Harlan Roethemeier

(From Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home)

Harlan Fred Chris Roethemeier, age 90, of Stotts City, Missouri, passed away at 4:49 p.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri.

Harlan was born on October 14, 1936, in Stotts City, Missouri, the son of the late William and Lydia Marie (Kleeman) Roethemeier.

On November 14, 1959, Harlan married Katie Arlene Bowman in Mt. Vernon, Missouri. Together, Harlan and Arlene shared nearly 67 years of marriage and built a life centered around family and the home they shared.

A lifelong resident of the area, Harlan graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1954. Farming was more than an occupation for Harlan; it was a way of life. He spent many years working the land and raising cattle, devoting countless hours to the farm and the responsibilities that came with it. He was an exceptionally hard-working man who believed in getting the job done and doing it right. In addition to farming, Harlan worked as a milk hauler and served in the Army National Guard.

Those who knew Harlan knew he was truly one of a kind. He was the kind of man who would do anything for anybody and was always willing to lend a hand when someone needed it. His willingness to help others, his strong work ethic, and his dedication to his family were simply part of who he was. Harlan lived a full life rooted in family, farming, hard work, and the community he called home, and he will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him.

Harlan is survived by his wife, Arlene; two daughters, Dianna Ross and her husband, Dallas, and Dawn Cassity and her husband, Aaron, all of Aurora, Missouri; two sons, Doug Roethemeier and his wife, Tressie, of Pierce City, Missouri, and Dennis Roethemeier and his wife, Tanya, of Stotts City, Missouri.

He is also survived by six grandchildren, Brooke Burch and Lacy Ross, both of Mt. Vernon, Missouri, Jordan (Jeremy) Rice of Nixa, Missouri, Ty (Adelaide) Roethemeier of Pierce City, Missouri, Chase Cassity of Republic, Missouri, and Cameryn (Kendall) Rutledge of Stotts City, Missouri; four great-grandchildren, Madisyn Ross, Braxton Burch, Gaven Rice, and Grayson Rice and one great-granddaughter on the way.

A funeral service under the direction of Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at Zion United Church of Christ, southwest of Mt. Vernon. A private family burial will follow at Zion Memorial Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026, in the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made payable to Zion Memorial Cemetery in care of the funeral home.

Online condolences may be shared through the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home website.

Ida Whisenhunt

(From Fohn Funeral Home)

Ida May Whisenhunt, age 69, of Cassville, Missouri passed away Friday, October 23, 2026 in Cassville.

She was born on September 6, 1957 in Washburn, Missouri, to Roy and Pauline (Starnes) Crawford. On April 16, 1982 in Miami, Oklahoma she was united in marriage to Jerry Dean Whisenhunt, who preceded her in death on December 9, 2022. Also preceding her in death were her parents; two grandsons, Trace Andrew Drake and Mason Lowe; one brother, Jim Crawford and a special aunt, Louella Burrington. 

  

Ida is survived by one son, Jerry Whisenhunt and his wife Melissa of Cassville, Missouri; two daughters, Jody Gallardo and her husband Carlos of Butterfield, Missouri and Jennifer Whisenhunt of Cassville, Missouri; three brothers, Berlie Crawford and his wife Queeta, Donald Crawford and his wife Kathy and Raymond Crawford and his wife Cyndi; four grandchildren, Valerie Little and her husband Austin, Zane Gallardo, Alyssa Whisenhunt and Kayla Lowe and three great grandchildren, Bennett Little, Blazi Lowe and Paislee Lewis.

Ida grew up in Exeter, Missouri and graduated from Exeter High School. Following graduation, she pursued a career in the medical field, earning her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certificate from Franklin Technical College in Joplin, Missouri. She dedicated many years to caring for others as an LPN in Cassville before retiring from Red Rose Health and Rehab.

In her free time, Ida enjoyed reading, sewing, fishing, gardening, and camping. She appreciated the simple pleasures of life and, above all, treasured the time she spent with her family. The memories she created with those she loved will remain a lasting part of the lives she touched, and she will be dearly missed by her family and all who knew her.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Pastor Rick Cooper will conduct the services. Burial will be at Russell Cemetery in Butterfield, Missouri.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 P.M. until service time on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in memory of Ida.           

Dick Christie

(From Caruth-Hale Funeral Home)

Richard Dewitt Christie, 82, of Hot Springs Village, AR passed into eternal joy on October, 19, 2026 with greetings of "Well done, good and faithful servant." He was born on March 1, 1944 in Carthage, MO to Walter and Margaret Christie.

Dick and his wife, Connie, celebrated 41 years of Christian marriage. Connie was the love of Dick's life, his soul mate, and his best friend. They moved to Hot Springs Village in 2006, and in 2007 became very dedicated members of the Christ of Hills United Methodist Church. Dick loved the Lord, had a passion for reading the Bible, and discussing scripture. He sang in the choir. He was on the teaching team for Faith and Fellowship Sunday School Class. He helped with church computer work and was the church photographer. Dick also enjoyed being a member of the Village Photography Clubs.

