David Tharp

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

David Russell Tharp, 64, of Anderson, Missouri, departed this life on Sunday evening, December 2, 2018, in the comfort of his home after a courageous battle with cancer.

David entered this life on August 7, 1954, in Wichita, Kansas, born to the union of the late Forest and Betty (Mossman) Tharp. He was raised and attended school in the Wichita, Kansas area. He has resided in Anderson, Missouri, since 1980. He drove a truck for Little Debbie for several years before purchasing Premier Memorials in Anderson in 2000. David was an Elder and member of Grace Life Church in Anderson where for nine years he led the recovery ministry of Saturday Night High. David was a true outdoors man. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and an occasional game of cards.

David is survived by his wife, Jana Tharp of the home; two children, Crystal Keene and husband, Kodi, of Anderson and Brittany Owens and husband, Justin, of Noel; eleven grandchildren; two brothers, Daniel Eugene Tharp and wife, Vicky, of Wildwood, Florida and Wayne Eberly and wife, Camille, of Tampa, Florida; as well as a host of other family and numerous friends.

Funeral services are 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at Grace Life Church in Anderson, Missouri, with Pastor Cecil Hall officiating. Burial will follow in the Peace Valley Cemetery in Anderson. Those honoring his life by serving as pallbearers are Danny Tharp, Wayne Eberly, Jeremy Tharp, William Patterson, Kodi Keene and Justin Owens. Honorary pallbearers are Garland Sanny, Calvin Cantrell, B.J. Ramirez, Perry Morgan, Jim Tomlinson, Jim Shields, Jim Wanders, Robert Nelson, Darwin Smith, Steve Campbell, Billy Laughard, Elmer Marshall and Roger Zartman. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 6-8:00 p.m. in the Anderson Chapel of the Ozark Funeral Homes. Memorials are being directed to Grace Life Church c/o 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.

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Naomi Harper

(From Knell Mortuary)

Naomi Loretta Harper, 89, passed away Wednesday evening, November 28, 2018, at Sarcoxie Nursing Home, Sarcoxie, MO.

Naomi Loretta Hughey was born September 10, 1929 in Jasper County, MO, to the late Ertil Hughey and Sylvia (Stockton) Hughey. Naomi married Kenneth E. Jones; he preceded her in death. She later married James Harper; he also preceded her in death. Naomi worked in the office at R&S Chevy, later known as Crossroads. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, and most of all, spending time with her family.

Survivors include two daughters, Shirley King, Carthage, MO, and Connie Orr (William), Joplin, MO; three grandchildren, Steven King (Natalie), Kevin Orr, and Tina Miller (Bill); and two great grandchildren, Jared King and Michael Orr; and a brother Richard Henry Hughey.

Naomi was also preceded in death by four brothers, William Austin Hughey, Kenneth Eugene Hughey, Virgil Wayne Hughey, and Darryl Lee Hughey. 

Funeral services will be held 2 pm, Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at Knell Mortuary, Carthage. Interment will follow the service at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery, Joplin, MO. Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com. 

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Knell Mortuary.

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Minnie Smith

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

Rev. Minnie Smith, 81, of Anderson, Missouri, formerly of Muskogee, Oklahoma, departed this life on Friday, November 30, 2018, at the McDonald County Living Center in Anderson, Missouri, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Minnie entered this life on April 30, 1937, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, daughter of the late Clinton Newport and Noma Beatrice (Barrett) Bolinger. She was raised and graduated high school in Muskogee, Oklahoma. On August 30, 1958, she was united in marriage to Carl Wayne Smith and to this union four children were born. Minnie attended Pentecostal Bible Institute in Gilroy, California and was a minister throughout her life with the Pentecostal Church of God. Minnie pastored various churches in Oklahoma and actively served and supported Women’s Ministries and their various programs.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Carl Wayne Smith on November 13, 1986; and two brothers, Virgilee “BO” Bolinger and Faye Edward Bolinger.

Minnie is survived by two sons, Troy Smith and Sue Scott of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and Carroll Smith and wife, Victoria, of Moore, Oklahoma; two daughters, Carla Hottinger and husband, Tom, of Anderson, Missouri and Lisa Smith of Jupiter, Florida; eleven grandchildren, Jonathon Smith and wife, Jessica, Meghan Snell and husband, Thomas, Kaleb Smith, Jareb Smith, Katelyn Smith, Miranda Foust, Jessica Capps and husband, Dallas, Kathleen Smith, Autumn Hottinger, Colten Odell and Taylor Garber and husband, Adam; ten great grandchildren; a sister, Anna Jean Adams of Braggs, Oklahoma; three brothers, Orville Bolinger of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Carroll Bolinger and wife, Jan, of Muskogee, Oklahoma and Kurt Bolinger and wife, Paula, of Muskogee, Oklahoma; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other family and friends.

A Home Going Celebration will be held on Friday, December 7, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Okay Christian Fellowship PCG in Okay, Oklahoma. Private burial will take place at the South Bethel Cemetery in Braggs, Oklahoma. Those honoring her life by serving as pallbearers are Jonathon Smith, Kaleb Smith, Jareb Smith, Colten Odell, Thomas Snell and Dallas Capps. In lieu of flowers memorials are being directed to the Alzheimer’s Association c/o the funeral home. All floral arrangements will need to be delivered directly to the church. 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.

