Walt Pearson

(From Parker Mortuary)

Walter G. ‘Walt’ Pearson, age 89, Joplin, passed away at 3:02 p.m. Saturday, November 15, 2014 at his home.

Walt was born September 26, 1925 in San Francisco, California to the late Graham Booker Pearson and Dora May Ohrt Pearson and had lived in the Joplin area most of his life.

He graduated from Polytechnic High school in San Francisco in 1943. He then enlisted in the United States Army, serving 1 year as a drill instructor at Camp Crowder. He then served three and a half years in China; India and Burma (India Burma Theater of Operations).

Walt attended San Francisco City College; Foothill College; Southwest Missouri State University; Missouri Southern State College; Pittsburg State University; the University of Missouri and received an honorary degree from Stewart University in Alabama.

He worked as a teacher for the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Corporate Industry Schools; McDonald County High School and Franklin Technical School for 29 years. He also worked as a field service engineer for Chrysler Corporation for five years, retiring in 1986.

Walt served as education vice president of Gavelmasters and was a member of the Missouri State Teachers Association; the Joplin Educators Association; the Missouri Vocational Association; the American Vocational Association; the U.S. Metric Association and was a National Board Member of the American Vocational Association. He was a longtime member of Calvary Baptist Church and a current member of Fellowship Baptist Church. He was a Bible teacher; ordained minister and former chairman of Deacons.

He married CloAnn ‘Penny’ Shipman on June 7, 1947 in Galena, Kansas. She preceded him in death on November 4, 1995.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Mark Graham Pearson in March of 2014.

Services are planned for Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Parker Mortuary Chapel. Interment will follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from Noon until service time Saturday at the mortuary.

Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.

Johnny Greathouse

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Johnny L. Greathouse age 63 of Joplin, MO passed away Sunday November 16, 2014 at the Freeman Health System.

 He was born on June 21, 1951, in Diamond, MO the son of Elmer and Neva Bradley Greathouse. He married Charlene Griffin on March 17 1987, at Neosho, MO. He worked as a heavy equipment operator and enjoyed gardening.

 Johnny was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife Charlene of Joplin, three sons: Adam Greathouse and wife Stephanie of Oregonia, OH, Bradley Greathouse of Caldwell, TX and Ben Aulick and wife Michaeline of Charlotte NC; two daughters Angela Greathouse of Dewey, OK and Marti Jo Wiley and husband Jimbo of Neosho; three brothers: Dave, Carl and his wife Shona and Greg Greathouse; two sisters Helen Greathouse and Shirley Walker and husband John; and nine grandchildren. 

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday November 20, 2014 at the Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory with John St Clair, Racine Christian Church officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 pm Wednesday at the Mortuary. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contribution to the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, Columbia MO in care of the mortuary.

Doug Tope

(From Parker Mortuary)

Douglas Kent Tope, age 80, died in Oklahoma City, OK on Monday November 10, 2014 at 1:40 pm of natural causes. Born on September 27, 1934 in Denver, Colorado, to parents George Tope and Louise Brynn-Tope, he graduated high school in Denver, and attended a local community college, where drafting was a favorite subject.

Doug met Carol Ann Constant (of Seaton IL) while making a sales call at the Colgate Company in Denver, where Carol worked. They were married on August 30, 1958, and bore two children - a daughter, April, in 1964, and a daughter, Holly, in 1969. Doug and Carol remained happily married for 53 years, until Carol’s death from cancer in 2011.

After college, Doug joined Skelly Oil Company. His friendly and magnetic personality was a natural asset in Petroleum Sales, Marketing, and Management. He prospered with Skelly for more than 20 years, moving the family from Denver, to Saint Louis MO, then Springfield MO, and finally to Des Moines IA. Skelly Oil later became Getty Oil, from which Doug retired in the late 70’s.

In 1977, Doug bought a truck stop in Joplin, MO, and the family moved south. Trucker’s Inn at I-44 exit 4 was a thriving restaurant, gas station, and truck stop, during a spirited and patriotic period for the American trucker. The Tope family remained sole owners of Trucker’s Inn until the late 80’s, then downsized to a smaller trucking-related business, named T.I. Services. Located inside Petro Truck Stop, T.I. Services offered check cashing, mailboxes, notary public, and was honored to be one of the first lottery vendors in the state of Missouri.

Doug was a proud participant in Joplin’s community. He was a frequently published editorial writer to the Joplin Globe; a Century 21 real estate agent; supporter of both the Jasper County and Newton County Sherriff’s Departments; member of the Republican Party, member of the Tulsa Skelly-Getty-Texaco Chapter of the Chevron Retirees Association; a lifelong benefactor of the Republican National Committee; and a charitable contributor to the National Rifle Association, Heritage Foundation, Citizens Against Government Waste, Judicial Watch, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans, World Wildlife Fund, Audubon Society, and various other non-profit organizations.

