Jeanie Morris

(From Parker Mortuary)

Jeanie Marie Morris, age 69, Joplin, passed away at 1:00 a.m. Saturday, May 25, 2019 at Freeman West Hospital after an illness.

Jeanie was born June 23, 1949 in Beloit, Kansas to the late Gordon Minert Menhusen and Doris Marie Finley Menhusen and had lived in Joplin most of her life.

Jeanie worked as a special education teacher at West Central Elementary for 18 years. She had also worked at Easy Living in Webb City for ten years. Jeanie was a faithful member of Christ's Community United Methodist Church, where she was involved with the Wednesday night dinner, also known as Pa's Kitchen. Jeanie loved her family with all her heart. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Survivors include her children, Shannon Johnson and husband, Wyatt, Grove, Oklahoma, Tom Morris, Shari Barnett, Sonia Barnett-Nichols and wife, Becky, all of Joplin, Sabrina Bansemer, Grove; siblings, Cathy Menhusen, Neosho, Gary Menhusen and wife, Patty and Debbie Gravette and husband, Bob, all of Tonganoxie, Kansas; nine grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.

Memorial services are planned for Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Christ's Community United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the church. Interment of the ashes will follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Christ's Community United Methodist Church. The family asks that everyone attending the service to please wear bright colors.

Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.

Joy Massey

(From Parker Mortuary)

Joy Lee Massey, of Willard Missouri, passed away Sunday, May 26, 2019 at Willard Care Center.

Joy was born March 22, 1938 in Joplin, Missouri to Herbert and Pauline O’Daniel.

She married Kenneth Massey on August 2,1958 in Joplin. He preceded her in death in November 2004.

She is survived by two sons, Mike (Barb). Massey of Loveland, Colorado and Charley (Brandee) Massey of Willard; two grandsons, Ross and Christopher; two granddaughters, Connor and Dani; sister, Pam O’Daniel of Omaha Nebraska; brother-in-law, Charley Massey of Joplin, and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents, one brother, and one sister also preceded her in death.

Visitation will be Wednesday, May 29, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Parker Mortuary, 1502 S. Joplin Ave. in Joplin. A brief graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 30, at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery, 415 N. St. Louis Ave., Joplin.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to your favorite charity in Joy’s name.

Mary DeArmond

(From Parker Mortuary)

On Sunday morning Mary Adeline DeArmond took the last breath of her 97 years,
all lived in her native Missouri, where she flourished as brightly and boldly as the flowers blooming all around her home of nearly five decades on Grand Avenue in south Joplin.

Born in Butler on June 29, 1921, to the attorney Henry E. Sheppard and the musical diva Adeline A. Nentwig Sheppard, Mary spent summers swimming races against friends in the lake. She played the drums and the cello and found a strong soprano voice that she shared in church choirs and with family and friends.

She turned heads as "Fair Butler" before graduating from Butler High School, attended secretarial school in Kansas City, and married another Butler native, James A. DeArmond, Jr.

Mary and Murph - as Mary would affectionately call her husband until his death in 1991 - raised a daughter, Anne, and a son, Michael, in Lamar before moving to Joplin in 1962. While he worked as an engineer at Allgeier, Martin and Associates, Mary found work for attorney Jerry Wells as a paralegal. She later worked for Spencer, Scott, and Dwyer as a legal assistant.

At the age of 60 - on May 14, 1982 - she took a giant step, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Missouri Southern State College. Just over one year later she earned a Master of Arts from Pittsburg State University. And, in the fall of 1989, Mary took an appointment as a lecturer in English at Missouri Southern.

Throughout this period of her life and well into her later years, Mary traveled extensively with family and friends, including to Europe.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Joplin, and involved with several local organizations including the PEO Sisterhood.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband, a sister, Elizabeth Hinson, and a brother, John Sheppard.

Survivors include her children; James Michael DeArmond and wife Barbara of Kansas City, Missouri, and Anne Bunton and husband Thomas of Nevada, Missouri; grandchildren, David Bunton and wife Jessica Haines of St. Charles, Missouri, and their son, Riley; Chris Bunton and wife Holly of Arlington, Va.; Gabriel DeArmond and wife Janel of Columbia, Missouri and their children, Taten Lyngstad, and Turner DeArmond; and Cortney DeArmond and Geoff McCarrell of Prairie Village, Kansas; sister, Sally Huskey of Iola, Kansas.

Funeral service will be Saturday, June 1, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Joplin with Pastor John Oerter and Pastor Dave Burgess officiating. Interment will be Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler, Missouri with family serving as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends at First Presbyterian Church on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until service time.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Macular Degeneration Research, through brightfocus.org. Flowers are welcomed as well.

