Richard Outt

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Richard Lee Outt, 59, Reeds, MO, died Dec. 3, 2013 at Neosho, following an illness. Mr. Outt was born June 23, 1954 in Columbus, KS and was a lifelong resident of SW Missouri and SE Kansas. He worked at Andrews Farm and Seed at Avilla as a leadman. Richard had been active in 4-H, coaching softball and football for all of his children, enjoyed coon hunting and was known as ‘John Wayne’ to his friends.

 He married Amy Lee on June 6, 1992 at Reeds, Missouri and she survives. Also surviving are five children, Lisa Gregg, Neosho; Dannis Outt, Granby; Jeremy Lee, Sarcoxie; Christina Hensley, Neck City; Kara Outt and Skylar Outt, Reeds, MO; one brother, David Outt and wife, Mary, Galena, MO; two sisters, Linda Higginbotham and husband, Joe, Reeds and Sandra Lucas and husband, Lonnie Bell, Neosho and 12 grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Nelson and Virginia Outt and a niece, Christy Carnes.

Funeral service will be held 9 a.m. Saturday, December 7, 2013, at Clark Chapel of Memories. Graveside services will be held 11:30 a.m. Saturday, December 7, 2013, at Lone Elm Cemetery, Columbus, Kan.

Margaret Thornburg

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Margaret A. Thornburg age 72, Joplin, Mo. passed away November 21, 2013 following a short illness.

She was born September 19, 1941 in Pleasenthill, Kansas to George and Katherine Sandridge Hill.

Margaret had lived in the Joplin, Mo. area for 8 years, moving from Parsons, Kansas. She was in the real estate business and was employed by Sea Cliff Escrow in southern California. Margaret retired in 1989 and became a full time homemaker.

She married Robert Thornburg on May 18, 1963 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and he preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her parents.

Margaret is survived by four children; Gene Thornburg, Joplin, Mo., Bob Thornburg, Springfield, Mo., George Thornburg, Westminsler, Ca., David Thornburg, Lake Elsonor, Ca., eight grand children, and 2 step great grand children.

Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday December 9, 2013 at Mason-Woodard Mortuary chapel with James Lankford, minister officiating.

Anna Selves

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Anna M. Selves, age 86 of Joplin, Mo., passed away Sunday, December 1, 2013 at Webb City Health & Rehab surrounded by her family.

Anna was born on November 3, 1927 in Joplin, the daughter of Albert and Angeline (Smith) Reed. Anna was a longtime member of Central City Christian Church. Early in her life she worked at Meekers, then as a meat wrapper for Thriftway and various other grocery chains. After retirement in 1982 she worked part time at Ben Franklin Craft Store.

She was married in September of 1942 to Robert Yeakey, he preceded her in death. She was married in August of 1967 to Richard Selves, he preceded her in death in 1991. Anna was also preceded by one son Morris Lee Yeakey; one daughter Angela Webb; one brother; Ernest Reed, and her sister, LouElla Warren.

Anna is survived by one son; Richard Yeakey and his wife Mary Beth, Joplin; three daughters; Bobbie Brown Wooten and her husband Donald, Joplin, Linda Jones and her husband Richard, Carthage, Mo., and Anita Miller, Webb City, Mo.; one step-son, Timothy Selves and wife Rose, Joplin; seventeen grandchildren, twenty-seven great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren..

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at Mason-Woodard Chapel. John Atkins, Minister, will officiate. The family will receive friends 6-7 p.m. Tuesday at the mortuary. Anna will be cremated with burial at a later date.

June Bowland

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

June M. Bowland, age 89, of Joplin, Mo. passed away at 7:06 a.m. Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at Spring River Christian Village. June was born April 16, 1924 in Peabody, Kansas. She worked as an accountant for the Quaker Oats Co. in St. Joseph, Mo. until her retirement in 1986. She then moved to Norfolk, Nebraska and served as a volunteer accountant for Nebraska Christian College. In 1993 she moved to Joplin, and was residing at Mercy Village. She was an active member of Villa Heights Christian Church and served as a secretary there from 1993 until 2004.

June married Glenn A. Bowland January 8, 1951 in St. Joseph, Mo. He preceded her in death on June 12, 1969. She was also preceded in death by a son, Jeff Bowland, a great granddaughter, AuRyan Melton, and a brother, Richard Hewitt. Survivors include a son, Terry Bowland and wife Carol, Carl Junction, Mo., three granddaughters, Crystal Melton and husband Andy, Tiffany Legato, and husband Joe, and Becca Bowland, and three great grandchildren, DeLaney and McCabe Melton, and Edmund Legato.

Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday at the Villa Heights Christian Church with Truman Brady, Minister, officiating. Visitation will be from 4-5 p.m. Thursday at the Mortuary. Burial will be in the Maitland Cemetery in Maitland, Mo. Memorial contributions are requested to Deaf Missions in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mason-Woodard Mortuary of Joplin, Mo.

