David W. Fillmore
David William Fillmore, 38, Morrisville, died Sunday, Nov. 26, 2000, at his home. He was born July 20, 1962, in Seattle, Wash., and lived in Texas before moving to the Wishart area. He was employed by BLF Excavating in Morrisville. Survivors include his wife, Shawna Fillmore, a daughter, Jessica Newsom, and two sons, David II and James Fillmore, all of the home; his mother, Hazel Fillmore of Fayetteville, Ark.; three brothers, George Fillmore of Morrisville, Steve Fillmore of Winslow, Ark., and Robert Fillmore of Killeen, Texas; two sisters, Linda of the state of Texas and Vicki Rankin of Fayetteville, Ark.; five nephews and three nieces. He was preceded in death by his grandmother and a nephew. Services will be Thursday, Nov. 30, in Thieme Funeral Home, Springfield. Arrangements were incomplete at press time. Visitation will be this evening (Wednesday) at the funeral home.
Helen E. Gill
Helen E. Gill, 82, Davis Junction, Ill., died Saturday, Nov. 11, 2000, in Swedish American Hospital, Rockford, Ill. She was born Sept. 10, 1918, the daughter of Maurice and Margaret Gaffey Russell. She married Richard H. Gill Jr. on June 7, 1941, in Polo, Ill. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Byron, Ill. She and her husband operated Gill's Antique Shop in Davis Junction, Ill., for 20 years and also farmed in the Monroe Center, Ill., area. She is survived by her husband, Richard Gill Jr.; a daughter and son-in-law, Karen E. and Robby Donoho of Davis Junction, Ill.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Richard H. III and Pat Gill of Columbus, Neb. and Russell M. Sr. and Nancy Gill. of Bolivar; two sisters, Alta Wehmeyer of Polo, Ill., and Villa Rads of Lanark, Ill.; seven grandchildren, Michelle Arand, Russell Gill Jr., Greg Gill, Kathy Kellen, Sara Gill, Elisabeth Gill and Tracy Long; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Len, Leo and Glenn; a sister, Gladys; and two grandchildren, Heather Gill and Richard Gill IV. Funeral mass was Tuesda,y Nov 14, in St. Mary's Catholic Church, Byron, Ill., with the Rev. Timothy Doherty officiating. Burial was in Hulse Cemetery near Pecatonica, Ill. Arrangements were under the direction of Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home, Stillman Valley, Ill.
Carrie E. Greer
Carrie Elizabeth Greer was born Dec. 30. 1916, in Dover, Pa., the daughter of Albert C. and Annie Mae Gerber Neiman. She passed away at 11:33 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, 2000, at Cox Medical Center North, Springfield, following a lengthy and heroic battle with lung disease. Carrie grew up in Colorado and Wyoming, where her father started and operated numerous businesses including the Neiman Sawmill at Hulett, Wyo., which is still in operation. Carrie was managing the lumber yard at Gillette, Wyo., when she met her future husband, C.J. Greer. They were married on May 27, 1941, at Gillette, Wyo. To this union, five children were born: Carrie Ann, Glen Ray, Twyla Mae, Olen Lee and Eva Dee. Carrie and her family operated the Elm Valley Goat Dairy in Springfield for more than 21 years prior to moving to the Greer's 40 Acres in Brighton. Carrie was known for her expertise in many fields ranging from poem and songwriting to sewing and carpentry work. She was the missions secretary-treasurer for more than 40 years at the Brighton Highway Assembly of God Church, where she was a charter member. Surviving are her husband, the Rev. C.J. Greer of the home; her daughters and their husbands, Carrie Ann and Ron Simmons, Twyla Mae and Bruce Menzies and Eva Dee and David Partin, all of Springfield; her sons and their wives, Glen Ray and Sue Greer of Bois d'Arc and Olen Lee and Gail Greer of Springfield; two sisters, Ruth Dickmann of Washington, Ind., and Mary Barbour of Hulett, Wyo.; three brothers, Albert C. Neiman, Henry Neiman and James Neiman, all of Hulett, Wyo.; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Bill and Ray Neiman; and a great-granddaughter, Madison Dawn Greer, daughter of Steven and Sara Greer. Carrie will forever be remembered for her devotion to the Lord's work and especially the missionaries and her love for her family. Sesrvices will be at 1 p.m. today (Wednesday) in the Brighton Highway Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Tom Dewlen, the Rev. Bert Travis, the Rev. Jimmy Johnson and the Rev. Danny Hughes officiating. Musical selections will be "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow," "I Found a Better Way," "Holy Ground" and "Thank You for Giving to the World." Burial will follow in the Brighton Cemetery under the direction of Butler Funeral Home. Casketbearers will be Bruce Woodmansee, Ray Woodmansee, Jay Woodmansee, Aaron Greer, Michael Menzies, Steven Greer, Brad Greer and Timothy Partin. Memorial contributions may be made to the Brighton Highway Assembly Missions Account, 5403 N. Highway 13, Brighton, MO 65617.
