Gina Heinz

(From Ozark Memorial Park Crematory)

April 12, 1948 – July 1, 2026

Georgeanna Jones was born on April 14, 1948 in Juneau, Alaska to George and Mildred (John) Jones. She was born into the Tlingit Indian Tribe. 

Gina met the love of her life in William Michael “Mike” Heinz and together they were united in marriage on January 5, 1965. In 1971, they moved to Carthage and made it their forever home. 

Together they had three sons, Steven, Dean (wife Debbie), and Paul Heinz. They raised their boys (and a few extra boys that soon became part of their family). They shared 48 years of marriage before the passing of Mike in 2013. Gina was lost without Mike and over the years her health declined gradually. She was also preceded in death by her father George, mother Mildred, and 3 brothers Mitchell, Franklin, and Marvin Jones.

Survivors include her sons, Stephan, Dean (wife Debbie) and Paul. Gina loved her boys, grandkids, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren so much and they will all miss “Mamoo”, they are Kris (wife Kristin) Heinz, Cory Heinz, Abby (husband Dalton) Heinz Pollard. And her great-grandchildren, Jordan, Kaydin, Kenzee, Kobe, Daylin, Charlee, Maysin, Sawyer, Harper, Harrison, Cannon, Lillian, Marilyn, Dennis and David. And then her great-great grandchildren Paisleigh, Bexleigh, Georgianna. One brother Donnie Jones.

She passed away surrounded by family. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ozark Memorial Park of Joplin, MO.

Carole BonJour

(From Ozark Memorial Park Crematory)

Carole Jeanne BonJour (Beets), 79, Joplin, Mo., passed away in the morning of Monday, June 29, 2026, after a quick battle with cancer.

Carole was born September 23, 1946, in Paola, Kansas, to the late Duke and Patsy Beets.

Carole married her high school sweetheart, the late Terry BonJour, on January 5, 1964. Together they raised their three children, Terese, Bridgit, and Jerry.

Carole graduated from Missouri Southern State College in 1988 and worked for 20 years as a Special Education teacher within the Carl Junction school system where she touched many lives. Following her retirement, Carole continued to tutor numerous students and work at Lafayette House in Joplin.

Carole loved spending time with her family, singing, playing games, watching game shows and Harry Potter, and reading books.

Carole was preceded in death by her husband Terry, her brother Michael, her sister Suzie, and her grandsons Taylor and Justin. Carole is survived by her brothers Ronald (wife Sharon) and Michael, sister-in-law Margaret; children Terese (husband Michael), Bridgit, and Jerry (wife Jennifer); grandchildren Jessica, Heather, Morgan (wife Alyssa), Brenton, Matthew, Olivia (husband Blake), and Reese; great-grandchildren Lillian, Janae, Max, and Felix; countless extended family members and close friends.

No services will be held as Carole’s wish was to be cremated and for her family to enjoy beans and cornbread together.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ozark Memorial Park of Joplin.

Vera Spor

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Vera Lynn Spor passed away at her home in Neosho, Missouri, on June 28, 2026, at the age of 69. Vera was born on November 19, 1956, to Albert Ray and Ethel Mae (Sapp) Carroll.

Lynn grew up in Neosho, Missouri and attended Neosho High School with the class of 1975. She and Louis Eugene Spor were married on September 2, 1988, at Oak Grove Baptist Church, just south of Joplin. They shared 37 years of marriage, until Vera’s passing.

Being a mother to her ten children was her most important job, and she was wonderful at it. She always attended her children’s sporting events and competitions, cheering them on. There were only 10 years between her oldest and youngest, although she was busy, she never was too busy for her children. When she entered the workforce, Vera devoted 15 years to Scholastic where she was well-liked and made several friends. She then worked in the vault at Outpost Casino for about 3 years before retiring in 2022.

She was a kind-hearted woman who was friends with everyone and cherished time spent with family and those dear to her heart. She loved being a nana, enjoyed cooking for her family, making them comfort food and her famous cheesecake. When she was having a holiday get-together and found out someone didn’t have a place to celebrate, she would invite them to her house. Although known for her loving and gentle nature, Lynn was also known to enthusiastically cheer on her favorite team. She was a superfan of the Denver Broncos, celebrating to the point of tears when they won the Super Bowl.

Louis and Lynn traveled extensively. They visited all 50 United States, and several more exotic locations like: the Caribbean, Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, and Mexico. Just a few months ago, they took a trip down the Nachez Trace Trail. The couple spent countless hours together, enjoying new experiences, and making memories.

