Richard Duffy

(From Epting Funeral Home)

Dr. Richard J. Duffy, 48, of Seneca, Missouri, passed away on November 1, 2026. Richard was an intelligent and accomplished man whose life was marked by a love of learning, scientific discovery, an appreciation for the natural world, and the relationships he formed throughout his life.

A graduate of Jenks High School in Jenks, Oklahoma, Richard continued his education at the University of Oklahoma, where he studied organic chemistry and botany. He subsequently attended Texas A&M University, earning his doctorate in organic chemistry. His academic pursuits reflected a lifelong fascination with science, particularly the chemistry and biology of the natural world.

Richard most recently worked in research and development at Jayhawk Fine Chemicals in Galena, Kansas, where he applied his scientific knowledge and expertise in organic chemistry.

Beyond his professional and academic accomplishments, Richard found great enjoyment in traveling, exploring new places, and experiencing the world around him. He had a particular passion for plants and gardening, cultivating an extensive collection that reflected his appreciation for the beauty and complexity of nature.

Among the many things Richard cherished was his beloved dog, Cooper, who held a special place in his life.

Richard and his beloved husband, John Van Nieuwenhuyse, had shared their lives since 2019 and were married in 2022. Together, they built a home and a life in southwest Missouri.

Richard is survived by his beloved husband, John Van Nieuwenhuyse; his mother, Martha (Brewer) Duffy of Joplin, Missouri; his brother, Greg Duffy of Dallas, Texas; his cherished canine companion, Cooper; and other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Patrick Duffy, and his sisters, Erin and Kerri Duffy.

His passing leaves a profound absence in the lives of those who knew and loved him.

No services are planned. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Joplin Humane Society in Richard's memory.

https://www.joplinhumane.org/donate.html

Epting Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Alan Holiday

Allan D. Holiday, age 93, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, October 25th, 2026. A Memorial Service will be held at Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church, 9300 Nall Overland Park, Kansas on Saturday, November 21st at 10am.

Allan was born to Ralph and Jean Holiday in Carthage, Missouri on February 2, 1933. Allan had fond childhood memories of adventures outside with his brother Bill and taking summer trips to visit his grandparents in Vancouver Island British Columbia. 

After graduating from Carthage High School, he attended Missouri School of Mines in Rolla where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and graduated with honors in Chemical Engineering. He worked briefly with Phillips Petroleum Co. in Bartlesville, OK before reporting to the US Navy in Newport, RI, where he was commissioned as an officer, and was selected to attend the US Naval Intelligence School in Washington, DC. 

Upon graduating, he served as an Intelligence Officer for Air Anti-Submarine Squadron VS-38, training in Coronado, CA before deploying aboard the aircraft carrier USS Princeton for duty with the Seventh Fleet in the Far East. On completion of his service obligation, Allan began his career starting with employment by Phillips Petroleum Co., later working for Gulf Oil Corp., the Nofsinger Co., and the last thirty years with Farmland Industries. 

He served in various engineering and technical management positions including Vice President - R&D, with Farmland Industries. He was the author of thirty-five technical articles and publications. He also wrote professionally for McGraw Hill, Inc. He was an active member of various trade associations, including the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and the American Chemical Society. Over a career of fifty years, he became the inventor of sixteen U.S. Patents and two foreign patents. He served with the Office of Technology Assessment as a science and technology advisor to the United States Congress. Following retirement from Farmland he worked in a consulting capacity for JP Morgan Chase and Farmland Industries for five years.

Allan and his wife Lyn were married in Joplin, MO on Dec 29, 1956, and began their married life in Coronado, CA while in the Navy. They lived most of their lives in Overland Park where they raised their three children. In retirement they continued to be active at Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church with Allan serving two terms as Deacon and volunteered in the church's Friendship Garden. Allan was a skilled marksman and enjoyed hunting in his earlier years. He was an avid downhill skier, making annual Colorado trips into his seventies. Allan and Lyn loved traveling and had many adventures with friends and family. They enjoyed gardening together and built a beautiful backyard haven that featured his carpentry skills with handmade benches, a trellis, and arbor. Their garden was even featured in the 1998 book "Great Gardens of Kansas City". Allan loved going to lunch with his ROMEO (retired old men eating out) group, entertaining, and hosting family and friends for special events. He was admired, respected, and loved by his family.

Allan was predeceased by his loving wife Lyn, his parents, his brother William G. Holiday, his son Tad Holiday and daughter-in-law Mary Moorehouse. He is survived by his son, John Holiday (Dana), and their children, Patrick, Eva (Joe) and Alex; his daughter, Heidi VanLandingham (Don), and their children, Ryan (Jessie) and Drew; and his grandson, Jarrod Holiday (Cammie); and two great-grandsons, Allan and Levi VanLandingham.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Friendship Garden, Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church (www.kccremation.com).

Howard Shuey

(From Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home)

Howard Duane Shuey passed away on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at his home.

