and Martha (Kramer) Balster.  During World War II, Frank served in the Merchant Marines.  He then began a 62 year career as an over-the-road truck...

Steven Loren Mitts. Sr., age 58, of Milo, MO, died Thursday September 16, 2010, at Freeman Hospital West, Joplin, after a sudden illness.       Steven was born October 4, 1951 in Nevada, Missouri, to Willie F. and Ruth (Howell) Mitts and was raised by Willie and Vera (Burdick) Mitts.  He graduated from Lamar High School in 1969 and was a...

On the somber morning of September 11, 2010, John Riley Blankenbeckler died after a short illness.  He was 88 years old.  Military rites will be on Thursday, September 16th at 2:00 p.m. at Daniel Funeral Chapel.  Pastor Jack Slade will officiate.  Graveside service will be at Lake Cemetery.  Visitation will take place from 1:00pm – 2:00pm on Thursday at Daniel’s. ...

Hugh Darrel Henegar, Sr., age 68, passed away Friday, September 10, 2010 at his home in Oskaloosa, Missouri following a short illness.        Hugh was born February 22, 1942, at Ramona, Oklahoma, the son of R.N. and Cecile (Wilmoth) Henegar.  At age 11, he gave his life to the Lord and was of the Holiness Faith. After a three-year...

Robert William Clark, age 76, of Lamar, passed away Monday, September 6, 2010 at the Barone Alzheimer’s Center in Nevada.        Bob was born August 1, 1934 at Bismarck, North Dakota, to Charles and Ethel (Dunaway) Clark.  After graduating from high school, he began his 20 year career in the U.S. Air Force. He served as an air traffic...

Marianna Janis Tanner, age 83, of Lamar, passed away Friday, September 3, 2010 at her home following a long illness.        Marianna was born December 7, 1926, in Barton County, Missouri, to Fay and Helen (Fuhr) Springer and was raised by her mother, Helen, and step-father, Glen Wilson.  In 1944, she graduated from William Chrisman High School in Independence,...

Connie Ann Murrey, age 68, of Liberal, passed away, Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at Via Christi Village in Pittsburg, Kansas, where she had been a resident since January.        Connie was born October 9, 1941 at Lamar to Clifford and Ethel (Mallory) Thatcher. In 1958, at Overbrook, Kansas, she married Herbert Waring and they had two sons, Herb, Jr....

Irma Jane Richey, age 79, of Lamar, passed away Sunday, August 22, 2010 at Barton County Memorial Hospital.        Irma was born July 13, 1931, at White Cloud, Kansas, to Floyd and Grace (Steele) Nuzum.  After graduating from White Cloud High School, she married Guy M. Richey on June 14, 1949 at Troy, Kansas.  They made their home in...

Amos Miller, age 100, of Lamar, passed away Thursday, August 19, 2010 at Truman Healthcare Center.        Amos was born July 29, 1910 at Capron, Oklahoma, to L.J. and Lily (Corley) Miller. As a child, he moved with his family to Barton County where he spent most of his life and achieved his goal of celebrating 100 years.   On...

Frankie May Woody, age 90, of Lamar, passed away Friday, August 13, 2010 at Barton County Memorial Hospital.        Frankie was born July 11, 1920, at Milo, Missouri, to Frank and May (Slates) Carter.  On December 30, 1936, at Nevada, Missouri, she married Lue Hobert Woody and they had celebrated 32 years together before his death on February 24,...

Rhonda Butler, age 39, of Lamar, died Tuesday, August 10, 2010, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, after a long, but courageous battle with illness.   Rhonda was born December 16, 1970 to Ronnie and Linda (Walker)  Means at Lamar.  She graduated from Lamar High School and attended Cosmetology School in Carthage, MO.  Rhonda was a Baptist and was baptized in...

Jessie Bula Wood, age 78, of rural Sheldon, passed away Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at her home.        Jessie was born May 9, 1932, in Kansas City, Missouri, into a family of three children, and, at age five was adopted by Glen and Jaunita (Flaker) Rogers.  She graduated from Liberal High School in 1950.  Jessie attended SMS and Pittsburg...

Wilbur Charles Leverett, age 94, of Lamar, passed away Sunday, August 8, 2010, at Truman Healthcare Center.        Wilbur was born July 8, 1916, in Galena, Missouri, to Charley and Mary Ann (Lundy) Leverett.  The Leveretts were a musical family and Wilbur and his younger brother, Homer, mastered the ukulele, banjo, fiddle and guitar at an early age.  Calling...

Billy W. Anderson, age 73, of Lamar, died Sunday, August 1, 2010, at his home after a long illness.  He was born February 10, 1937 in rural Barton County, to William D. and Ruby (Frogge) Anderson.   On February 10, 1967 he married Opal L. Drane at Jasper, MO and together they had two daughters.   Billy was retired from...

Howard Dean “Hoe Handle” Williams, age 71, of Lamar, passed away Monday, July 26, 2010, at his home following a long illness.        Howard was born November 21, 1938, in Lamar, to Claude and Trula Mae (Burkhart) Williams.  He graduated from Lamar High School in 1957.  A life-long Barton County resident, Howard had worked for O’Sullivan Industries and was...

Edward Arthur “Edd” Browning, age 63, of rural Lamar, passed away Saturday, July 24, 2010 at his home.        Edd was born August 4, 1946, at Benton, Illinois, to Dillard & Coy (Wiggins) Browning.  After graduating from Benton High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served in Japan during the Vietnam War.  While an accident while...