today's record

Births

Sophie Anne Emerson

Emily and Tim Emerson, Kansas City, Mo., are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Sophie Anne Emerson. Sophie was born at 2 p.m., on July 30, 2004, at St. Luke's hospital in Kansas City, Mo. She weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces, and measured 19 inches. Paternal grandparents are Anne and Tim Emerson, Fort Scott, Kan. Maternal grandparents are Margie and Howard Carter, Nevada.

Deaths

John William "Bill" Zaring

John William "Bill" Zaring, 97, Nevada, died Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004, at Nevada Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. He was born March 1, 1907, in Dedrick, to George Otho Zaring and Jessie Jane Wilkerson Zaring. He married Lucille E. Sharp on July 23, 1939, in Harrisburg, Neb., and she survives of the home.

He grew up in Vernon County and moved to Wyoming in 1938 where he met his wife Lucille. They came back to the Nevada area in 1952 where he has lived ever since. He farmed most of his working life. Prior to moving back to Nevada, he was a dragline operator for Goshen Irrigation District in Wyoming. He helped organize the farmers' market in Nevada, and was it's first master, a position he held for 14 years.

Survivors in addition to his wife Lucille, include one daughter, Wanda Hallman, Ben Lomond, Ark.; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Joseph Zaring and Robert Zaring.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with John Nichols officiating. Interment will follow in Virgil City Cemetery, Virgil City. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at the funeral home.

Eunice H. Durnell

Eunice H. Durnell, 81, died Aug. 29, 2004. Services were held at Ferry Funeral Home on Sept. 2, 2004, at 2 p.m., with John Swatosh and Kim Osborn officiating. Soloist was Carol McEwan. Musical selections were "How Great Thou Art," "I Need Thee Every Hour" and "Amazing Grace." Organist was Betty Seitz. Pallbearers were Philip Gordon, Tommy Gordon, Brent Banes, Matt Layher, Kelly Russell and Larry Sanderson. Interment was in Deerfield Cemetery in Deerfield. Arrangements were by Ferry Funeral Home.

Obituaries

Roger Elden Mather

Roger Elden Mather, 53, Sheldon, died Monday, Aug. 30, 2004, at his home in Sheldon, following a short illness. He was born Sept. 24, 1950, in Cheyenne Wells, Colo., to Edgar Elden Mather and Ann Marie Csernics Mather. He married Jana G. Applegate on May 7, 1988, in Miami, Okla., and she survives of the home.

Roger came to Vernon County with his family at a young age. He lived near Sheldon the past 10 years. He farmed and raised hogs. He was active with the Sheldon 4-H youth for swine. For the past 13 years, he was a government meat inspector.

Survivors, in addition to his wife Jana of the home, include three sons, Eric Mather and his wife Tiffani, Nevada, Rodney Mather and Jeff Mather, both of the home; two daughters, Ginger Nowak and her husband Tom, Nevada, and Jessica Mather, of the home; five grandchildren, Rayden Mather, Ashley Mather, Benjamin Nowak, Taylor Nowak and Domenic Nowak; and a brother, Steve Mather, Nevada. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 3, 2004, at Ferry Funeral Home with Chaplain Glyn Davies officiating. Interment will follow in Sheldon Cemetery, Sheldon. Friends may call and until the hour of service and the family receives friends from 7-8 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.

Those who wish may contribute to the Christian Health Care Hospice of Springfield, or the Freeman Cancer Institute in care of Ferry Funeral Home.