Lester McFarling

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Lester Dale McFarling, age 55, Galena, KS passed away Friday, April 21, 2023, at Freeman Hospital, Joplin, MO.

He was born in Columbus, KS to Carolyn Sue Spencer McFarling and the late James Dale McFarling.

Lester worked at several area manufacturing companies, Retiring from Able Body, Joplin. He enjoyed fishing especially in the area strip pits.

Survivors include his mother, Carolyn; one brother, Chad Mcfarling; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 10:00 a.m, at the Derfelt Funeral Home, Galena. The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until service time. Burial will follow in the Quaker Valley Cemetery.

Funeral services are under the direction of the Derfelt Funeral Home, Galena, KS.

George Grimm

(From Parker Mortuary)

George Bernard Grimm, 89 years old, of Joplin passed away peacefully with his family around him Tuesday night, April 25, 2023, after a short illness.

 
He was born the third child of seven to Joseph Anthony Grimm and Ida Catherina Toben on April 22, 1934 in Geddes, South Dakota. His parents and siblings all preceded him in death.

He was a St. Peter's High School (now McAuley) graduate of the Class of 1952. He served in the United States Air Force for four years.

George married the love of his life, Fern Jo Hunter, on September 27, 1958 in the St. Peter's Rectory. They had a wonderful 61 years of marriage before her passing. She preceded him in death on June 16, 2019.

George earned his education at Kansas State Teachers College, now PSU, and was an educator at South Junior High and Franklin Tech in Joplin for over 21 years. After his retirement, when they weren't traveling the Continent, he did small engine repairs to help with his idle time.

 
He loved to watch birds and wildlife from his picture window of his home, from birds, turkeys, his white squirrel, deer, fox and raccoons. He always said it was better than television.

He was a past member of the Elks Lodge #501 in Joplin, the VFW Post #4140 of Neosho and the American Legion Post #99 in Foley, AL.

Parents and siblings who passed before are Joseph A. Grimm, Ida C. Grimm, Mary J. Lyons, John A. Grimm, Robert J. Grimm, James E. Grimm, Donna Mae Grimm and Patricia A. Hutchings.

The legacy they left behind was their faith in God and the love of their family. Survivors are Nanette Clevenger and husband Robbie of Carthage,MO, Steve Grimm of Neosho, MO, Denise Crowell and husband Joe of Pierce City, MO., six grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Family will receive friends on Friday, April 28th at Thornhill-Dillon Chapel from 5:6:00 PM with a Rosery to start at 6:00 PM. Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, April 29th at 10:00 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Joplin, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church or St. Vincent DePaul, both in care of the mortuary.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri.

Jack Sanders

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Rev. Jackie Dean Sanders. age 89 of Neosho, went to be with the Lord on April 26, 2023 in Neosho, Missouri. Jack was born March 30, 1934 in Granby, Missouri, one of two sons to Harry E. and Grace (Chandler) Sanders. He graduated from Granby High School and following graduation, he worked in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Wichita, Kansas. 

In 1953, he joined the U.S. Navy and served his country until 1957. Following his honorable discharge, he spent two years at Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri where he met the love of his life, Barbara (Emack). 

During his student years at SWBC, he was called to his first church, Mt. Herman Baptist Church in Olean, Missouri. On June 5, 1959 at the First Baptist Church in Cabool, Missouri, Jack married Barbara. Jack served as a bi-vocational minister for more than 50 years, serving as Pastor at First Baptist in Ritchey, Missouri, Belfast Baptist, Calvary Baptist and Fellowship Baptist in Neosho and then at New Salem Baptist Church for twenty-eight years. 

In addition to the ministry, Jack served as Juvenile Officer for Newton/McDonald Counties; Manager of For-All Bible Center in Joplin and office manager at Church Growth International in Neosho. 

In 2000, he ran for political office and was elected Newton County Commissioner and was re-elected in 2004 and 2008, serving three terms. Following his retirement, he and Barbara served as Missionaries in Ukraine, teaching English and sharing the word of God. 

Jack is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara; two sons, Kent (Christy) Sanders of Springfield, Missouri and Mark (Michelle) Sanders of Joplin; four grandchildren, Karissa (Grant) Brown, Stephen (Jessica) Sanders, Mollie Sanders and Harry Sanders and six great grandchildren, Abigail, Ann, twins, Ellie and Emi and twins, James and Jude. 

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Bill Sanders. Funeral services will be held at 2 pm, Monday, May 1, 2023 at the Clark Funeral Home Chapel of Memories with Pastor Grant Brown, Pastor Gary Bond and R. J. Savage officiating. Interment will follow in the Granby Memorial Cemetery. 

The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1 pm until service time. 

Contributions in memory of Jack may be made to Arc of the Ozarks, New Salem Baptist Church or Interserve USA Missions, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66; Neosho, MO 64850.

Doris Grounds

(From Parker Mortuary)

Doris Kay Grounds, age 84 of Joplin, passed peacefully on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at the OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, following an extended illness. 

Doris was born on March 9, 1939 in Mulvane, Kansas to the late Ernest Armstrong and Blanche Reddick Armstrong. She graduated from the Mulvane High School and entered into college shortly after. 

 Doris worked for more than 30 years as a Medical Transcriptionist before retiring to enjoy time with family and hobbies. She was a member of the Messiah Fellowship and in the last couple years, she has been attending Cross Point Fellowship.

