Jim Long

(From Daniel Funeral Home)

James (Jim) William Long III, age 80, passed away Friday, May 29th, 2020 at his home in Nevada, Missouri.

Jim was born December 16, 1939 in Lamar, MO to James William Long II and Venice Hazel (Barker) Long. Jim attended school in rural Barton County. Jim was married to JoAnn Stewart for 40 years, together they raised 4 children. JoAnn passed away in March of 1996. Jim was married to Patty Hendrix for 21 years, she passed away in April of 2019.

Jim worked in Wyoming for the railroad, drove trucks across the United States and worked for the city of Walker, Missouri. Jim enjoyed playing guitar, playing pitch and fishing.

Survivors include a son; Dean (Lisa) Long, Mulberry, Kansas, two daughters; Debbie Klein, Nevada, MO and Cindy (Eddie) Bazal, Liberal, MO, four grandchildren; Clyde (Katie) Klein, Joe (Beth) Bazal, Robert (Stephanie) Bazal and Samantha (Pete) Foran, 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, his companion Kathy Deetz, two sisters; Roberta Reed, Olathe, Kansas and Maudie Kimsey, Springfield, MO, one sister-in-law; Terry Long, Liberal, MO and one son-in-law; Don Little, Wamsutter, Wyoming.

Preceding James in death were his parents, both wives, daughter Venice Little and grandson Dan Bazal, one brother George Long and one sister Imogene Cobb.

A private family burial will be held at Baker Groves Cemetery.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com

Mark Garten

(From Daniel Funeral Home)

Mark Robert Garten, age 52, passed away Friday, May 29, 2020 at his home in Lamar, Missouri.

Mark was born December 30, 1967 in Kansas City, MO to William Milo Garten and Karen Kaye (Miller) Garten. Mark graduated from Lamar High School in the class of 1986. He worked as an electrician.

Survivors include his father, Bill Garten, Lamar, MO; his mother and step-father, Karen (James) Proctor, Congress, Arizona; three sons, Haden Garten and Brandon Garten, both of Lockwood, MO and Gatlin Garten of Clinton, MO; one daughter, Trinity Garten of Clinton; five sisters, Shelly Howard, Winfield, MO, Kelly (Mark) White, Lamar, Sherry Burkhammer, Gladstone, MO, Jeni Garten, Lamar and Danelle Seaton, Blue Springs, MO; one grandson and many nieces and nephews.

Private family services will be held.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com

Meg Berrian

(From Hedge-Lewis-Goodwin Funeral Home)

Mary Margaret “Meg” Berrian, 64, of Webb City, passed away Sunday, May 31, 2020, at her home.

Meg was born May 5, 1956, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, daughter of the late Jon and Mary Margaret (Cater) Berrian. The family moved to Webb City in 1959 where Meg grew up and lived most of her life.

Meg attended private kindergarten at the home of Mrs. Harbaugh; Eugene Field Elementary; and Webb City Junior and Senior High Schools, graduating in 1974 with Honors. Meg graduated Cum Laude in 1978 from MSSU with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and minors in Psychology and Music. She also completed 16 hours toward a Master of Arts Degree from PSU.

Meg worked at the Webb City Public Library, Mizzou Aviation, MSSU Registrar’s Office, Tri State Motor Transit, Economic Security Corp., InterNorth Natural Gas, Central Kansas Medical Center, Tamko and the Ronald McDonald House. She was currently employed with Southwest Missouri Bank and had been for a number of years.

Meg was a former member of the First Presbyterian Church of Webb City and Joplin, a former member of Chapter AY of the P.E.O. Sisterhood in Webb City, and an active member of the Joplin Humane Society, Webb City Historical Society and Webb City Genealogical Society.

Meg participated in theatre and music productions in Great Bend, Liberal, and Riverton, Kansas, as well as in Webb City, Joplin, Carthage and Neosho; these included productions at Joplin Little Theatre, Crowder College, Raycliff Manor and MSSU. She was a former member of the MSSU Collegiates, Shenandoah Singers of Southwest Missouri, Choral Company, the 3Divas!, Heartland Opera Theatre and the Upsidedown Theater Company, LLC.

Meg was also a descendant of Samuel P. Ashcraft and Granville P. Ashcraft – two early mining pioneers of Webb City.

Above all of her talents and accomplishments, Meg was a friend. She was a great friend to all and a best friend to many. Her friends were her chosen family and she was always there – no matter what and no matter where. Meg was larger than life. Her happy spirit was contagious, as was her natural ability to spread humor wherever she went. She was a true light and a constant source of happiness in every situation. The world had only one “Meg” and her friends feel lucky and blessed to have had her. She is survived by her many, many beloved friends and they will cherish their memories with Meg forever.

Meg’s wishes were to be cremated and a memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Joplin Humane Society, Webb City Historical Society, Webb City Genealogical Society or Friends of the Library – Webb City, all in care of the funeral home.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Hedge-Lewis-Goodwin Funeral Home, Webb City, Missouri.

Larry Cole

(From Hedge-Lewis-Goodwin Funeral Home)

Larry Gene Cole, 70, of Webb City, Missouri, passed away Friday, May 29, 2020, at Communities of Wildwood Ranch after a short illness.

