Lindell Ford

(From Knell Mortuary)

Lindell Jon Ford passed away Wednesday July 15. He was born January 29, 1964 to Larry E. & Linda L. Ford. 

He leaves behind his longtime partner, Delbert Miller, his mother, Linda Kinney, his brothers, Dr. Lance Ford (Teresa), Dr. Tucker E. Ford (Stacie). and his sister, Leslie Quarton (William). He also leaves behind many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts & uncles. 

He was preceded in death by his Father, Larry E. Ford, his brother, Larry W. Ford & his Niece, Anna Belle Iles. Lindell will be remembered for his quirky sense of humor, his intense love of animals and his beautiful smile. 

No services are planned at this time; a private family graveside internment will be held at a later date.

Avonell Glasscox

(From Paul Thomas Funeral Home)

Avonell Glasscox of Commerce, OK passed from this life Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at Eastwood Manor in Commerce, OK. She was 91.

Avonell was born August 223, 1934 in Arcadia, KS to Elmer William and Vivian Lucille (Austin) Hufft. She was a 1952 graduate of Baxter Springs, KS High School. She had lived in the Commerce area most of her adult life.

She was a Licensed Practical Nurse and had worked for Dr. Heatherington, Dr. Cosby and Miami Baptist Hospital in Miami, OK, Don Hume Leather in Miami, OK and she worked for 35 years for Harvey's Diamonds in Miami, OK. She was a member of Quapaw Assembly of God in Quapaw, OK.

Avonell was preceded in death by her husband, Burl Glasscox on September 9, 2011, 1 daughter, Jerri Ann Glasscox and her parents.

Avonell in survived by 2 sons, David Lee Glasscox of Miami, OK and James Randall Glasscox of North Miami, OK, 1 daughter, Billie Sue East and her husband Todd of North Miami, OK, 3 grandchildren, Jacob Hudspeth and his wife Jamie of Fairland, OK, Jordan Hudspeth and his wife Megan of Joplin, MO and Jennifer Glasscox of Farmington, NM and 3 great-grandchildren, Jack Hudspeth, Jett Hudspeth and Gemma Hudspeth.

Services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 17, 2026 at Paul Thomas Funeral Home in Miami, OK. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Interment will be in G.A.R. Cemetery in Miami, OK. 

 Services have been placed in the care of Paul Thomas Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Miami, OK. Online condolences may be made at www.paulthomasfuneralhomes.com.

Loetta Dodson

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Loetta Kay Dodson, age 89, of Webb City, Missouri, passed away on July 13, 2026, at Joplin Gardens following a lengthy illness.

Loetta was born on February 18, 1937, in Carthage, Missouri, to the late Leonard and Jeanetta (Dugan) Robertson. She was a lifelong resident of the area. On December 24, 1957, she married the love of her life, Max Dodson, in Carthage, Missouri. Together they shared a devoted marriage and raised two children.

Loetta was a faithful member of Frisco Church, where she attended regularly for many years. She sang alto with the Crusaders for Christ for more than twenty years and treasured the friendships and fellowship she found through the group. She also enjoyed riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles with Max and their many friends, creating countless cherished memories together. An avid traveler, Loetta visited many beautiful destinations throughout her life, including the Bahamas, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

Above all, Loetta's greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted and loving Nana to her granddaughter, Katie, and her great-grandson, J'Alan, whom she loved beyond measure. She also shared a lifelong friendship with her dear friend, Kay. The two spoke every day and enjoyed many shopping trips together. Loetta's kindness, warmth, and generous spirit were a blessing to everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

In addition to her parents, Loetta was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Max Dodson, and one brother Keith Robertson.

She is survived by her son, Greg Dodson and wife, Janet, of Afton, Oklahoma; her daughter, Cayla Wasson and husband, Brent, of Wichita, Kansas; sisters-in-law, Carol Robertson and Janice Dodson; one brother Calvin Robertson and wife Judy; her granddaughter, Katie Dodson; and her great-grandson, J'Alan Ross; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Loetta will be remembered with great love and will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all whose lives she touched.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Frisco Church in Webb City, Missouri. Burial will follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery in Joplin, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the African children's program, Overcoming Children, in care of the funeral home.

 

Walter Blanken

(From Brenner Mortuary)

Walter John Blanken, Jr., 84, of Pittsburg, passed away at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at his home surrounded by his family.

He was born January 6, 1942, in Pittsburg, the son of Walter John Sr. and Theresa (Colles) Blanken. He attended St. Mary's grade school and graduated from Colgan High School. He played all sports in High School and coached his children's teams. Mr. Blanken lived in Pittsburg his entire life.

On July 18, 1966, he was united in marriage to Judith Totman in Miami, Oklahoma. To this union five children were born, John, Carl, Darrell, Kate and Riana.

Mr. Blanken worked for Dicky Clay and later for Locke Supply. He enjoyed playing cards, gardening and taking care of his large tomato garden.