Ruth Taylor-Crunkleton

(From Parker Mortuary)

Ada Ruth Taylor-Crunkleton, age 80, Joplin, passed away at 6:30 p.m. Monday, December 2, 2013 at Webb City Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Ruth was born May 13, 1933 in Atoka, Oklahoma to the late Cecil Gillion and Rena Piper Gillion and had lived in the Joplin area most of her life.

She devoted her life to the Lord at the age of 17, when she became a minister in the Pentecostal Church. Ruth was part of the Highways and Hedges Ministry in Northeast Oklahoma. She ministered at the former Rainbow Temple Pentecostal Church in Joplin until it was destroyed by the 2011 tornado. She continued to minister to people every day by distributing food and tending to their needs.

Ruth married David Crunkleton on October 17, 1993 in Greenwood, Missouri. He survives at the home.

Additional survivors include a son, Eddie Taylor, Joplin; two daughters, Marilyn Stewart, Jasper, Glenda Crouch, Atlanta, Georgia; two sisters, Shirley Reynolds, Joplin, Imogene Huffman, Joplin; one brother, Bob Taylor, Carterville; 15 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.

Ruth was preceded in death by two children, David and Cecil Taylor; and two sisters, Mary Ellen Taylor and Glenda Johnson.

Services are planned for Friday at 10:00 a.m. at Christ Point Church, 23rd and Annie Baxter. Wayne Stewart will officiate. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, Galena. Pallbearers will be David Stewart, Andrew Crouch, Eric Taylor, C.J. Taylor, Joe Stewart and Wesley Crouch. The family will receive friends Thursday from 6-7:00 p.m. at Parker Mortuary. Memorial contributions may be made to Souls Harbor, in care of Parker Mortuary.

Grayson Berg

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Grayson Adam Lee Berg, 6 week old infant son of Robert Berg and Felicia Stone of Joplin, Mo. passed away at 5:44 a.m. Friday, November 29, 2013 at his home. Grayson was born October 11, 2013 in Joplin.

Additional survivors include a brother, Timothy Berg, Carl Junction, Mo., four sisters, Selena Berg, Waterloo, Iowa, and Riyley Stone, Cailey Ring, and Nevaeh Ring, all of Joplin, his paternal grandparents, Gary and Carol Rader, Webb City, paternal grandfathers, Fredrick Stone, State of Wisconsin, Paul Berg, Eldora, Iowa, and Henry Schmitt, Carl Junction, Mo., paternal grandmother, Dianna Koile, Eldora, Iowa, paternal great grandmother, Donna Koile, Eldora, Iowa, maternal grandparents, Tom and Sandra Randall, Joplin, maternal great grandfather, Frank Chew, Galena, Ks., maternal great grandparents, Rod and Sherry Carlill, Joplin, maternal great great grandparents, Phillip and Lillian Williams, Webb City, and maternal great great grandmother, Lenora Chew, Galena, Ks.

Billie Shanks

(From Parker Mortuary)

Billie Gager Shanks, age 85, Joplin, passed away on Monday, December 2, 2013 at her home.

Billie was born April 10, 1928 in Woodston, Kansas, daughter of the late Ira F. Gager and Truly A. Brittain Gager. She graduated from Woodston High School in 1946, and attended college. She worked for Tri-State Motor Transit in Joplin as a rate clerk for over 20 years before retiring. She was also a member of the local Ladies Bridge Clubs, and enjoyed playing bridge in both Joplin and Neosho. She was an avid sports fan, and would often be found watching more than one sporting event on television at the same time.

Recently, her biggest thrill came from following her grandchildren’s activities. She would travel to watch everything from sports, cheerleading, theater, and their singing performances. She was extremely proud of her grandchildren and their accomplishments. She was also well known for her cooking abilities, especially her fried chicken, which was asked for on many occasions, including major holidays, to replace the traditional turkey and ham.

In addition to her parents, Billie was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn J. Shanks, on May 10, 2006.

Survivors include her daughters, Marsha Harlan of Neosho, Linda Miller and husband Randy of Boulder, Colorado, Cyndy Carder and husband Mike of Joplin, Kristi Rhoads of Jefferson City, Missouri; step-daughter, Deborah Christman and husband Chris of Carl Junction, Missouri; grandchildren, Lauren Harlan, Tyler Rhoads, Anna Rhoads, Brett Carder Lutz and husband Bryan, Kyle Carder, Mike Miller and wife Lobelia, Maggie Miller, Kelli Christman, Kerri Kelley and husband Dakota; great-grandchild, Charlie Miller; sister, Carol Carmody of Albuquerque, New Mexico; brother, Merl Gager and wife Donna of Plainville, Kansas; several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be Thursday, December 5, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. in Greenlawn Cemetery, Baxter Springs, Kansas, with Pastor Dave Burgess officiating, and family serving as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends at First Presbyterian Church, 6th and Pearl, in the John Knox Hall, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. following the graveside service on Thursday.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Joplin Humane Society.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.