Earl O. Smith
Earl O. Smith, 68, Wheatland, died at 8 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000, at St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield, after a very brief illness. He was born Sept. 23, 1931, in Havre, Mont., the son of Emory Otis and Nellie Telena Holt Smith. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict and attended the University of Houston. He received his doctorate in chemical engineering from U.C.L.A. He worked for 25 years for Black and Veich in Overland Park, Kan. He had been a resident of Wheatland for the past 15 years, moving from the Kansas City area. Surviving are his wife, Delores M. Smith of the home; one son, Eric Smith of Phoenix, Ariz.; three daughters, Kathleen Murray of Albuquerque, N.M., Karen Fowler of Boulder, Colo., and Ellen Kreimendahl of Shawnee, Kan.; and 10 grandchildren. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday) in the Dooley Bend Cemetery near Galmey with the Rev. Kent Parson officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the Galmey V.F.W. Post No. 9638 at the graveside. Arrangements are under the direction of Butler Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 4643 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis MO 63108-3723 or the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 4995, Springfield, MO 65808-4995.
Elnor Mae Bays Swearengin
Elnor Mae Bays Swearengin, 75, Bolivar, died at 1:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, 2000, in St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield. She was born Aug. 17, 1924, in Hell, Texas, the daughter of Charles Ishmal and Ada Mae Young Hayes. She was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Bolivar. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clude J. Bays; two sisters, Jessie Norris Smith and Pauline Marrill; a brother, J.R. Hayes; and two grandchildren, Lucky Dwayne Davis and Roxanne Jean Bays. Survivors include two daughters and their husbands, Mary and Lucky Davis of Springfield and Anna and Harvey Agee of Humansville; four sons and their wives, James Leo and Daren Bays of Bolivar, William L. and Donna Bays of Higginsville, Ronald Dean and Mary Bays of Marshall and Delbert Lee and Jeannie Bays of Marshall; three brothers, Cecil Hayes of Marshfield, Wilbur Hayes of Oran and Ed Hayes of Springfield; 18 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews. Services were Monday, Feb. 14 n Butler Chapel with Pastor Mark Summers officiating. Burial followed in Brighton Cemetery. Casketbearers were Raymond Merrill, David Norris, Ron Hayes, T.J. Davis, Tony Davis and Mac Davis.
Ray I. Tirey
Ray Isaac Tirey, 81, Half Way, died Thursday, Feb. 3, 2000, in the Veterans Administration Hospital in Kansas City following a lengthy illness. He was born April 4, 1918, in Adonis to William and Sarah Catherine Jump Tirey. He was united in marriage to Wilma Lea Manning, and to this union seven children were born. He was a retired maintenance engineer and a World War II army veteran. Survivors include his wife, Wilma Lea, of the home; two sons, Rocky Tirey of Washington, D.C., and Roy Tirey of Half Way; four daughters, Rae Ilene Disney of Elizabethtown, Ky., Linda Lea Tews of Half Way, Sharon Kay Renwick of Overland Park, Kan., and Jo-Ellen Mastro of Apple Valley, Calif.; 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, two sisters and a daughter, Nancy Diane. Graveside services were Saturday, Feb. 5, in Barren Creek Cemetery with the Rev. Neil Graham officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Pitts Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Betty Faye Vote
Betty Faye "Wyant" Vote, 86, Springfield, died at 3:45 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000, in Springfield Rehabilitation and Health Care Facility following a lengthy illness. She was a homemaker and a former member of the Eudora Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edwin David Vote; two sons, Warren Eddie and Jackie Joe Vote; one daughter, Myrtle Lavonne Vote; three brothers; five sisters; a granddaughter, Donna Sue Stephens; and a grandson, Terry Wayne Templeton. Surviving are three sons, Harold Leroy Vote of Independence, Billy Gene Vote of Republic and Jerry Wayne Vote of Bolivar; two daughters, Vivian Lee Sheppard of Springfield and Carolyn Kay Palmer of St. Charles; one sister, Viola Scroggins of Springfield; 12 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Pitts Chapel with burial to follow in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Aldrich. Visitation will be before the service from 1 to 2 p.m.
Clark E. Wright
Clark E. Wright, 83, Bolivar, formerly of the Goodson area, died Sunday, Feb. 6, 2000, in Citizens Memorial Health Care Facility. He was born June 21, 1916, in Violet to L.Z. and Lula Sawyers Wright. He was a retired farmer. Survivors include his caretaker for the past 15 years, nephew Gene Ankrom and his wife, Mary, of Fair Play; a sister, Elva Goss of Ventura, Calif.; and several other nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and six sisters, Eva Ankrom, Lena Batten, Clara Ankrom, Emma Ables, Iva Ray and Mary Ruth Wright. Services will be at 10 a.m. today (Wednesday) in Pitts Chapel with the Rev. Harold Hendrickson officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Gilead Cemetery.