Larry was born November 1, 1949, in Neosho, Missouri, to the union of Gerald and Verna Lou (Randol) Cole. He was a 1967 graduate of Neosho High School. Larry attended Crowder College following high school, graduating in 1969. Following Crowder, he attended MSU and MU. In 1991, Larry received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration from Southwest Baptist University.

Larry had a passion for helping others. He worked in long term healthcare for 40 years as a nursing home administrator and governmental relations advocate in Jefferson City. He also served on numerous community and state level boards and organizations with a unifying goal of serving others. Larry’s pride and joy were his son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. No one could be more proud and we are sure his friends heard many proud stories about them.

Larry had a love of music and sang whenever and wherever he could. He led the music at several area churches during his life. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Joplin. Larry served an awesome God and always marveled at his handiwork in our travels, whether it was in the mountains, the desert or the Ozarks and Table Rock Lake.

On August 28, 1969, he was united in marriage to Katherine Turner in Seneca, Missouri. They celebrated 50 years of marriage this last August.

He is also survived by his son, Jason Cole, and wife, Amy, of Branson, Missouri; three grandchildren, Nate, Heath and Hailey; two siblings, Vicki Hurst and husband, Hal, of McCordsville, Indiana, and Greg Cole and wife, Kim, of Hendersonville, Tennessee; his mother-in-law, Vera Turner, of Webb City; sister-in-law, Mary Adams, of Camden, South Carolina; as well as several nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents; and his father-in-law, Fred Turner.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 6, 2020, at Diamond Cemetery. The family will receive friends for visitation from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Hedge-Lewis-Goodwin Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Hedge-Lewis-Goodwin Funeral Home, Webb City, Missouri.

Paula Taylor

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Paula Kay Taylor, age 52, passed away at 8:15 am, Sunday, May 31, 2020 at her home following an illness.

Paula was born June 7, 1967 in Joplin. Her parents were Paul Dean and Nettie Helen (Shockley) Lee. She had lived in Joplin most of her life.

Paula attended Crowder College where she earned a degree in Business. She worked as a bank teller for several years at Community Bank and Trust and later at United Missouri Bank.

She was a member of the Galena Assembly of God. She enjoyed sewing, craft work, flower gardening, and photography.

Paula was married to Ed Taylor on October 31, 1983 in Joplin. He survives.

Additional survivors include two sons, Eric Taylor (wife, Nicole), and Isaiah Taylor both of Joplin; one daughter, Marianne Taylor, Joplin; and 4 grandchildren, Rebekah Taylor, Sarah Taylor, Eric Taylor, and Isaac Allen Taylor.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and one sister, Sherry Griffith.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 am, Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at Faith Tabernacle, Joplin. Pastor Doug Melugin will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Galena, KS.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 -8:00 pm, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at Derfelt Funeral Home, Galena, KS.

Anna Dye

(From Parker Mortuary)

Anna Jean Dye, age 81, Joplin, passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2020 after a sudden illness.

Anna Jean was born September 21, 1938 in Joplin, daughter of the late Ralph C. Cummins and Arremah Edwadeen Hess Cummins. She graduated from Joplin High School, and then Joplin Junior College.

 She married Robert C. Dye on February 21, 1958, and the couple had three children. She devoted her life to taking care of her husband and children, and was especially happy spending time with her grand and great-grandchildren.

Anna Jean was an active member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. She was so involved with the church that she became a pastoral assistant, which she did for over 38 years with St Paul. She was involved with all aspects of the church, has been a member for over 70 years, was a member of the United Methodist Women, and enjoyed singing in the choir and playing with the hand bell choir. She was a staple of St. Paul United Methodist Church for years who will be greatly missed.

In addition to her parents, Anna was preceded in death by her husband, Robert C. Dye, who passed away on August 6, 2006, a daughter, Deanna C. Grotheer who passed away February 28, 2019, a son-in-law, Ronnie Seward, and her sister, Glenda Gurley.

Survivors include her son, David C. Dye of Carthage, Missouri; daughter, Deborah Jean Mitchell of Joplin; grandchildren, Bridgette McReynolds (Andrew), Hannah Palmer (Zachary), Amanda Morris (Brandon), Arthur Kaleb Grotheer (Athena), and Morgan Grotheer; great-grandchildren, Jadyn, Gabrielle, Maxwell, Grant, Jaxon, and Cole.

Memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church with Pastor Aaron Brown officiating.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the St. Paul United Methodist Church.

Paul Davis

(From Parker Mortuary)

Marvin Paul Davis, age 52, Joplin, passed away on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at Mercy of Joplin.

Paul was born November 4, 1967 in Abilene, Texas, son of the late Delbert Davis, and Pam Farrar Davis Hargrove of Cross Plains, Texas.

He grew up in Texas, graduated from Cross Plains High School before moving to Dallas for a while, then Galveston, Texas, and finally moving to Joplin where he worked in several locations as a machinist. Most recently he was working for Metal Tech.

Survivors include his mother, Pam Hargrove and husband Darrell of Cross Plains, Texas; sister, Misti Hopkins of Baird, Texas, brother, Duane Davis of Abilene, Texas, niece, Ashten Jenkins of Merkel, Texas; aunt, Debra Frazier of Eula, Texas; stepbrothers, Troy and Terrell Harris; stepsister, Tonya DuPre all of Texas; and his close friend, Jerry Sappington, of Joplin.