Bobbie Joe Mingo

(From Parker Mortuary)

Bobbie Joe Mingo, age 62, Joplin, passed away at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, March 15, 2015 at Mercy Hospital, Springfield, after an illness.

Bobbie was born February 9, 1953 in Denver, Colorado and had lived in Joplin most of his life.

He attended Joplin schools and graduated from the former Memorial High School, where he excelled in several sports, including football; basketball and track. He went on to play football at Missouri Southern State College and received his degree in Sociology.

Bobbie was a veteran of the United States Army, serving as a medic and was the top athletic recruit in his class at Fort Leonard Wood.

He worked for several companies, including Kansas City Southern and Pacific Railroad. He retired due to ill health.

Bobbie loved his family-he loved kids. No one was ever a stranger. He lived in several different places, but always came back home to Joplin, Missouri.

He married Cynthia Lankford in March of 1999. She survives at the home.

Additional survivors include two sons, Robert Anderson, Oroville, California, Gabe Sharp, Joplin; a daughter, Tiffany McCarter, Oroville, California; his father, Theodore R. Johnson, Joplin; three brothers, Larry Johnson and his wife, Mary, Joplin, Teddy Johnson and his wife, Barbara, Joplin, Gary ‘Cat’ Johnson and his wife, Wendy, Joplin; four grandchildren and several extended family members.

Bobbie was preceded in death by his mother, Elle Ree Johnson; and numerous nieces; nephews and grandchildren.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Byers Avenue United Methodist Church. Rev. George Triplett and Rev. Willie Rogers, Jr. will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to the family for funeral expenses.

The family would like to thank everyone for the many prayers received the last few months of his sickness. They would also like everyone to know that they will be eating lunch at the Golden Corral following the services.

Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.

Lovern Ellis

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Lovern F. Ellis, age 72, of Joplin, Mo., passed away on Wednesday March 18, 2015, following a short illness. 

Lovern was born on June 21, 1942, the son of the late Stanley and Belva (Johnson) Ellis. He has been a lifetime area resident. He married Jane LeRoy on January 17, 1964 in Carterville, Mo., together they raised two children. He graduated from MSSU with a degree in accounting. He worked for Aero Body Company and then Farmer Chemical Company. He developed a geometric figure and method for computing inventory of fertilizer that they still use today. After working in private accounting at the Webb Corporation for five years he joined the firm of Myers, Scarborough and Baker. Five years later he joined Tamko where he worked for thirty-four years where he served on the Board of Directors as the treasurer. He served as past president of the National Association of Accountants. He served as the treasurer for the Joplin Family Y for six years. He was also the treasurer of the Tri-State Boy Scouts. He was the City Clerk for the City of Carterville for five years. Lovern was a past Deacon of the Church of Christ. After retiring from Tamko he began selling real estate for Keller Williams Realty. 

Lovern is survived by his wife of fifty-one years Jane Ellis, Joplin; one son Kenneth Ellis and wife Cindi, Phoenix, Az.; one daughter, Mary Reynolds and husband Richard, Joplin; one brother, Johnny Wells and wife Sandy, Carterville, Mo.; three sisters, Phyllis Comeau and husband Jack, Carthage, Mo., Rosetta Hales, Carthage, Mo., and Linda Neil, of the state of California; four grandchildren, Russell Reynolds and wife Erica, Garrick Reynolds, Kolby Ellis, and Kendra Ellis; with one great-grandchild on the way; a very close cousin, Carol Scribner and husband Darrell, Diamond, Mo., and life-long friends Raymond and Kathy Vann, Carl Junction, Mo. He was preceded in death by a sister, Beverly Smith. 

A Memorial visitation will be held 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Mason-Woodard Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Granby House in care of the mortuary. Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.

Bill Godfrey

(From Knell Mortuary)

William M. Godfrey, Jr., 81, Carthage, passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at Mercy Hospital, Joplin, MO.  William Mager Godfrey, Jr. was born June 13, 1933 in Woodbury, NJ; a son of the late William M. Godfrey, Sr. and Evelyn Rogers Godfrey.  Bill was a graduate of Collingswood High School, Collingswood, NJ.  Bill was a U.S. Army veteran serving in the Korean Conflict.  He attended the First Baptist Church, Neosho, MO and the Nazarene Church of Carthage.  He owned and operated Bill Godfrey’s Construction Co., Seneca, MO.  Bill married Peggy Vickery on August 29, 1959; she preceded him in death on July 25, 2001.

Survivors include two sons; Mike (Sandi) Godfrey, Carthage and Ray (Carla) Godfrey, Ozark, MO; two brothers, Richard (Sandy) Godfrey, Baltimore, MD and John (Sharry) Godfrey, Carl Junction, MO; five grandchildren, Grant, Emily, Clint, Lacey and Kali Godfrey.

