Obituaries from February 2021

Owen Ray Bennight, 82, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, at Freeman West in Joplin, Mo. Ray was born March 21, 1938, in Los Angeles, Calif. Ray was owner/operator of B&R Furniture, in Nevada, from 1974–1998. He enjoyed wood working, had a passion for restoring old cars and frequenting car auctions, and was always known to be hands on with family and grandchildren...

Evelyn Friel, age, 94, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, at Jefferson City Nursing and Rehab, in Jefferson City, Mo. Evelyn, the youngest of seven children, was born on March 9, 1926, in Thedford, Neb., the daughter of Hugh Elliott and Mary Cordis Elliot...

Joshuah “Josh” David Leonard, 24, passed away Jan. 27, 2021, in Independence, Mo. Visitation will be 5 to 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 5, at Royer’s New Salem Funeral Home, Independence, Mo. Celebration of Life service will follow at 6 p.m. There will also be a graveside service at Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Walker, Mo., at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family suggest donations to the family...

Tina Mae Groves, 58, of Nevada, died on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, at Freeman West Hospital, in Joplin. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 3, at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada. A private burial will follow in Click Cemetery, in Nevada...

Betty Ann Pratt, 91, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, at Nevada Regional Medical Center, in Nevada, following a brief illness. Betty was born July 10, 1929, in Appleton City, Mo., to William A. F. and Lucy A. (Schenker) Bern. She married Harry B. Pratt on Nov. 16, 1952, in Prairie City, Mo., and he preceded her in death on Nov. 11, 1979...

Barbara Ann Braithwait (Russell) Reed passed away Jan. 28, 2021, at her home. Barbara was born at home in Osawatomie, Kan., on Aug. 14, 1928, to John Ralph and Rena Ann (Lee) Braithwait. Her parents returned to their hometown of Bolivar, Mo., when she was one-year-old. ...

Mischelle Mejia, 57, passed away Dec. 26, 2020, at her home in Cedar Park, Texas. She was born Jan. 9, 1963, in Topeka, Kan., to Edward Denny David and Joy Mitchum. Shelly, as she preferred, was a lover of music. She settled in Austin, Texas, in 1985 where she met the love of her life Remigio Mejia. Shelly was a founding member of the band "Haywire."...

Irven Dale Gideon, 70, Nevada, Mo., died on Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, in Nevada. Irven was born July 30, 1950, to Alford E. and Rosie M. (Ryan) Gideon. No services are planned. Those in attendance will be asked to maintain social distancing and are asked to wear face masks to protect themselves and others...

Donna Clidene Burrus, 75, Nevada, Mo., departed from earth only to be welcomed by her Lord and Savior in Heaven on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. Donna was born on May 1,1945, in Sheldon, Mo., to Dorothy Louise Irvin and Ralph Hershell Roby. She was raised in Milo, Mo., by her wonderful grandparents, Minnie Louise and Alonzo (Shorty) Laccoarce...

Irven Dale Gideon was born on July 30, 1950, in Hamburg, Iowa, and passed away on Feb. 1, 2021, at home in Nevada. Irven lived most of his life in Nevada. He drove a taxi for several years. Survivors include wife, Connie Gideon, of Arkansas; sons, Bryan Gideon and wife, Laura, of Arkansas; son, Aaron Gideon, of Nevada; son, Robert, of Fulton, Mo.; one uncle, Otis Gideon, of Arkansas; siblings, Beverly Leftwich, Judy Raney and husband, Jim Raney, of Nevada; brother, Rick Gideon and wife, Penny, of Wichita, Kan.; brother, Kenny Thornburg, of Farmington, Mo.. ...

Everett H. (Bud) Reeves Jr., was born on Dec. 23, 1953, in Nevada, Mo., to Everett H. (Lucky) Reeves and Althea P. Biggs Reeves. He left this world on Feb. 6, 2021, in Kansas City, Kan., following a short illness. Bud graduated from Grandview High School in 1971 and joined the Missouri National Guard Military Police in 1972. He served his country well and was honorably discharged in 1978...

James Emmett “Jim” Hutchison, 76, of El Dorado Springs, Mo., passed away peacefully on Jan. 13, 2021, at Big Spring Care Center, Humansville, Mo. He was born in rural Vernon County on July 5, 1944, the second of four children of Charles (Buck) and Katherine Hutchison, Schell City, Mo. He graduated from Schell City High School Class of 1963...

Virgil Edward Flagor, 76, of Sheldon, Mo., passed away on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. Virgil was born April 8, 1944, in Pasco, Wash., to Reuben and Sarah (Lolley) Flagor. The family moved to a farm at Walker, Mo., when he was five. Virgil graduated from Walker High School in 1962. Growing up he loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and farming...

Chester Alan Kearbey, 79, Mt. Vernon, Mo., died on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Mo. He was born on March 15, 1941, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Funeral services will at 4 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 9, at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada, Mo., with Pastor Kyle Kearbey officiating...

Charles Aaron Nelson, 72, formerly of Sheldon, Mo., died on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Warrensburg, Mo. No services are planned. View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.

James Allen Klein, 69, Walker, Mo., died on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, at his home in Walker. Memorial services will be held at a later date. View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.

Charles Henry Henke, 81, of Concordia, Mo., passed away on Feb. 3, 2021. Charlie was born Oct. 10, 1939, to Maurice “Dink” Henke and Gertrude Neal Henke on Jefferson Street in Marshall, Mo. Charlie was raised in Malta Bend, Mo., where he played basketball and graduated from Malta Bend High School in 1957...

