Kenny Brown

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Kenneth Lee Brown passed away at home on Saturday, May 20th, 2023.

Kenny was born on December 3rd, 1959, in Independence, KS, the son of the late James Wallace Brown and Oma Lee McIntosh Brown. He graduated from Caney Valley High School in 1977 and

went to Independence Community College to play the game of football that he loved so much. He then transferred to play football at Missouri Southern State College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in May 1982.

Kenny worked at Roadway, American Insulated Wire in Coffeyville, and VT Hackney, Inc. in Independence, KS before retiring in February 2022. His last and favorite “job” was watching his
grandson Davaun, his Bubba. He was a hardworking man who loved life. What he loved most was spending time with family and friends, fishing, football, and grilling all year round. He was always quick with a joke and loved talking about all the fun he had on the football field with his football buddies.

Kenny was preceded in death by his parents James Wallace Brown and Oma Lee McIntosh Brown. 

He is survived by his daughter Amber Nicole Brown, Joplin, MO, Kenneth Lee Brown Jr., Caney, KS and his grandson Davaun Joseph Brown, Caney, Kansas, siblings Tony Brown (Toni), Farmington, Arkansas, Wayne Brown (Pam), Minneapolis, Minnesota, Henry Brown (Felicia), Mesquite, Texas, and MaryAnn Brown, Tulsa, Oklahoma and many loving family members.

Family held memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. June 10th, 2023, at the First Church of God in Christ Family Worship Center in Coffeyville, Kansas with Pastor Melvin Simpson officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in tribute to Kenneth L. Brown at Missouri Southern State University https://www.mssu.edu/advancement/giving/give-now.php or by mail to Missouri Southern Foundation; 3950 East Newman Road Joplin, MO 64801-1595.

Gordon Skerritt

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Gordon R. Skerritt, age 89, of Joplin, MO, passed away on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at his home, following a long, fulfilled life. Gordon was born on December 12, 1933 in Bozeman, MT, the son of the late Edward and Anna (Davis) Skerritt.

He graduated from Gallatin County High School in 1952. He served in the United States Air Force beginning in June of 1952. He started his basic training at Parks Air Force Base in California. He went to Tech School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. 

He went to Korea in November of 1952 and was there for one year. He was then stationed at Nelis Air Force Base in Nevada, Ladd Air Force Base in Alaska, Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, Thune Air Force Base in Greenland, Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington, Great Brittan, Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, and Southeast Asia. He retired from the Air Force as an E6 TSGT, while stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska in June of 1972.

While Gordon was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base he met and married Gloria Highfill-Mercer. Following his retirement they moved to Joplin, MO. Gloria had three sons. He was a long-time member of Mount Hope Church of Christ. He enjoyed working crossword puzzles, reading the Bible and spending time with family.

He is survived by his loving wife, Gloria Skerritt, Joplin; one stepson, Michael Mercer; one sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Pitt; three grandchildren, Brandon Mercer, Valerie Mercer and Melanie Mercer; three great grandchildren, Emma Mercer, Megan Mercer and Mason Mercer; two nieces, Jeannette Risteau and Izabella Risteau; and one nephew, Wyatt Baird. 

He is preceded in death by two stepsons, Gary Mercer and Steven Mercer; and three brothers, Jack Skerritt, George Skerritt, and Donald Skerritt.

Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday at Greenlawn North Cemetery, Springfield, MO. The visitation will be 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Sunday at Mason-Woodard Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given to Fair Haven Children’s Home.

Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.

Austin Martinez

(From Ferry Funeral Home)

Austin Glen Martinez, 32, Nevada, MO passed away on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 in El Dorado Springs, MO. 

Austin was born June 14, 1990 in El Dorado Springs and came to Nevada at a young age. He graduated from Nevada High School in 2009 where he was actively involved in ROTC Drill Team for 4 years. This team became his second family. 

