As of Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025
Cities without a state are in Missouri
Sept. 16, 2025 – Feb. 6, 2025
Clara Eleanor Cheek, 94, of Carterville, passed away peacefully on Feb. 6, 2025.
Born on Sept. 16, 1930, in Oklahoma City, Okla., to Edwin Calhoun Sanford and Margaret Eleanor (Taylor) Sanford. Clara spent much of her childhood on a farm in northwest Arkansas. In her late teens, she moved to Joplin, where she met Homer Wayne Cheek. The two were married on May 28, 1949, in Bentonville, Ark. Together, they built a life filled with love and faith while raising their three sons and living in Oklahoma, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Missouri.
Clara and Homer were deeply involved in their church communities wherever they lived. In Tulsa, Okla., they served at Cincinnati Avenue Christian Church and later at Valley Road Church of Christ in Warrington, Penn. For many years in Joplin, Clara was a dedicated leader at Mount Hope Church of Christ, where she organized and served through the church kitchen as part of her commitment to fellowship and service. Beyond her church work, Clara contributed to her community by volunteering at polling places during elections and assisting with Soroptimist Club events.
Known affectionately as “Gram,” Clara cherished her role as a grandmother to seven grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Homer; siblings Bud, Sandy, Pat, Paul Eugene, Marilyn and Mike; grandchildren Jesse and Brenda; and daughter-in-law Claire.
She is survived by her sons, Terry Cheek, Spring Hill, Kan.; David (Joy) Cheek, Carterville, and Brian (Carol) Cheek, Perkasie, Penn.; grandchildren, Sharon (Tim), Ben (Susan), Jon (Casey), Christa (Ebony), and Dan (Tracy); great-grandchildren, Cheyanne, Katelyn, Lindsay, Lauren, Luke, Ethan, Noah, Jaxon, Ezra, Joseph, Julia, Caleb, Molly, Eleanor and Judah; and great-great-grandchildren, Isabella and Samantha.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 8, at Mason-Woodard Mortuary. A visitation will precede the service at 10 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice in honor of Clara’s life dedicated to serving others.
Dec. 24, 1933 – Feb. 13, 2025
Gail LaRue Pennington, a cherished mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Feb. 13, 2025, in Joplin at the age of 91. She was born on Dec. 24, 1933, in Arcadia, Penn., the daughter of the late Ben Bartlebaugh and Geraldine (Pennington) Bartlebaugh.
Gail proudly served her country as a U.S. Army veteran during the Korean War, where she would meet the love of her life, Phillip Pennington. The two would get married on June 22, 1952, in Fort Riley, Kan.; he later preceded her in death. After her service, she became a beloved housekeeper in the Carthage area, where her gentle and thoughtful nature made her much more than an employee. She became a friend to the many families she worked for. Gail was an avid reader, a dedicated volunteer with the Red Cross, and an enthusiastic traveler, especially on cruises. Above all, spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, was her greatest joy.
Gail is survived by her children, Denise Rich (Tom), Webb City, Melanie Raydon (Lane), Sarcoxie, Lacretia Pennington (Dale), Joplin, Richard Pennington (Anna), Webb City, Dennis Pennington (Andrea), Joplin, and Timothy Pennington, Webb City; a brother, Brian; a sister, Geralda; 13 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren, and 21 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her loving daughter, Toni Sweet; granddaughter, Vinita Pennington; two great-great grandchildren, Lucian Pennington and Serenity Pennington; brother, Bennie; and sisters, Florence, Donna, Sue, June, and Twila.
Arrangements are under the direction of Knell Mortuary, Carthage.
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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