Visitation will be held from 5:30 – 6:00 PM, Thursday, March 19 at the Carthage Nazarene Church.  A memorial service will follow at 6:15 PM at the church.  Inurnment will be held in Hornet Cemetery, Hornet, MO at a later date. Memorial gifts may be made to the Carthage R-9 Foundation, Carthage High School Baseball.  Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com. - See more at: http://www.knellmortuary.com/displayobit1.aspx?callid=1720#sthash.fkdmRueT.dpuf

Ron Aman

(From Daniel Funeral Home)

Ronald Lee Aman, age 70 of Lamar, Missouri died Sunday, March 15, 2015 at Barton County Memorial Hospital.

Ron was the only child of Leland Wesley and Ursula (Webels) Aman, born, August 6, 1944 at Jersey City, NJ. He graduated Lamar High School 1962 and went on to receive a degree in Water/Waste Water Management where he had worked in Nevada, Missouri, Odessa, Missouri and Blytheville, Arkansas. Ron loved to camp and fish, especially at Roaring River State Park. He also enjoyed tying flies for his fishing adventures.

Ron leaves behind his beloved companion of 34 years, Beverly Lara of the home. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Graveside service will be 3:00 pm Thursday, March 19, 2013 at Memory Gardens Cemetery, Lamar, Missouri.

Robert Edman

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Robert E. Edman, Jr., age 54 of Kirkwood, Mo., passed away late Friday, March 13, 2015, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. following a long battle with cancer. 

Robert was born on April 6, 1960 in Detroit, Mi., the son of Robert, Sr. and Carolyn (Stieler) Edman. He was a long time area resident before moving to Kirkwood three years ago. Robert worked in internet sales for Frank-Leta Acura in St. Louis before his illness forced him to retire. He is survived by one son, Ethan Edman of Bentonville, Ar.; one daughter, Elise Edman-Kile and her husband Mike of Kirkwood; his mother, Carolyn; and one sister, Beth Frawley of Lancaster, Ma. Robert was preceded in death by his father. 

Robert is to be cremated with a memorial service scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 19, 2015, at the Mason-Woodard Chapel. The family will receive friends during a time of visitation following the service. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.

Chuck Lovejoy

(From Ulmer Funeral Home)

Ralph Charles (Chuck) Lovejoy, 76 passed away March 16, 2015 at St. Luke's Nursing Home, Carthage. 

Chuck was born May 3, 1938 in Hayward, Wisconsin to Albert and Josephine (Clark) Lovejoy, They were both killed in a truck train accident December 1949. Chuck worked as a mechanic at Dan Stanley Ford and retired from Sears as a mechanic in 1992 after 25 years, he also worked at Four State Auto Supply in parts sales. He was a member of Christs Church of Perseverance. Chuck lived the 1st 6 years in Hayward, then moved to Iowa until he was 17 then moved to the area in 1964. 

Chuck was united in marriage to Wilda Lewis August 8, 1965 in Miller, MO, she survives; he is survived by two sisters Mary Lou Lindaman (John), and Betty Jo Wilson (Randy), a sister in law Dorothy Lovejoy, several nieces and nephews. Chuck and Wilda had several foster children over the years. Chuck is preceded by his parents and one brother Robert Lovejoy. 

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday March 21, 2015 at Christs Church of Perseverance and a Graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday March 21, 2015 at Red Oak cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday March 21, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. prior to the service at Christs Church of Perseverance. In Lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made to Avalon Hospice or Bright Futures or your favorite local charity in care of Ulmer Funeral Home. Online condolences can be made at www.ulmerfh.com. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Ulmer Funeral Home

Ralph Barger

(From Parker Mortuary)

Ralph Alvin Barger, age 82 of Joplin passed away Saturday, March 14, 2015 from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.

Ralph was born July 31, 1932 to the late Adison J. Barger and Florence Elliff Barger in Anderson, Missouri. He graduated from Webb City High School and was a lifetime resident of the Joplin area.

Ralph retired as a Business Agent for the Local Carpenters Union No. 311. He also worked as a driver for Rodeo Meat Company for several years. He was a lifetime member of the Fellowship Masonic Lodge No. 345 AF & AM. Ralph served our country in the United State Armed Forces during the Korean War and then transferred to the Army Reserves.

He is survived by a daughter, Mona Ransom of Joplin; grandchildren, Bryce Ransom and wife April of Carl Junction, April Stewart and husband Shane of Carl Junction; step grandchildren, Sherri, Tammy, Chris and Angie all of the Kansas City area; numerous great grandkids as well as many friends.

Ralph is preceded in death by a son, Tony Barger and a sister, Peggy Canoy.

A memorial service has been planned for Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. at Parker Mortuary. Family will receive friends following the service.

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