Charlene Bower

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(From Brenner Mortuary)

Charlene Eleanor Bower, 92, of rural Weir, Kansas, passed away at 5:53 p.m. Saturday, August 27, 2022 at Medicalodge of Pittsburg.

She was born March 12, 1930 at Pittsburg, the daughter of Carl and Vivian (Marvin) Glaser. She graduated from Pittsburg High School. After high school, Charlene worked as a beautician for her mother.

On September 25, 1949, she was united in marriage to Albert Junior “Buck” Bower in Pittsburg. He preceded her in death on March 30, 2016.

After her marriage to Buck, Charlene took on the role of homemaker and farm wife.

She was a past member of the Weir United Methodist Church and Busy Janes.

Survivors include two daughters, Vivian Jackson of Joplin, Missouri and Rayma Bower of rural Weir, Kansas; two brothers, Raymond Glaser of rural Pittsburg and Wayne (Sharan) Glaser of Cherokee, Kansas; eight nieces and nephews, Doug (Lisa) Glaser of Cherokee, KS, Kelly Glaser of Pittsburg, Kim (Richard) Weber of Pittsburg, Marvin (Leila) Bower, rural Pittsburg, Calvin (Judy) Bower of Carthage, MO, Lorna (Gary) Alford of rural Galena, Debbie (Joe) Schlabach, Florida, and Jenny (Tim) Pierce of Bentonville, AR; and several great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, step-mother, Imogene Glaser, an infant daughter, Zoe Ann Bower, infant sister, Patty Ann Glaser, and a sister-in-law, Melva Glaser.

A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday (Aug. 31) at the Brenner Mortuary, followed by a service at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday (Aug. 31) at the Brenner Mortuary with Rev. Mark Chambers officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Olive Cemetery in Pittsburg, KS. The family suggests memorials be given to the Humane Society of the donor’s choice and/or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary.

Kathryn Murray

(From Heuser Funeral Home)

Mary Kathryn Rutherford Murray passed away Saturday, August 27, 2022. She was 95 years old.

Kathryn was born May 8, 1927, to Hugh L. and Mary (Goodwin) Rutherford in Stotesbury, Missouri. She graduated from Stotesbury High School.

She married Tom Murray on December 18, 1943. To this union they had three sons Thomas Jay, James, and Michael.

Kathryn was a housewife and enjoyed raising chickens and calves. She loved gardening and fishing. She worked at Western Insurance in Fort Scott, Kansas for six years. She was active in her sons’ lives helping with school activities and going to all their basketball games.

She was preceded in death by her parents Hugh Rutherford and Mary Rutherford Fletcher, her husband Tom Murray, two brothers Jay Rutherford and Wilbur Rutherford, one sister Barbara (Fletcher) Fitzgerald, two stepsisters Freda Henderson and Lois Kraus, and stepfather E.A. Fletcher.

She is survived by her sons Thomas Jay (Carol), Lamar, Missouri; James (Esther), Hume, Missouri, Michael, Liberal, Kansas. Eight Grandchildren Sherry St. John (Royce) Golden City, Missouri, Jody Weaver (Barry), Liberal, Missouri, Cindy Gammon (Brad) Lamar, Missouri; Jim Murray (Erin) St. Charles, Missouri; Brian (Ashley) Millersville, Maryland; Lisa Quiroz, (Raul) Wright, Wyoming; Chad Murray, Joplin, Missouri; and Tara Neuman (Jeremiah), Liberal, Kansas; eleven great-grandchildren; three sisters Betty Sheehy, Independence, Missouri; Beverly Fletcher, Raymore, Missouri and Hattie Shaw, Ft. Scott, Kansas; and many nieces and nephews.

Graveside funeral service service will be 11 am Saturday, September 3, 2022 at the Greenlawn Cemetery, Rich Hill, Missouri. Visitation will be held from 10 am to departure for cemetery at the Heuser Funeral Home, Rich Hill. Memorial Contributions are suggested to Hume Alliance Ministry. Online condolences can be left at www.heuserfunerals.com.