Following high school, he joined the United States Army and served four years stationed in Ft. Sill, OK. Austin worked in the construction business most of his life. Much of that time was along side his best friend Mike Miller. Austin was a member of the El Dorado Springs Eagles Lodge #4279 and was an avid motorcycle rider. He loved his family and friends and enjoyed helping others.

Survivors include his son, Brody, Nevada; parents, Larry and Tammy Martinez of the home in Nevada; sister, Miranda Hendrickson (Ronny) and their children, Taylor, Trevon and Torrence Centerton, AR, sister, Kalani Sua and a brother, Tuiloma Sua, both of the home; grandparents, Dennis and Carmen Hayzlett, Lakin, KS, Robert and Patty Gibbs, El Dorado Springs, and Robert and Dolores Smith, Jane, MO; several aunts, uncles, and cousins also survive. 

Austin was preceded in death by his biological father, Lofty Gibbs and two grandfathers, Robbie Gibbs and Richard Taylor.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Pastor Mark Avery officiating. Interment with Military Funeral Honors will follow in Lefler Cemetery in Harwood, MO. The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 pm at on Friday evening at the funeral home.

Those who wish to make a contribution to help with expenses may do so, c/o Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

Carmen Mailes

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Carmen Mailes was born September 30, 1937, in Neosho, Missouri, the only child of Ira and Pauline Burr. She was the second baby born at the newly opened Sale Hospital, and her father paid the doctor bill working as a laborer finishing the building. She departed this life on May 3, 2023, at the age of 85.

Carmen grew up around her father’s business, Burr Motor Company, and graduated from Neosho High School with the class of 1954. 

She married Harold Mailes of Seneca, Missouri, on September 30, 1954, and traveled with him during the remaining two years of his service in the U.S. Air Force. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force they returned to Neosho and enjoyed 60 years of marriage before his passing in 2014. 

Carmen was active in her children’s lives, serving as PTA president, Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader, and faithfully attended all of their school activities. A committed Christian, she was a charter member of Abundant Life Assembly of God and was a member of First Baptist Church of Neosho.

She was preceded in death by her husband and is survived by her son, Kim Mailes (wife Carol) and her daughter Traci McCreary (husband Joe). She is also survived by her grandson Colton Mailes (wife Audrey) and great-grandchildren Nicholas, Julia, and Dylan. Additional survivors include her beloved brothers and sisters-in-law.

Services will be held at the First Baptist Church, 12325 State Hwy 86, Neosho on Saturday June 17th at 10:00 AM. She will be interred at IOOF Cemetery in Neosho beside her husband at a later time. The family welcomes donations to the Parkinson’s Foundation in lieu of flowers in honor of the battle her husband fought, and she shared for many years.

Sydnee Humphries

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Sydnee D. Humphries was born March 12, 2005 in Joplin, Missouri. She entered into rest on June 1, 2023 in Neosho, Missouri at the age of 18. 

Sydnee was a lifelong area resident and a graduate of Neosho High School, class of 2023. She was currently attending Neosho Beauty College. She enjoyed singing, dancing, roller skating, video games and doing hair and makeup. 

 Sydnee is survived by her parents, Johnny Humphries and wife, Ashley and Samantha Parker and husband, Clark, all of Neosho; two sisters, Kayleigh Humphries and MaKenna Humphries; two stepbrothers, Joshua Parker and C.J. Parker; maternal grandparents, Billy Durbin of Huntington, Oregon and Barbara Vickers of Racine, Missouri; paternal grandparents, John and Diane Humphries of 

Neosho; Grant and Trish Snider of Neosho and paternal great grandmother, Mary Snider of Neosho. 

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at the Clark Funeral Home, Neosho from 4:40 to 6:30 pm. A private family service and interment will be held.

Contributions in memory of Sydnee may be made to the family to assist with expenses.

***

A MESSAGE TO READERS

 Consider supporting the Turner Report/Inside Joplin/Inside Joplin Obituaries with a voluntary subscription or with a contribution at one of the PayPal buttons below or by sending your contribution to Randy Turner, 2306 E. 8th, Apt. A, Joplin, MO 64801.