In 1961 at the age of 17, Dick joined the Navy Reserve. He later became an electronics technician and a team leader aboard the USS Swenson, home based out of Japan. In May of 1964 the Swenson was sent to Vietnam. That was when he was exposed to Agent Orange. In 1965, Dick was discharged and returned to Oklahoma City where he remained in the Naval Reserves until Feb., 28, 1967.

He spent 40 years in computer maintenance. He loved music. While in OK, he played the tuba for Church of the Servant Orchestra and Polka Band of Yukon.

Dick was preceded in death by both parents. He is survived by his loving wife, Connie Christie; his sister, Susan Christie (Matt); his son, Phillip Christie; his daughter, Jenny Swaim (Travis); his stepchildren, David Bonner (Steffanie), Patrick Bonner (Brenda) and Terry Bonner (Patti); 7 grandchildren & 4 great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Christ of the Hills UMC on Thursday, Oct. 29th at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Christ of the Hills Choir.

Chris Routledge

(From Parker Mortuary)

Chris Routledge passed away at his home on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, after a long illness. His wife, mother, and sisters were by his side. The son of Dan and Beth Routledge, Chris was born March 6, 1981, in Ivory Coast, West Africa. He attended Joplin High School.

Chris loved music, nature, and travel. These themes guided his career and numerous adventures. He spent much of his working life in sales across various industries, including managing a series of music stores in Joplin; Rogers, AR; Topeka, KS; and San Jose, CA. He worked in several national parks including Yellowstone, Big Sky, and Olympic. He also had an entrepreneurial streak and, along with a business partner, he ran Trailer Swift, a photo booth company in Columbia, MO. Chris really enjoyed attending concerts with his friends and family. A world traveler, he met his wife Noi on a trip to Thailand. 

Chris's father, Dan Routledge, preceded him in death. Chris is survived by his wife, Noi Routledge and two children, King and Ariya. Other survivors include his mother, Beth Routledge of Joplin, MO, and his four siblings, Kelli Price and her husband Joseph of Anderson, MO; Kassi Raboin and her husband Adam of Olathe, KS; Clay Routledge and his wife Jenny of Fayetteville, AR; and Kerri Miller and her husband Jason of Bella Vista, AR. His nieces and nephews loved him as their "Crunkle."

The family would like to recognize his close circle of friends who showed up for him in so many ways throughout his life and especially during his year-long fight for more time. Chris was always the life of the party. If you were lucky enough to hang out with him, you were guaranteed to laugh, likely to sing, and there was a good chance you would dance until dawn. 

He lived big, loved deep, played hard, and may have singlehandedly kept the Range Line Rd 7 Brew Coffee in business. There were highs and lows, but he packed an enormous amount of life in his short 45 years and will be deeply missed by so many.

There will be a visitation for family and friends at Parker Mortuary in Joplin, MO on Monday, October 26, 2026 from 5 to 7pm.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri.

Jim McDonald

(From Ulmer Funeral Home)

James “Jim” Edward McDonald, 84, of Vinita, Oklahoma, passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at home surrounded by his loving family. Jim was born on August 23,1942, to the late Harley and Iva (Carter) McDonald, in Carthage, Missouri. 

Jim graduated from Sarcoxie High School. He was a truck driver for Permian Synergy Propane Gas and retired from there after 20 plus years. Jim enjoyed spending his free time working on the farm with the cattle and tending to the vegetable garden. He had a 50-adult dog kennel of several breeds and sold them all over the United States. For a time, Jim also sold German Shepherds to the Canadian Mounties. At one time, he sold rabbits for medical research. Jim also sold boar goats for meat locally. While he resided in Sarcoxie, he was an elder at Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon. After moving to Vinita, Oklahoma, he became a member of the First Baptist Church in Langley, Oklahoma. 

He was united in marriage to Linda Dodson Robson on April 1, 1995, in Carthage; she survives.

Besides Jim’s wife, Linda McDonald, he is survived by four sons, Jimmy McDonald of Sarcoxie, Jeffrey McDonald of Diamond, Clint Robson of Mounds, Oklahoma, and Jarrod Robson (Allyson) of Austin, Texas; one daughter, Maura (Tammy) Bridges (Larry) of Vinita, Oklahoma; two brothers, Jerry McDonald (Karen) of Carthage, and Larry McDonald (Kathy) of Quapaw, Oklahoma; brother-in-law, Roy Greathouse of Sarcoxie, Missouri; 18 grandchildren, Jeremy, Billy Ray, Taylor, Helyana, Trenton, Hayden, Weston, William, Taylor, Maddison, Charleigh, Ariana, Avery, Eliott, Delaney, Landry, Nick, and Chase; and 11 great grandchildren
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Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Harley and Iva; sister, Nancy Greathouse; and grandson, Samuel Gage Watkins. 

There will be a funeral service for Jim at 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Ulmer Funeral Home in Carthage, Missouri. The visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 PM prior to the service on Saturday at Ulmer Funeral Home. The burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Carthage following the service.

Contributions can be made to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association in care of Ulmer Funeral Home.

Online condolences can be made at www.ulmerfh.com.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Ulmer Funeral Home.

Karen Rawlings

(From Fohn Funeral Home)

Karen JoAnn Rawlings, age 68, of Verona, Missouri passed away Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at her home.

