Mary Hartman

(From Simpson Funeral Home)

Mary R Hartman, was a stubborn, witty, spirited, and resilient woman who left her mark on the world on May 31, 2023. Born in Diamond, MO on January 15, 1935, to Roscoe and Clara Bliler, Mary enjoyed a life filled with love, laughter, and delicious food.

A talented cook, Ruthie (Mary) was passionate about preparing meals for her loved ones. This hobby allowed her to share her warmth and creativity with all who were lucky enough to join her at the table. 

She spent 23 years working in the telecommunications industry. In her free time, Mary cherished moments spent with her grandchildren, as they brought her immense joy and pride. She enjoyed volunteering at Freeman Hospital, and was proud to do so.

Mary Hartman is survived by her children: Scott (Leigh) Hartman, Kent (Tammie) Hartman, and Lisa (Danny) Robinson; her grandchildren: Laurie (Josh) Madson, Jennifer (Rob) Elfrank, Echo (Jared) Richards, Wayde (Amber) Hartman, Janae Robinson, Hannah Robinson, and Morgan Robinson; her great-grandchildren: Isaiah (Josephine) Madson, Quinn Richards, and Ford Richards; and one great-great-granddaughter Amora. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roscoe and Clara Bliler, and her siblings, George, Warren, Dorothy, Ben, and Joe.

Mary's life was enriched by the kindness and friendship of her neighbors, Linda and Carroll Poole. She raved about their southern-homestyle cooking. They frequently played marbles and enjoyed bantering with Carroll.

Please join us for a graveside service to celebrate Mary's life on Friday, June 9, 2023, at 10:00 am at Diamond Cemetery. A family & friends gathering will follow Friday evening from 6 to 7pm at Simpson Funeral Home in Webb City.

Funeral arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Simpson Funeral Home in Webb City. The family encourages relatives and friends to visit www.simpsonfh.com to share photos and memories of Mary.

Mark Vaughn

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Mark Alan Vaughn, 65 of Joplin, MO passed away at his home after a long illness on May 30, 2023.

Mark was born January 31, 1958 to Robert and Leona Vaughn in Booneville, MO. His mom says he was the prettiest baby and the most obnoxious and stubborn little boy. Those who knew him, know he never outgrew that. He was a graduate of Seneca High School.

Mark married Kathy Hosp in 1977 and to this union was born three daughters. He later married Elizabeth Stamate on July 2, 1999 at their country home.

He loved spending time with his friends, family and beloved dogs. Mark liked being outdoors and camping with his girls and friends. He enjoyed listening to music and having a good time with plenty of laughs. Mark had a great sense of humor and was always joking around. You never knew if he was being serious or trying to mess with you.

Mark was a hard working man, from working with his family at Truckers Inn, restaurant management to factory work, he always gave his all. He ended his time in the workforce retiring from General Mills in 2018.

Mark is preceded in death by his father, Robert Vaughn. Survivors include, wife, Elizabeth Vaughn, Joplin; mother, Leona Lujan, Joplin; brothers, Todd (Tammy) Vaughn, Joplin, Steve Vaughn (Constance), Booneville, Jeff (Frannie) Vaughn, Laurel, MD; daughters, Christa (David) Smith, Jessie Eley (Jess Bull) and Lindsey (Cody) Grigsby all of Joplin; step daughters, Amanda Lambeth, Webb City and Amber (Fernando) Carbajal, Joplin; step son, Sam Stamate, Galena, KS; grandchildren, Morgan, Emersyn and Kennedy Smith, Alyssa Eley, Mason Grigsby, Peyton Stamate, Zakary Lambeth, Sadie Flood, Malarie Flood, Aden Flood, Emilee Schrader; great grandson Zaydon Lambeth, as well as numerous relatives and friends.

He will be greatly missed by all. He may be gone, but he will live forever in our hearts. He has given us a lifetime of memories filled with laughter, joy and happiness. Goodbyes are not forever, and this is not the end, it simply means we’ll miss you until we meet again.

Graveside services have been scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 3, 2023 at Forest Park Cemetery in Joplin. The family will receive friends during a time of visitation on Friday evening from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.

Patricia Bedell

(From Knell Mortuary)

Patricia Ann Bedell, 79, Goodman, Missouri, passed away Wednesday afternoon, May 31, 2023, at Mercy Hospital, Joplin, Missouri. Patricia was born October 29, 1943, in Carthage, Missouri, the daughter of the late Homer Carl “H.C.” Goodnight and Thelma Laverna (Crow) Goodnight. 

Patricia married Gayle Bedell on July 30, 1960, in Carthage, Missouri. She was a bookkeeper for her husband’s business, Gayle’s Transmission, and also worked in management at H&R Block. Patricia enjoyed sewing, mainly creating her beautiful quilts, and canning vegetables from the garden, but most of all, loved her family.

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Gayle Bedell; three sons, Don Bedell (Elisa), Joplin, Missouri, Dale Bedell (Becky), Greenwood, Arkansas, and Matthew Bedell (Lacie), Goodman, Missouri; two sisters, Kathy Fry of Oklahoma, and Vicki McLean (Frank), Joplin, Missouri; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many extended family and friends.

She was also preceded in death by an infant daughter, Linda Bedell; and a sister, Beverly Martin.

Graveside funeral services will be held at 11 am, Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Oak Hill Cemetery, Carthage, Missouri. The family will receive friends from 10 am until service time at Knell Mortuary, Carthage, Missouri. 

Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Knell Mortuary.