Payment options

Option 1 : $30.00 USD - yearly Option 2 : $3.00 USD - monthly Option 3 : $1.00 USD - weekly

Linda Wheeler

(From Parker Mortuary)

Linda C. Wheeler, age 76, of Joplin, Missouri, passed away June 2, 2023. 

Linda began her long life at St. John’s Hospital on February 4, 1947, the daughter of Verne G. Wheeler and Margie C. Souder Wheeler. Her parents and her beloved older brother, David G. Wheeler, preceded her in death. 

She grew up in prospering postwar South Joplin and attended Joplin High School where she acquired life-long friends. After graduation, Linda studied at Missouri Southern State College and the University of Missouri- Kansas City.

 

Linda lived most of her life in Joplin, but she also spent significant periods residing in Phoenix, St. Louis, and New Orleans. She traveled widely, and identified Toledo, Spain, as her favorite medieval urban maze for exploration. Later she was a patient and compassionate caregiver for her elderly parents. Linda was interested in art, nature, history, theology, science, poetry, and politics, and was always an informed and engaging conversationalist. 

She married Delaware-born artist James McCaffery and served as the matriarch of the family for her three stepchildren, Simon, Isaias, and Claire, and their children, over the many years following her husband’s passing in 1999. 

Trained by McCaffery, Linda painted and sold hundreds of watercolor paintings during her years in New Orleans from the late 1970s through the early 1990s and continued to paint for many years after retiring. 

While her health permitted, she often attended Peace Lutheran Church and volunteered at Freeman Hospital. She was at the hospital for long hours assisting incoming victims after the 2011 F5 Joplin tornado. Linda enjoyed her cats, reading, watching British mysteries, and visiting with friends and relatives.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri. Family will host a celebration of life at a later date.

Mary Lou Vallier

(From Carson-Wall Funeral Home)

Mary L. Vallier, 96, of Erie, died at 7:37 p.m., Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at her home.

She was born July 9, 1926, at Lamar, MO to Samuel H. and Wilhelmina Christina (Ulrich) Cotterill. She grew up in the rural Lamar area and attended a country school. She graduated from Lamar High School in 1943. She attended a secretarial school in Kansas City and also had attended Emporia State University and Pittsburg State University.

Her work career included employment at the Miami County Extension office, a law office in Emporia, the Locke Abstract Co. in Erie and the Fleming and Forsyth Law Office in Erie, from where she retired in 1992.

Mary Lou was a member of the Erie Federated Church and had served on various committees and the administrative council, had served as Sunday School secretary for 30 years and was active in the church women’s group. She was a member of the N.E.A.L.S. Legal Secretaries Association. For many years she served on the board of the Erie Senior Citizens Center.

Her hobbies included making quilts for all her family and doing fine embroidering. She loved to attend the various activities of her children and grandchildren.

On September 5, 1948 she and Stanley K. “Stan” Vallier were married in Lamar, MO. He preceded her in death on January 11, 2008.

Survivors include four children, Carol Vallier Berg of Minneapolis, MN, Stan Vallier II (Sharen) of Erie, Randy Vallier (Marisol) of Pearland, TX and Russ Vallier (Karen) of Chanute; 18 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren two great-great grandchildren and several loving nieces and nephews. Three brothers, Carl, Wray and infant Roy Cotterill preceded her in death.

The funeral service will be at 2 p.m., Monday, at the Erie Federated Church, with her son, Russ, officiating. Burial will be in East Hill Cemetery at Erie.

The family will receive friends in the church basement from 1 to 2 p.m., Monday.

The Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Erie is in charge of arrangements and friends may visit there from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, The family will not be present during that time.

Memorials are suggested to the Erie Federated Church or Horizons Home Health and Hospice of Chanute. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at P. O. Box 182, Erie, KS 66733. Online messages may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.