William Asbell

(From Ulmer Funeral Home)

William M. Asbell, 83, passed away Saturday, May 25, 2019 at his home in Carthage. William was born on March 18, 1936 in Jasper County, MO to T.E. Asbell, Sr. and Frances “Courtney” Asbell. After graduating from Golden City High School, he moved to Carthage in 1955. He worked for several years as a truck driver, then retired in October 1998.

William was united in marriage to Leta Mae Fischer on September 29, 1956 in Barton County; she preceded him in death in 2013.

William is survived by one son, Jerry Asbell, Sr. of Columbia, MO; two daughters, Sherri Asbell of Carthage and Cleta McNary of Republic, MO; three brothers and one sister; three grandchildren and eight grandchildren.

William was preceded in death by his wife, his parents and three brothers.

An open visitation will be held until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at Ulmer Funeral Home. A private family graveside service will be held at a later date at Paradise Cemetery.

On line condolences may be made at www.ulmerfh.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ulmer Funeral Home.

Jean Helm

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

Mrs. Eleanor Jean Helm, 90, of Pineville, Missouri, departed this life on Saturday, May 25, 2019, at McDonald County Living Center in Anderson, Missouri, after months of declining health.

Jean entered this on September 24, 1928 in Pineville, Missouri, daughter of the late Clarence and Gladys (Coffee) Mosier. She was a lifelong area resident and a 1946 graduate of Pineville High School.

 On May 9, 1946, she was united in marriage to Lloyd S. Helm, Sr. and to this union four children were born. She received her associate’s degree from Crowder College and a master’s degree in education from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She taught three years in East Newton before transferring to McDonald County R-1 in 1971, retiring in 1993. 

She received five Missouri Life Certificates for teaching and was an author of two books and numerous historical articles. Jean was an active member of the Pineville United Methodist Church since 1947, serving as church treasurer, pianist and choir member. She also was a member of the Missouri Historical Society and former board member of the McDonald County Library.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of fifty-nine years, Lloyd Helm, Sr. on December 28, 2005; a daughter, Nancy Helm Weber Bitzenberg; and a sister, Joan Curtis.

Jean is survived by her three children, Lloyd S. “Sam” Helm, Jr. and wife, Joye, of Pineville, Rebecca Ellington and husband, George, of Cleveland, Texas and Cindy Harvey and husband, Charles of Shell Knob, Missouri; eleven grandchildren; twenty-nine great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; as well a host of other family and friends.

Funeral services for Mrs. Helm are 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at Pineville United Methodist Church with Pastor Mark Kailbourn officiating. Burial will follow in the Pineville Cemetery. Those honoring her life by serving as pallbearers are Sam Weber, Billy Weber, Jamey Weber, Sammy Helm, Clinton Helm, Charlie Harvey, Jacob Harvey and Jeremy Carter. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 5-7:00 p.m. in the Anderson Chapel of the Ozark Funeral Homes. Memorials are being directed to the Pineville United Methodist 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.

Richard Cooper

(From Konantz Warden Funeral Home)

Richard Eugene Cooper, 87, passed away May 24, 2019. He was born October 16, 1931 in Liberal, Missouri to Elsie Mae (Swigart) Cooper and Evan Ellis Cooper.

Richard attended school in Liberal, graduating in 1949. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1952. He attended control tower training in Biloxi, Mississippi and was later stationed in Limestone, Maine and Japan. He served four years in the Air Force which included serving his country during the Korean War. 

 Upon his return from military service, Richard pursued his education. He began his college career at Pittsburgh State Teachers College then finished at Kansas State University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1959. He was a proud KSU alumus and an avid supporter of KSU athletics. Richard earned a Master of Science degree from Central Missouri State University in 1966.

On August 25, 1957, Richard married his first love, Gayle Elaine Shearburn, at the Christian Church in Bronaugh, Missouri. Richard and Gayle both accepted teaching positions in Sedalia, Missouri where they raised their family. They had three children. Jay Cooper resides in Sedalia, Missouri. Eric Cooper and wife Becky reside in Mountain Grove, Missouri and have three children: Alexis Cooper, Bailey Harrington (Jeremiah) and Carson Cooper. Allison Cooper and husband Mark Miller reside in Goodfield, Illinois and have three children: Geoffrey, Gabriella and Samuel. Richard has two great grandsons, Lucas and Ruben Harrington, and a great granddaughter on the way. Gayle passed away on November 5, 1985.