She was born February 11, 1958, in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Kenny and Christine (Swartz) Wade. On July 2, 1994 in Mineral Springs, Missouri she was united in marriage to Ronald Rawlings, who survives. Also surviving are her sons, Michael Allen of St. Louis, Missouri and Tim Crownover of Holiday Island, Arkansas; daughter, Melisha Reyes and husband Jose of Raymondville, Texas; brother, David Reller of Carlisle, Illinois; sister, Kathy Reller of Carlisle, Illinois; nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her mother, Christine Swartz and stepfather, Bill Swartz.

Karen attended school in St. Louis, Missouri. She and her husband, Ronald, made their home in Verona for ten years after moving from Pierce City. Karen was a homemaker. She enjoyed visiting Eureka Springs, Arkansas, browsing garage sales, and attending fall festivals. Her greatest joy was her family, especially the time she spent with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Jon Henson

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Jon Allyn Henson, age 62, of Diamond, Missouri, passed away peacefully at home on October 20th, surrounded by his loving family.

Jon was born on July 7, 1964, in Lynwood, California, to Tim and Naomi (Fox) Henson. Shortly after his birth, the family returned to Kansas, where his parents were originally from, before settling in Joplin, Missouri, a few years later.

He attended Parkwood High School, where he participated in basketball, football, and track and field, specializing in throwing discus. He eventually left sports to begin working at Dillons Grocery Store in Joplin, where he became known for his ability to pick out the very best produce, especially watermelon. 

Following graduation, Jon attended Missouri Southern State University for a short time before beginning his career. He got his start in the drilling industry with Lormar Drilling, working alongside his longtime friend, John Hill. He later transitioned to Pepsi, where he spent nearly a decade building lasting friendships and a strong work ethic that would serve him throughout his life. During this time, Jon and his former wife, Kandie Eads, welcomed three children: Kelsey, Jake, and Katie.

Jon eventually returned to the drilling industry and also spent a brief time as a power plant operator at Empire District Electric. Drawn back to the work he loved most, he returned to drilling.

On December 12, 2000, Jon married his soulmate and partner in both life and work, Tammy (Parish) Henson. Together, they built Henson Foundation Drilling and Henson Heavy Haul into successful businesses within the construction industry. More importantly, they built a life centered on faith, family, and hard work and were blessed with six children and eight grandchildren.

A devoted husband, loving father, and the proudest Papa, Jon treasured the family God blessed him with. He was known affectionately by many as "Big Jon," "Jon Allyn," and "Daddy Henson" to his many bonus children, including Zach and Landon Alford, Roger Chairez, and Samuel Spencer, along with countless others. Nothing was more important to Jon than his family and "his people," as he often called them and if you were one of his people you knew.

Jon loved spending time on his land with his cows, working on his classic cars, attending auctions, gathering for family dinners, and traveling. He was a devoted St. Louis Cardinals fan and could often be found cheering them on at Busch Stadium, from his living room, or traveling to another MLB ballpark. He also enjoyed annual trips to Talladega with "the boys" and many memorable vacations to Las Vegas with his family. During the summer, if he wasn't enjoying time at the lake, you could usually find him on a John Deere tractor in one of the hayfields.

Jon loved every holiday, but none more than the Fourth of July. He was famous for putting on spectacular fireworks displays that became a tradition family and friends looked forward to every year. He had a special talent for making the holiday unforgettable for everyone who attended. To no one's surprise, he was always on the hunt for the loudest firecracker he could find, taking great pride in getting a few laughs, startled jumps, and unforgettable memories from those nearby.

You never had to guess Jon's favorite color. His red truck and the big red shop that housed the businesses he and Tammy built from the ground up made that perfectly clear.

If you knew Jon, you knew he loved sweets and Friday night dinners at El Charro's. And if you caught him relaxing with a cold one, it was almost certainly a Coors Original. These familiar things will forever bring a smile to the faces of those who knew and loved him.

Jon is survived by his beloved wife, Tammy Henson; their six children, Timothy Enayati and wife Becca, Kelsey Parrish and husband Kyle, Samantha Enayati, Jake Henson and wife Shelby, Katie Schafer and husband Drake, and Sarah Parrish and husband Chase; and their eight grandchildren, Avery Enayati, Emmett Enayati, Jaxton Henson, Brekkyn Parrish, JD Henson, Collin Parrish, Olivia Enayati, and Kennedy Schafer.

He is also survived by his mother, Naomi Smead (née Fox Henson); his siblings, Bryan Henson, Shawn (Sherry) Smead, Jennifer (Jeff) Bethurem, Ashley Henson, and Shelby (Chris) Jinks; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and cherished family friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Tim Henson; his sister, Amy Henson; and his maternal and paternal grandparents, Jay and Hazel Fox and John and Zelda Henson.

Jon will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all those who came to know him as family. His memory will live on through the stories they share, the traditions they carry forward, and the love he gave so freely throughout his life.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 23, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Mason-Woodard Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 24, at 10:00 a.m. at Mason-Woodard Mortuary. Private burial will follow at McConnell Cemetery, located on the family farm.