Maxine Gibson

(From Daniel Funeral Home)

Maxine I Gibson, age 87, of rural Lamar, passed away at her home, surrounded by her family, Saturday June 14, 2014.

Maxine was born November 15, 1926 in Delaware, Oklahoma to William Ocie and Goldie Marie (Quick) Raper. She was a homemaker and from the Cherokee Nation.

Survivors include her brother and his wife, Jim and Mary Raper and a sister, Virginia Lee Davis, all of Lamar; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents, a brother, Jack Raper; four sisters, Imogene Hukill, Pal Nadine Geblin, Joan Halcomb and an infant sister, Marie Raper.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 5:00 pm Wednesday, June 18th at Daniel Funeral Home with Rusty Boyd officiating. She will be laid to rest at Morehead Cemetery.

Contributions are suggested to Hospice Compassus in care of Daniel Funeral Home.

Mary Miller

(From Daniel Funeral Home)

Mary E. Miller, age 104, of Lamar, passed away Friday, June 13, 2014 at Truman Healthcare Center where she had been a resident for the past five months.

     Mary was born November 12, 1909, at Sugar Grove, Arkansas, the fourth of eleven children of Henry and Mattie (Merriman) Hooper.  On January 9, 1932, at Fairfax, Oklahoma, she married the love of her life, Roy Miller and they had celebrated 59 years together before his death April 7, 1991.  She was also preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and eight sisters.

     Roy and Mary worked many different jobs across the country to raise money to buy farmland, settling and raising their four children in Barton County west of Milford, moving to Lamar in 1962. In addition to farming, Mary had worked at Aaron’s Poultry, Fowler’s Café, owned and operated Irwin General Store, and Roy & Mary’s Café in Milford, worked at O’Sullivan Industries and Lamar Daycare Center.  “Granny” to family and friends alike, Mary was a natural care-giver, known for her Christian values, work ethic, the abundance of huge gardens she shared, and the home-cooked meals enjoyed by many around her table.  She enjoyed fishing, the fellowship of her Milford Christian Church family, and any activity that could be shared with her many grandchildren.  She was an avid card player.

     Survivors include four children, Dorothy (Dwight) Parks, Gerry (Brenda) Miller, Don (Jane) Miller all of Lamar, and Vicki Miller of Sarcoxie; a sister-in-law, Zelma (Mrs. H.C.) Hooper, Milford; ten grandchildren, Pam (Joe) Judd, Peg (Bill) Jeffries, Chip (Jerri) Miller, Brian (Cassie) Miller, Dave (Angie) Parks, Deana (Bill) Baker, Darin Parks, Denny (Russ) Massa, Mark Miller, and Matt (Lori) Miller; 32 great-grandchildren; and 20 great-great grandchildren. 

     Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 17^th at Daniel Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Monday.  Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery.

     Memorial contributions are suggested to Hospice Compassus, Maple Senior Living, or Truman Healthcare, in care of the funeral home.

Norma Roberts

(From Parker Mortuary)

Norma Jean Roberts, age 79, a lifelong resident of Joplin, MO, passed away Sunday, June 15, 2014 at her home while surrounded by her family.

 She was born on August 28, 1934 in Joplin, the daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth “Rigney” Smith. Norma married Bobbie Lee Roberts on April 10, 1959, he preceded her in death on December 25, 1993. She worked for Midcon Cables Co. until her retirement. She was a member of the Bethel Assembly of God Church, and the Thursday BSF group at Forest Park Baptist Church. She loved studying God’s word, working in her yard, and enjoyed many kinds of arts and crafts activities, especially when she was able to work on them with her grandkids. 

She was also preceded in death by her parents and two brothers Garry and Dale Smith. She is survived by three sons: Michael Roberts and his wife Opal, of Joplin; Richard Roberts and his wife Robin, of Joplin; and Steven Roberts and his wife Angela of Joplin; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. 

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at the Mason-Woodard Mortuary with Reverend Orville Garrison officiating. Serving as pallbearers are Norma’s grandsons: Chris Roberts, Craig Roberts, Danny Roberts, Dustin Roberts, Andrew Roberts and Chris Dart. Burial will follow in the Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at the Mortuary. The family suggests contributions to the Gideon Bible Ministry or Bethel Assembly of God Church in care of the mortuary. Arrangements entrusted to the Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.

Margaret Keys

(From Parker Mortuary)

Margaret Keys joined our Savior on June 14, 2014 at her home in Bella Vista, Arkansas.