He was born August 14, 1960, in Stella, Missouri, to Howard Donald Shuey and Lou Etta (Toland) Shuey. He attended Washington Elementary and North Junior High in Joplin, Missouri, and Neosho High School in Neosho, Missouri.

Duane married Susan Cooper in August 1980, and they welcomed their son, Mathew Shuey, in 1981, and daughter, April, in 1983. They lived in the Joplin/Neosho area until the summer of 1986 when they moved to Republic, Missouri. In the summer of 1990, they bought property in Willard, where they remained and were married for over 46 years.

He ran his own business for several decades, "Stereo in Motion," and spent many hours fixing countless things that could go wrong in your car. Duane could fix about anything or knew someone who could. Everyone knows how much he loved the outdoors, hunting deer and turkey, fishing for crappie, or just being out on the water or in the woods.

He loved his family and his friends, and he would do anything for anybody if he could. He loved nothing more than to find a toy to buy for his granddaughters and play with them over and over. Their backyard is a testament to how much he loved playing with those girls.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents, and his sister, Diane (Shuey) Letterman.

He is survived by his wife, Susan Shuey; his children, Mathew Shuey (Niki) and April Wagner (Jeremy); three granddaughters that he adored, Emerson and Frankie Shuey and Sonja Wagner; two sisters, Debbie Shuey (Terry White) and Donna Dickey (Leroy); in-laws Curt and Martha Cooper and brother-in-law Kevin Cooper; as well as many other family members and many friends who will miss him dearly.

A gathering will be held at the Herman Lohmeyer Funeral Home (500 E. Walnut St., Springfield, MO 65806) on Friday, November 6, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Please join us if you are able to stop by.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Outdoor Fund at Bass Pro Shops or to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Rhonda Bickford

(From Clark Funeral Home)

It is with heavy hearts and profound gratitude for her life that we announce the passing of Rhonda Hulene (Myers) Bickford, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. Rhonda was born on January 7, 1952, in Rocky Comfort, Missouri a cherished daughter of the late George Wesley Myers and Ruth Elizabeth (Jones) Myers. She peacefully departed this life on November 1, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love and kindness.

Rhonda’s journey through life was marked by enduring love and commitment. On October 20, 1966, she married the love of her life, Peter William Bickford. Together, they celebrated 60 wonderful years, raising three strong and loving daughters: Rhonda (Kay), Bonnie, and Rachel. Their union was a testament to the strength and beauty of true companionship, and they built an incredible family that continues to honor their legacy.

A dedicated caregiver, Rhonda found immense joy in her work as a Certified Nursing Aide, providing compassionate care to those in need throughout various nursing homes. Her career later took her to Hudson Foods and the Honeybear Chicken Plant, where she continued to apply her diligent work ethic and warm spirit.

Rhonda was a woman of many talents and interests. She had a great passion for reading romance novels, finding solace and adventure within their pages. Her hands were rarely still, often busy with the art of crocheting. Among her greatest treasures were the blankets she lovingly crafted for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. A visit to the casino was one of her simple pleasures, where she enjoyed collecting her free goodies and savoring the moment.

Her warm smile and gentle way with words had the power to brighten any room. Known for her ability to welcome and appreciate everyone, Rhonda’s integrity allowed her to embrace life’s joys and challenges with grace and strength.

Rhonda is survived by her beloved husband, Peter William Bickford; her brother Robert Leon (Pete) Myers and his wife Tina; her sister Georgia Ruth Jacobs and her husband Larry; along with her devoted children, Rhonda (Kaye) Moore, Bonnie Bickford, and Rachel Hanna. She leaves behind five grandchildren: Logan Kemp (Sandy), Levi Kemp, William Courtney, Kylie Selby (Larry), and Christian Courtney (Ivy). Those she had taken in as family, Kevin Miller (Rebecca) and Tina Pierce (Chris), as well as six great-grandchildren who were the light of her life.

Rhonda was predeceased by her parents, George Wesley Myers and Ruth Elizabeth (Jones) Myers, and her siblings, Carl Junior Myers, Alta Lillie Myers, Barbra Sue Myers, Virginia Lee Myers, and Raymond Earl Myers who undoubtedly welcomed her with open arms.

Visitation will be held on Thursday November 5th, 2026 5pm-6:30pm at Clark Funeral Home in Neosho, Missouri. Services to celebrate her life will take place Friday November 6th, 2026 1:30pm at Clark Funeral Home in Neosho officiated by Virgil Sherwood. Pallbearers include Logan Kemp, Levi Kemp, Ashton Bickford, William Courtney, Christian Courtney, and Larry Selby.

Following the service Rhonda will be laid to rest inside the Owsley Union Cemetery, Longview McDonald County, Missouri. Afterwards family and friends will gather to honor a life well-lived, a memory cherished, and a spirit that will forever echo in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to a charity of your choice, continuing Rhonda’s legacy of kindness and community spirit.