Leah Johnson

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Leah Mae (Chapman) Johnson passed away Sunday, August 28, 2022, at 12:24 pm at her daughter-in-law’s home where she had been residing since September 2021. She passed away surrounded by her loved ones. 

Leah was born November 10, 1925, in Wayne City, Illinois. She was the daughter of Leslie Chapman and Stella (Ferguson) Chapman.

She grew up in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, where she met and married her husband John C Johnson of Omaha, Nebraska on March 3, 1945. They lived in Omaha for 2 years and then moved to Joplin, Missouri. 

John was employed by Vickers for 38 years and Leah was a homemaker for her husband and three children: Richard, Linda, and Scott. She was a long-time member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Webb City. She loved Jesus and family members can recall her reading her Bible often, especially at night.

Leah was preceded in death by her husband John of 58 years, her daughter Linda, son Richard and grandson Michael. Also preceding her were her parents, two brothers: Dale Chapman and Howard Chapman both of Illinois and one sister, Maxine Miller of Arkansas. 

She is survived by one son, Scott Johnson of Arlington, Texas; her daughter-in-law Caroline Johnson (Richard’s wife) of Alba, Missouri; three grandchildren: Andrew Johnson (Jennafer) of Webb City, Lesli Stump (Eldon) of Webb City and Christie Westhoff (Eric) of Joplin. She is also survived by her great grandchildren: Brandon and Samantha (Fox) Stump, Lauren, Zachary and Anthony Stump and Kennedy and Brooklyn Johnson, all of Webb City.

Funeral services have been scheduled at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, September 1, 2022, at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Webb City, MO. Pastor Kyle Beverlin, will officiate. Burial will follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends during a time of visitation from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

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

Beulamae Smith

(From Konantz Warden Funeral Home)

On August 26, 2022, our sweet Momma, Beulamae Smith, moved to her heavenly home to be with her Lord and Savior. Beulamae, or as she was affectionately known, “Bootie”, was born in Burwell, Nebraska on April 30, 1933, to Ray Arthur and Lillie Viola (Shane) Wright. 

Beulamae and William (Bill) Houston Smith were married on November 12, 1950, in Nevada, Missouri. They lived and worked in Nebraska and Missouri and had 6 children: Barbara Gayle Winningham (Jack) of Lamar, Missouri; William David Smith (Sheila) of Cabot, Arkansas; Jeanette Liles (Richard) of Austin, Arkansas, Bruce Wayne Smith, deceased August 19, 1987; Elizabeth Joyce Lopez (Steve) of Cabot, Arkansas, and Louis Ray Smith (Wendy) of Cabot, Arkansas. 

She had 17 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren. 

She is also survived by two sisters, Ester Cable of Lamar, Missouri and Bessie Olliso of Golden City, Missouri. She is preceded in death by her husband Bill; son Bruce Smith; parents; brothers Delbert and Albert Wright; and sisters Eunice Gann, Mildred Baughman, and Edith Hammers. 

She and Bill operated “Smitty’s 66” in Carthage, Missouri, until his death in 1978. She later worked at Safeway Cheese in Carthage, retiring 15 years later. Beulamae graduated from Victory Bible Institute in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1994. Beulamae moved to Arkansas in 2010. She was a Christian and her desire was for everyone to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the American Diabetes Association. 

The family will receive visitors at Konantz Warden Funeral Home on Tuesday August 30, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. A graveside service will follow at 11:30 AM at Sheldon Cemetery.

Gail Landry

(From Knell Mortuary)

Gail Frances Landry, 86, Carthage, Missouri, passed away Thursday evening, August 25, 2022, at Mercy Hospital, Joplin, Missouri. 

Gail was born July 29, 1936, in Carthage, Missouri, the daughter of Eugene Davis and Bessie Marie Harbin. She was a graduate of Lincoln High School in Joplin, Missouri. 

