As of Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022
Cities without a state are in Missouri
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As of Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022
Cities without a state are in Missouri
Feb. 25, 1940 – Aug. 27, 2022
Donald Beier, age 82, of Carl Junction, passed away at his home on Saturday, Aug. 27.
Donald loved to work at the Webb City Church of the Nazarene. He loved his military career. Donald loved Disney and his favorite character was Donald Duck.
Donald is survived by his wife, Diana Beier; a daughter, Stephannie Roberts and husband Jonathan, Webb City; three sons, Christopher P Beier and wife Rhonda, Broken Arrow, Okla., Jason Beier and wife Kerri, Carl Junction, and Gordon Roger Beier, Offenbach, Germany; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, at Webb City Church of the Nazarene.
Arrangements are under the direction of Simpson Funeral Home in Webb City.
Nov. 19, 1936 – Aug. 21, 2022
Barbara Buck, 85, of Oronogo, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 21, at St Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Okla. She was born on Nov. 19, 1936, to Joseph Speck and Dorothy Byrd. She married Johnny Buck, the love of her life, on Oct. 19, 1964.
Barbara and her late husband, Johnny, had many adventures together, including an auctioneer business, owning and operating a flea market in Webb City, and managing a dairy farm. Barbara most enjoyed spending time and playing games with family and friends. She enjoyed crafts of all kinds, especially quilting, needlepoint, and crocheting. She was an excellent cook and an enthusiastic collector of cookbooks. Barbara was involved in volunteer and charity work, including donating quilts and crafts she had created. She was actively involved in the Carterville United Methodist Church.
She is the oldest of three, and is survived by her brother, Johnny Byrd, and sister, Sherryl Johnson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Speck and Dorothy Byrd. Additional survivors include children, Don Craig and wife Cathy, Oronogo, and Jo Clark, Tulsa; grandchildren Bailey and husband Tyler, Cody Craig, Cyndi Conway and husband Travis, and Casey Craig and wife Kaylee; great-grandchildren Aurora, Lukus, Lilly, Kimberlyn, Karsyn, Kollyns and Paislee.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at Carterville Cemetery, with Bob Wynne officiating. Arrangements for Barbara J. Buck are pending at Simpson Funeral Home.
Nov. 30, 1930 – Aug. 28, 2022
Mrs. Jessie Emma Gayle Clifton, 91, a 57-year resident of Carterville, departed this life Sunday, Aug. 28, in the comfort of her home, after months of declining health.
Jessie entered this life on Nov. 30, 1930, in Laguna Beach, Calif., daughter of the late John and Gayle Stewart. She moved to Joplin at the age of 12.
On April 20, 1948, she was untied in marriage to Junior Clifton Sr., and together they shared nearly 41 years before his passing on April 18, 1989. Jessie was a hardworking and devoted homemaker throughout her life. She enjoyed spending time with her family and her sister-in-law, Florence “Tutti” Bradfield. She enjoyed attending worship services at Central Christian Center in Joplin.
Jessie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Junior Clifton Sr.; two children, Junior Clifton Jr. and Patricia Woodard; a brother, Clyde Stewart; and a sister, Ann Marie Stewart.
Jessie is survived by her five children, Glenn Clifton and wife, Lynnette, Alba, Randall Clifton, of the home, Ricky Clifton Sr. and wife Kathy, Jasper, Sherry Blackburn and husband Terry, Helena, Okla., and Kathy Bronson and husband Bill, Carterville; 24 grandchildren; 67 great-grandchildren; 17 great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Irene Blakeley, McKinney, Texas; and a host of other family and friends.
Graveside funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at Fairview Cemetery in Joplin. The family will receive friends at 12:30 p.m. at Hedge-Lewis-Goodwin Funeral Home.
Feb. 28, 1950 – Aug. 27, 2022
Gale Eileen Fulton, 72, of Carl Junction, departed this life on Saturday morning, Aug. 27, at University Hospital in Columbia.
