As of Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026
Cities without a state are in Missouri
Sept. 13, 1944 – Oct. 27, 2026
Sharon Kay Barton, Webb City, Missouri, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved to read, travel and, most important to her, spending time with family. Sharon had a servant’s heart and saw the good in everyone.
Sharon was born on Sept. 13, 1944, in Webb City to Ralph and Gussie McClellan. Sharon received her high school diploma from Webb City High School in 1962 and graduated in the top 10 of the senior class. In addition, she was honored for her perfect attendance from seventh to 12th grade. After her high school graduation, she attended Joplin Jr. College from 1962-1964, where she majored in business. After her college graduation, she worked at Empire District Electric Co. as secretary to the supervisor of the 4th and Railroad Line Department.
On Nov. 13, 1966, she met her future husband, Ronald Rex Barton, through mutual friends at church. After five months of dating, they became engaged. On July 13, 1968, they were married at Webb City First Baptist Church.
When Ron was the Seneca High School Principal, she began her career in education as a substitute teacher. Throughout that time, she substituted in the Seneca and Carl Junction school districts for 25 years. Then she served as a Title I assistant for 13 years in first and second grades at Webster Primary Center in the Webb City R-7 School District.
Ron and Sharon were active members at Webb City First Baptist, and she taught Sunday school, which allowed her to spread the gospel to many different age groups. In addition, she helped start and coordinate the First Baptist Church clothing drive. She knew the importance of giving back to the community. In doing so, she served multiple years on the Webb City Public Library Board and the Webb City R-7 Hall of Fame Committee.
Surviving are her daughter and her husband, Jennifer and Travis Starchman, of Webb City; her son, Bradley Barton, of Carl Junction; two grandchildren, Trenton Starchman and his wife Chloe, of Conroe, Texas, and Kylie Neuenschwander and her husband Alex, of Carterville. She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 ½ years, Dr. Ronald R. Barton; her father and mother, Ralph and Gussie McClellan; and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Russell and Ruby Barton.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Ronald R. Barton Scholarship Fund, as part of the Webb City R-7 Schools Foundation.
The visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at the First Baptist Church in Webb City. On Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, the funeral service will be at 1 p.m., also at the First Baptist Church in Webb City. A graveside service will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Hedge-Lewis-Goodman Funeral Home.
Dec. 6, 1937 – Oct. 21, 2026
Rodney L. Bishop Sr., born Dec. 6, 1937, died peacefully at home on Oct. 21, 2026.
He leaves behind his wife, Audrey. of the home; his daughter, Kelly Bishop, Flower Mound, Texas; his son, Phillip Bishop and his wife Missie, of Cherryvale, Kan.; his daughter, Anne Thomas, of Wentzville; four grandchildren; one great- grandchild; his stepdaughter, Briana Markham and her husband Michael, Hilliard, Ohio; four stepgrandchildren; and his sister, Coleen Yocum and her husband Ron, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Rodney was a Webb City resident, and he graduated from Webb City High School in 1955.
A memorial for the family will be held at their home. We wish to express appreciation to Compassus Hospice for their kindness and compassion. Arrangements are under the direction of Simpson Funeral Home.
May 21, 1960 – Oct. 22, 2026
Bruce Wayne Carey, age 66, of Oronogo, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, at Mercy Hospital Joplin.
Bruce was born on May 21, 1960, in Webb City to the union of David and Jean (Tharp) Carey. He grew up in Oronogo and carried the values of that community with him throughout his life.
Bruce graduated from Webb City High School in 1978. He spent much of his working life as a mechanic and in construction. He took pride in honest labor and in doing a job the right way. He enjoyed fishing and hunting. He also loved mowing and taking care of the lawn. When he was younger, he mowed for Oronogo Cemetery. He will be remembered for his handy nature, his generous heart and the quiet strength with which he lived his life.
Bruce was preceded in death by his father, David Carey.
Bruce is survived by his mother, Jean Carey; three brothers, Brian Carey, James Carey, and Randy Carey; son, Brandon Carey; and a host of extended nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.
Aug. 16, 1953 – Oct. 27, 2026
David Wayne Holden, age 73, of Carthage, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. He was born Aug. 16, 1953, in Independence, Kan., to Gerald Holden and Shirley (Hadley) Lehman. David graduated from Webb City High School in 1972 and was a shipping manager, retiring from Simmons Foods in Southwest City. He was a member of the Alba Friends Church and enjoyed singing in the church.
