As of Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026
Cities without a state are in Missouri
Sept. 7, 1936 – Sept. 23, 2026
Karen Lipe DeMier, of Joplin, passed away on Sept. 23, 2026, after a short illness. She was 90.
Karen was born in Monett on Sept. 7, 1936, to Lloyd and Ruth Lipe. She had one older brother, Bill Lipe. After graduating from Webb City High School in 1954, she studied at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar and at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
She was on the verge of an acting career when she met Dick DeMier, the man who would become her husband of 65 years; they were married in 1961. She had three sons, Rick, Linc and Mark. In 1970, they left the Joplin area with Dick’s work, and they lived in Crossville, Tenn., Dayton, Ohio, Marshfield, Wisc. and Waco, Texas. Upon retirement in 1997, they returned to Joplin.
Karen is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Bill; and her daughter-in-law, Tracy.
She is survived by her husband, Dick; her sons, Rick, of Springfield, Linc (and wife Margaret), of Madison, Wisc., and Mark (and wife Dana), of Reston, Va.; and granddaughters Brettany (and husband Eric), of Springfield, and Aimee, of Tustin, Calif.
Karen will be desperately missed by her family and friends.
The family will receive family and friends from 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Mason-Woodard Mortuary. A memorial service will immediately follow at 2 p.m.
Nov. 1, 1940 – Sept. 28, 2026
Tom Elliston, formerly of Webb City, died on Sept. 28, 2026.
Lloyd Thomas Elliston was born on Nov. 1, 1940, in rural Stockton, the third of six children born to Emerson Ben Elliston and Alice Margaret (Walters) Elliston. Tom was educated in the public schools of Cedar County, with the exception of the second and third grades, which he attended in a rural school near Winfield, Kansas.
While attending the fourth, fifth and sixth grades at Caplinger, Tom lived apart from his immediate family and assisted his grandfather in caring for a farm and Tom’s 90-year-old great-grandfather who was blind. Tom felt that living away from his immediate family those years with two wise old men, walking 1 ½ miles to school, and having the responsibilities that most children his age did not have were vital to the development of the person that he was.
Tom graduated from Stockton High School in 1957 at the age of 16. He was president of his senior class, president of the Stockton FFA, and he won many awards in FFA and agriculture during his high school years.
In September 1957, totally on his own and self-supporting, Tom moved to Columbia and attended the University of Missouri, College of Agriculture. Tom worked two jobs during school and factory or construction jobs during the summer months. After 2 ½ years, Tom dropped out of school to work on the assembly line of Ford Motor Company in Kansas City for the purpose of gaining funds to allow him to finish college.
On July 17, 1960, while working at Ford, Tom married his 18-year-old best friend, Ruth Irene Allee, of Tipton. Thereafter, through better and worse, good times and bad, teardrops or laughter, Tom and Ruth negotiated the adventures of life together. Four children were born as part of the adventure.
Tom and Ruth moved back to Columbia, and Tom entered the Army as an officer in July 1962. He flew helicopters in Alaska, Vietnam, and Germany. Tom received numerous awards and citations for his service in the military. For his service in Vietnam, he was awarded various medals, including the Bronze Star, 13 Air Medals, including the Fourth Air Medal with the “V” Device for valor; the Vietnam Campaign, with three Bronze Battle Stars, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, with Palm.
Upon being released as a captain from the Army in September 1967, Tom and Ruth returned to Columbia for the purpose of Tom attending Law School. With Tom and Ruth both working, and the benefits of the GI Bill, Tom, along with two of his children, was back in school. Tom graduated from Law School in January 1970. In law school, Tom was a member of the Missouri Law Review and received four American Jurisprudence Awards for being number one in the classes of Corporation, Business Planning, Security Regulations, and Administrative Law.
After graduation from law school and completion of the bar examination, Tom and Ruth moved to Webb City for the purpose of Tom entering the private practice of law. In addition, he served eight years as either assistant prosecuting attorney or prosecuting attorney of Jasper County and 12 years as a circuit judge of the 29th Judicial Circuit. Tom served as president of the Jasper County Bar Association, president of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, president of the Juvenile Judges Division of the Missouri Judicial Conference, and on various Missouri Supreme Court committees.
