Faustine Penn

(From Fohn Funeral Home)

Faustine Marie (Craig) Penn, age 87, of Cassville, Missouri passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Oak Pointe of Monett in Monett, Missouri.

She was born March 26, 1938 in Cassville, Missouri, the daughter of Roy and Genevieve (Allison) Craig. On May 26, 1972 in Miami, Oklahoma she was united in marriage to Oscar Penn, who preceded her in death on April 13, 2014. Also preceding her in death were her parents and brothers, Ray Craig, Gerald Craig, Leon Craig, and Carroll Craig.






Surviving are her daughter, Vicky Dudley and husband Cecil of Summerdale, Alabama; brother, Glen Craig of Cassville, Missouri; granddaughters, Andrea Blankenship and husband Clay of Jenkins, Missouri and Kimberly Cooke and husband Ken of Fairfax, Virginia and great grandchildren, Alex, Colton, Hanna, Sophie, and Ian.

Faustine spent her entire life in Cassville. She grew up and attended school there, graduating from Cassville High School before continuing her education at Draughn Business College in Springfield, Missouri. Faustine dedicated many years of service to the Ellis and Ellis Law Firm in Cassville, where she was a valued employee until her retirement. She enjoyed a variety of crafts, with crocheting being a favorite. Her talent was widely recognized when she earned both Grand Champion and first-place honors for a crocheted tablecloth at the Springfield fair in 1994. Faustine was also a member of First Baptist Church of Cassville.

Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, March 30, 2026 at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Pastor James Weaver will conduct the services. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cassville, Missouri.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 A.M. until service time Monday at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Contributions may be made to Hospice Compassus in memory of Faustine.

Laquita Gakle

(From Greenfield Funeral Chapel)

Known for her kindness and generosity of heart, as well as for her spirited sense of humor, Laquita Gakle lived a full life caring for others. She loved children, Christmas, Cornhuskers, and NASCAR almost as much as she loved her own family. Laquita Gakle passed away in her sleep on March 25, 2026 at the age of 91.

Laquita was born in Greenfield, MO on August 30, 1934, to Guy and Oletha Killingsworth. After graduating from high school, she attended the Burge Deaconess Training School for Nurses in Springfield, MO and passed the State Board in November of 1955 at the age of 21. 

After marrying enlisted Army man Paul Gakle, she immediately took a job as Staff Nurse at Valley Forge Army Hospital in Phoenixville, PA. Thus began her lifelong duty of caring for others, which she never stopped doing, regardless of where she was. She served as Staff Nurse in Norfolk and Grand Island, NE from 1957-1972, followed by Office Nurse until 1976. Many of her dearest memories are from her time as Office Nurse in OB/GYN in Omaha until 1989: Laquita absolutely loved babies! She returned to Greenfield, MO in late 1989, where she worked for several years as a Supervisor at the Dade County Nursing Home. In 1998 she became the beloved Library Aide at Greenfield Elementary, truly enjoying surrounding herself with books and children.

Laquita’s own children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren featured prominently in her life. She had four children: Mark, Mary, Leah, and Joe. Her all-time favorite role was being lovingly known as “Magga” by her 11 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. She treasured her time with them, providing treats like astronaut cake, striped delight, and “green stuff”.

It was during her time living in Nebraska that Laquita found a passion for Cornhuskers Football. Cornhusker games and NASCAR races (especially those featuring Kyle Larson) remained her two favorite events to watch on TV. Her home was always filled with multiple Christmas trees all year long, invoking the Christmas spirit whenever you visited.

Laquita was preceded in death by her parents Guy and Oletha Killingsworth, brother Guy Killingsworth Jr., baby sisters Glenda Rae and Sherry Ann, ex-husband Paul, and daughter Mary. She is survived by her sister, Ardella Lack.

Laquita will be remembered as a warm and caring soul who brought joy to others. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved her.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Collins Cemetery on State Hwy 97, Lockwood, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Collins Cemetery and would be greatly appreciated. Services are under the care of Greenfield Funeral Chapel.

Dennis Gillming

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

Dennis Gene Gillming, Sr. a cherished and admired soul, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2026, in Bentonville, AR. Born on August 15, 1951, in Kearney, Nebraska, Dennis's life was a testament to the virtues of love, adventure, and kindness. His departure has left an irreplaceable void in the hearts of those who knew him.