She was born October 18, 1923 in Cushing, Oklahoma, daughter of the late Angelo Moreno and Christina Zermano Moreno. Her family moved to Joplin, Missouri where she worked as a chief operator and supervisor with S.W. Bell Telephone in Camp Crowder, and then Joplin before moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma. She married Fred Keys in Tulsa in 1950, and retired from S.W. Bell after 40 years, and then moved to Bella Vista. Margo was a member of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church of Joplin.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Fred Keys, her four children, Sandra Keys Croswell, Michael Keys, Penny Keys Walker, and Peter Keys, and their spouses, Doug Walker, Art Croswell, and Ling Keys; three grandchildren, Lindsey Walker, Michael Brewer, and Dawn Brewer Burkhart, 12 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Celia Lytle of Kansas City, Missouri.

The family will receive friends at Parker Mortuary prior to her Funeral Mass on Thursday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. in St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church with Father J. Friedel officiating.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.

Donna Wright

(From Parker Mortuary)

Donna Sue Erdman Wright, age 64, of Webb City, Missouri, passed away Sunday, June 15, 2014 at Quaker Hill Skilled Nursing in Baxter Springs, Kansas after an extended illness.

Donna was born November 2, 1949 to Donald and Helen Greiwe Erdman in Higginsville, Missouri. She received her teaching degree from CMSU and taught elementary grades for 30 years. Donna was very involved in church as the organist and a Sunday school teacher. She volunteered at Senior Health Center in Bolivar, Missouri. Donna faithfully attended the morning class of Bible Study Fellowship of Joplin.

On March 18, 1972, Donna married David Wright in Warrensburg, Missouri. He survives of the home.

Additional survivors include her mother, Helen Erdman of Higginsville, Missouri; daughter, Sharon Hackett and husband Brent of Miami, Oklahoma; grandsons, Ryan and Luke Hackett; sister, Denise Kirchhoff and husband Jeff of Higginsville, Missouri; brother, Russ Erdman and wife Diane of Alma, Missouri; nieces, nephew, extended family and friends that will greatly miss her.

A memorial service is planned for Thursday, June 19, 2014 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin, Missouri at 1:00 P.M.. Family will hold a graveside service the next day in Alma, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Bible Study Fellowship International in care of the mortuary.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri.

Jonathan Foster

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Jonathan Ray Foster, 58, Joplin, died June 15, 2014 at his home in Joplin. Jonathan was born March 12, 1958 in Ft. Worth, TX, the son of Bob and June (Richards) Foster. He served in the U.S. Navy and was self-employed in the electronic industry. He was a member of the Woodward Avenue Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals, AL. Jonathan is survived by a son, Eric Foster-Whiddon and wife, Vanessa, Moultrie, GA; his parents, Dr. Bob and June Foster, Neosho; a sister, Karen Martin and husband, Joe, Neosho and four grandchildren.

A MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT A LATER DATE AT THE NORTHSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH IN NEOSHO, MO.

Larry Jones

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Larry Dene Jones, age 66 of Joplin, passed away on Friday June 13, 2014, at his home surrounded by his family, following a long term illness.

 Larry was born on July 24, 1947 in Cassville, Mo., the son of Donald and Pauline (Cole) Jones, currently of Joplin. He graduated from Joplin High School in 1965. He graduated from Southeast Missouri University in Cape Girardeau, Mo .He served in the United States Air Force as a Sargent E-4 Security Police and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a long standing member of the Church of Christ. 

He married Loretta Sue Graham on April 12, 1981 in Exeter, Mo. Larry and Loretta had two children Truman born on November 21, 1982 and Tiffany on November 27, 1987. Larry had two children from a previous marriage, Doug born on November 28, 1973 and Jerimiah born on March 4, 1978. Larry was a teacher, he taught Industrial Tech at Aurora High School for nine years in Aurora, Mo., where he retired. He is survived by his parents, Donald and Pauline Jones, Joplin; his wife, Loretta Jones, Joplin; his sister, Linda Thomas and her husband Lowell, Springfield, Mo.; his four children, Doug Jones, Jerimiah Jones, both of Oklahoma, Truman Jones and wife Natalie, Branson, Mo., and Tiffany Jones, Joplin; and three grandchildren, Jerimiah’s son, Zach Jones, Truman and Natalie’s children, Alie Jones and Levi Jones.

 Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at Mason-Woodard Chapel. Greg Spink, Minister, will officiate. The family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be given to the United Network For Oran Sharing or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in care of the mortuary. Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.