Gale entered this life on Feb. 28, 1950, in Pittsburg, Kan. She grew up in Joplin and graduated from Joplin High School in 1968. She had many lifelong friends and memories being a cheerleader for JHS, and a Girl Scout and a Camp Mintahama counselor. She married her sweetheart, Greg Fulton, on June 1, 1969, after they met on a blind date in October 1965. They considered themselves soulmates and built a wonderful life together with their four children. Gale was a dedicated homemaker and spent many years in the direct sales industry so she could continue to be a stay-at-home mom while providing income for the “extra” things in life. She was very successful with multiple companies over the years, earning numerous vacation trips and mentoring many young women along the way.
Gale was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She had numerous callings throughout the years including leadership roles in Young Women’s and Relief Society. She had a deep faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and a strong testimony of eternal families.
Gale’s greatest passion was her family. Anyone who knew Gale knew her deep love and commitment to her husband, children and her 12 grandchildren. She was incredibly proud of the legacy she and Greg had created and loved to talk of her family with great joy and enthusiasm. Gale was a great cook and seamstress, making numerous prom dresses for her girls over the years. She also enjoyed gardening and flea market shopping. She was a “stop and smell the roses” kind of woman which afforded her many opportunities to visit, listen, and make a positive impact on many people throughout her years. She had an infectious smile, and she never met a stranger.
Gale was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence Mudd and Reba (Wyatt) Carpenter; her stepfather, Bert Craig; her brother, Gary Mudd; and her stepbrothers, Dan Craig, and Jim Craig.
Gale is survived by her husband, Greg Fulton, and her children, their spouses and her 12 grandchildren, Kerri and Shaine Sundy (Skyler, Slyder and Sayre Sundy), Joel and Angela Fulton (Hannah Fulton), Abbey and Scott Lacey (Emma, Sophia, and Drake Lacey), all of Carl Junction, and Adam and Melanie Fulton (Ethan, Graham, Liam, Darcy and Jack Fulton), of Greencastle, Penn.; and her sister, Sherry Collins, and spouse, Bill, of Neosho.
Visitation will be held from 5 – 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at Hedge-Lewis-Goodwin Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (across from Joplin High School) in Joplin. Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, at Ozark Cemetery in Joplin. Memorial contributions may be made to the Joplin Humane Society. (Gale was forever grateful to be reunited with her sweet cat, Cashew, through the humane society after he had been missing for three months.)
Sept. 23, 1952 – Aug. 23, 2022
Tresa Furrh, age 69, of Joplin, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin. She was born on Sept. 23, 1952, to E.W. “Doug” and Bonnie Howard. She married Jerry Furrh on June 12, 1982, in Sulphur, Okla.
Tresa graduated high school in 1970 from Glendale High School in Springfield. She graduated college with a bachelor’s in library science from Missouri State University.
Tresa was a librarian, beginning her career in Sulphur, Okla. In 1986, she began a 30-year career at the Webb City School District. She was a beloved and treasured faculty member, remembered for the substantial impact on students and faculty, with an open-door policy.
She was an avid reader, even working at the Webb City Public Library after retiring from Webb City School District. Tresa liked Star Trek and watching other movies. She was well known for her singing, connected at one time with the Joplin Little Threatre, and active in various dramas and plays in Webb City. She was a Precious Moments tour guide in Carthage for several years, and truly loved her time there.
Tresa and her husband, Jerry were both active in Christian ministry with the Webb City Church of the Nazarene. She served as a music leader and choir member. The church was a big part of their lives.
Tresa is survived by her husband, Jerry Furrh, of Joplin; her brother, Doug Howard and wife Cheryl, McAlester, Okla.; her daughter, Holly White, Joplin; three stepsons, Carl Furrh and wife Janelle, Oklahoma, Nathan Furrh, Oklahoma, and Jay Furrh, Alaska; grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
No services are scheduled for Tresa at this time. Arrangements are under the direction of Simpson Funeral Home.