Lynn is survived by her husband, Louis Spor; their ten children: Candi Spor of Carl Junction, Missouri, Stacey Spor of Springfield, Missouri, Samantha Mills (Chris) of Springfield, Missouri, Valerie Wooster (Paul) of Neosho, Missouri, Shannon Spor of Farmington, Missouri, Christopher Kanable of Neosho, Missouri, Sabrina Foster (Marty) of Neosho, Missouri, Matthew Spor of Neosho, Missouri, Bryan Kanable (Jennifer) of Neosho, Missouri; 20 grandchildren; great-grandchildren by the truckload; 2 sisters; and 3 brothers.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Matthew Spor, and one sister.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Freewill Baptist Church in Neosho, Missouri.

Services are under the personal care and direction of Clark Funeral Homes.

Teresa Nguyen

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Hien Teresa Nguyen, age 55 of Webb City, MO., passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at Freeman Hospital.

Teresa was born on February 1, 1971, in Quy Nhon, Vietnam, the daughter of Trong Dinh Pham and Yen Thi Nguyen. She operated her business, Pho 4 Ever, with her husband and family. Teresa attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Webb City. She loved spending time with her family and friends, singing karaoke, and loved taking care of her dogs, especially Ophie. 

She married Alexander Nguyen on September 6, 1992, he survives. Additional survivors include her mother, Yen Thi Nguyen, her daughters; Veronica Nguyen and her husband Parker Stovall, Webb City, Rosalie Nguyen of Webb City, her sisters; Huyen Pham, Webb City, Hang Pham and husband Ho Dang, Lilburn, GA., and Ha Pham, Bienhoa, Vietnam, her brothers; Trung Dinh Pham and wife Monica, Olathe, KS., and Truc Dinh Pham, Webb City, and many loving nieces and nephews.

Teresa was preceded in death by her father, Trong Dinh Pham.

A funeral mass is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Webb City. The family will receive friends during a time of visitation immediately following an evening Rosary service beginning at 6:00 p.m. Monday evening at Mason-Woodard Mortuary. Burial will be held at a later date at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Debbie Smith

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Debbie was born on February 12, 1957, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri, to William Max Porter and Marilyn Sue Henry. On June 29, 2026, Debbie passed away unexpectedly at home, leaving a space in her family that can never be filled.

Debbie adored her two grandchildren, Rilynn and Dax, and they adored her right back. She was lovingly known as Moggie, a name given to her by Rilynn, with whom she shared an especially tender bond. Debbie was famous for “overdoing it a little” when it came to their Christmases and birthdays — a tradition that became one of her sweetest signatures.

Her nieces and nephews — Maryl, Barrett, Meredith, and Max — all grew up with summertime outings with their Aunt Debbie, where they were spoiled, cherished, and made to feel like the most important kids in the world. Her great‑nieces and nephews — Adalynn, Brynlee, Wyatt, and Lynna — were loved just as fiercely.

Debbie was the first grandchild of Emmett and Dorothy Porter, and from the moment she arrived, she was the light of their lives. She was the older sister to Jill and Amy, and together they shared a wonderful childhood, remaining close throughout their lives.

She graduated from MSSU formerly known as MSSC, with a bachelor’s degree in education and retired in 2014 from Joplin R‑8 Schools, where she touched countless lives with her kindness, patience, and steady presence.

Debbie married Mike Smith, and together they welcomed their son, Riley, and celebrated 40 years of marriage in August of 2025 — a milestone marked by devotion, partnership, and love. He survives.

She treasured her family and the traditions that brought them together: holidays filled with laughter, Florida vacations, springtime flower shopping, tending her tomato and cucumber plants, and her love of online shopping. Debbie was a member of Forest Park Baptist Church and carried her faith quietly but deeply.

Her family will forever remember her unwavering loyalty, her gentle way of seeing the good in people, and her gift for accepting others without judgment. She leaves behind her furry companion, Phoebe, memories of group chats with her sisters and niece, daily phone calls with Riley, and endless Snapchats with her favorite granddaughter, Rilynn — small everyday moments that now feel immeasurably precious.

Debbie’s love was steady, generous, and wholehearted. Her family will carry it with them always.

Debbie was preceded in death by her parents Bill and Marilyn Porter, Grandparents, Emmett and Dorothy Porter, Loren and Leta Henry, uncles Terry Henry and Jim Porter and grandson Pierson Smith.

She is survived by her loving husband, Mike; her son Riley and wife Jamie; her grandchildren Rilynn and Dax; her sisters Jill Welch and husband Jerry, Amy Medley and husband Matt; her nieces Maryl Noirfalise and Dr. Meredith Dyche and husband Austin; nephew Barrett Noirfalise and wife Shelby and Max Medley; stepgrandchildren Abby and Carl; and many more extended family members, friends, and loved ones who will remember her fondly.

 

Bill Samuels

(From Brenner Mortuary)

William “Bill” Orville Samuels passed away on July 2, 2026. He was born on February 22, 1936, in Carthage, Missouri, to Warren Lee Samuels and Marguerite Ann Goff Samuels.

Bill grew up in Carthage, where he was a standout athlete at Carthage High School. He continued his education and athletic career at Pittsburg State University, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and became part of the proud tradition of Gorilla athletics.