Dennis was a man who devoted his life to his work and the people he loved. For over 35 years, he was a dedicated mechanic at the Glad Manufacturing Company in Rogers, AR. His commitment to his profession was matched only by the care he showed to his colleagues, many of whom became lifelong friends.

A true embodiment of a loving father, Dennis is survived by his children, Dennis Gillming, Jr. of Seattle, WA, and Megan Carry of Bentonville, AR. His legacy of love and strength lives on through them and his beloved grandchild, Makenna Carry. Dennis's memory is also treasured by his siblings, Louise Garretson (Dennis) of Platte Center, NE, Dorothy Johnson of Tucker, GA, Gerald Gillming (Lorraine) of Galena, KS, and Gary Gillming (Ginny) of Seneca, MO. Each family member reflects a facet of Dennis's spirit and character.

Before his passing, Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Howard Earl and Lucy May (Davis) Gillming; his brothers, Everett and Marvin, Sr. Gillming; his nephew, Marvin Gillming, Jr.; and his niece, Tammy White; niece and her children, Lamanda Stephens, Tylan, and Raven, as well as his nephew, Aaron Gillming, will forever hold their uncle's memory in high regard.

Dennis's interests were as broad as his heart was large. He was an avid fisherman who found solace and joy in the tranquil waters of the Elk River. His cabin, "Wada View," on the riverbanks, was a haven for him, his family, and his friends, a place where many cherished memories were created. Apart from his love for nature, Dennis was also a skilled artisan in flint work and knapping, an ancient craft that he pursued with passion and precision.

Dennis's life was a journey filled with laughter, discovery, and the warmth of human connection. As we bid farewell to this remarkable man, we take comfort in knowing that his influence will continue to be felt through the countless lives he touched. Though he may no longer be with us in body, his spirit remains an indelible part of our world.

Dennis Gene Gillming's story does not end here, for he has left an indelible mark on the tapestry of life. His family and friends, a host of individuals whose lives were enriched by his presence, will continue to celebrate and honor a life well-lived. Dennis's memory will forever be a guiding star for those who were fortunate enough to know him.

Memorial visitation will held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Monday, March 30, 2026 at the Anderson Chapel of the Ozark Funeral Home; the family will receive friends at this time.

Beth Griesemer

(From Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home)

Beth Anne (Miller) Johnson Griesemer, Loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Friend, passed away on March 24, 2026, at 74 years old in Kansas City, KS surrounded by her family.

Beth was born in Noblesville, Indiana, daughter to Mary and Van Miller. She graduated from Sheridan High School in 1969 before earning a bachelor's degree in education from Ball State University in 1973.

Following college, she married Scott Kemp Johnson, and in their 30 years of marriage, they shared two daughters, Amy and Alison.

Beth had a skill and passion for interior decorating, she loved to garden on sunny days, but mostly she cherished time with her family. She especially loved the vacations to the beach with her family and friends. Beth was a devoted member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Joplin, Missouri. She had the strongest heart, an incredible sense of humor, and an uncanny way to speak the truth. Above all, she loved being a Mema to "Her Isabella".

She is survived in life by her husband, Damian Griesemer, whom she married in 2004. Her two daughters Amy Johnson(Christopher), Alison Melton(Chad), her granddaughter Isabella, along with Damian’s children; Anica Milberger (Mike), Darrin Griesemer, Todd Griesemer(Diana), and Ryan Griesemer(Kacy) and 10 grandchildren.

Beth was preceded in death by her first husband, Scott, her sisters, Susan and Marilyn, her brother, Rick, and her parents, Van and Mary.

Private services will be held for the immediate family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to an organization close to your heart, made in Beth's name.

Jeff Laur

(From Simpson Funeral Home)

Jeffery Steven Laur, age 78, of Harrison, Arkansas, passed away in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Monday, March 23, 2026, after a courageous battle with glioblastoma.

Jeff was born on April 22, 1947, to Clifford and Etta Laur.

He graduated from Lawton High School in 1965, where he proudly served as captain of the football team. He went on to attend Oklahoma State University, graduating as Salutatorian with a degree in architecture.