Leland F. Hamby
Leland Franklin Hamby, 72, Ellinwood, Kan., died Thursday, Nov. 23, 2000, at the Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita, Kan., due to heart failure. The son of Abe and Lula Litle Hamby, he was born June 24, 1928, at Stockton. While living in Missouri, he worked at the Stockton cheese plant; then he moved on to work in the oil fields of Kansas. In 1974, he moved to Ellinwood, Kan., where he has lived the past 26 years. He was preceded in death by his mother, Lula Wilson; his father, Abe Hamby; a brother, Ray Hamby; a son and daughter-in-law, Dale and Vicki Hamby; and a grandson, Lee Hamby. Surviving are his wife of 34 years, Nellie Hamby of the home; two brothers, Ellis Hamby of Ellinwood, Kan., and Babe Hamby of Aldrich; a sister, Goldie Manning of Ellinwood, Kan.; 12 children, James Hamby and his wife, Sandy, of Aldrich, Linda Stevens and her husband, Bill, of Bolivar, Billy Hamby and his wife, Debbie, of Bolivar, Ronnie Hamby of Great Bend, Kan., Terry Hamby of Elk City, Kan., Donna Crow and her husband, Vander, of Ellinwood, Kan., Elaine Pyle of El Dorado Springs, Raylene Keith of El Dorado Springs, Barbara Carstens of Ellinwood, Kan., Kathlene Cox and her husband, Howard, of Appleton City, Hazelene Doyle and her husband, Jim, of Fletcher, N. C., and Dorothy Fulbright of Caney, Kan.; 28 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. Services were Monday, Nov. 27, in Murray Chapel, Bolivar, with Brother Ralph Benham officiating. Pallbearers were Michael Hamby, Sean Hamby, Harold Hamby, Jerry Hamby, Craig Huff and Mark Wooliver. Interment was in Lindley Prairie Cemetery.
Ruth N. Hosiner
Ruth Naomi Hosiner, 86, Marshfield, died at 12:25 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2000, in Doctors' Hospital, Springfield. Survivors include her son, James E. Hosiner Jr. and his wife, Elsie, of Half Way; her daughter, Theda Mackey and her husband, Caleb Jr., of Marshfield; nine grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and friends. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today (Friday) Dec. 1, in Fordland Cemetery with the Rev. Jack Day officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Day Funeral Home, Marshfield.
Milford H. House
Milford H. House, 91, of the Starfield community, rural Gower, died Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2000, at Heartland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph. He was born Dec. 30, 1908, to the Rev. E.T. and Mary Carter House in Polk County near Pleasant Hope, where he spent his early years. On June 24, 1934, he was united in marriage to Sarah White of Plattsburg. After their marriage, they lived in the Starfield community. He farmed in the Starfield area for more than 67 years. He was a member of Mount Zion Freewill Baptist Church where he served as a deacon for many years. He was also a member of the Plattsburg Masonic Lodge No. 113 A.F. and A.M. He was a member of the Mount Zion Cemetery Board where he had served as president. He was a 4-H leader for more than 20 years. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Betty Ann; five brothers, Ira, Tolbert, Rufus, James and Claudie House; and three sisters, Rosa House, Ada Culley and Wava Sims. He is survived by his wife, Sarah, of the home; three sons and daughters-in-law, Darrel L. and Luray House, Gary M. and Connie House, all of Gower, and Dale M. and Lianne House, Prairie Village, Kan.; five grandchildren, Cynthia Benz, Stephanie Phipps, Eric House, Scott House and Carter House; four great-grandchildren, Tabatha Phipps, Jacob Phipps, Amanda Benz and Kiera Benz; two sisters, Bessie Ogden of Sacramento, Calif., and Opal Johnson of Houston, Texas; several nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends. Services were Saturday, Nov. 25, at the Mount Zion Freewill Baptist Church, rural Gower. Burial was in Mount Zion Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of the Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Gower. Donations may be made to the Mount Zion Cemetery Association or the Mount Zion Freewill Baptist Church.
Audrey Y. Johnson
Audrey Yvonne Johnson, 74, Bolivar, died Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2000, at Independence Regional Health Center in Independence. She was born in Crocker on Oct. 25, 1926, to Philip and Eva Hamilton Williams. She worked as a legal secretary for Welch, Martin, Albano and Manners Law Firm in Independence. She attended the Antioch Christian Church. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Charles Lee Johnson, of Bolivar; three daughters, Wanda Tomlin of Mission, Kan., Jana Sornberger and husband Robert of Robinson, Ill., and Terry Early and husband Jim of North Kansas City; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Graveside services were Saturday, Nov. 25, in Crocker Cemetery, Crocker, with Bill Claiborn officiating. Pallbearers were Robert Sornberger, Joe Sornberger, James Early, Ryan Hill, Nick Hill and Chuck McCroskey. Arrangements were under the direction of Long Funeral Home in Crocker.
