Margie Ellis

(From Parker Mortuary)

Marguerite Kaye "Margie" Ellis, age 78, Joplin, passed away on Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at her home after a sudden illness.

Margie was born July 28, 1942 in Jackson County, Missouri, daughter of the late William K. Dodge and Gertrude M. Reid Dodge. She graduated from high school, and moved to Joplin where she enjoyed working for years at convenience stores. She was with Fastrip for over 20 years, and also worked for Dillon's Grocery Store, and most recently with Casey's in Joplin and Webb City. She was a joy to be around, and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Survivors include her children, Robbie Beckman of Galena, Kansas, and Terri Beckman Arthur of Joplin; grandchildren, Robyn Ward and husband Cody, Regina DeMoss and husband Ryan, Johnny Hinds, and Bo Budd and wife Araceli all of Joplin; six great-grandchildren; sisters, Debbie Randles and husband Dave of Oronogo, Missouri, and Pam Eaten and husband Jim of Overland Park, Kansas; several nieces and nephews.

Services will be planned for a later date. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.

Betty Ray

(From Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home)

Betty Belle (Hood) Ray went home to be with her Lord Wednesday, September 2, 2020. She was born March 17, 1924, the oldest daughter of Charles Hood and Gladys (Eubanks) Hood. One of 11 children, Betty attended school in Miller, Missouri and graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1943.

One of many WWII brides, Betty married her high school sweetheart O. Paul Ray of Miller, Missouri, on October 4, 1942. She accompanied Paul on tours in Chicago and Florida before returning to the Lawrence County area to begin farming. While in Chicago Betty shared an apartment with Paul’s shipmate’s wife, Nell Bandy. 

Betty was drawn to the devotion that Nell had for her bible reading and prayer life. Nell shared the gospel with Betty, and she made the decision to follow Christ in her life. With Paul’s calling to the ministry, Betty felt called also to support his educational endeavors while raising her family and caring for her home all the while serving in many roles in the various churches where they ministered.

Teaching and ministerial opportunities would take the couple to various locations across Missouri and for four years in Iowa. During this time Betty supported Paul’s career and began working in retail stores, discovering that she enjoyed working with the public.

Always a creative and talented individual, Betty enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and quilting. She took pride in gifting her creations to her children, grandchildren, and family. Her home was always warm and inviting and she enjoyed sharing it with friends and family.

She is survived by her four children, Linda (Ray) Morris of Strafford Missouri, Kathryn (Ray) Stine of Belton, Missouri, Roseann (Ray) Blunt of Springfield, Missouri, and Paul Mark Ray and his wife Pam of Belton, Missouri. Grandchildren, Kevin Morris and wife Marla, Christopher Morris and wife Sarah, Matthew Blunt and wife Melanie, Amy Blunt, Andrew Blunt and wife Jill, Jeff Stine, Mark Stine and wife Pam, Nicholas Ray and wife Christina, Tyler Ray and wife Ashley; 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

She was proceeded in death by her husband of 63 years O. Paul Ray, her parents Charles and Gladys Hood, brothers Winston, Winifred, Keith, Ralph, Morris, and Max. Also proceeding her in death were two grandchildren, John David Stine and Elizabeth Jane Blunt and son-in-law David Stine.

A visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2020, at the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, with a funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will take place immediately following at Sycamore Cemetery northeast of Miller, Missouri, with a fellowship time to follow.

In lieu of flowers donation can be made to the Sycamore Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 262, Miller. Missouri 65707. Online condolences may be shared at www.FossettMosherFuneralHome.com.

Dorothy Campbell

(From Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home)

Dorothy Pearl Campbell, age 91, of Mt. Vernon, Missouri, passed away at 12:28 a.m. on Thursday. September 3, 2020, at the Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Lockwood, Missouri. She was born September 1, 1929, in Cardin, Oklahoma, the daughter of Archie and Ruby Pearl (Chapman) Graham.

Dorothy was a cook for the Miller School District and enjoyed going to the Gene Taylor Senior Center in Mt. Vernon, where she liked to play skip bo, and was a member of the Northside Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon.

On January 5, 1951, she married James Laverne Campbell in Twin Falls, Idaho. He preceded her in death on June 7, 1992.

Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Huser and her husband, David, of Lockwood, Missouri; two sons, Dennis Campbell of Huntsville, Arkansas and Gary Campbell and his wife, Beverly, of Billings, Missouri; daughter-in-law, Artie Campbell, of Commerce, Oklahoma; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Archie and Ruby Pearl, her husband, James, her son, Wayne Campbell and one brother Archie Graham and his wife, Carolyn.

A graveside service, under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, in Mt. Vernon, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, at the Goss Cemetery, northwest of Mt. Vernon. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 7, 2020, in the funeral home chapel.

Memorial donations may be made payable to the American Cancer Society or the Good Shepherd Nursing Home, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at www.FossettMosherFuneralHome.com.

Geneva Tanner

(From Parker Mortuary)

Geneva Ann Tanner, age 88, Galena, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, August 30, 2020 at the Galena Nursing Center.

