As of Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026
Cities without a state are in Missouri
Aug. 31, 1956 – Feb. 15, 2026
John C. Johnson, 69, of Webb City, passed away peacefully at his home on Feb. 15, 2026.
John was born on Aug. 31, 1956, in Dayton, Ohio, to Charles and Barbara Johnson. He was a proud 1974 graduate of Seneca High School.
John went on to work in sales and found his niche in technology, running a phone service company for many years.
Many throughout the area may not have known John by face, but they certainly knew his voice. His distinct and familiar voice greeted countless callers to the Joplin School District, where he provided the recorded phone prompts for many years.
It was a small but meaningful way he became part of the daily lives of so many in the community. John’s ministry with Royal Height’s Baptist Church was an important part of his life. He served as associate pastor and videographer.
John served on the board for Souls Harbor and volunteered for many other ministries in the area.
John was a devoted father and family man. He is survived by his son, Carles Johnson, of the home; his stepfather, Jack Daniels; and five siblings, Carla Martin and husband Jerry, Steve Johnson and wife Charley, Kim Wood and husband Andy, Tim Johnson and wife Jen, Dan Johnson and wife Evelyn, and Rita Wilson and husband Tom.
John will be deeply missed by his family and friends. John’s memory will live on in the hearts of those he loved and in his familiar voice so many will remember.
Memorial services for John C. Johnson will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, at Royal Heights Baptist Church, Tom Wilson officiating. The family will receive friends for visitation from 4 to 6 p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary. Memorial contributions may be made to Royal Heights Baptist Church, which will be used to Celebrate Recovery.
Dec. 27, 1962 – Feb. 12, 2026
Connie Marie Veach, age 63, of Neosho, passed into the loving arms of God due to complications from a minor surgery at 2 p.m. on Feb. 12, 2026 in her home.
She was born on Dec. 27, 1962, in Citrus Heights, Calif., to Richard and Francis Thouvenell.
Connie graduated from Webb City High School in May of 1981and lived and worked in the Joplin/Webb City area her whole life.
She spent 25 years working with her best friends Debi Trahin and Rayella Lindsay hand crafting dental appliances at The Unique Dental Lab in Webb City. She is also fondly remembered by the hundreds of area youths she supervised at Keely’s Silver Wheels skating rink in Joplin.
Connie will be remembered for her generosity of spirit, her constant kindness, her sunny outlook in all weather and her love for absolutely everything. She was the brightest star in the sky for everyone who knew her. She will be lovingly remembered and badly missed by all those fortunate enough to have known her.
Connie had a deep passion for cooking and was really good at it. She will be remembered for the lavish meals she would effortlessly prepare in her home, often feeding 20 or more people.
Connie loved her vegetable garden and cultivated flowers wherever they would grow. Both in the ground and in the hearts of those she loved.
Connie treasured the young men and women she supervised in her capacity as the Lead Sterile Processing Tech at Freeman Medical Center. She was a compassionate and effective leader and is deeply loved by everyone who knew her.
She was the love of her husband’s life and the apple of his eye. Connie and Gary were married on June 5, 2021, at the Civil War Ranch in Carthage. They lived a rich life in a peaceful, loving home in rural Neosho and traveled together extensively. Connie and Gary visited 44 states and had countless adventures. Always ready for another trip, they had made plans to visit many more places in the coming years.
She is survived by her husband, Gary Veach; two daughters, Mandy Freeman (son-in-law Chris Freeman), and Brandy Mann (son-in-law Tom Mann); her son, Brad Ogle, (daughter-in-law Kara Ogle); her stepson, Austin Veach; and seven grandchildren, Ethan Freeman (Ruby De Jesus), Evan Freeman, Garritt Mann, Delaney Freeman, Addy Mann, Jaxon Ogle and Connor Ogle; two great-grandsons, Layne Freeman and Mason Freeman; her sister, Cindy Thouvenell-King; and a vast number of friends and coworkers.
Connie is preceded in death by her father, Richard; her mother, Francis; and two brothers, David and Gary Thouvenell.
Connie and Gary regularly attended the Crossbar Cowboy Church in rural Neosho.
A funeral service and visitation were held Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Simpson Funeral Home.
As it was when the Sentinel was in print, ‘Obituaries are news to us.’ THERE IS NO CHARGE
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.