Dec. 3, 1961 – Aug. 17, 2022
Steven James Gregg, age 61, passed away in Boca Raton, Fla. on Wednesday, Aug. 17. Steve was born in Pontiac, Mich., on Dec. 3, 1961, to Bob and Thelma (Willard/Little) Gregg. The family moved from Michigan to Cossville, Mo., when Steve was entering high school. Steve graduated from Jasper R-5 in 1980.
He attended Franklin Technology Center for HVAC. He then attended Missouri Southern State College for criminal justice. He worked for Jasper County Sheriff as a deputy for several years before joining UPS. He worked for UPS for almost 35 years in package and fleet. Steve was a teamster shop steward for the UPS Union. He loved helping out his fellow coworkers and teamsters.
Steve’s passion was being outdoors. He loved hunting and fishing. He was an avid tournament fisher and enjoyed the bass and walleye tournaments in Missouri, Minnesota, and the Great Lakes of Michigan. Steve loved to pass on his knowledge of the outdoors. Steve had just returned from a fishing trip with one of his favorite fishing buddies, his nephew Kellen. Steve owned Whitecap Fishing Guide Service at Stockton Lake.
Steve loved to volunteer. He volunteered taking “Wounded Warriors” fishing on the Great Lakes. His favorite charity is Fisher House of Kansas City, which provides no-cost accommodations to families of veterans receiving treatment with the VA.
Steve’s health declined following a COVID infection 18 months ago. He had multiple complications and was being cared for by his sister, Gail.
Survivors include one sister, Gail Gregg, Carthage; one brother, Leslie Gregg (Beverly), Sapulpa Okla.; one daughter, Emily Leeper, Gardner Kan.; one grandson, Charley; and multiple nieces and nephews. Steve was divorced. Steves considered his UPS coworkers, and his hunting and fishing buddies his family. He is preceded in death by his mother and father.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Fisher House of Kansas City.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at Hedge-Lewis-Goodwin Funeral Home, with longtime friend and fishing buddy, Mike Tunnell, officiating.
Oct. 27, 1997 – Aug. 20, 2022
Jessy Melchior passed away Saturday, Aug. 20, at the age of 24.
Jess was born in Liege, Belgium, on Oct. 27, 1997, to Cynthia and Manuel Melchior. He met his better half, Caitlin Ray, in high school in 2013.
On May 26, 2016, and Dec. 22, 2017, he welcomed his two beautiful daughters, who were the most important part of his life.
Jessy was a devoted father and loved most to be surrounded by his family. He enjoyed playing games with his friends and his girls, cooking, making bonfires, kayaking, listening to music and playing guitar.
Jessy was starting the second year of his associate’s degree and was excited to get his computer science degree. There were so many things he wanted to do with his life, he had many plans and dreams for himself and his family.
A private funeral visitation was held Friday, Aug. 26, at the Simpson Funeral Home in Carl Junction.
July 19, 1933 – Aug. 30, 2022
Lucille Smith, age 89, of Joplin, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 30. She was born on July 19, 1933, to George and Ruth Eshom in Hutchison, Kan.
Lucille married her husband, Richard Smith Sr., on Jan. 19, 1954, in Webb City, and he preceded her in death.
Lucille graduated from Lamar High School and lettered in basketball, track and tennis. She loved going to Webb City football games and loved her St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs. Lucille loved to bowl.
Lucille was a member of the Oronogo United Methodist Church. She served as a Sunday school teacher and youth leader. She loved going to the Webb City Senior Center. Her favorite day at the center was bingo day.
Lucille is survived by her daughters, Debbie Cornell, Oronogo, Cathy Hailey and husband Stephen, Webb City, Cheri Sampson and husband Jeff, Alba; and a son, Richard E. Smith Jr., Pittsburg, Kan.; a brother, Roy Eshom, Kingsville, Texas; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Lucille was preceded in death by her sisters, Florence Haffner, Grace Piontkowski, Helen Haw, Lois Eshom; and a brother, Bob Eshom.
The family will be present for a visitation from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at Simpson Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Oronogo Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Oronogo United Methodist Church or the Webb City Senior Citizens Center.
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