Maxine C. Little
Maxine Cowden Little, 77, Santa Fe, N.M., formerly of Pleasant Hope, died Thursday, Aug. 10, 2000, in Ponce de Leon Retirement Community, Santa Fe, N.M. She was born Oct. 16, 1912, to Eugene and Verna Kinsey Cowden. She was a retired ceramic shop business owner and homemaker. She is survived by her mother, Verna Cowden of Pleasant Hope; two sons, Larry Brawner of Pleasant Hope and Gary Little of Elmhurst, Ill.; a daughter, Becky Montgomery of Santa Fe, N.M.; a brother, Porter Cowden of Lawton, Okla.; two sisters, Helen Anderson of Edmond, Okla., and Dorothy Pritchard of Pleasant Hope; as well as two granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her father; her husband, Edward Little; and a grandson, Ted Ticknor. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, in Pitts Chapel with the Rev. Harold Hendrickson officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, prior to service time.
Raymond C. Viles
Raymond C. Viles, 83, Fort Scott, Kan., died Friday, Aug. 4, 2000, in his home. He was born Jan. 22, 1917, in Half Way, the son of Charles W. and Josie Viles. He lived most of his adult life in Kansas City, Kan., where he was a master plumber. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, spending his enlistment time in the Aleutian Islands. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marjorie; a brother, Freeman; and a sister, Hazel. Survivors include his wife, May, of the home; two sisters, Maxine Sampson and Maydean Andrews, both of Half Way; his children, Loyce Turpin of Detroit, Mich., Charles Viles of Gladstone, Rochele Weilert of Fort Scott, Kan., Tracy Viles of Spring Hill, Kan., Cheryl Lindelow of Houston, Texas, and stepsons Steven Weilert of Fort Scott, Kan., and Dennis Weilert of Panama City Beach, Fla.; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday) in Chapel Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, Kan., under the direction of the Butler-Fulton-Nickel Funeral Home, Kansas City, Kan. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Incorporated.
Roy Lynn Presley
Roy Lynn Presley, 60, Pleasant Hope, died at 9:45 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, 2000, in Cox Medical Center South, Springfield. He was born Sept. 25, 1939, in Morrisville. He was employed as an engineer with Burlington Northern/Frisco Railroad for 33 years. He enjoyed farming, fishing and coon hunting. He was saved at an early age at Noble Hill Church, and he was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He was the perfect husband, father, grandfather and son. He is survived by his wife, Betty Jo Presley, whom he married on March 13, 1957; a daughter, Tammie Hughes and her husband, David; three sons, Roy Allen Presley and his wife, Linda, Matthew Presley and his wife, Sherry, and Brandon Presley and his wife, Tammie; his mother, Louanna Ball; three brothers, Tim Presley and his wife, Nina, Randy Ball and Kenny Ball and his wife, Diane; a sister, Margaret Carroll and her husband, Jerry; four granddaughters, Leigh Ann Hughes, Megan Hughes, Paige Presley and Wendy Henderson and her husband, Mike; three grandsons, Tyler and Dalton Presley and Rod McFarlin and his wife, Michelle; four great-grandchildren; his stepmother, Bertha Presley; his mother-in-law, Loma Gambriel; five sisters-in-law, Virginia Gambriel, Marti Seale, Trish Carter and her husband, Rick, Mary Oleson and her husband, Don, and Wilma Johnson; and two brothers-in-law, Joe Gambriel and his wife, Connine, and Harold Gambriel and his wife, Lisa. He was preceded in death by his father, Ellis Presley; his grandparents, Gus and Stella Presley; his father-in-law, Maloy Gambriel; and two brothers-in-law, Bill and David Gambriel. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, in Greenlawn Funeral Home North, Springfield, with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today (Wednesday) in the funeral home.
Roy G. Webster
Roy Gene Webster, 78, Bolivar, died Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2000, in Monroe, La., while visiting family. He had served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps and had retired from McDonnell Douglas as a quality control supervisor. On Sept. 23, 1944, he was united in marriage to Mary Lee Brooks, and to this union, three children were born. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Ann Webster of Monroe, La.; two daughters and a son-in-law, Joy Worn of St. Louis and Mary Jean and Nathan Weiner of Lee's Summit; nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Mary Lee, on June 30, 1998. Services were Saturday, Aug. 5, in Pitts Chapel with Pastor Mark Lavrenz officiating. Burial followed in Greenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers were his golfing buddies.
Ruby M. Lovell
Ruby Marie Blacketer Lovell, 72, Overland Park, Kan., died Friday, Aug. 11, 2000, at her home. She was born Sept. 12, 1927. She had worked for White Haven Motel in Overland Park, Kan. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Shirley Marie Blacketer, and a sister, Wilma Koch, as well as her husbands, Hurshel K. Blacketer and Glen H. Lovell. Survivors include two sons, Kenneth R. Blacketer and Don L. Blacketer, both of Olathe, Kan.; a daughter, Pamela Workman of Overland Park, Kan.; her mother, Della Pitts, of the home; three sisters, Alberta Jares of St. Paul, Kan., Myrtle Raile of Grand Island, Neb., and Betty Larson of Aurora, Neb.; and two brothers, Bobby D. Black and J.R. Black, both of Kansas City. Graveside services were Tuesday, Aug. 15, in Greenwood Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of D.W. Newcomer's Sons Overland Park Chapel, Overland Park, Kan.
