Obituaries

Nov 23, 2022

Janie Droz Nunn, age 74, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. Janie was born on October 5, 1948, in Rich Hill, MO to Glenn R. and Dorothy L. (Jennings) Droz. Janie grew up in Rich Hill, where she enjoyed an active school life, including band and cheerleading. She attended Central Missouri State University and University of Missouri...

Nov 22, 2022

Delores Janet Wheatley, 90, of Rich Hill, Mo., passed away on November 22, 2022.  Delores Janet (Zerkel) Wheatley was born August 27, 1932, in Humansville, Missouri, to Frank and Nina Zerkel. She was the pride and joy of her parents. Delores made the medical record books as the youngest survivor of an appendectomy surgery at just six months old. ...

Nov 10, 2022

Stonie Lee Heckadon was born September 8, 1943 to LeRoy and Lucille (Laning) Heckadon.  He departed for his heavenly home on November 10, 2022.  Stonie was born in Rich Hill and graduated from Rich Hill High School in 1961.  Growing up, Stonie worked the family farm.  He then worked for People’s Grain in Rich Hill and Ideal Truck Lines...

Nov 8, 2022

Sharon K. Heckadon Holsworth went to be with the Lord on November 8, 2022.  She was born on December 8, 1942 to Vada Hobson Heckadon and Melvin Heckadon, along with seven other brothers and sisters who proceeded her in death along with her parents.  Harland was her last brother and he passed away on the morning of the same...

Oct 13, 2022

Theresa Foster went to be with the Lord on October, 13, 2022.  Theresa was born on February 28, 1956 to Ralph and Doris (Rushing) Robison.  She grew up in Mississippi and Arkansas.  She is survived by her husband, Eddie Foster of the home, Nevada, Missouri; four sons, Junior and Jennifer Ward of West Plains, Missouri; Tim Ward and Chasti...

Sep 30, 2022

William Raymond Ratty was born to this earth on July 21, 1952 and left us on September 30, 2002.  He grew up on the south end of Kansas City in the post-war Ruskin Heights neighborhood, site of the historic Ruskin tornado of 1957.    Bill married Debra Skoff in 1978.   He was stepfather to her son, Mark Woods.   Bill and...

Sep 25, 2022

Mary Francis (Keener) Jennings was born on March 26, 1930 in Rich Hill, Missouri, the daughter of John Christopher Keener and Carrie Elizabeth Fredrick.  Mary was united in marriage to Carl E. Jennings on January 27, 1947.  Mom and Dad met at the Rich Hill Skating Rink on December 31, 1946.  To this union, four children were born.

Sep 17, 2022

Margaret Lawrence died peacefully on September 17, 2022. She was born on a farm near Rich Hill, Missouri to her loving parents, Joseph & Minnie Bell.

Margaret attended Rich Hill R-IV and moved to Kansas City to work after graduation. She worked for several years for Old American Insurance Company where she became the first woman computer...

Aug 27, 2022

Mary Kathryn Rutherford Murray

Mary Kathryn Rutherford Murray passed away Saturday, August 27, 2022. She was 95 years old.

Kathryn was born May 8, 1927, to Hugh L. and Mary (Goodwin) Rutherford in Stotesbury, Missouri. She graduated from Stotesbury High School.

She married Tom Murray on December 18, 1943. To this union they...

Aug 21, 2022

Steven Shane Cowan was born July 4 1973, to Steve and Linda Cowan of Appanoose County, Iowa.  Steve was joined in marriage to Nikki April 18, 2019. They resided in Appleton City, Missouri.  Together with their children they created their own family. They shared a love of fishing, mushroom hunting , he loved his animals and riding...

Aug 10, 2022

Amanda Lee (Loyd) McCoy was born in Nevada, Missouri on April 20, 1978, to Lonnie Stephen Loyd and Lois Eileen (Foster) Loyd. She passed away at Research Hospital on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, with her children and family members by her side.  When Amanda was born, she entered the world with a heart problem that required surgery, but even...

Aug 3, 2022

Elsie Elaine (VanLue) Trammell, age 81, was born on November 27, 1940 in Hartland, Illinois to Benjamin Harvey and Alma Ruth (Schultz) VanLue.  She passed away Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at home with her family by her side.

Growing up, mom lived in a lot of places, and I mean A LOT of places.   Grandpa was always...

Jul 25, 2022

Thelma Louise Davidson Smith, 83, of Rich Hill, MO passed away unexpectedly on July 25, 2022 at her home.  Thelma was a fun-loving mom, grandma, and great-grandma.  She loved to laugh, dance, and just loved her life.  She loved going to bingo and spending time with her family.  She is survived by her sister, Donna Robinson of Rich Hill;...

Jul 8, 2022

Leana Marie Droz Wheeler, Age 94 of Fort Scott, KS, passed away July 8, 2022, at 6:30pm a peaceful death with her children at her side the day before.  Leana was known as Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Aunt, Cousin, Friend, Leana Banana and the Virgin Mary.  Leana was born December 15, 1927, to parents Ralph and Anna Droz at...

Jun 30, 2022

Glenda S. McElroy was born January 8, 1936, In Butler, Missouri to Glen W. Rapps and Cecile Deems Rapps.  She died Thursday, June 30, 2022 at Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler, Missouri.  Glenda grew up on a farm east of Rich Hill and attended school at Mission Branch, before moving closer to Rich Hill and graduating from Rich...

Jun 26, 2022

Margaret M. Fugate, age 92, of Rich Hill, Missouri, passed away Sunday, June 26, 2022 at Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada, Missouri.  She was born June 24, 1930 in Appleton City, Missouri, the daughter of Ed and Alma (Kennedy) Foster.  Margaret was united in marriage to Leon Fugate; to this union, two daughters were born.  Leon preceded her...

Jun 17, 2022

Velma M. Russell, age 91, of Butler, Missouri passed away Friday, June 17, 2022, at Medicalodge in Butler, Missouri.  Velma was born May 26, 1931, the daughter of Noble and Margaret Hogan Christopher.  She was united in marriage to Raymond “Bud” Diehl and to this union 8 children were born. Velma worked as a nurse aide for several years at...

Jun 17, 2022

Tom Franklin Bridgewater, age 73, passed away Friday, June 17, 2022 at his home surrounded by his family.  He was born on August 27, 1948, the fourth child of Carl Eugene and Vivian Bridgewater.  As a child, he grew up in Pittsburg and Arcadia, Kansas.  Due to his dad dying at a young age, Tom began working at the early...

Jun 9, 2022

Betty Lou (Alkire) Black, age 83, of Hermitage, Missouri, formerly of Rich Hill, Missouri passed away June 9, 2022 at Citizen Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, Missouri.  Betty was born in Passaic, Missouri, the daughter of Daley F. and Bessie (Polson) Alkire on May 27, 1939.  Betty was united in marriage to Charles Eugene Black; to this union...

Jun 1, 2022

MARY RUTH CENTER

Mary Ruth Center was born August 29, 1937 to William Andrew Center and Thelma Lucille Jenkins of Rich Hill, Missouri.  Her mother died 1 week later leaving Mary to be cared for and supported by her maternal grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Jenkins.  As a child she was baptized October 1937, confirmed into Christian Faith 1950...