Surviving family include her son, Jerry Grounds and wife, Pauline of Ozark, Missouri; daughter, Lori Moffatt and husband, Sean of Forest Park, Oklahoma; 4 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren; sisters, Virginia Armstrong of Joplin, Elaine Schultz (Ernest) of Seneca, Lois Potts, Joplin, Sue Sherril, Joplin, Jean Straight, Newton, Kansas; brothers, Tom Armstrong (Linda) of Seneca and Richard Armstrong of Canada.

Other than her parents, Doris is preceded in death by 5 siblings.

A family and friends gathering will be Sunday, April 30th at The Athena Event Center, 2715 E. 32nd Street, Joplin, Missouri, between the hours of 1-4:00 PM.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri.

Steve Wheeler

(From Ferry Funeral Home)

Steven Wayne Wheeler, 59, Nevada, MO passed away on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 following a lengthy illness. Steve was born April 21, 1964 in Kansas City, MO to John and Jean Marie (Todd) Wheeler. 

He married Linda L. Fenton on July 3, 1996 and she survives of the home.

Steve was raised in Kansas City, MO, later Springfield, AR, and came to Vernon County in 1975. He graduated from El Dorado Springs High School Class of 1983. Steve served in the Army National Guard from 1985 – 2015 with two tours of duty, Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Throughout his life, Steve worked as an auto mechanic. For the past 39 years he worked with his stepfather, Rick Smith at Southeast Auto Repair in Nevada. Steve had a love of fishing and deer hunting, was a member of the VFW, Nevada Eagles, and BPOE Elks.

In addition to his wife Linda, survivors include a grandson, Trevor McDermott, of the home; two sons, Steven James Wheeler, Nevada, and Jerry Wheeler (Harley), Joplin, MO; a daughter, Bobbie Baxter, Nevada; two stepchildren, David Terrell (Kailee), Nevada, and Christal Nelson (Lloyd), Nevada; and numerous grandchildren; stepparents, Rick and Coeta Smith, Nevada; nine siblings, sister, Tina Leslie (Mike), Arkansas, sister, Becky York (Phillip), Nevada, sister, Cynda Pennington, Drexel, MO, sister, Candie Rice, Arkansas, sister, Crystal Hale, Terrence, FL, brother, Richard Smith (Jennifer), Nevada, sister, Chastity Shook, Nevada, sister, Monica Miller, Joplin, MO, brother, Johnny Wheeler, Kansas City, MO; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and a stepbrother, Waylan Shook.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the Nevada Eagles Lodge.

Memorials are suggested to the Family c/o Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

Joyce Richey

(From Parker Mortuary)

Joyce J. Richey, age 84, of Farmington, Missouri reunited with the love of her life on April 25, 2023 at Parkland Hospital, Farmington.

She was born June 18, 1938 in Michigan to the late William and Madelyn Mosher. She graduated from WCHS in 1956. She married the love of her life, Ernie “Cork” Richey on August 25, 1956 in Webb City. She was employed by Atlas Powder for many years and retired in 2012 from Downstream Casino.

Joyce was an avid bowler until 2022 when her health began to decline. She was also a loyal Bingo player at Mineral Area Community Elks Lodge #2583 in Desloge, Missouri. She was known for her beautifully crocheted blankets that she loved making for family and friends.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Cork, on April 25, 1994. In life as in death Joyce and Ernie did everything together. They passed away 29 years to the day from each other. In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by her son, Johnnie Richey, her stepfather, Carl Parker, her sister Patricia Kingrey.

Survivors include her daughter, Kerri Simms of Farmington; grandchildren, Adam Simms (Allison) of Sequin, TX, Kelsey Gay (Ritchie) of Fayetteville, AR, and Tara Lane (Eric) of Farmington; great-grandchildren, Griffin, Odin, Chloe, Chandler, Erikson, and Emarie; sister, Pam Rhodes (Kent) of Michigan; as well as many many other family and friends.

A visitation will be held at Parker Mortuary on Sunday, April 30th from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. There will be a gathering of friends and family at the Joplin Elks Lodge following the visitation.

Funeral services will be Monday, May 1, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in Parker Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Johnny Wilkins officiating, and burial to follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery.

Walter Bolin

(From Adams Funeral Home)

Walter Irvine Bolin, age 79 of Highlandville, died April 22, 2023. He was born May 25, 1943 in Springfield, the son of Herschel Coleman and Esta Elizabeth (Tennis) Bolin.

Survivors include: his children, Kim Johnson of Buffalo, Kelly Merritt of St. Louis, Aaron Bolin of Purdy, Amanda Bolin of Nixa; stepchildren, Jenna Rhodes of Hollister, Tiffany Cope of Highlandville, Tony Moore of Nixa, Chris Moore of Ozark, Missy Riley of Neosho, Steve Larson of Highlandville; and his sisters, Ruth Ann Barker of Nixa and Jana George of Highlandville.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary Lee Metzinger; his brother, Darrell Bolin and an infant brother, Vincel Bolin.

Walter enjoyed fishing, farming, well drilling and working on vehicles.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, April 28, 2023, at Adams Funeral Home, Nixa, with Diane Newton officiating. Burial will follow at McCauley Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, April 27, 2023, at Adams Funeral Home, Nixa.