Elizabeth Johnson
Elizabeth W. Johnson, Bolivar, passed away at 3:05 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2000, in St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield, at the age of 81 years, three months and six days. She was born Aug. 15, 1919, in Talequah, Okla., the daughter of John Schuyler and Nora Frances Liliker Weaver. Her father was professor of classical languages and Bible studies at Southwest Baptist College for many years before his death in 1946. Elizabeth attended elementary and high school in Bolivar, where she was active in piano accompaniment for the vocal quartets and was a member of the Girls' Glee Club. She graduated from Southwest Baptist College and taught school for a period of time before she and her longtime sweetheart, Farrell Johnson, were married on June 8, 1942, in Baltimore, Md. Elizabeth and Farrell made Baltimore their home after World War II. Elizabeth had a 31-year career with General Motors. After her retirement, Elizabeth and Farrell continued to attend the General Motors meetings in Springfield, and they had many friends in that group. Elizabeth and Farrell returned to Bolivar in 1978 and became active members in the First Baptist Church. She put her faith in God, and this faith carried her through the good times and the bad times in her life. In 1996, Elizabeth made a list of things that she liked to collect. She had written, "This is all materialism, and when my Dad died, I learned early in life that it is not important. The important thing in life is salvation and human relations." She also had some favorite verses marked in her Bible; they were Ecclesiastes 1:9-10, Matthew 6:19-21 and John 14:1-4. Her mother taught voice and piano to many of the ministerial and missionary students at Southwest Baptist College. Her favorite hymn was "In the Garden," and Elizabeth loved to hear her sing it. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Farrell Johnson, on Feb. 9, 2000; and a sister, Louise Weaver. Elizabeth is survived by her two brothers, John Schuyler Weaver and Albert Edward Weaver, both of Kansas City; her sister, Anna Ruth Dick and her husband, G.A. Waldriff M.D. of Albuquerque, N.M.; a brother-in-law, Charles Johnson of Bolivar; and many nieces and nephews. Services were Saturday, Nov. 25, in Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Harold Hendrickson and the Rev. Ray Leininger officiating. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Leah M. Jorgensen
Leah Maye Christian Jorgensen, 68, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., died Friday, Nov. 10, 2000, at St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield, following a sudden illness. She was born May 27, 1932, in Walnut Grove to Virgil and Loy Eunice Ridenour Christian. She was united in marriage to Kenneth Coffey in January 1951, and to this union, a daughter was born. She is survived by her daughter, Georgie Ann Coffey of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Arthur and Chris Christian of Oakland, Calif., George and Lucille Christian of Wahoo, Neb., and Ray and Rose Christian of Aldrich; four sisters and three brothers-in-law, Kathryn and Lester Leith of Bolivar, Evelyn Hoover of Neosho, Alta Faye and George Lawrence of Hutchison, Kan., and Geraldine and Henry Jacks of Belton; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and four brothers, Roy Christian, Dale Christian, Loy Christian and Fred Christian. Services were Tuesday, Nov. 14, in Pitts Chapel with the Rev. Kenneth Doyle officiating. Music was provided by Jay and Annabell Lyman accompanied by Marilyn Dobbins. Burial followed in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Aldrich. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society or the Diabetes Association.
Gene C. Mann
Gene C. Mann, 75, Ajo, Ariz., died Thursday, Nov. 23, 2000, in his home. He had suffered from emphysema, heart trouble and cancer. He was born and raised in the Dunnegan and Fair Play areas and graduated from Fair Play High School in 1943. He was united in marriage to Dorothy McDowell of Rolla in 1945, and for a short time, they owned and operated a cafe on Main Street in Fair Play. They moved to Ajo, Ariz., in 1947, where he was employed at Phelps Dodge Copper Mine until his retirement, when the copper mine closed. Preceding him in death were his wife, Dot, in 1995; his parents, Harry F. and Mary Campbell Mann; one brother, Leonard "Jap"; and two brothers-in-law, Homer Matthews and Clarence Lane. Survivors include his only child, Jeff and wife Debbie of Ajo, Ariz.; four granddaughters; a great-grandson; two sisters, Edna Matthews of Bolivar and Daisy Lane of Fair Play; one uncle, Willis Earl Mann of Concord, N.C.; as well as nieces and nephews. The body has been cremated. Memorial services were held in Ajo, Ariz.
