As of Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023
Cities without a state are in Missouri
April 15, 1928 – Sept. 19, 2023
Edith Evelyn Bayless, age 95, of Joplin, passed away at 9:22 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, at St. Luke’s Nursing Center in Carthage. Edith was born April 15, 1928, in Waterloo, Neb., the daughter of James and Genevieve Miller. She grew up in the suburbs of Omaha, Neb., and returned to Waterloo where she graduated from Waterloo Public schools in 1946.
Edith married Edward D. Bayless on Dec. 1, 1946, in Waterloo. They resided there until 1958, when they moved to Joplin and Ed attended Ozark Bible College. They were involved in located Christian Ministry for many years, including 20 years with Cookson Hills Christian Ministry in Kansas, Oklahoma.
Edith was a member of First Christian Church of Webb City and a former member of College Heights Christian Church of Joplin. She was also a member of the Town and Country Quilt Guild. Her passion was sewing, handwork, and quilting. She enjoyed volunteering, and selling items she made at the Webb City Farmers Market for seven years.
Edith was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Bayless; her parents; and a sister, Nancy Young.
Survivors include four sons, Jim Bayless, Webb City, Rick Bayless and wife Melinda, Crestwood, Ky., Kevin Bayless and wife Jo Rae, Leon, Kan., and Jack Williams and wife Adrienne, Raytown; three daughters, Kathy Wright and husband Richard, Cynthia Cheesebrough and partner Jason, and April Smallwood and husband Aaron, all of Joplin; 14 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, at First Christian Church of Webb City, with ministers Lynn Ragsdale and Jay St. Clair officiating. Visitation will be from noon until 1 p.m. prior to the funeral at the church.
Burial will be in the Liberal Cemetery. Her grandsons, Mark Wright, Matthew Bayless, Eli Bayless, Zachary Bayless, Kameron Williams, Micah Williams and Jade Smallwood will serve as pallbearers. Memorial contributions may be made to God’s Resort in care of Mason-Woodard Mortuary.
April 1, 1936 – Sept. 7, 2023
Bill Hardcastle, 87, passed from this life on Thursday morning Sept. 7, with wife, Arlene and his hospice nurse at his bedside.
Bill was born April 1, 1936, in Sherman, Texas, the older son of Henry B. and Helen (Myers) Hardcastle. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Ed, and sister-in-law, Gayle.
Bill is survived by wife, Arlene, and his children, two sons, Dan (Bo) Campbell and wife Susan of Sarcoxie, and Tom Campbell and wife Sarah, Albuquerque N.M., and two daughters, Susan L Campbell, state of Connecticut, and Kari Russell and husband Justin, Claremore, Okla.; his nephew, Alan Hardcastle and wife Kenda, Miami Okla.; nine beautiful and helpful grandchildren; and 23 sweet great-grandbabies.
Bill married Arlene Marrs Campbell and Dan, Tom, and Susan on Dec. 9, 1966. Life was very busy with the three “big kids,” and then the Lord blessed Bill and Arlene with a cute baby girl in 1973. Life was hectic with three teenagers very active in events at Webb City High School and church, but he found time to take baby Kari to witness all the events. As Baby Kari grew and became more social, Bill sold his favorite truck so he could get a van to take those friends to church camp, band activities and school events.
The family was active in the Church of Christ at Fourth and Forest in Joplin. Later the church built a new facility on Mt. Hope Road in Webb City. Bill and the older kids worked on the “bus program.” Bill drove the bus and the kids were making calls to see who would need a ride the next Sunday morning. When the tornado tore up lots of homes in Joplin, the Mt. Hope Church opened their facility for workers coming into Joplin to help clean up some of the destruction. Bill was at the building every morning to run errands, haul cases of bottled water to neighborhoods without running water, hauled ice, etc.
Bill was retired from Fleming Foods at the Joplin warehouse and spent a short time as a security guard at Precious Moments. His real love was antiques and auctions.
It has been a busy life and Bill has earned a rest. In the last three or four years a bad back has limited his activities. The family wishes to thank Dr. Reuben for the decision to recommend “care and comfort” via hospice. Big thanks to Gentiva Hospice and especially the care given by nurse Ellie. Thank you to the Woodard family and the Mason-Woodard Mortuary. A memorial service will be held at a later date. May God bless you all!
The Webb City Sentinel isn’t a newspaper – but it used to be, serving Webb City, Missouri, in print from 1879-2020. This “newspaper” seeks to carry on that tradition as a nonprofit corporation.
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