Gene Butler, 82, a life long resident of Fair Play, died at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 6, 1974, at his home after suffering an apparent heart attack. Mr. Butler operated a drug store and cafe in Fair Play for over 30 years until his retirement a few years ago. He was a member of the Abou Ben Adam Shrine Temple in Springfield, the Scottish Rite of Joplin, the Fair Play Masonic Lodge No. 44 A.F. & A.M., the Order of Eastern Star of Stockton and Stockton Lake Shriners Club. Surviving are his wife, Lula, of the home; three daughters, Mrs. Mildred Ellen rickman of Independence, Mrs. Jean Gothard of Fair Play, and Mrs. Lula Marie Davis of Napoleon; one son, Kent Butler of Independence; one sister, Mrs. Beulah Coy of Bolivar, 8 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Friday, August 9, in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Lewis Mead officiating.  Burial was in the Lindley Prairie Cemetery west of Fair Play under the direction of Butler Funeral Home of Bolivar.  Casket bearers were Ralph Butler, John Mead, Glenn Carson, Buford Cheek, Paul Degraffenreid, and Owen Kirby.

BOLIVAR FREE PRESS      Thursday Dec. 17, 1964

MRS. LOREN L. JOHNSON OF STOCKTON DIED IN BURGE HOSPITAL

Mrs. Mary Belle Johnson, 50, of Rt. 2, Stockton, died at 2:35 p.m. Friday, December 11, 1964, in Burge Protestant Hospital at Springfield, after a brief illness.  She had been in the hospital eight days.
A member of the Filley Christian Church west of Stockton, Mrs. Johnson taught in public schools in the area 32 years.  At the time of her death, she was teaching in ElDorado Springs grade school.  A member of Eastern Star, Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority, and A.A.U.W. at ElDorado Springs.  She was a graduate of Southwest Missouri State College at Springfield and earned a masters degree at Drury College, also in Springfield.
Surviving are her husband, Loren L. Johnson, a former resident of Polk County; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gene Butler of Fair Play; three sisters, Mrs. Mildren Rickman and Mrs. Marie Davis of Independence, Mo., and Mrs. Eujean Gothard of Fair Play; and a brother, Mr. Kent Butler of Fair Play.
Funeral services were held Sunday, December 13, at 2:00 p.m. in the Filley Christian Church with the Rev. Lewis Mead officiating.  Burial was in the Mt. Gilead Cemetery southeast of Bolivar.  Escorts were Bobby Gothard, Donnie Rickman, David Cribbs, George Gilmore, Gene Johnson and Fred Johnson.

CEDAR COUNTY REPUBLICAN   June 5, 1974

CHARLES E. "SPIZ" HENDRICKS

Funeral services for Charles Elmer (Spiz) Hendricks, 71, of Stockton, were held at 2:00 o'clock p.m. Thursday in the First Southern Baptist Church with Rev. Ralph Marcum and Larry Chatman officiating.  Burial was in the Stockton cemetery under the direction of Brumback.
Mr. Hendricks died at 2:35 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, in the Cedar County Memorial Hospital in El Dorado Springs after a long illness.
Mr. Hendricks, a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and the First Southern Baptist Church, is survived by two sons, Ret. Army Col. Meredith E. Hendricks, Pa Plata, Md. and James  C. of Imperial Beach, Calif.; four daughters, Mrs. Sally A. Whittle, Kansas City, Mrs. Lana Sue Bough, Stockton, Mrs. Carolyn Wright, Dearborn, and Miss Roxine E. Hendricks, Kansas City; two brothers, Joe of Stockton, and Thomas A. of Seaside, Calif.; and Mrs. Fontella Cacy  of El Dorado Springs, and 17 grandchildren.