He is survived by his wife, Judy of the home; three sons, John D. Blanken (Julie) of Liberal, Missouri, Carl Blanken (LaDonna) of Pittsburg, and Darrel Blanken (Jennifer) of Diamond, Missouri; two daughters, Kate Duff (Dakota) of Boulder, Colorado and Riana Maldonado of Miami, OK; and four grandchildren.

He was preceded by his parents.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. (July 20) at the Garden of Memories Cemetery with Pastor Jim Sukraw officiating. Friends are requested to meet at the cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St. Pittsburg, KS.

Steve Kent

(From Parker Mortuary)

Stephen Donald “Steve” Kent, age 75, of Joplin, Missouri, passed away on July 11, 2026, in Joplin. He was born on February 20, 1951, in Superior, Nebraska, and lived a life marked by service, devotion, and quiet strength. Steve was a kind and intelligent man whose presence brought comfort and steadiness to those who knew him.

Steve graduated from high school and continued his education, later earning his master’s degree. He then went on to graduate from the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, an accomplishment that reflected his discipline, determination, and commitment to excellence. Throughout his life, he valued learning and carried himself with the thoughtful confidence of a man who had worked hard for every achievement.

In 1971, Steve joined the United States Air Force to serve and protect his country. He dedicated many years to military service and rose to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant before retiring in 1995. His career reflected his deep sense of duty, loyalty, and patriotism. He was proud of his service, and those who served alongside him respected him for his leadership, integrity, and steadfast character.

After retiring from the Air Force, Steve made his home in Joplin, Missouri. He later worked for the City of Joplin at the 911 call center and then as a computer programmer for the city. In each role, he continued to serve others with the same dedication that had guided his military career. He was dependable, thoughtful, and committed to doing his work well, and he earned the respect of coworkers and friends alike.

Steve was a Christian and attended services at Life Connections Church, where he enjoyed the fellowship of others and the encouragement of shared faith. His life was grounded in his beliefs, and he carried those values into his relationships and daily life. He found joy in community, conversation, and the simple blessings of time spent with others.

While stationed in Germany, Steve discovered Volksmarching, an activity that became a lasting passion. For 20 years, he marched with his club, The Dogwood Trailblazers, whenever he had the chance. Through that interest, he was able to march in 49 of the 50 great states he helped defend during his years of service. He was also a strong supporter and advocate for veterans, and he honored those who served with the same respect and gratitude that he showed throughout his own life. He also enjoyed delivering meals to residents in the Joplin area and meeting with them while he was volunteering for Meals on Wheels.

Steve is survived by his wife, Vicki (Plumlee) Kent, of Joplin, Missouri. He is also survived by his children, Chad Kent of Joplin, Missouri, and Carrie Kent of Joplin, Missouri. His stepchildren include Heather Williams of Fairland, Oklahoma, Kasey Hieller and Shawn of Miami, Oklahoma, and Kelly Smith and Michael of Riverton, Kansas. He is also survived by his brother, Marty Kent of Independence, Kansas, and his sister, Delanna Williams and Andy of Owasso, Oklahoma. He was a loving grandfather to his twelve grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his two brothers, John and Tom. Steve will be remembered with love and gratitude by his family and friends for his devotion to those he loved, his faithful service to his country, and the many ways he lived a life of purpose. His memory will remain a blessing to all who were fortunate enough to know him.

The arrangements will be handled under the personal care and direction of Parker Mortuary. A celebration of life service will take place on Monday, July 20, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Life Connections Church with Mark Para officiating, located at 5831 S. Main St, Joplin, MO 64804

In Lieu of Flowers the family has asked that donations be made to Life Connection Church youth program or to the local Disabled Americans Veteran’s of your choice.

Lori Ferguson

(From Carson-Wall Funeral Home)

Lori Ferguson, a sonographer whose quiet compassion touched thousands of patients over three decades at Labette Health and whose generosity extended far beyond the hospital walls, died unexpectedly on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at Labette Health in Parsons, Kan. She was 62.

Born on January 11, 1964, in Arkansas City, Kan., she was the daughter of James and Carolyn (Meiers) Ferguson. Her childhood took her to several Kansas communities—including Independence, Garden City, Liberal and Wichita—before she graduated from Wichita Heights High School in 1982.

After moving to Parsons in 1989 and attending Labette Community College, Lori relocated to Dallas, where she earned a degree in diagnostic medical sonography from Dallas College's El Centro Campus. She lived in Dallas from 1991 to 1996 before returning to Parsons to begin what would become a lifelong career at Labette County Medical Center, now Labette Health. For nearly 30 years, she cared for patients with the steady professionalism, empathy and reassurance that became hallmarks of her work.

Outside the hospital, Lori found joy in life's simple pleasures. She was a obsessive NASCAR fan, an avid scrapbooker who preserved family memories with care, and someone who delighted in giving thoughtful gifts to others. Her generosity was reflected not only in her personal relationships but also in her quiet support of numerous charitable organizations.