Geneva was born August 4, 1932 in Mexico, Missouri, daughter of the late Cecil Clark and Minnie Ward Clark. She grew up in Mexico, and graduated from Auxvasse High School. She married Bobby Austin Tanner on June 28, 1948 in Mexico. Together they enjoyed 56 years together before his passing on January 8, 2005.

She has worked all her adult life, working for several years with the Galena Police Department as a dispatcher, and with the Mexico Police Department as a meter reader, dispatcher, and later a meter repairman. She worked for the Nature Center in Galena, and the Baxter Springs Museum. She also worked as a truck driver, traveling with her husband's career, which led to her being a baker with Apple Annie's in Branson, Missouri.

In her spare time she was a volunteer with the Blessings Exchange in Galena, and Bargains and Blessings Thrift Shop in Baxter Springs. She was always wanting to help others, and was a volunteer with the Senior Corps, helping with several organizations. She enjoyed spending time with her numerous family members over the years. She will be greatly missed by them, and all the numerous people for whom she volunteered.
In addition to her parents, and husband Bobby, Geneva was preceded in death by two brothers, Cecil Tate Clark, and James Frank Clark.

Survivors include her four children; Barbara Lynn Coble and husband David of Columbus, Kansas, Ron Tanner and wife Linda of Baxter Springs, Larry Tanner and wife Lisa of Pittsburg, Kansas, and Deborah J. Myers of Galena; 14 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren, and 16 great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Betty Tate of Fort Scott, Kansas; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be Friday, September 4, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. in Parker Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Dave Robinson officiating. Interment will follow in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery with her grandsons serving as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends at Parker Mortuary on Friday from 1:00 p.m. until service time.

Mike Smith

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Richard Michael “Mike” Smith, Sr., age 75 of Joplin, Mo. passed away on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at Mercy Hospital in Joplin.

Mike was born on November 22, 1944 in Joplin the son of Chester and Neva (Paullas) Smith. He has been a lifetime area resident. Mike worked as a welder for many years at both Air Castle Steel and B&D Fabricators before retiring in 2010. Mike loved spending time with his family and out on the river trying to hook the biggest spoonbill he could. He also enjoyed racing in particular, dirt track and NASCAR racing. Mike also liked spending time in his garden.

He married Janice Allen in 1965, Janice preceded Mike in death in 1996. He was also preceded by his parents, a son, Edward Smith, two brothers, George and Carl Smith, and two sisters, Wanda Gooch and Barbara Hunt.

Mike later married Linda Grace DeGonia in 2006, she survives. Additional survivors include a son; Mike Smith, Jr. and wife Audie of Joplin, three step-sons; Richard Beaunoyer and wife Lisa of Joplin, Michael Beaunoyer of Joplin, Bryan Beaunoyer and wife Mandy of Hayesville, Mo., a step-daughter; Tina Neville and husband Mike of Webb City, Mo., twelve grandchildren; Kerstyn Wissel, Rocky Berliew, Tasha McDonald, Justine Beaunoyer, Jessie Beaunoyer, Tyler Beaunoyer, Zack Beaunoyer, Jadyn Beaunoyer, Ashley Beaunoyer, Meesha Dodd, Lindsey Neville and Heath Neville, eleven great-grandchildren including a very special great-grandson, Logan Dodd, and one great-great-grandchild.

Graveside services have been scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at Osborne Memorial Cemetery in Joplin.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.

Rena Oliver

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Rena Christians Oliver was born January 14, 1934 in Fayetteville, one of eight children, to Brad and Grace (Cain) Walker. She entered into rest on August 28, 2020 in Neosho at the age of 86. 

Rena graduated from Neosho High School and lived part of her life in Neosho. 

In 1953 she married Albert E. Christians and moved to central Kansas where they raised their two sons, Dan and Roy. Rena had a great sense of humor and enjoyed traveling, gardening and especially being with her grandchildren. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in McPherson, Kansas and was very active as a volunteer. 

Rena married Robert Lee Oliver in 1989 and they returned to Neosho. Robert preceded her in death on January 13, 2019. 

She is survived by two sons, Dan (Mary Dianne) Christians of Overland Park, Kansas and Roy (Joi) Christians of Colorado Springs, Colorado; five grandchildren, Jacob Christians, Brittany Christians, Joshua Christians, David Christians and Laura Matthews; two brothers, Rex Walker and Russell Walker of Joplin and two sisters, Jean Adams of Neosho and Ruby Jo Rollins of Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

In addition to her husband and parents, she is preceded in death by three brothers, Ralph, Roe and Robert Walker. 

Graveside services will be Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at 11:30 am at the Neosho IOOF Cemetery, with her son, Rev. Roy Christians officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the graveside service from 10 am until 11 am at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Rena may be made to the International School Project, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66; Neosho, MO 64850.

Karen Birch

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Karen Esther Birch was born February 19, 1959 in Joplin, Missouri, the daughter of William and Miriam (Sperry) Clemmons. She entered into rest on August 29, 2020 at the age of 61. 

Karen was a homemaker and a lifelong residence of the area. 

She is survived by one son, Robert B. Birch III and wife, Tara of Neosho; her mother, Miriam Clemmons of Pinellas Park, FL; one grandson, Xzavier Birch; and one sister, Brenda Caylor of Nokomis, FL. 

Karen will be cremated and a private family service will be held at a later date.