As a student-athlete, Bill was a three-year letterwinner for the Gorilla football team. He played multiple positions, including quarterback, halfback, and defensive back, and handled kicking duties for the team. One of the defining moments of his playing career came in the 1957 NAIA National Championship game, when Pittsburg State defeated Hillsdale College, 27-26, in the Holiday Bowl in St. Petersburg, Florida. Bill kicked the decisive extra point that helped secure the Gorillas’ first national championship.

After graduating from Pittsburg State, Bill joined the United States Marine Corps in 1958. He completed training at Quantico and continued to Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight training. He earned his wings as a pilot and primarily flew helicopters. Bill served during the Cuban Missile Crisis and was honorably discharged in 1963 with the rank of Captain. Following his military service, he worked for a time as a helicopter pilot in Louisiana before returning to education and coaching.

Bill began his professional career at Riverton High School as a teacher and coach before returning to Pittsburg State, where he served the university for 29 years as a coach, instructor, and athletic administrator. In addition to his work with Gorilla football, he taught in the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Department. He coached numerous positions during his years with the football program and was especially proud of the young men he helped teach, mentor, and encourage. Bill later served as Pittsburg State’s Athletic Director from 1990 to 1996. During his tenure, he helped guide the university’s transition from NAIA to NCAA affiliation and continued his lifelong commitment to Pittsburg State, its student-athletes, and the Gorilla community.

In recognition of his many contributions to athletics and his lasting impact on the communities that shaped him, Bill was inducted into the Pittsburg State University Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998 for Meritorious Service and the Hall of Carthage Heroes in 2012. His legacy includes not only championships and milestones, but also decades of loyalty, leadership, and service to the university, its student-athletes, and the Gorilla community.

Bill married Frances “Fran” Clanton on January 25, 1958. Together, they built a life centered on family, faith, education, athletics, and service. They were blessed with three children: Scott, Susan, and Valerie. Bill was a longtime member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, where Fran remains a member.

Bill is survived by his wife, Fran Samuels, of the home; his daughters, Susan Dellasega and her husband, Tony, of Pittsburg, Kansas, and Valerie Grisham and her husband, Steve, of Pittsburg, Kansas; his son, Scott Samuels and husband Greg Ridge, of Brush Prairie, Washington; and six grandchildren: A.J., Erin, Jacob, and Ethan Dellasega, Adam Geiger, and Derek McNaught.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Warren and Marguerite Samuels.

Cremation has taken place. A rosary service will be held Wednesday, July 8 at 6pm, with visitation directly following at Brenner Mortuary. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place 10am Thursday, July 9 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, with Fr. Michael Simone as celebrant.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that expressions of sympathy be in the form of memorials to Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Fund and/or PSU Athletics. Donations may be mailed to or left at Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends and family may leave condolences at www.brennermortuary.com.

Christina Beasley

(From Knell Mortuary)

Christina Sue Beasley, 66, Golden City, MO departed this world on June 29, 2026 surrounded by her family.

Christina was born at Jane Chinn Hospital in Webb City, MO on Christmas Day 1959 to Bill and Hazel (Pippin) Baker, the seventh of thirteen children. Her family lived most of her childhood in Carthage, MO but for a time lived in Torrance, Lawndale and Inglewood, CA. She grew up in a musically gifted family and sang country and western music on stage alongside her parents and siblings in the Baker Family Show Me State Band.

Christina attended Carthage High School, graduating in 1978 and was a Cadet Captain in the ROTC. In 1993, she married Leon Beasley and they welcomed their son Jared the following year. She worked many places, most notably Judy’s Café in Jasper, MO and was loved by her customers.

Christina was a strong woman, a proud grandma, a loving wife and mother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She was fiercely protective and loyal. She lived a quiet life, finding joy in the simple things, time in nature, gardening, crocheting, taking care of her animals, capturing the most beautiful pictures of the sky, and finding comfort in the Psalms. Coffee was a significant part of her life and she had a knack for finding the small and unique local shops.

Christina was preceded in death by her husband Leon, parents Bill & Hazel, brothers Rick & Bobby Joe and many other family and friends.

Survivors include her son, Jared and his wife Grace; her granddaughters, Embry and Addison; brothers, Danny Baker, Chester (Pat) Baker, Terry (Jeannie) Baker, and Jerry Baker; and sister’s, Mickey (Danny) O’Neal, Connie Morgan, Hazel (Harold) Nichols, Colleena Baker, Annetta (Dump) Schrader, and Jannetta Long.

She is also survived by two aunts, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

In the last years of her life, Christina fought a hard battle, and ultimately, even in death, came out the winning side as a victor, greeted lovingly by her Lord and Savior and her loved ones before. 2 Timothy 4:7 rings true: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

The family will hold memorial services at 11:00 am, Monday, July 20, 2026 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Lockwood, Missouri. Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com.