Jeff devoted his life to his passion for architecture, leaving a lasting impact across Arkansas and beyond. He began his career in Bella Vista, Arkansas, before moving to Gunnison, Colorado, where on e of his proudest accomplishments was designing the Crested Butte Ski Resort. He later returned to Bella Vista, where he designed a hospital, before ultimately settling in Harrison, Arkansas. There, he founded and operated Jeff Laur Architect PLLC until his retirement.

Throughout his distinguished career, Jeff designed numerous medical facilities in Mountain Home, restaurants throughout the region, the community center in Berryville, several churches, including the Catholic Church in Harrison, shopping centers, the Jasper, Arkansas school, and more than 900 homes. Upon completing a project, he was known to say with pride, "Got 'er done!".

Jeff had a love for running and was still running three miles a day with his wife, Pati. They shared more than 20 wonderful years together and would have celebrated their 20th anniversary on April 15. Jeff cherished his wife, his son, his family, and the time they spent together. He was happiest when working on a project. He had a special gift for story telling and it brought him great joy sharing stories with those he loved.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Pati; his son, Lucas Laur of Fayetteville, Arkansas; his stepdaughter Julie (Barry) McGill of Granby, Missouri; his sisters, Lenora Crawford of Harrison, Arkansas, Andrea Penrod of Bentonville Arkansas, and Jennifer Russell of St. Joseph, Missouri; as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Jeff will be remembered for his strong work ethic, his remarkable talent, and the lasting mark he left on the communities he helped build. More than that, he will be remembered for the stories he told, the love he had for his family, and the life he lived with determination and pride. He leaves behind not only buildings and accomplishments, but a legacy of hard work and perseverance that will not be forgotten. He will be deeply missed beyond words, and his absence will be felt every day by those who knew and loved him.

A graveside service will be held in honor of Jeffery on Saturday, 28 Mar 2026 at 2:00 pm at Carl Junction Cemetery, 403 North Co Road 275, Carl Junction, Missouri, 64834. We invite all who knew him to join us in celebrating his life and the indelible mark he left on us all.

We encourage everyone who knew Jeffery to share their memories and upload photos to the memorial page. Each story, each picture, serves as a testament to Jeffery's life and the love he shared with us all. Let us remember him not just as an architect, but as a loving husband, stepfather, and friend.

Lloyd Livingston

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Lloyd James Livingston departed this life on March 23, 2026 at Joplin Gardens in Joplin, Missouri, following a brief illness.

Mr. Livingston was born on March 4, 1936, in Riverton, Kansas, the son of Morton Lester Livingston Sr. and Edna Mae Briggs, both of whom preceded him in death.

He attended Riverton Schools, graduating in 1954. Subsequently, Mr. Livingston enlisted in the United States Army, completed basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, and was stationed in Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1956, having attained the rank of Corporal.

After his military service, Mr. Livingston pursued various occupations before joining Doane Products Company in Galena, Kansas. He served in several capacities there, retiring after 26 years of dedicated employment.

When Lloyd was younger, he enjoyed participating in various sports including baseball and bowling. He was a good bowler and won several trophies at area tournaments. He spent many weekends hunting in the winter and in the summer, he could be found fishing and camping while listening to the Royals or Cardinals on the radio. 

As he got older, he took pride in keeping his yard in good shape. He would spend many hours in his garden growing various vegetables and even selling tomatoes and cucumbers at the Old Riverton Store.

 

In 1962, Mr. Livingston was united in marriage with Marilyn Mason of Columbus, Kansas. Their union was blessed with two sons: Brent Livingston of Riverton, Kansas, and Mike Livingston of Phoenix, Arizona. He later married Virginia Outland, who preceded him in death.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Hillcrest Cemetery in Galena, Kansas.

Arrangements are under the care of Mason-Woodard and Crematory.

Brenda Baker

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Brenda S. Baker, 72, of Joplin, Missouri passed away peacefully in her sleep around 4:00 A.M. on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at the family home. Brenda was born on February 22, 1954 to Robert Frederick Hill and Johanna Fern Hill (Moore).

During her childhood, they lived in Chanute, Kansas, then in Independence, Missouri, then back to Chanute, Kansas. It was while she was attending Chanute High School that she met her first husband, Charles Baker. They later married on June 6, 1970 in Chanute, Kansas. This union produced two children, Pamela Sue Baker and Jeffery Charles Baker. Brenda and Charles later divorced in 1984.