Vada Ardith (Hartline) Spencer, 85, Nevada, Mo., passed from this life on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. Ardith was the only child of Marion William and Velma Dorris (Reynolds) Hartline, born Dec. 31, 1935, in Walker, Mo. She attended both grade and high school at Walker, graduating in 1953. Following marriage, she lived on an acreage northwest of Walker where the couple farmed for 10 years. They moved into Nevada in 1963 and were divorced in 1973...

John J. Bunn, 75, Deerfield, Mo., died on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date. Those in attendance will be asked to maintain social distancing and are asked to wear face masks to protect themselves and others...

Ruth “Beverly” Ayers, 82, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. Born June 27, 1938, in WaKenney, Kan., to the late Chester Allyen and Georgia Irene (Schuman) Stephens. The family relocated from WaKenney to Walker, Mo., in 1948. Beverly grew up on the family farm developing a lifelong passion for animals, especially horses and cats...

Cynthia Ann Isaacson, 58, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Nevada. Cynthia was born Oct. 5, 1962, in Huntsville, Ala., to Harold C. and Betty J. (Douglas) Cantrell. She married David B. Isaacson on Oct. 8, 1983, in Mora, Minn., and he preceded her in death on Oct. 8, 2007...

Our loss and Heaven’s gain, Charlotte Baxter, 84, left life on this earth Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, for a brand new life. She left her wheelchair and braces to run into Heaven to meet the Lord and to be reunited with her husband, Raymond Duane. Charlotte was born Aug. 23, 1936, and married Raymond Duane Baxter on June 13, 1953...

Elizabeth “Betty” Mary Stonebraker, 91, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in her home following a brief illness. Betty was born May 7, 1929, in Peruque, Mo., to Lewis Edward and Laura Magdalen (Conoyer) Sherman. She married Edward Taylor Stonebraker on Sept. 19, 1950, in St. Peters, Mo., and he preceded her in death on May 26, 2012...

Timothy Stephen Rosser, our beloved brother, passed away from throat cancer on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. He was born September 26, 1961 in Washington, DC and was the fourth child of John Linten Rosser and Teresa Green Rosser. Tim leaves behind his daughter, Jennifer Rosser (Joshua Pierce); three brothers and two sisters, Loretta Rosser Dhanagom (Cheverly MD)., Mark (Kathy) Rosser (Milo, MO), Dennis (Eden) Rosser (Olathe, KS), Maria Rosser (Bill) Rooney (Leawood, KS) and Chris (Jijie) Rosser of Cortland, OH; along with 13 nieces and nephews. ...

Amos Mannon Hinkle, 91, of Bronaugh, Mo., passed away Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, at his home. Amos was born on Jan. 13, 1930, to Ralph Hamilton Hinkle and Elva May (Harbison) Hinkle. Elva passed away when Amos was 2-years-old. After her passing, Ralph married Charlotte Carpenter in 1933. He was united in marriage to Mary Ann Earl on March 4, 1956, in Bronaugh, Mo., and she survives of the home. They spent nearly 65 years of wedded bliss together...

Earl Lavone Johnson Jr., 79, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada. Earl was born Feb. 15, 1942, in Fort Scott, Kan., to Earl L. and Lillian M. (Tucker) Johnson. He married Beverly Hurd in 1960 and to this union three daughters and one son was born, Twila, Sherry, Kelly, and Steve. ...

Walter Lee Cochran, 76, passed away on Sunday, February 21, 2021 at his home in Nevada, Mo. He was born on Sept. 3, 1944, in Carthage, Mo., to the Rev. Floyd and Ida Mae (Michael) Cochran. On Aug. 26, 1967, he married Gail Dianne Loafman, in Carthage, and she survives of the home...

Robert Eugene Caviness, 70, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, at Nevada Reginal Medical Center, in Nevada. Robert was born Dec. 31, 1949, in Spirit Lake, Iowa, to Jerry Meyer and Agatha Mary (Theobold) Caviness. Robert is survived by two sons, William Caviness (Kacey) Port St. ...

Donald Douglas Gast, 65, Nevada, Mo., passed away peacefully with his loving wife by his side on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at his home in Nevada. Donnie was born Aug. 23, 1955, in Nevada, Mo., the son of Robert and Marjorie Gast. He married Lori Ann Jeffries on Jan. 12, 2018, in Eureka Springs, Ark., and she survives of the home...

Maxine Newlon of Muskogee, Okla., passed away on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. She was born and raised in Guthrie, Okla., on Sept. 11, 1923, to Harry and Ruby Campbell. She attended Guthrie public schools. She received her B.M. degree in violin and viola from Oklahoma College for women in Chickasha, Okla., (currently USAO). She received her M.M. degree in viola from George Peabody College at Vanderbilt University...

William (Bill) Edward Mische, 70, of Grandview, Mo., passed away peacefully on Feb. 22, 2021, with his daughter Jennifer by his side. Bill was born Feb. 20, 1951, to William Arthur Mische and Mary Ann (Wallace) Hendrix. Bill graduated from Nevada High School in 1969 and studied engineering at the University of Missouri-Rolla, earning a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1973. ...

James Allan Klein, born May 10, 1951, in Peoria, Ill., passed away in his home in Walker, Mo., on Feb. 5, 2021, at the age of 69. James met and married Dale M. Klein in 1970 and they resided together in San Diego, Calif., for 40 years. James served in the United States Navy as a 1st Class sonar technician from 1969 to 1978. ...