Douglas Tope was preceded in death by both parents, and his wife, Carol, who died March 30, 2011. Then in May, 2011, the F5 tornado which damaged so much of Joplin also destroyed their home on Jefferson Avenue. Afterwards, Doug moved to Oklahoma City to live with his daughter, April, and her family. His faith in God gave him strength to carry on. He is survived by daughter April (Scoles) Tope and husband Mike of Oklahoma City, OK; Holly (Robinson) Tope of Bonney Lake, WA; sister Susie (Cushman) Tope and husband Bob of Parker, CO; and twin granddaughters, Hannah Scoles and Kelsey Scoles.

Memorial visitation with family will be held at Parker Mortuary in Joplin on Saturday, December 06, 2014 from 4:00–6:00pm. Cremation services were provided by Corbett Funeral & Cremation Service of Oklahoma City.

Condolences may be sent to www.corbettfuneral.com/obituaries/Douglas-Tope or www.parkermortuary.com/obituaries/tope.

The family requests that friends consider placing a birdfeeder in Doug's honor.

Betty Smallwood

(From Knell Mortuary)

Betty Jean Smallwood, 89, Carthage, passed away Saturday, November 15, 2014 at The Communities of Wildwood Ranch, Joplin, MO.  Betty Jean Spurlock was born October 8, 1925 in Moberly, MO; the daughter of the late Anthony Woods Spurlock and Fay Eagan Spurlock.  She attended public schools in Sedalia, MO, graduating from Sedalia High School, Class of 1943.  She married James Robert Smallwood on November 7, 1947 in Sedalia; he preceded her in death on November 30, 1988.  Betty and her husband, Jim, owned and operated Smallwood Skelgas Co., Carthage.

Betty is survived by a daughter; Susan Rucker, Joplin and a son, Andy (Debbie) Smallwood, Carthage; three grandchildren, Nichole Rucker, Ashley Rucker and Matthew Smallwood.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jim, and a granddaughter, Hannah Smallwood, December 8, 2006.

Graveside memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, November 20 in Park Cemetery, Carthage.  Memorial gifts are suggested to the First United Methodist Church, Carthage Humane Society or charity of donor’s choice.  Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Knell Mortuary, 308 W. Chestnut, Carthage, MO., 64836.

Edna Weston

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Edna J. Jackson Wagner Weston, 89, Neosho, died November 16, 2014.

 She was born May 27, 1925 in Neosho, the daughter of Alvie and Viney (Bonebrake) Jackson, and was a lifelong Neosho resident. Edna was a homemaker and at one time she worked at Kraft Foods in Neosho. She was an avid fisherwoman and loved to collect antiques. 

She married Wilson Wesley (Bill) Wagner and he preceded her in death. She then married Lewis Weston and he also preceded her in death. Edna is survived by two grandchildren, Terri Wilson and Matthew Wagner; five great granddaughters; one great grandson; numerous great great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Vickie Austin; her son, Billy Wagner; four brothers, George Jackson, Clarence Jackson, Ernest Jackson and Troy Jackson; and three sisters, Dolly Bridges, Ella Wilson and Cynthia Coble.

Visitation

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Thursday, November 20, 2014
Clark Chapel of Memories
312 S. Wood St. Neosho, Mo 64850

Funeral Service

1:00 PM, Friday, November 21, 2014
Clark Chapel of Memories
312 S. Wood St. Neosho, Mo 64850

Ed Fisher

(From Parker Mortuary)

Edward Allen ‘Ed’ Fisher, age 50, Joplin, passed away at 6:54 p.m. Thursday, November 13, 2014 at his residence after a sudden illness.

Ed was born August 27, 1964 in Iowa City, Iowa to Patrick Wayne and Phyllis Ann Weeks Fisher and had lived in Joplin the past ten years moving from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

He was an employee of the KOA Campground. Ed enjoyed NASCAR; the WWE and motorcycles.

He is survived by his parents, Pat and Phyllis Fisher, Dade City, Florida; and his brother, David Fisher, Joplin.

Services are planned for Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Parker Mortuary.

Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.

Judy Smith

(From Ulmer Funeral Home)

Judy Grace (Jackson) Smith, 67, of Carthage passed away at 7:40p.m., Friday November 14, 2014 at Landmark Hospital in Joplin. 

She was born on August 2, 1947 in Manhattan, Kansas. Judy is the daughter of Arlie V. Jackson and Helen Beatrice (Dreier) Jackson. She was a speech therapist working most of her career in Kansas; she also worked in the Carthage School district. Judy was a member of First Christian Church and the Seekers Class. She was a member of the Tri-State Swingles Square Dance Club, volunteer at Carthage Crisis Center, and a member of Alpha XI Delta Sorority.

 Judy is survived by her sister Donna McAfee of Wichita, Kansas. She was preceded by her parents. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at the Ulmer Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at the Ulmer Funeral Home. Burial will be at Fasken Cemetery. Contributions can be made to the First Christian Church, Carthage, Mo in care of Ulmer Funeral Home. Online condolences can be made at www.ulmerfh.com. 

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ulmer Funeral Home.