David is survived by son, Zach Holden and wife Leslie, of Carthage; daughter, Pam Miller and husband Ben, of Webb City; sister, Susan Deyoe, of Joplin; brother, Dan Holden and wife Leisha, of Carthage; sister, Sherry McConnell, of Carthage; grandchildren, Sydney (and husband Hayden) Swinehart, of Carthage, Sammi (and husband Nathan) Percy, of Carthage, Steffani Roberts, of Neosho, Tiffani (and husband Parker) Sockwell, of Webb City, Rachel Miller, of Searcy, Ark., and Naomi Miller, of Webb City; six great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2026, at the Alba Friends Church, with Steve Galindo officiating. The family will receive friends at 10 a.m. prior to the service.
The family would like to thank Autumn Place of Joplin for their care of David over the last four years, and Trinity Hospice for caring for David in his final days.
Memorial contributions may be made to Alba Friends Church. Services are under the direction of Hedge-Lewis-Goodwin Funeral Home.
Oct. 25, 1952 – Oct. 25, 2026
Terry Lee Rose, age 74, passed away on her birthday, Oct. 25, 2026. Her parents were Paul and Noma Bottom. She was a 1970 graduate of Webb City High School. Terry married her high school sweetheart, Terry Dean Rose, in 1973.
Terry earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Missouri Southern State College, a master’s degree from Pittsburg State University, and later a gifted education certification. She attended many Missouri Gifted Education Conferences and one National Gifted Education Conference.
She grew up wanting to be a teacher and dearly loved teaching. Her entire teaching career was spent at Webb City Schools. The majority of her years were spent with gifted students at both the junior high and high school, but she also taught first and second grades and junior high social studies. She said she worked with many wonderful students who enriched her life. They made her laugh, sometimes worry, and many times proud. She will admit, she prayed a lot.
Over the years she was honored by receiving numerous teaching awards. Mrs. Rose received the Judge Clay Cowgill Memorial Award of Teaching Excellence. She was honored by receiving student-nominated awards, which included Missouri Scholars Academy and Missouri Fine Arts Academy Teacher Appreciation Awards and Joplin Globe Distinguished Educators Awards. The Webb City Chamber of Commerce presented her with the Cardinal Teacher Award. The Webb City Schools Foundation honored her with the Pillar of the Past award, and it was just announced that she will be inducted into the Webb City R-7 Hall of Fame in March of 2027.
Terry embraced her life-long faith. She could not imagine life without trusting in Christ and Him directing her paths. She was a member of Christ’s Church of Oronogo. She taught many Sunday school, VBS, Wee Worship, Junior Church, and summer camp classes.
Terry’s most precious times, called “Golden Days,” were spent with her husband, children and grandchildren. Her favorite pastimes included cooking for her family, traveling, and in later years, living by Big Sugar River, where she loved playing with the grandkids, kayaking, swimming and eagle watching.
Terry is survived by her husband, Terry; a son, Landon Rose and his wife Jenna, Brownsburg, Indiana; two daughters, Laura Ragsdale and her husband Scott, Carthage, and Lynnae Cook and her husband Jacob, Fair Grove; her mother Noma Bottom, Joplin; two brothers, Tom Bottom, Oronogo, and Toby Bottom, Joplin; nine grandchildren, Lila, Julia and Deklan Rose, Bennett, Ryder, Charlotte and Elliott Ragsdale, and Jasper and Leeona Cook.
Her father, Paul Bottom, preceded her in death.
Pallbearers will be Landon Rose, Scott Ragsdale, Jacob Cook, Bennett Ragsdale, Ryder Ragsdale and Terry Rose, with honorary pallbearers Elliott Ragsdale, Jasper Cook and Deklan Rose.
A visitation will be held from 6 to 8p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, at Christ’s Church of Oronogo. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, also at the church, with Landon Rose officiating.
Interment will be at Purcell Friends Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Challenge Your Potential Scholarship, with the Webb City Schools Foundation, in care of the funeral home. Services are under the direction of Simpson Funeral Home.
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Obituaries on this page are primarily found by looking for those with a connection to our immediate area on local funeral home and crematory websites. So we don’t miss one, please notify us by email at news@webbcity.net.