Richard married his second love, Ella Mae McKee. on July 23, 1988 and was welcomed into her family including her three daughters. Diana Buechle and husband Keith reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma and have a daughter Courtney. Karen Little and husband Rod reside in Dayton, Virginia and have two children: Seth Little and Kyla Baughman (husband Joshua and daughter Kennedy). Rhonda McKee resides in Warrensburg, Missouri.

Richard had a passion for both broadcasting and education. He enjoyed a lengthy career in television and radio broadcasting. He spent most of his broadcasting career at KMOS TV when it was the local CBS affiliate in Sedalia. He worked for several years at KDRO radio and KSIS radio both in Sedalia. He was still working for the local newspaper in Lamar, Missouri at the time of his death. He taught at Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia, Missouri from 1962 to 1992. Richard authored three books.
Hunting? Don’t Forget the Toilet Paper! A Guide to Successful Hunting, co-authored with Don Lamm, Jr.
Hickory Bob; The Bob Harmon Story
Josie – A Young Girl Coming of Age in Nazi Europe. 

Richard had a life-long love of tennis and enjoyed both playing and watching the sport. His idols included Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall, both of whom he had the privilege of interviewing in 1984. He was able to fulfill his dream of attending Wimbledon in 1996 and 2000.

Richard enjoyed hunting upland game birds and the camaraderie of hunting trips with his dear friends and his sons. Richard was so pleased to be able to go on hunting trips with his grandson, Carson. As an avid photographer all of his life, Richard enjoyed documenting hunting trips and the many other trips he took throughout his life.

Richard served for several years on the Planning and Zoning Commission in Sedalia. He remained active in the Missouri Retired Teachers Association until the time of his death focusing his efforts on legislative concerns.

Richard remained a member of First Christian Church in Sedalia and attended regularly at First Baptist Church in Lamar.

There will be a visitation Wednesday, May 29, from 6 tp 8 P.M. and a funeral service Thursday, May 30 at 10 A.M. Burial will be at the Worsley Cemetery near Bronaugh, MO. The family has suggested that memorial gifts be given to the Worsley Cemetery.

Gene and Opal Harris

(From Daniel Funeral Home)

Kenneth "Gene" Harris, age 86, and Opal Pauline Harris, age 83, of Golden City, MO, passed away May 22, 2019, at their home as a result of the tornado that swept through the Golden City area.

Gene was born August 30, 1932 in Kenoma, MO to Lester Edward and Ruth Fern (Nall) Harris.

He attended schools in Golden City, served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and was a farmer. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Golden City.  Gene enjoyed golf and loved tending to the purple martins, which he hosted in the 27 martin houses that he had around the farm. He was also known as a bit of an inventor.

Opal was born September 1, 1935 in Dadeville, MO to Jim and Lela (Cowan) Stump. Opal attended school in Jasper, MO, but with school redistricting, she was transferred to Golden City High School in the 12th grade where she graduated. She was a housewife and enjoyed doing puzzle books, listening to bluegrass and gospel music. Opal was a member of the First Baptist Church in Golden City and she was an excellent cook who enjoyed making homemade crescent rolls, Christmas goodies and any new recipes she could find. They both loved their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren dearly.

On, November 20, 1955 Gene and Opal were united in marriage and together they raised three children.

Gene and Opal leave behind a son, Rodney Gene Harris, Golden City, MO; two daughters, Linda Sue Edwards, Lockwood, MO and Karen Kay Lawrence and husband John, Lamar, MO; grandchildren, Caleb (Leena) Harris, Jamie (Scot) Baker, Eric Walker, Josh (Maria), Edwards, and Kailey Lawrence; great-grandchildren, Calli Harris, Blane Harris, Brody Harris, Ethan Baker, Dawson Baker, Jayden Baker, Lakin Baker, Treyton Walker, William Edwards, Christopher Edwards,  Joshua Edwards: also a foreign exchange student/daughter, Mia Moberg from Sweden.

Additional survivors include Gene's sister, Dorothy (Wesley) Wirth, Golden City, MO; Opal's brothers, Jerry (Wanda) Stump, Springfield, MO, Glen (Connie) Stump, Sheldon, MO and Joe Stump, Sheldon, MO; Opal's sisters Edna Fite, Jasper, MO, Lois Watson, Neck City, MO, Janie Boehne, Wichita, KS, and Mary (Steve) Brake, Billings, MO.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, two brother's Leland Harris and George Harris; two sisters, Nadine Stansberry and Leta Belle Moore.  Opal was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister, Elsie Ritchie.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at Lamar First Baptist Church with burial to follow in Lake Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until service time Tuesday at the church.

Contributions are suggested and made payable to Ronald McDonald House in care of Daniel Funeral Home.