A member of First Baptist Church in Parsons, Lori believed that caring for others was best expressed through everyday acts of kindness. Long before building her own career, she helped raise her younger siblings and later played an important role in the lives of her niece and nephew, offering the same steadfast love and guidance that she shared with so many throughout her life.

Her legacy lives on in the countless patients she comforted, the family she helped nurture, and the many friends and loved ones whose lives were enriched by her warmth, generosity and unwavering devotion to others.

Survivors include: her mother - Carolyn Ferguson, Parsons, KS; her brother - Lance Ferguson, and his wife, Nikole, Brooklyn, NY; her sister - Linda Peterson, and her husband, Mark, Webb City, MO; one niece - Gabbie Emmert, Nashville, TN; one nephew - Franklin Ferguson, Brooklyn, NY; her best friend - Brandie DuPont, Newport, WA; her adoptive family - Burl and Audra Moore and children; Ayla, Burl, Banks, Parsons, KS. Her father, James Ferguson preceded her in death.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, July 18, 2026 at the First Baptist Church with Reverend Wayne Mason officiating. Inurnment will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery, at a later date. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:00 Friday evening at the CARSON-WALL FUNERAL HOME. Memorials are suggested to Dream Big Little One and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.

David Mandeville

(From Ozark Memorial Park Crematory)

Dr. David Edward Mandeville, 84, passed away peacefully on July 13, 2026, while receiving comfort care at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Missouri, following a courageous journey with Stage IV metastatic melanoma brain cancer.
David was born on March 30, 1942, in Flint, Michigan, to Edward and Christine Mandeville, who preceded him in death.

Raised in Michigan, David built a life centered on curiosity, education, faith, and family. Throughout his career, he worked as an industrial engineer for several major companies across the Midwest before returning to Purdue University to earn his doctoral degree. He later joined the faculty at Oklahoma State University, where he served as a professor in the School of Engineering. 

Following his retirement, David and his beloved wife, Mary, made their home on the shores of Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma, where they found the peaceful life always dreamed of together. Looking out across the lake from their three-season porch became one of David’s greatest joys, and there was no place he would have rather called home.

An engineer through and through, David possessed an extraordinary ability to solve problems and create solutions. If something could be built, repaired, or improved, he was determined to figure it out himself. His hands and mind were rarely still, whether woodworking, tinkering around the house, or designing the next project, even right up until his last breath contemplating how devices in the ICU could be improved or fixed.

David found his greatest joy outdoors. He loved sailing across the water, flying his beloved Cessna after earning his private pilot’s license, caring for small planter gardens for Mary, and spending quiet moments appreciating God’s creations. Although he no longer flew later in life, aviation always remained close to his heart. He never stopped learning and loved talking “all things airplanes.” He treasured conversations with his close friends at the Pilot Coffee Club at Grove Airport. Those mornings, filled with coffee, laughter, and stories of flying, became some of his favorite moments.

At home, David enjoyed watching a good movie or sitcom, following fall college football, a recent love for European football and spending time with his beloved puppies and parrots, who never failed to make him smile.
More than anything, David made people feel heard. He listened with genuine interest, offered thoughtful advice, and gave those around him the gift of his full attention. Friends knew him as a quiet, humble man who deeply loved his wife, Mary, and whose steady presence brought comfort to those fortunate enough to know him.
David’s faith was a guiding force throughout his life. A devoted member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Grove, Oklahoma, he faced his final days with remarkable peace. Among his last words were simply, “I have hope”, a reflection of the faith that sustained him throughout his life.

David is lovingly remembered by his wife, Mary (Yarnell) Mandeville; his daughter, Laura (Mandeville) Pierce and husband Michael; his stepson, Tom McDonald; step-grandsons, Chad McDonald and Alex McDonald; his grandsons, Josh Pierce and wife Mary Vy Nguyen Pierce, and Nick Pierce and wife Allison Cruz Pierce; his great-grandchildren, Allison Mai Pierce and Harrison Phi Pierce; along with extended family members and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Christine Mandeville, and his stepsons, Pete McDonald and Jeff McDonald.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate caregivers at Freeman West Hospital ICU in Joplin, Missouri; Integris Health in Grove, Oklahoma; and the oncology teams in Grove, Oklahoma, Joplin, Missouri, and Miami, Oklahoma, for the exceptional care, kindness, and dignity they provided throughout David’s illness.
In keeping with David’s quiet nature, no funeral or celebration of life is planned. Instead, those who knew and loved him are invited to celebrate his life in their own way, perhaps by raising a glass in his honor, spending time on or near the water, tending to a backyard garden, looking toward the sky, or simply sharing a quiet conversation with someone they love.

David will be remembered not only for his brilliant mind, but for the quiet way he loved others. He listened more than he spoke, treasured his family and friends, found joy in life’s simple pleasures, and left those who knew him feeling valued because they had truly been heard. His final words, “I have hope,” remain a lasting reflection of the faith, humility, and grace with which he lived his life. Though he will be deeply missed, his legacy lives on in every life he touched, every problem he solved, every garden he planted, every flight he cherished, and every quiet act of love he so freely gave.

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