Violet M. "Vye" Soper
Violet May "Vye" Soper, 99, Humansville, died Sunday, Aug. 6, 2000, in Big Spring Care Center. The daughter of Oscar and Rose Thorne Peterson, she was born May 13, 1901, at Chicago, Ill. She was married to Edwin P. Soper for 59 years. He preceded her in death Dec. 6, 1977. A former resident of Leawood, Kan., and Gilbertsville, Ky., she had been a resident of Humansville since 1976. SHe attended the Humansville United Methodist Church. A businesswoman, she was responsible for renovating and restoring many of the commercial buildings in Humansville. Survivors include two daughters, Peg Fritz and her husband, Ed, and Rosemary Van Doren, all of Humansville; six grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Cremation was under the direction of Murray Funeral Home. Inurnment will be in Evergreen-Washelli Columbarium, Seattle, Wash.
William Lee Currie
William Lee Currie, 47, Fair Play, died Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2000, at Citizens Memorial Hospital after a long illness. He was born Aug. 26, 1952, in Polk County, the son of William and Myrtle Currie. Survivors include two children, Terry and Kris Currie; his mother, Myrtle Currie; and two grandchildren, an aunt and uncle and many cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, William Currie, and a brother, Harley. Graveside services were Friday, Aug. 11, in Ackard Cemetery, Fair Play, with the Rev. James Thomas officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home.
Wesley "Neg" Abel
Wesley Branson "Neg" Abel, 71, Buffalo, died Saturday, Sept. 30, 2000, at St. John's Regional Health Center in Springfield. He was born Dec. 7, 1928, in Polk County to Fred Olin and Loah Claud McReynolds Abel. He was saved at an early age and joined the Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, where he remained a member until his death. He was retired from Greyhound Buslines in Fresno, Calif. He returned to Half Way where he had lived for several years before moving to Buffalo one year ago. Survivors include his daughters, Judith Ann Johnson of the state of Virginia, Loah Melisa Abel of Fresno, Calif., Diana Huerta and Janet Huerta, both of the state of California; six sisters, Vaden Anderson of Pleasant Hope, Eva Grace of Red Bluff, Calif., Maxine Adams of Garnett, Kan., Lorine Taylor of Greenfield, Bertha Deragowki of Springfield and Zona Meadors of Bolivar; six grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Virginia; two sons, Howard Wesley Abel and Donald Branson Abel; two brother and two sisters. Services will be at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday), in Pitts Chapel with Bro. Dennis Spear officiating. Burial will follow in Goff Cemetary. Memorial contributions may be made to the Goff Cemetary. Services and burial are under the direction of Meadors Funeral Home, Republic.
Leon B. Baker
Leon Beauford Baker, 79, Dunnegan, died at 11:23 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11, 2000, in Citizens Memorial Hospital. The son of Elza and Sarah Leona Brewer Baker, he was born Sept. 15, 1920, near Dunnegan. He was married to Dorothy Ashlock, who preceded him in death Jan. 3, 1989. A former resident of Kearney, he had lived at Dunnegan for the past 16 years. He was an equipment operator for the Clay County Highway Department for 32 years. Besides his wife, he was also preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Sharon Lea Webb; two brothers, Athel Baker and Jack Baker; and three sisters, Edna Wyatt, Lydia Johnson and Eva Gannaway. Survivors include three children, Beauford Baker of Garland, Texas, Larry Baker of Dunnegan and Shelly Clark of Humansville; two brothers, Ron Baker of Cowgill and Dee Baker of Dunnegan; one sister, Dorothy Yoast of Selma, Ore.; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, in Murray Chapel, Humansville. Burial will follow in Lindley Prairie Cemetery at Bear Creek. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today (Wednesday) at the funeral home.
Inez I. Barker
Inez Irene Barker of Stafford, Texas, formerly of Fair Play, died at 12:20 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, 2000, in Park Place Assisted Living in Stafford, Texas, after a short illness at the age of 95 years, 2 months and 6 days. She died peacefully with full assurance that she will be joining her loved ones in heaven. She lived a long and full life and was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Inez was born July 4, 1905, in Fair Play, the daughter of Calvin Lauren and Ida Ann Hackett Claypool. She grew up in Fair Play and was married to Homer E. Barker, and to this union one daughter was born, Jerry Lee Miller. Inez was a homemaker and also helped her husband as a bank clerk for Citizens State Bank in Fair Play. She was a member of the Methodist Church in Fair Play and of the Royal Neighbors. After her husband's death, Inez remained in Fair Play until 1971, and subsequently lived in Houston, Chicago, and Shreveport in order to be close to her daughter and son-in-law, Jerry and Fenton Miller, and two grandsons, Tom and Monte. In 1991 she moved to the Houston area to be close to her grandsons and great-granddaughter. Most recently she was living at Park Place Assisted Living, but often dreamed of returning to her beloved Fair Play. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Homer; and daughter and son-in-law, Jerry and Fenton Miller. Inez is survived and will be sorely missed by two grandsons, Thomas Ward Miller and his wife, Melanie, of Richmond, Texas, and Dr. Monte Barker Miller of Houston, Texas; a great-granddaughter, Laurel Miller of Richmond; and two nieces, Peggy Courtney of Springfield and Nancy Richards of Bolivar. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 15, in the Butler Chapel with the Rev. Lon Killingsworth officiating. Burial will be in Akard Cemetery near Fair Play.