Gail married Leroy Landry on November 27, 1968; he preceded her in death. She worked as an operator and later in customer service for Southwestern Bell until her early retirement, in which she discovered her passion for caring for others. 

Gail had a huge heart, taking in and caring for not only her own, but everyone in need. She was the “babysitter of Carthage”. She loved raising and spending time with her kids and especially her grandchildren. Gail was a member of Bethel Restoration Church in Carthage. She was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan (Mike Tomlin) and more recently a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Survivors include five sons, Ogis “Weegie” Davis, Howard Davis, Allen Davis, Dominic Davis, Tristan Davis, including a son at heart, Randy Wilson all of Carthage; two daughters, Patricia “Pat” Davis (Larry), Carthage, and Sharon Davis, Atlanta, Georgia; 18 Grandchildren, 38 Great Grandchildren; her close friends, Attrice Palmer, Joplin, and Shirley Triplett, Carthage; and many extended family and friends.

She was also preceded in death by her parents Bessie Marie Harbin and Eugene Davis, a daughter, Donna Marie Davis; two brothers, Alan “Red” Davis, and Ronald “Billy” Davis; and two close friends, Patty Strickland, and Lurene Clay.

Funeral services will be held 2 pm, Friday, September 2, 2022, at Fairview Christian Church, Carthage. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Carthage. The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm, Thursday, September 1, 2022, at Knell Mortuary, Carthage. Memorial gifts are suggested to the Kidney Foundation in care of Knell Mortuary. Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Knell Mortuary.

Dwayne Jones

(From Daniel Funeral Home)

Dwayne Alden Jones, age 82, of Lamar, Missouri passed away August 23, 2022, at Cox Barton County Hospital in Lamar, MO.

Dwayne was born January 19, 1940 in Golden City, Missouri to Glen Jones and Lena Bernease (Williams) Jones. Dwayne graduated from Lamar High School in the class of 1958. After graduation, Dwayne joined the U.S. Navy and attended boot camp in San Diego, California. He was assigned to a heavy cruiser, the USS Toledo out of Long Beach, California.

He made one Pacific cruise in 1959, with stops in Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong, Okinawa, Philippines, Guam and Saigon, South Vietnam. He was released from active duty in 1960 as a 3rd class ship fitter metal smith. 

He continued with the US Navy Reserve after active duty but switched to aviation metal smith and joined an aviation squadron VS-81. It was based at North Island Navel Air Station in San Diego, California, where they flew S2F anti submarine aircraft, which Dwayne flew as a crewman, operating some of the sensors used to detect submarines. It was a carrier aircraft and he got a cat shot off the carrier USS Ticonderoga while in his squadron. It was a quite a ride he said. 

While in this squadron, if he wanted to continue to fly, Dwayne had to change to aircrew operator and at that time was a 1st Class Petty Officer.

 
VS-81 was decommissioned in 1975 and he then transferred to VP-65 at Point Mugu Navel Air Station in Point Mugu, California. This squadron flew P-3 aircraft and is strictly land based. Dwayne remained in this squadron until 1987 when he retired as a Chief Petty Officer with 30 years served. 

After retiring from the U.S. Navy, Dwayne received his associates degree in aeronautical engineering even though he never worked in the field. He then went to work for Shell Oil in 1967 starting out as a truck driver and then switched to dispatching tanker trucks. He then retired from this job after 27 years.

Dwayne met his first wife, Marjorie Deborah (Ball) Jones in 1960 and they married in July of 1962. He lost Marjorie to cancer in 1981, just a month short of their 19th wedding anniversary.

Dwayne then met his current wife, Ederlinda (Linda) Flores Jones in 1982, they were married on September 2, 1985 in Olongapo, Philippines. In July of 1994, Dwayne and Linda moved back to Lamar, and raised miniature horses for a while. They would have celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary next month.

