Ralph Hayes

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Ralph Gaylon Hayes Sr., age 64, died Tuesday afternoon, August 30, 2016 after collapsing suddenly while at work in Pittsburg, KS.

Ralph was born Dec 13, 1951 in Galena, KS. His parents were Ray and Clara May (Phillips) Hayes. He was a lifetime resident of Galena.

He graduated from Galena High School with the Class of 1971. IN 1985, he earned an associate degree from Coffeyville Community College. He has worked as a salvage manager at Randy Vilela Body Shop in Pittsburg for the past 30 years. He enjoyed working on vehicles, including repairing, rebuilding, and trading them. He also loved to pick blackberries only to give them away to his family and friends.

Ralph was married to Suzan Richardson on July 12, 1974 in Columbus, KS. She survives.

Additional survivors include one son, Ralph Hayes Jr,(wife, Frankie) Galena,; one daughter, Maggie Mae Hayes (boyfriend, Chad Garrett), Galena; 5 brothers, John Hayes (wife, Linda) Tulsa, OK, Jessie Hayes (wife, Brenda), Baxter Springs, KS, Rodney Hayes, Galena, Wesley Hayes (wife, Chris), Joplin, MO, and Wendall Hayes (wife, Donna), Weir, KS; 7 grandchildren, Hunter, Chance, Courtney, Kylea, Constance, Hayley, and Axel; and two great-grandchildren, Jenna and Jax..

Funeral services will be at 6:00 pm, Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at Derfelt Funeral Home, Galena, KS. Pastor Jeff D. Martin will officiate. The family will receive friends after the funeral service until 8 pm.

Jeff Smith

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Jeffrey Lynn Smith, age 62 of Oronogo passed away at his home on the morning of Wednesday, August 31, 2016 following an illness.

Jeff was born on April 9, 1954 in St. Louis, MO to the union of James T. “Bud” Smith, Sr. and Bernice Windecker. He had lived his entire life in the Galena, KS area. He and his family have always been associated with the Empire Mission Church north of Galena.

Jeff had a mechanical mind. He could take almost anything apart and find a way to fix it. He was very skilled in repairing electronics, as well as helping with electrical work while building houses. He loved his time with family when everyone would get together and play music. He was well known throughout the area as a bartender, serving in many of the local establishments. Above all else, Jeff enjoyed life.

Survivors include two children, Chris Smith of Springfield, MO, and Amanda Smith of the State of California; two brothers, Clinton Smith of Joplin, and Michael Smith of Seneca, MO; two sisters, Janet Montee of Alba, MO, and Joyce Ann Mendenhal of Pryor, OK; and one grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, James T. Smith, Jr. (June 13, 2016), and Raymond Smith (July 23, 2016).

Mr. Smith was entrusted to Derfelt Funeral Home of Galena for cremation. The family will be planning a memorial service to be held at a later date. Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com.

Ordelle Aaker

(From Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home)

Ordelle M. Aaker, who moved to this area in 2011 to be closer to family, died Saturday, August 27, at her apartment in Joplin. She was 91.

A long-time resident of Appleton, WI, Ms. Aaker was the sister of Irene Brewer and brother-in-law of Archie N. Brewer of rural Carthage. Mrs. Brewer died in 2015. Survivors from the area include a niece, Vallie Cook, of Carl Junction and a nephew, Mark Brewer, of Carthage and their families.

Other survivors include a sister-in-law, Marion Aaker, of Rochester, MN; five nephews, Norman (Judy) Brewer of Bethesda, MD, Joseph Brewer of West Plains, MO, David Aaker of Rochester, Donald Hutchinson of Concordia, KS, and Dennis (Pam) Hutchinson of Smith Center, KS; four nieces, Renie Wilson (Douglas) of Chicago, IL, Mary Ellen Morgan (Phil) of Columbia, TN, Sonja Kobbeman of Lincoln, KS, and Kristine Aaker of Rochester and their families. Ms. Aaker’s primary caregiver was Pam Goodwin of Oronogo, MO.

Ms. Aaker was born in Thief River Falls, MN, and was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith by her father, the Rev. V.O. Aaker. She was a graduate of Norway High School in Kansas and Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN, and taught high school in Minnesota and Wisconsin for several years. She then became chief librarian for Aid Association for Lutherans, now Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, until retiring in 1987. She was a member of First English Lutheran Church in Appleton.

Memorial Services are 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 5, at Peace Lutheran Church in Joplin, MO, with Pastor James Schnackenberg officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First English Lutheran Church of Appleton, WI, or to Concordia Lutheran Church in memory of Ms. Aaker’s parents, the Rev. V.O. and Emma Aaker. The Rev. Aaker founded Concordia Lutheran Church.

Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home, Sarcoxie, Missouri.

