Russell Hansford

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Russell Lee Hansford, age 78, of rural Diamond, Mo. passed away at 12:23 a.m. Friday, July 1, 2016 at his home. Russell was born July 7, 1937 near the Fidelity Community, south of Carthage, and was a lifetime area resident. Russell was employed as a Truck Driver with Tri-State Motor Transit Co. and later hauled cattle for local Stock businesses. He also enjoyed farming,

Russell married Vera Lea Giger January 15, 1959 in Miami, Ok. and she survives. Additional survivors include a son, Troy Hansford, Neosho, Mo., one daughter, Erin Boursheski and husband Kent, Pierce City, Mo., his Mother, Irene Hansford, Diamond, Mo., two brothers, Fred Hansford and wife Donna, Granby, Mo., and Gary Hansford and wife Michelle, Carthage, Mo., three grandchildren, Adam, Sara, and Drew Boursheski, and a great many friends and neighbors.

Russell’s wishes were to be cremated. A memorial visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Mason-Woodard Chapel in Joplin. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mason-Woodard Mortuary and Crematory of Joplin, Mo.

Donald Persinger

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Donald Persinger, 77, Neosho, died June 30, 2016 at his home. 

 He was born October 9, 1938 in Cedar Creek, Missouri, the son of William and Topsy (Blackwell) Persinger. Donald worked for Wonder Bread Company for 19 years, before moving to Neosho in 1979. He then owned and operated Flower Box Hiland Dairy until his retirement in 2003. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed bowling and fishing. He was a member of the Joplin Elks Club and Senior Men’s Golf Association. 

 Donald married Jane Carrick and she preceded him in death on January 11, 2004. He is survived by three children, Leslie Raines and husband, Phil of Columbia, MO; Denny Billingsley and husband, Steve of Ft. Worth, TX and Matt Persinger and wife, Jessica of Neosho, MO; three sisters, Loretta Rogers of Marshall, MO, Virginia Mae Henley of Marshall, MO and Darlene Hoyes of Sweet Springs, MO; six grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, Donald is preceded in death by his parents; three brothers and two sisters. 

 
Services are under the direction of Clark Funeral Home, Neosho, MO.

Memorial Service

Tuesday July 5, 2016, 1:00 PM at The Sheep Shed

Delores Watson

(From Parker Mortuary)

Delores Ruth Watson, 90, lifetime Joplin resident, passed away Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at Spring River Christian Village, Joplin.

Delores was born April 30, 1926 in Joplin to the late Ralph H. Lewis and Beatrice L. Campbell Lewis. Delores was a homemaker and a member of Royal Heights Nazarene Church.

On December 4, 1944, Delores married Jack Watson in Columbus, Kansas and he survives of their home.

Additional survivors include a daughter, Linda Cash of Joplin; sons, Denny 'Mike' Watson and wife, Alberta of Carl Junction and Rick Watson of Joplin; 10 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.

Delores was preceded in death by sons, David and Steve Watson and a daughter, Sharon Cody.

Graveside services are planned for Tuesday, July 5 at 11:00 a.m. at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery, Joplin.

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

Jackie Horton

(From Bath-Naylor Funeral Home)

Jacquelyn “Jackie” Sharp Munson Horton, 88 of Girard, KS embraced in the loving arms of her Savior Jesus Christ, went to be with the Lord at 5:20 a.m. Thursday June 30, 2016 at the West Ridge Assisted Living Facility in Girard, KS.

She was born January 19, 1928 in Cherokee, KS in the home of her grandparents, Edith and Charles Sharp. She was the daughter of Constance Helms and Sherman Sharp.

Jackie graduated from Girard High School; shortly after she took a train to Kansas City, MO where she began working as a secretary for the president of the Red Star Yeast Company. She met and married Eugene “Gene” Munson, they had six children. When Gene died in 1961 Jackie and her children moved back to Girard, KS, she began working at Va-Co-Hy where she remained for several years. She married Joseph Horton in 1968, they moved to Pittsburg and were owners/operators of Atkinson Industries for many years. She and Joe moved to Grove, OK, and began a career in real estate sales. After the passing of Joe, Jackie moved back to Girard, where she had remained until her passing. She loved to read, travel and most importantly being with her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include 2 daughters Lynda Summers and husband Bob of Carl Junction, MO, Dana Cook and husband James of Weatherford, TX; a son Sandy Horton and wife Shari of Pittsburg; a sister Juanita Knapp of Girard; 12 Grandchildren and 21 Great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Rex Sharp, both husbands Gene and Joe; a son Eugene Charles Munson; 2 daughters Connie Munson and Penny Smith and a granddaughter Meghan Smith.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday July 6, 2016 at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Pittsburg with Chaplain Wayne Mason officiating. Burial will follow in the Highland Park Cemetery. Condolences can be sent to www.bathnaylor.com Memorial contributions can be made to West Ridge Assisted Living Facility. Memorials may be brought by or mailed to the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home 522 S. Broadway Pittsburg, KS 66762.

Marisa Stotler

(From Bath-Naylor Funeral Home)

Marisa Brin Stotler 28, of Pittsburg, KS passed away unexpectedly 4:30pm Monday June 27, 2016 at the Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, MO following a sudden illness. 

Marisa was born September 22, 1987 in Colorado Springs, CO the daughter of Lori Lea Stotler of Pittsburg and Michael Devereaux (Michelle Devereaux) of FL. Marisa has lived in this community for the last 5 years. 

From Marisa’s beginning her intelligence and sweetness was apparent. She wrote her name the day she turned three. She was in Montessori school through 1st grade then went on to Mesa public schools.