As we remember Rhonda, let us hold dear the words her family wishes to share: "I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one. I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done. I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun; Of happy memories that I leave when life is done." — Helen Lowrie Marshall

May Rhonda’s memory be a blessing to all who knew her.

Arrangements are under the care of Clark Funeral Homes in Neosho, Missouri.

Mary Jane Alphin

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

Mary Jane Alphin, 73, of Noel, Missouri, departed this life on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, in the comfort of her home. She was born on March 5, 1953, in Buckeye, Missouri, to the late William Henry and Virginia Lee (Mitchell) Warren.

Mary Jane was raised in McDonald County, Missouri, and was a 1972 graduate of McDonald County High School. Early in her life, Mary Jane worked in the poultry industry in McDonald County. She later lived in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, for more than twenty-eight years, where she worked as a Nurse’s Aide. In that role, she offered comfort and care to others, reflecting the compassion that defined her life. In 2002, she returned to McDonald County, where she remained. 

 

On December 21, 1973, Mary Jane married John Nelson Alphin, Jr., and together they shared 43 years of marriage until his passing on July 15, 2017. She was also preceded in death by her parents and by five siblings, Thomas, Charlie, Carl, Kathy, and Judy.

Mary Jane found joy in the simple and meaningful things in life. She enjoyed reading, crocheting, quilting, and gardening. She also loved caring for her two dogs and her chickens.

She is survived by her two children, John W. Alphin of Pineville, Missouri, and Nancy Taylor and her husband, Kenneth, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. She also leaves behind two grandchildren, Stetson Kirkendall and his wife, Carrie, of Niotaze, Kansas, and Nicole Taylor of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; eleven great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; two brothers, Ralph Warren of Lanagan, Missouri, and William Warren of Southwest City, Missouri; and a sister, Dessie Ortiz of Tecumseh, Kansas. She is also survived by a host of other family members and friends who will remember her with love and gratitude.

Funeral services are 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Missouri with Pastor Austin Wylly officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Arrangements are under the care of Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Missouri.

Melinda Haney

(From McMikle Funeral Home)

Melinda Ann Haney, age 67, passed away at her home in East Prairie, MO, early Wednesday, November 4, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Born September 5, 1959, at Neosho, MO, to the late Hollis Yarrington and Louella C. Whitaker Williams, she had lived in East Prairie most of her life. For many years she was employed with the Brown Shoe Company in Charleston and later in the offices of Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston until she retired.

On June, 29, 1978, she married Billy Ray “Bill” Haney, who survives of the home.

Also surviving is her son Christopher Haney of East Prairie; stepson, Michael (Christy) Haney of Sikeston; her grandchildren, Landon Haney, Kaden Haney and Nathan Haney; her brother, Hollis Yarrington, as well as nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Lanell Yarrington and Terry Yarrington.

Private family services will be held.

McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.

Carroll Wheat

(From Parker Mortuary)

Carroll Gene Wheat, known as CG in his younger years and Papa in his later years, passed away October 23, 2026, in Carthage MO, at age 88.

He was born on July 19, 1938, in Carthage MO, to the late John and Myrtle (King) Wheat. On Dec, 31, 1971 Carroll married the love of his life, Ramona (Nichols) Wheat, and they shared 49 years of marriage together. While he started and ended his stay here on earth in Carthage, Carroll and Ramona raised their family in Joplin, where he lived the majority of his life.

Carroll graduated from Carthage High School with the 1956 class and later attended Rolla School of Mines where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. His education reflected the intelligence, discipline, and determination that would guild him through his life and career.

He devoted more than 43 years of his professional life to EaglePicher Technologies. During that time, he and his fellow crew members were part of the design and build team that produced batteries for the Apollo moon landing missions, a contribution that stands as a remarkable part of American history. He and a few others even scratched their names on the inside casing of a battery that still sits on the moon today! His name will forever be on the moon.

Carroll was a Christian whose faith saw him through many trials, He loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was always willing to help others or share fellowship with anyone who welcomed him. He volunteered at the Joplin City Jail for over 20 years where he shared fellowship with those who may have experienced a difficult season in life.

Carroll is survived by his three children, Tammy DeVine and Matthew of Carthage, MO, Mark Wheat of Joplin, MO, and Dana Wheat of Joplin MO. He is also survived by his brother, Gary Wheat and Brenda of Joplin, MO, along with 6 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He enjoyed his time with his grandchildren who only knew him as Papa.

In addition to his parents and wife, Carroll was preceded in death by three brothers and two grandsons.

Carroll will be remembered as a loving, intelligence, and giving man whose life was marked by faith, family, and service. He gave generously of his time, his knowledge, and his heart, and he leaves behind a legacy of quiet strength and steadfast devotion. His life touched many, and his memory will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

Psalms 147:3

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

A celebration of life service will take place on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at Journey Church starting at 1 p.m. The family will receive friends before services begin at 12 p.m. and continue until 1 p.m.