Clydene Scheurer

(From Simpson Funeral Home)

Clydene Scheurer, 81, of Carthage, passed away Monday, August 29th at her home.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John C. and Maretta M. Egnew and younger sister, Wanda K. Rainer and infant brother Jimmy.

Survivors include her daughter Karen Clark of Fairway, KS, daughter Anita Idleman and Dave of Carthage, MO, son John Scheurer and Sharon of Leavenworth, KS, and son Jay Scheurer and Susan of Eldersburg, MD, 12 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Born and raised in Henrietta, OK, she was led to Christ by a classmate and after graduating moved to Wichita, KS to attend Wichita Business College. It was during this time she met her husband of nearly 60 years whom she herself led to Christ before their marriage on July 1st, 1955.
She was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend and will be missed greatly by all who knew her.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 am and funeral services at 11:00 am on Tuesday, September 6th, 2016 at the First Baptist Church of Webb City where she was a member for 27 years. Rev. Bob Easton will be officiating with the burial at Mount Hope Cemetery.

The family suggests memorial contributions for Carthage Crisis Center in care of the funeral home. Services are under the direction of Simpson Funeral Home in Webb City, MO. Visit www.simpsonfh.com for online condolences.

Melinda Stribling

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Melinda Sue Stribling, age 46 of Granby, Missouri, died August 31, 2016 at her home, following an extended illness. 

 Melinda was born June 12, 1970 in Stella, Missouri, the daughter of Gary and Linda (Stout) Morris. She was a lifelong area resident and currently worked as clerk for the City of Sarcoxie. Melinda enjoyed reading, gardening and being outdoors. She was a member of the Silver Moon Full Gospel Church. 

 Melinda and Michael Stribling were married on Sept. 9, 2009 at Miami, Oklahoma and he survives. Additional survivors include her mother, Linda Martin of Goodman; eight children, Joseph Serr of Granby; Cheyenne Serr of Jay, Oklahoma; Dakota Kell of Bentonville, Arkansas; Bobby Clark, III of Kansas City, Missouri; Tiffany Perry of Miami, Oklahoma; Shyla Brauch of Jefferson City, Missouri; Michael Stribling, Jr. of Neosho and Michelle Holman of Sarcoxie; one brother, David Martin of Goodman; four sisters, Linda White of Maryville, Tennessee; Cora Wilkerson and Sherry Carlton of Stark, Florida and Stephanie White of Colcord, Oklahoma and seventeen grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her father, Gary; sister, Evangeline and grandmother, Mary Noland. Services are under the direction of Clark Funeral Home, Granby, MO.

Memorial Service

11:00 AM, Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Silver Moon Full Gospel
Hwy 59 North Neosho, Mo 64850

Jerry Burris

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Jerry Lee Burris, 64, Seneca, Missouri, passed away at his home in Seneca, surrounded by his loving family.

 Jerry was born April 1, 1952 in Webb City, Missouri, the son of Howard L. and Dovey L. (Alexander) Burris. He was a lifelong area resident and had served in the U.S. Army, 1971-1977. He worked as a superintendent in the construction industry. Jerry was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping. He was a member of the Neosho Masonic Lodge; Abou Ben Adhem Temple in Springfield and Scottish Rite of Joplin. 

Jerry is survived by his wife, Donna (Dobbs) Burris of the home; two sons, Jerry Lee Burris of Granby and Justin Howard Burris and wife, Stefani of Seneca; three grandchildren, Brittany Burris, Tyler Burris and Ryker Burris and two brothers, Howard Burris and wife, Linda and Leo Burris and wife, Cathy, all of Sherman, Texas. He is preceded in death by his father, Howard L. Burris and mother, Dovey Lucille Crowell.

THE VISITATION WILL BE PRIOR TO THE SERVICE
Saturday September 3, 2016, Noon - 1:30 pm at Clark Chapel of Memories

FUNERAL SERVICE
Saturday September 3, 2016, 1:30 pm at Clark Chapel of Memories

Mae Bandy

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Mae Bandy, 82, Granby, passed away August 31, 2016 at her home, following a short illness. 

She was born August 20, 1934 in Stella, Missouri, the daughter of Dee and Rosie Thompson. Mae was a lifelong area resident and had worked as a unit tech for Sale Memorial and Freeman Neosho Hospital for over 30 years. She bowled for many years on the Clark Funeral Home bowling team and was a member of the Church of Hope. Mae was a giving person and loved by many. 

 She is survived by five children, Sharon Stephenson, Marsha Vorthman, Teresa Byrd, Vernon ‘Doug’ Langham and Stacy Bevan; seven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. Mae is preceded in death by her parents; three brothers and three sisters. 

VIEWING
Tuesday September 6, 2016, 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM at Clark Chapel of Memories

VISITATION
Tuesday September 6, 2016, 6:00 PM - 7:00 Pm at Clark Chapel of Memories

FUNERAL SERVICE
Wednesday September 7, 2016, 10:00 AM at Clark Chapel of Memories