In her early married life Brenda worked at several manufacturing plants in Chanute including Burlington Overall Factory, Custom Campers, ILC and H.K. Porter. It was after this time that she met Dennis L. Baker and after somewhat of a whirlwind romance they traveled to Las Vegas with some members of Brenda’s family and were married there in Las Vegas on July 2, 1984. On an interesting side note, while Brenda joked that she wouldn’t have to get used to writing a different married name (Baker) the same name resulted in Clark County (Vegas) court authorities wanting proof that we were not blood-relatives before they gave us the marriage license.

While Brenda’s first marriage resulted in two children, she accepted the four children from Dennis’s first marriage leaving her with a total of 6 children. In the early part of their marriage Brenda wanted to go to Cosmetology school at Ft. Scott Community College, so she commuted each day from Chanute to Ft. Scott and soon had her degree in Cosmetology. After that she opened a two-person beauty shop in Chanute and shortly after that she progressed to a 5-person beauty shop with two Wolf Tanning Tables and a small work-out gym with 5 pieces of Nautilus work-out equipment.

After that Boyd Burns, a major real estate agent in Chanute asked Brenda, “…so when are you going to get your real estate license and go to work for me.” Brenda loved Boyd so she went to work trying to learn real estate sales and learning enough to pass the state board. It was around this time that Dennis began to realize just how smart his beautiful wife was!

According to Google, to become a real estate agent in Kansas, you must be at least 18, have a high-school diploma/GED, and complete 60 hours of KREC-approved pre-license education. This includes a 30-hour Principles of Real Estate course and a 30-hour Kansas Practice Course, followed by passing the state licensing exam. So, Brenda went to work learning and understanding what she had to know. She would occasionally ask her husband for help regarding figuring up the total acreage in a map displaying 4 to 5 adjacent properties each with very different shapes. While her husband made A’s and A-+’s in geometry he was out of his league and was of no help. So, Brenda continued and had to learn on her own.

Several months later Brenda was ready to travel to Wichita to take the state licensing exam. Her husband waited while she took the (long) test and eventually those taking the test walked out and presented their test documents to the board and most of them had a look of resignation and defeat on their faces. I overheard many of them being informed that they had not passed the exam, but they could try again at a later date. Finally, Brenda came out with the same look on her face, but this was due to catching something at the exam because she was running a fever and heavily perspiring. When she got her papers and walked over to her husband, he, in an effort to cheer her up, said “remember that you can take the exam again.” She scowled back at her husband and said, “why would I do that….I passed!”

Brenda’s love for family was overwhelming. She would do anything for family members. Her love for family came first, although she loved pretty much everyone she ever met. What impressed her husband the most was her ability to have fruitful and long conversations with lawyers, doctors, ministers, business members, bankers and union stewards, truck drivers, welders and pretty much anyone. Her husband has been pleasantly amazed at how many people said words to the effect that they actually didn't know her all that well, but they felt that they loved her.

Brenda was preceded by: Her parents, her siblings Rosalie Krone, Robert Leroy Hill, Barbara Heinecke, John Hill, Carol McMillan, Paul Baker, Kim L. Baker, Daniel M. Baker and her in-laws Allen Krone, Virgil Heinecke, Jerry McMillan, her grand-daughters Faith and Hope Baker and her first-born grandson, Clayton Leach.

Brenda is survived by her husband, Dennis Baker of the home, Charles and wife, Ruth Hill of Lake of The Ozarks, Kay Patton and husband Johnnie Patton of Chanute, Robert Hill and his partner Lyle Duncan of Wichita. Additionally, Brenda is survived by six children, Pam and husband Dustin of Chanute, Jeff and wife Stephanie of Webb City, MO., Matt Baker of Tulsa, OK., Cindy McCoy and husband Darrin of Overland Park, KS., Ragan and husband Nate Vogel of Chanute, KS. And Ryan and wife Megan Baker of Oswego, KS. Additionally, Brenda is survived by 16 grand-children and nine great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Additionally, she is survived by two nieces who always acted like Brenda’s good friend, Jamie Krone and Jane Magathan.

The remains have been cremated, and the family will, at a later date, hold a Celebration of Life in Chanute, KS. Those from out of town who wish to attend will be given notice of the date planned as soon as it becomes available.

Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary and Crematory in Joplin, Missouri. Online condolences may be left at, and obituary can be read at www.masonwoodard.com.