Dwayne is survived by his wife, Linda; three sons, Michael and his wife Mellody Jones of Laurie, Missouri, Richard Jones of Lakewood, Washington and Mark and his wife Frances Jones of Great Lakes, Illinois; two daughters, Jennifer and her husband Greg Sanden of Lamar and Terrelyn Watts and her fiance Greg Eldred of Lamar; nine grandchildren, Nathan Sanden, Jorie Sanden, Gillian Watts, Bethany Jones, Dwayne Watts, Wiley Watts, Kathaleya Jones, Kiarra Jones and Kadence Jones; one great-grandchild, Grayson Sanden and one sister, Janice Orahood of Lamar.

Dwayne was preceded in death by his first wife, Marjorie; his parents; infant sister, Beverly Jones; stepfather, Gerald Cornwell and stepfather, Elbert Orahood and brother-in-law, Dan Orahood.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 29, 2022 at the First Baptist Church in Lamar, MO., with burial to follow at Lake Cemetery in Lamar.

The family will receive friends starting at 9:30 a.m. until service time, Monday, August 29, 2022 at the First Baptist Church in Lamar.

Contributions are suggested and made payable to the USO or Wounded Warriors in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com

Gale Fulton

(From Hedge-Lewis-Goodwin Funeral Home)

Gale Eileen Fulton, 72, of Carl Junction, Missouri, departed this life on Saturday morning, August 27, 2022, at University Hospital in Columbia, MO.

Gale entered this life on February 28, 1950 in Pittsburg KS. She grew up in Joplin and graduated from Joplin High School in 1968. She had many lifelong friends and memories being a cheerleader for JHS, a Girl Scout and a Camp Mintahama counselor. 

She married her sweetheart, Greg Fulton, on June 1, 1969, after they met on a blind date in October 1965. They considered themselves soulmates and built a wonderful life together with their four children. 

Gale was a dedicated homemaker and spent many years in the direct sales industry so she could continue to be a stay-at-home mom while providing income for the “extra” things in life. She was very successful with multiple companies over the years, earning numerous vacation trips and mentoring many young women along the way.

Gale was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She had numerous callings throughout the years including leadership roles in Young Women’s and Relief Society. She had a deep faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and a strong testimony of eternal families.

Gale’s greatest passion was her family. Anyone who knew Gale knew her deep love and commitment to her husband, children and her 12 grandchildren. She was incredibly proud of the legacy she and Greg had created and loved to talk of her family with great joy and enthusiasm. 

Gale was a great cook and seamstress, making numerous prom dresses for her girls over the years. She also enjoyed gardening and flea market shopping. She was a “stop and smell the roses” kind of woman which afforded her many opportunities to visit, listen, and make a positive impact on many people throughout her years. She had an infectious smile, and she never met a stranger.

Gale was proceeded in death by her parents, Lawrence Mudd and Reba (Wyatt) Carpenter, her stepfather, Bert Craig, her brother, Gary Mudd, and her stepbrothers, Dan Craig, and Jim Craig.

Gale is survived by her husband, Greg Fulton, and her children, their spouses and her 12 grandchildren, Kerri and Shaine Sundy (Skyler, Slyder and Sayre Sundy), Joel and Angela Fulton (Hannah Fulton), Abbey and Scott Lacey (Emma, Sophia, and Drake Lacey), all of Carl Junction, MO and Adam and Melanie Fulton (Ethan, Graham, Liam, Darcy and Jack Fulton), of Greencastle Pennsylvania, and her sister, Sherry Collins, and spouse, Bill, of Neosho, MO.

Visitation will be held Friday, Sept. 2 at Hedge-Lewis-Goodwin Funeral Home in Webb City, MO from 5-7 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Sept. 3 at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (across from Joplin High School) in Joplin MO. Graveside service will be Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. at Ozark Cemetery in Joplin MO. 

Donations may be made to the Joplin Humane Society in memory of Gale Fulton. (Gale was forever grateful to be reunited with her sweet cat, Cashew, through the humane society after he had been missing for three months.)