Beulah M. Brown
Beulah Maude Creed Brown, 86, Grove, Okla., died Friday, March 24, 2000, at Grove General Hospital after a brief illness. She was born July 31, 1913, in Polk County to Chauncey and Mae Hubbard Creed. She married Willard Brown on April 16, 1933, in Springfield. She was a licensed beautician and worked as tax assessor for Sedgwick County, Kan., where she also worked with the American Red Cross and with the election board. She was an Avon representative for 17 years and also worked as a sales clerk for Innes Department Store in Wichita, Kan., for several years. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Grove, Okla., the Order of the Eastern Star and AARP local chapter No. 1565. Survivors include her husband, Willard Brown, of the home; two daughters, Nancy Brown Chappell and her husband, Van, of Lenexa, Kan., and Charlotte Brown Barnhart and her husband, Cal, of Riverside, Calif.; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and one sister. Services were Tuesday, March 28, at the First Christian Church of Grove, Okla., with Dr. Wayne Shaw officiating. Burial followed in Olympus Cemetery under the direction of Ellis Family Funeral Home, Grove, Okla. Memorial contributions may be made to Cookson Hills Christian Center, Rt. 3 Box 200, Kansas OK 74347. 9
Cora H. Brown
Cora H. Brown, 92, Fair Play, died at 4:35 p.m. Sunday, March 19, 2000, in Citizens Memorial Health Care Facility following a brief illness. She was born near Cliquot on March 21, 1907, the second child of Bert and Ona Drake Flint. On May 1, 1927, she married Fred D. Brown. They enjoyed 43 years together before his death in 1970. They resided in Mesa, Ariz., much of their married life, where they were members of First United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, an infant son, two brothers, Hobert and Leon Flint, and two sisters, Jennie Bigler and Bernice Stokes. Survivors include her daughter, Helen Nottingham of Fair Play; her sister, Lela Franklin of Bolivar; three grandsons, Dan Pierce of Moscow, Idaho, Scott Pierce of Springfield and Joe Nottingham of Fair Play; three great-grandchildren, five nieces and three nephews. Services will be Friday afternoon in Meldrum Mortuary, Mesa, Ariz., with the Rev. Jim Bussey officiating. Interment will be in East Resthaven Cemetery, Phoenix, Ariz. Local arrangements were under the direction of Murray Funeral Home. 2
William E. Brown
William E. Brown, 81, Buffalo, died Sunday, March 26, 2000, in his home following a lengthy illness. He was born Feb. 17, 1919, to Thomas A. and Mattie Brown in Rohome, Texas. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II and had been a construction contractor. He is survived by a son, Roy Brown of Lowell, Ind.; a daughter, Marion Brown of Russellville, Ark.; a brother, Orville Brown of Newark, Texas; his twin sister, Lillian Newton of Albany N.Y.; as well as six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister. Graveside services will be Friday, March 31, in Aurora, Texas. Local arrangements are under the direction of Pitts Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to Citizens Memorial Hospital Hospice or the charity of the donor's choice. 9
Charles H. Buehler
Charles Henry Buehler, 57, Pleasant Hope, died at 10:35 a.m. Thursday, March 9, 2000, in his home with his family at his side after a year-long battle with lung cancer. He was born April 14, 1942, in Springfield, the son of Ollie and Katrinia Buehler. On June 8, 1963, he was united in marriage to Patricia A. Scott. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving from 1959 to 1962. He served as Special Road District Commissioner for the Pleasant Hope Road District for many years. He was a longtime resident and business owner and automotive technician in the Pleasant Hope area. He was an accomplished drummer and had played for many groups in the Springfield area for many years. He enjoyed woodworking and traveling in his "Buehler Bago." He mostly enjoyed spending time with his family and beloved granddaughter, Rachel, whom he adored. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ollie and Katrinia Buehler; a sister, Elizabeth Hill; and a son, Matt C. Buehler. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, of the home; a son, Allen Buehler of Bolivar; a daughter and her husband, Leslie and Mark Skidmore of Pleasant Hope; one granddaughter, Rachel Skidmore of Pleasant Hope; a sister, Janice Reno of Springfield; and many nieces and nephews. He was a very talented and humorous person from whom many people sought advice for all realms of his expertise. He was an extraordinary husband, father, PaPa and friend to many, who will be greatly missed and thought of often. "God saw you getting weaker and a cure was not to be, so he put his arm around you and whispered, 'Come with me.' With tearful eyes we watched you suffer and slowly fade away; although we could not bear to lose you, we could not ask you to stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard-working hands laid to rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us he only takes the best." Services were Monday, March 13, in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Pat Wissman officiating. Casketbearers were Mark Skidmore, Loren Keighly, Larry Scott, Ricky Scott, Chuck Scott and Jimmy Scott. A parish prayer service was held Sunday with visitation following. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of Southwest Missouri, 1465 E. Primrose, Springfield, MO 65804.
Linda Sue Carr
Linda Sue Carr, 56, Pleasant Hope, died Tuesday, March 14, 2000, in her home. The daughter of Howard and Dorothy Lee Rountree Love, she was born Dec. 29, 1943, in Mound Valley, Kan. She was a longtime resident of the Kansas City area. She was a Certified Nurse's Assistant with the Baptist Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., and a 1963 graduate of the School of the Blind in Kansas City, Kan. She was of the Baptist faith. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Laura Beth Carr of Bolivar; a daughter, Sheryl Carr of Pleasant Hope; a sister, Mary Lou Lance of Webb City; her father, Howard Love of Parsons, Kan.; two stepdaughters, April Marie Merritt of Breckenridge and Teresa Lynn Carr of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and four step-grandchildren. Services were Friday, March 17, in Wilson Brim Daniel Chapel, Walnut Grove, with the Rev. Lon Killingsworth officiating. Interment was in Greenlawn Cemetery, Walnut Grove. Memorial contributions may be made to the LInda Carr Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home. 2