Tom was also elected by his fellow trial judges to be their representative on Missouri’s Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges. Tom was disciplined by that commission while serving on the commission.
Tom always felt that it was an honor to be a member of the legal profession and was willing to devote whatever time and effort he could to promote or maintain the profession. He was a frequent presenter of continuing legal education subjects for the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, the Missouri Bar, the Missouri Judicial College, and the Missouri New Judges training. He was twice selected by the National Judicial College to be a faculty advisor for the general jurisdiction course offered by that organization.
Tom enjoyed hunting, fishing, farming, traveling and his grandchildren. He had many great hunting and fishing trips with family and friends over the years. Tom and Ruth traveled all over the world, especially in their retirement years. They visited 61 countries and/or places on six continents. The grandchildren, or “Twerps” as Tom always called them, were always special. They should all have very curly hair because Papa always told them to eat their food so “it will make your hair curly like mine.” He was bald.
Tom was baptized in the water of Sac River in Cedar County as a teenager. He was always close to his God although he did not publicly display his religion.
Tom’s survivors are his “child bride” for 66 years of the home, Ruth; three children, Mark Alan Elliston, of Carl Junction, Glenda Kay Elliston (Kenny Drake), of Wylie, Texas, Cynthia Lynn Rice (Dr. William Rice), of Carl Junction; one foreign exchange student from Norway, Ragnhild (Lisa) Landsend Monsen; eight grandchildren, Chandelle Frakes (Caleb), Meagan Johnson, Dr. Miranda Westhoff (Cole), Jinger Wright (Jerry), Dallas Elliston (Macalah), Allee Jo Rice, Emily Mae Rice, and Daniel Ellis Rice; seven great-grandchildren, Joshua and Jordan Frakes, Kaiden and Kaylee Johnson, Mae and Grace Westhoff, Penelope Wright, and two bonus great-grandchildren, Mallory Stockwell and Avery Wright; and three sisters, Marty Graham, Margaret Williams, and Laura Elliston.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Emerson and Alice Elliston; daughter, Rebecca Elliston; son-in-law, Tom Huff; one sister, Dorothy Young; one brother, Tony Elliston; three nephews, Vance Elliston, Steve Burns and Kurt Lee Morlan; and one niece, Penny Pate.
Visitation and services were on Oct. 2, 2026, at Bland-Brumback Funeral Home, Stockton, MO, followed by burial in Caplinger Mills Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Missouri, c/o Sally Hicks, R.R. 1, Box 450, Ava, MO 65608-9755 or the American Cancer Assoc., P.O. Box 419582, Kansas City, MO 64141-6582.
Sept. 26, 1939 – Oct. 5, 2026
Seon Keun Kim, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, engineer and entrepreneur, passed away peacefully on Oct. 5, 2026, at the age of 87.
Born on Sept. 26, 1939, in Korea, Seon grew up in Seoul, where he graduated from Soong Moon High School before earning his first engineering degree from Yonsei University in 1966. In 1972, he came to the United States, where he married Kyung Sook Hong on March 29, 1975. He continued his education at Missouri University of Science and Technology, earning his second engineering degree in 1977. That same year, Seon proudly became a United States citizen and began his career with the United States Department of Transportation in Kansas City.
In July 1985, Seon and his family opened Bamboo Dragon in Pittsburg, Kan. What began as a single restaurant grew into a successful family business that spanned four decades, with additional locations opening in Girard, Carl Junction, Webb City, and Joplin. Hard work and perseverance were at the heart of what the family built together.
Although Seon accomplished much in his career, his greatest pride was his family. He cherished the life he and Kyung built together, took great pride in their sons, and especially delighted in his granddaughters. His journey from Korea to the United States reflected courage, sacrifice and determination.
