today's record

Births

Riley Grace Ann Melton

Don and Jill Melton, Webb City, Mo., are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Riley Grace Ann Melton. Riley was born on Sept. 15, 2004, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin. She weighed 6 pounds, and measured 18.75 inches. She joins two brothers, Trey and Braxton Melton. Paternal grandparents are Jim and Suzanne Melton, Nevada. Paternal great-grandparent is Sue Bailey, Nevada. Maternal grandparents are Jerald and Vicky Fore, Joplin, and George and Judy Hanger, Webb City, Mo. Maternal great-grandparents are Clyde and Rose Fore, McFall, Mo.

Obituaries

Shirley D. Leavell

Shirley D. Leavell, 59, Sheldon, died Wednesday morning, Oct. 20, 2004, at Nevada Regional Medical Center following an illness of several months. She was born May 30, 1945, in Sheldon, to Joe Coziah Starlin and Dona Veretta Mann Starlin. She married Don Leavell on Feb. 14, 1966, in Miami, Okla., and he survives of the home.

Shirley was a Sheldon High School graduate in 1963. She was a life-long-resident of the Sheldon area. Shirley was past president of the WIBC Dowling League of Lamar for 20-plus years. She was a member of the Sheldon Park Board and the Sheldon Athletic Booster Club. She organized the Sheldon Old Settlers Picnic Softball Tournament for more than 20 years. She worked for the Lamar Supermarket until her retirement due to her illness.

Survivors in addition to her husband, Don, include three daughters, Sherri Simmons and her husband, Ronnie, El Dorado Springs, Starla Leavell, Joplin, and Shelli Randall and her husband, Larry, Frontenac, Kan.; five grandchildren, Andrew Leavell, Sheldon, Kaili Simmons, Kinli Simmons, and Kaiden Simmons, all of El Dorado Springs, and McKenzi Randall, Frontenac, Kan.; five sisters, Tudi Westcott, Lawrence, Kan., Joyce Hoover, Wichita, Kan., Frances Hilburn, Betty Bright, and Doris McGrath, all of Nevada; one brother, Randy Starlin, Sheldon; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Jim Starlin and Harvey Starlin.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 22, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with Bruce Belline officiating. Cremation will follow. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at the funeral home.

Those who wish may contribute to the Shirley Leavell Memorial Scholarship Fund for the Sheldon High School in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

Erma Margaret Morton

Erma Margaret Morton, 97, died Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004, at Moore-Few Care Center, Nevada. She was born Jan. 2, 1907, in Papinsville, Mo., to Joseph Hickam and Roxie Florence Yeazle Hickam. She married George Morton on May 29, 1938, in Las Vegas, Nev., and he preceded her in death in 1965.

Mrs. Morton attended school in Harwood. She worked as a beautician in California most of her working life. She came back to Nevada in 1979.

Survivors include two nephews, Gordon Hickam, Buda, Texas, and Larry Hickam, Waynesville, Mo. She was preceded in death by one sister, Florence Wilson, and one brother, Reynolds Hickam.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 25, at Newton Burial Park in Nevada with the Very Rev. Mimi Savidge officiating. Friends may call now and until 9:30 a.m. on Monday at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

Deaths

Bonnie Guy Tummons

Bonnie Guy Tummons, 71, died Oct. 15, 2004. Services were held at Click Cemetery on Oct. 21, at 11 a.m., with Ken Fornicola officiating. Interment was in Click Cemetery. Arrangements were by Ferry Funeral Home.

Jason Michael Colton

Jason Michael Colton, 30, died Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004. He was born on July 16, 1974, in Greenwood, Mo., the son of Donna Colton and James Robert Thornburg.

He was a 1992 graduate of Rich Hill High School. He was valedictorian of his class. He was employed at Thorco as the lead person on the second shift.

He is survived by his parents, Donna Wilson, Rich Hill, and Jim Thornburg, Butler; one brother, Jamie Thornburg, of the home; grandparents, Ed and Betty Thornburg, Rich Hill; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, James and Bonnie Colton; and one sister, Tonya Sue.

Services were held today, Oct. 21, at 11 a.m., at Heuser Funeral Home with Jay Borders officiating. Pallbearers were Jimmy Black, Jeffrey Derr, Kevin Kingsley, Billy Humble, Kevin Thornburg, Phillip Thornburg, Mike Thornburg and Joey Thornburg. Honorary pallbearers were Robbie Cheek, Tony Gourley, Dale Dines and Jody Thornburg. Interment was in the Green Lawn Cemetery in Rich Hill. Arrangements were by the Heuser Funeral Home in Rich Hill.