Ila Dean Hicks

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Ila Dean (Thogmartin) Hicks was born November 16, 1934 in Neosho, Missouri, one of eleven children to Thomas Henry and Effie (Hargrave) Thogmartin. She entered into rest on May 30, 2023 in Joplin, Missouri at the age of 88. 

Ila Dean was a lifelong area resident and graduated from Neosho High School, class of 1952. She was a homemaker and enjoyed cooking and baking; taking care of other people and was very family oriented. She was a member of the Baptist Church and was a former Sunday School teacher. 

On March 3, 1958 in Miami, Oklahoma, Ila Dean married Elbert Hicks and he preceded her in death on November 16, 1997. 

Ila Dean is survived by two sons, Larry Hicks and wife, Sherri and Brad Hicks and wife, Denise; three grandchildren, who lovingly called her Grandma Neosho & Doss; Kristen Taylor and husband, Ben, Eli Hicks and wife, Lindsey and Logan Hicks; one great grandson, Weston Hicks; two brothers, Melvin Lee and Tommy Lee; two sisters, MaryDean Williams and Carol Dean Branham and numerous other family members. 

In addition to her husband and parents, she is preceded in death by five sisters, Norma Dean Owens, Gearldean Walker, Elva Dean Hopkins, Erma Dean Hill and Naydean Kuhns and one brother, Billy Lee Thogmartin. 

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 1 pm at the Clark Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, Ralph Shead will officiate. Interment will follow in the New Salem Cemetery, where Ila Dean will be laid to rest next to her husband, Elbert. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 12 pm until service time. 

Contributions in memory of Ila Dean may be made to New Salem Cemetery, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66; Neosho, MO 64850.

Gary Wheeler

(From Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home)

Gary Linn Wheeler, age 86, of Independence, Missouri, formerly of Aurora, Missouri, passed away at 10:10 p.m. on Monday, May 29, 2023, at his home. He was born April 12, 1937, in Marionville, Missouri, the son of Thomas B. and Virginia Ruth (Dye) Wheeler.

Gary was a 1955 graduate of Aurora High School and was a United States Navy Veteran. He was a member of Teamsters Local 41 and worked as a fork truck driver for Consolidated Freightways in Kansas City, Missouri. He was baptized at the Orange Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Aurora and was a member of the Lee Summit Baptist Church.

On May 28, 1960, he married Norma Pruente, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Gary is survived by his wife of 63 years, Norma; one son, David Wheeler and his wife, Monica, of Independence, Missouri; five grandchildren, Nichole Hicks and her husband, Dustin, of Lee Summit, Missouri, Tyler Wheeler and his wife, Jackie, of Independence, Missouri, Marissa Wheeler of Lee Summit, Missouri, Zachary Shuler and his wife, Carah, of Neosho, Missouri and Mason Rickman, of Anderson, Missouri; seven great-grandchildren, Brady, Charlie, Bryson, Wilder, Emersyn, Kaden and Seylor; one sister, Shirley Gray of Raymore, Missouri and one brother, Roy Wheeler and his wife, Marcella, of Lee Summit, Missouri.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas, and Virginia; two sons, Terry Linn Wheeler, and Mark Alan Wheeler; one brother, Derrel Wheeler and he was a triplet to his two sisters, Mary Sue Wheeler and Mina Lou Prosser .

A graveside service under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the Marionville IOOF Cemetery.

Betty Edmondson

(From Parker Mortuary)

Betty Louise ‘Aunt Betty’ Edmondson, age 97 of Joplin, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at the Joplin Gardens. Born in Galena, Kansas on January 16, 1926, she was the daughter of Toby and Effie Tannous-Davis. Betty graduated from Galena High School and was a proud Homemaker for her husband, Bob and son, Greg.

Betty was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Joplin and the Southwestern Bell Pioneers. She enjoyed her time as a “Lady Elk” with the Joplin Elks Lodge #501, flowers, gardening, dancing and going to car shows with her husband.

Other than her parents, Betty is preceded in death by her husband, Robert ‘Bob’ Edmondson on October 31, 2002; their only son, Gregory who recently passed on November 16, 2022; three siblings, Robert Davis, Dr. Charles Davis and Marjorie Bock.

Betty is survived by her nephew, Steven Bock and wife, Barbara of Joplin.

Graveside services are planned for Monday, June 5th at 10:30 a.m. at Hillcrest Cemetery in Galena, Kansas. A Rosery service will be held on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. with visitation to follow at Parker Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Golden Paw Pet Resort or St. Vincent dePaul in care of Parker Mortuary.

Family would like to express their grateful appreciation to the staff of Joplin Gardens and Gentiva Hospice for their wonderful care given to Aunt Betty.

Funeral services are under the care of Parker Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri.

Gaylene Einspahr

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

Gaylene Deanne Einspahr, 66, of Noel, Missouri, passed away on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at Integris Hospital in Grove, Oklahoma, surrounded by her loving family.

Gaylene entered this life on August 20, 1956, in Jerome, Idaho, daughter of the late Marvin and Darlene (Lewis) Einspahr. She was raised and attended school in Jerome. She loved horses and was a homemaker throughout her life.







She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Thomas “Bo” Crittenden on November 25, 2013; and one sister and two brothers.

Gaylene is survived by her three sons, Lou Crittenden of Noel, Nathan Crittenden of Noel and Joshua Crittenden of Goodman; seven grandchildren; five great grandchildren; two brothers, Wayne Einspahr of the state of Washington and Roy Einspahr of the state of Arizona; three sisters, Janette Einspahr of the state of Washington, Janet Burke of the state of Arizona and Belinda Hamilton of the state of Alabama; as well as host of other family and numerous friends.

Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Missouri.