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John Pierce

(From Ozark Memorial Cemetery)

John L. Pierce, age 75 of Joplin, Mo., passed away on Friday, December 1, 2017 at his home surrounded by his loving family.

John was born on February 22, 1942 in Joplin, the son of Cherry and Wilma (Payne) Pierce. He has been a lifetime area resident. John graduated from Joplin High School in 1960 and played football for the Joplin Eagles. He worked for Zales Jewelry store in Joplin, Reeves Tire, Vandever Tire and various auto parts stores before going to work for Eagle Picher, where he retired in 2005. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church where he coached and played on the slow pitch softball team. He was an avid sportsman, was a member of the Joplin Softball Association, and enjoyed hunting, camping and fishing, and cheering for his favorite teams the Kansas City Chiefs, Royals and the Kansas Jayhawks. John never met a stranger and loved sitting and visiting with people.

He married Carolyn Eliason from Carthage on July 25, 1964, and were happily married for 53 years, she survives. Additional survivors include a daughter; Jonlyn Pierce of Pleasant Valley, Mo., a son; Justin Pierce and his fiancé Lisa of Kansas City, Mo., a brother; James Pierce and wife Jane, of Racine, Mo., three future step-grandchildren; Zachary, Sammy and Joey, and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and special buddy Ollie. John was preceded in death by his parents; half-brother, Charles Pierce; niece, Kelley Pierce; and aunt, Twyla Markel.

Internment will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 1, 2018, at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery.

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Mark Grant

(From Carson-Wall Funeral Home)

Mark A. Grant, 53, of Parsons, passed away at 8:02 p.m., Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at St. John’s Medical Center in Tulsa.

He was born on September 28, 1965 at Joplin, Missouri to David and Joyce (Brown) Grant. He moved with his family to Long Island, New York and Sparta, New Jersey where he grew up. He moved back to Chetopa with his family when he was 15 where he attended Chetopa High School graduating in 1983. He attended Labette Community College.

He worked in the mines near Welch, Oklahoma and later went to work for Coca-Cola where he served as a division manager. He then briefly worked at Cintas and then started with Nabisco/Kraft/Mondelez in 1996 where he has worked as Sales Representative for the last 22 years.

Mark was a dedicated family man who loved hunting, fishing, coaching his boys teams, camping, boating, remodeling and working on his home, and taking care of his wife. He had attended the Parsons Nazarene Church.

Mark and Miranda Clevenger were married on July 18, 2009 at the Parsons Nazarene Church. She survives of the home.

In addition to his wife, Mark is survived by his boys, Colton Grant, and his fiancé, Paige Coffman of Topeka, Parker Grant, and his companion, Ashlin Wait of Carl Junction, MO, and Mason Morris of the home; his parents, David and Joyce Grant of Chetopa; his brother, David Grant, Sr., and his wife, Janet of Chetopa; his in-laws, Kathy Mattox, and her husband, Ron of Olathe and Mark Clevenger of Erie; his brother and sisters-in-law, Noah Clevenger, and his wife, Tara of Parsons, Heidi Tucker, and her husband, Justin of Girard, and MacKinze Maxson, and her husband, Michael of Olathe; several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles. He was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 3, 2018 at the Parsons Nazarene Church with Pastor Clarence Newman officiating where the casket will remain closed. A private family committal service will follow at the Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Memorials are suggested to Parsons Babe Ruth Baseball and these may be left at or mailed to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942 Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.

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Glenn Paxson

(From Simpson Funeral Home)

Glenn E. Paxson, age 87, of Webb City, passed away Thursday, November 29, 2018. He was born May 23, 1931 in Webb City.

 He began his career at age 15 working 3 ½ years in maintenance for a mining company. He then worked evenings at Webb Corp Wheel Division five years. During this time he also hauled coal in Kansas and hauled ice from Carthage to Webb City. He was an electrician for all three powder companies, Dupont, Atlas and Hercules, and worked for 20 years in maintenance for Cardinal Scales. Glenn served 39 years as Webb City Electrical Inspector. He also worked several years as a maintenance consultant for the Webb City R-7 School District. 

 He is preceded in death by his mother, Myrtle (Bane) Paxson and brother, Leonard Paxson.

Graveside service will be held Tuesday, December 4th at 2:30 at the Mount Hope Pavillion in Webb City. Please visit www.simpsonfh.com for online condolences. 

 Arrangements are under the direction of Simpson Funeral Home in Webb City.

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Audra Bauder

(From Parker Mortuary)

Audra Lea Bauder, age 94, Joplin, passed away at 7:32 a.m. Friday, November 30, 2018 at a local nursing center after an illness.

Audra was born September 5, 1924 in Sedan, Kansas to the late Luther Denick and Alma Smith Denick.

A homemaker, Audra was the wife of a farmer. She was a long time member of North Joplin Christian Church and enjoyed sewing anytime she had the chance. Audra loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be missed by all who knew her.

She married Bennie Bauder in Sedan, Kansas. He preceded her in death in January of 1991.

Survivors include her son, Wayne Bauder and his wife, Diana, Joplin; a brother, Ralph Denick, Ohio; two grandchildren, Benjamin Bauder and companion, Carly Moskalski, Angela Henning and husband, Brandon; and four great grandchildren, Riley, Audra, Alaina and Scarlett.

A memorial visitation is planned for Thursday from 6-8:00 p.m. at Parker Mortuary. Graveside services will be held in Elk Falls Cemetery, Elk Falls, Kansas.

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