Marisa graduated from Dobson High School in Chandler, AZ in 2006. She was a Varsity Basketball player her freshman thru senior years at Dobson and her playing ability allowed her to receive a full athletic scholarship to Washington State University. She went on to play for Boise State and Southern Polytechnic State University Marietta, GA. After leaving GA she finished up her Marketing Undergraduate degree at Pittsburg State University and earned her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Pittsburg State University on May 7th 2016. She was a Graduate assistant her last semester while working at Applebee’s in Pittsburg, KS. Her immediate plans were to move to Wichita, KS with her boyfriend Elliot Soyez the 22nd of June and start a new job she was offered.
Marisa enjoyed running and working out. She completed a 50k and a few other Marathons with in the last five years. She most enjoyed her family and friends, music, working hard and pampering herself with the things she enjoyed most. 

Survivors include her parents; siblings Eric Michael of Littleton CO, Miann Devereaux of Atlanta, GA, Bradley Devereaux , Michael Jr. Devereaux and Adianne Devereaux of Florida; maternal grandmother Shirley Stotler of Pittsburg, KS; paternal grandparents Fred and Mary Devereaux of Texas, maternal step grandmother Frankie Stotler, Frontenac, Aunts; Shelley Stotler, NM, Lisa Stotler, KS, Phreda Devereaux–Armour, CA Uncles; Michael Stotler NV, Brian Stotler, UT, Fred Devereaux, TX Ron Devereaux, AZ and Families. She is preceded in death by her maternal grandfather Parker Stotler and Truley Stotler.

Services are pending and will be announced on facebook. Cremation arrangements are by Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Pittsburg, KS.

Tooter Gardner

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

Mrs. Tooter Gardner, 69, of Anderson, Missouri, departed this life on Monday, June 20, 2016, at her daughter’s home in Sacramento, California, after a brief battle with cancer.

Tooter entered this life on February 25, 1947, in Lubbock, Texas, one of two daughters born to the union of the late Lloyd and Katherine (Mebus) Miller. She was raised in Morton, Texas and was a 1965 graduate of Morton High School, furthering her education at Texas Tech University. On March 26, 1970, she was united in marriage to Larry Lowell Gardner and together they shared the forty-five years before his passing earlier this year on March 18, 2016. Tooter was a hardworking and devoted homemaker throughout her life. She was a member of the Anderson United Methodist Church, ESA, PEO Sisterhood and UMW. She enjoyed a good cup of coffee, reading, working with the Boy Scouts and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and summer time travels with her husband Larry.

Tooter is survived by her three children, Stephanie Gardner of Sacramento, California, Ann Marie Patrick and husband, Scott, of Woodland, California and Lowell Gardner and wife, Kim, of Brighton, Colorado; four grandchildren, Emily and Morgan Campbell and Sydney and Jonas Gardner; a sister, Shirley Thomas and husband, Johnny, of Dawsonville, Georgia; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other family and friends.

Funeral services for Mrs. Gardner are 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, 2016, at the United Methodist Church in Anderson, Missouri, with Pastor Marilyn O’Brien officiating. Burial will follow in the Peace Valley Cemetery in Anderson, Missouri. Those honoring her life by serving as pallbearers are Kenny Christerson, Jim Edmonds, Butch Gardner, Rodney Gardner, Jr. Pratt, Matt Jones and Donnie Dewbre. The family will receive friends on Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. at the church. Memorials are being directed to either the Anderson United Methodist Church Building Fund or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and contributions may be left at the funeral home. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through our website, www.ozarkfuneralhome.com. 

 Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Missouri.

Bill Conaway

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

William (Billy) Carl Conaway passed away 21 June 2016, in Pineville, Missouri. He was born in Garden Lake, NJ, March 23, 1927. He spent the first 43 years of his life in southern Delaware, the son of William and Phoebe (Taylor) Conaway. Bill was married to the love of his life Delores Helen (Dolly) Emerson for 63 years before her passing in 2009. Bill often said, I lived the life I loved and most people wished they had. He was a real cowboy, an accomplished horseman, cattleman, blacksmith and multi-talented bluegrass musician. Bill could play almost anything with strings but in his later years focused on his Dobro as lead of the Ozark Ridge Runners Band. He played with his friends all over McDonald County and the tri-state area for over 40 years. To the joy of his oldest daughter and guests, the Ozark Ridge Runners played at her wedding in Eureka Springs Arkansas in 2014, when Bill was 87. As an accomplished rider and trainer, Bill won numerous trophies and awards, including the World Show in Oklahoma.

He was preceded in death by his wife Dolly, his parents, his brother Emerson W. Conaway, two sisters Hannah Bradley and Lillian Conaway.

Bill is survived by two daughters, Linda DeTurk (Ralph) Springfield VA, Dixie Finan (Bill) Anderson MO; four grandchildren, Duke Kirby (Lyn) Springfield VA, Scott Kirby (Belynda) Bridgeport WVA, Darla Robertson (Clay) Anderson MO, Misty Firchau (Chad) Diamond Head MS, five great grandchildren, Tyler Robertson; Dylan and Macie Firchau; Colton, and Charlotte Kirby; and a great great grandson Carter Robertson. He is also survived by two sisters in Delaware, Shelby Swain and Sarah Elliott, numerous nieces and nephews as well as a host of extended family and friends and his best friend and musician Richard Rinehart of Wichita KS and friend Maureen Leonard of Pineville MO.

A Celebration of Bill and Dolly’s life, will be held on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. at the Pineville Community Building.

A special thanks to the Compassus Hospice team. In lieu of flowers please make donations in his memory to Compassus Hospice. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through our website, www.ozarkfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Missouri.