Seon is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Kyung Kim; his sons, Joe Kim and his wife Jennifer, and Paul Kim and his wife Ariel; his granddaughters, Mia and Miley Kim, and Ayra and Aliz Kim; and his siblings, Yu Kim and Jung Lim.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Kim Milligan and Chun Ja Kim.
His family is deeply proud of the life he lived and forever grateful for the years they shared with him.
A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, at First Korean Presbyterian Church, 205 E. South St., Nixa, MO 65714. Family and friends are welcome to join us in celebrating Seon’s life. Arrangements are under the direction of Ozark Memorial Park.
Dec. 20, 1939 – June 18, 2026
Nancy Hargis Melim, 86, formerly of Webb City, passed peacefully on June 18, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz.
Nancy was born on Dec. 20, 1939, to Harold Hargis and Lula (Wilbur) Dennis.
Nancy, with her beloved husband of 50 years, James (Jim) Melim, who passed on June 6, 2021, lived an adventurous life, filled with travel, skiing and family.
Nancy was preceded in death by her husband; parents; sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Racy Campbell; and a son, Doug Wolcott.
Nancy is survived by her sons, Dennis Wolcott, David Wolcott, and Wade (Deena) Waddlow; daughter, Denise (Al) Gobble; and daughter in-law, Michelle Wolcott; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two nieces, Susan Heaps and Beth Smith.
A memorial ceremony at graveside was held on Oct. 7, 2026, in Carthage, where Nancy’s ashes, along with her husband Jim’s ashes, will be laid to rest.
Thoughts and prayers are appreciated.
Dec. 28, 1948 – Sept. 28, 2026
Max Myers Jr., a lifelong Webb City resident and WCHS graduate, passed away after a short bout with cancer on Monday, at 2:14 pm, Sept. 28.
Max graduated from Webb City High school in 1966, where he was active in speech and debated. He attained the rank of Eagle scout and worked as a camp counselor at Frank Childress Scout reservation. After one year at Missouri University, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for three years as a nuclear weapons specialist. He was stationed at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., and Sandia Base, N.M., for training. He served in MOS 35F (Intelligence) in Korea and Germany. He was discharged, honorably in 1971, and entered Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration (accounting), with a minor in English in 1974. Upon graduation he was office manager at Oak Hill Hospital. He then worked for the Department of Treasury as a special agent, where he attended the Federal Law Enforcement training center in Glynco, Ga. He also served as a vice president of finance at Process Research in Kansas City. He then returned to Webb City and with Dennis Erwin started Sugar Creek Designs. He served four terms as a councilman in Webb City and two terms as a trustee for the Village of Airport Drive. He ran for a term as State Representative in the 128th district. When his first child was born, he started Max Myers Construction, which he operated until his passing. Along with his wife, Cindy, they were members of the Webb City First Presbyterian Church, serving as elder-trustees. He was the institutional representative for Troop 25, which is sponsored by the church.
Max is proceeded in death by his parents, Max Hardy Myers Sr. and Peggy Louise (Byer) Myers; the mother of his children, Jane Ann (Martin) Myers; and his grandson Korbyn Martin Myers.
He is survived by his brothers, Nickolas Myers, of Joplin, Douglas Mayfield Myers, of Joplin, and William David Myers, of Kansas City; his wife, Cynthia Lea (Moffett) Myers; a daughter, Macy Jane Myers, of St. Joseph; and sons Andrew Martin Myers and his wife Sarah Myers, and Max Hardy Myers III, both of Webb City; grandchildren, Kyler Hardy Myers, Kenzlee Emmalynn Myers, Emmitt James Myers, Maliyah Jane Myers, Collin Martin Myers, Cambry Joy Myers and Adella Ruslana Fahretdinova; three great grandchildren, Layleauna Lynn Ruslana Fahretdinova, Aalia Lynn Ruslana Verma, and Nyla Lynn Ruslana Verma.
Interment was in Mount Hope Cemetery. A celebration of life service was held Monday, Oct. 5, at the First Presbyterian Church. Services were under the direction of Simpson Funeral Home.
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