Obituaries

Nichole Lynn Sawyer, 27, made the trip to her eternal home at 10:39 am on Sunday, September 17, 2017.  She was taken from this world by a drunk driver, but she was escorted home on the wings of angels to a place of peace that surpasses our understanding.  She will never be forgotten.  Nichole was born February 13, 1990 in...

Michael "Mike" Lee Barthelme, age 48, of Liberal, Missouri died unexpectedly has his home.   Arrangements are pending.

Gary Gastel, age 80, of rural Lamar, passed away early Saturday morning, September 16, 2017, at Truman Healthcare Center.      Gary was born May 18, 1937, in Lamar to Leonard and Gladys (Patterson) Gastel.  He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Larry Wayne, and Keith Gastel.      Gary graduated Lamar High School in 1955, and then...

Brenda Louise Purdy, age 57, of Lamar, Missouri died Friday, September 16, 2017 at Truman Healthcare Center.      Brenda was born February 22, 1960 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan to Robert Lee and Evelyn Elizabeth (Phillip) Oberlin.  She was a high school graduate and of the Christian faith.  She had worked as a housekeeper at hotels until she became disabled due...

Mary Joanna (Shaver) Breedlove, age 88, of Lamar, Missouri, passed away Saturday night, September 9, 2017, at Truman Healthcare Center.      Mary was born May 2, 1929, in Joplin, Missouri, the third of the five children and only daughter of George B. and Mary Barbara (Trautwein) Shaver.  She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, George Paul...

Rose Selma Dyer, age 73, of Nevada, formerly of Golden City, Missouri, passed away Saturday, September 9, 2017, at Truman Healthcare Center.        Rose was born September 25, 1943, in St. Louis, Missouri, to the late Robert T. and Marie L. (Eithier) Dyer.  Rosie was a long-time area resident, living many years at Wyatt House in Golden City...

Robert August Holl, age 63, of Lamar, passed away Sunday evening, September 3, 2017, surrounded by his family at his home.      Bob was born May 8, 1954, in Oregon.  In 1972, immediately after graduating from high school in Tacoma, Washington, he began a 17-year career in the U.S. Navy.  He served more than a year as a Machinist Mate...

Delbert “Deb” Neil Mayfield, age 81, passed away, Tuesday, August 22, 2017 after a short illness.      Deb was born June 18, 1936 in rural Barton County to Harvey Floyd and Iva Lavesta (Greer) Mayfield. On December 22, 1956, he married Nadine Loewe in Lamar.  He was an elder and member of Hopewell Cumberland Presbyterian Church, a crop farmer, and...

Emma Maxine Crossley, age 91, of Lamar, Missouri and formerly of Joplin, Missouri, died Sunday, August 20, 2017 at Truman Healthcare Center.      Maxine was born August 8, 1926 in Marionville, Illinois to Jean and Opal (VanVeer) Girtman. After graduating high school, she pursued her career in special education, ultimately earning her Doctorate of Education.  She was a speech specialist, ...

Annit “Ann” Yvonne Cunningham died Thursday, August 17, 2017 at her home in Mindenmines, Missouri at the age of 66.      Ann was born September 17, 1950 in Tulare, California. She was a homemaker and loved to fish and go to rummage sales.  Ann was also an avid lover of animals of all types, but her family was the most...

Alonzo L. Tidball, age 82, of Jasper, Missouri, passed away Tuesday afternoon, August 15, 2017, surrounded by his family at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.       Lon was born September 22, 1934, in Barton County, Missouri to Pedro Clifton and Lena Mae (Bright) Tidball.  Because his mother died while Lon was an infant, he and his two-year-old sister Evelyn were...

Floyd C. Lee, age 76, of Lamar, Missouri passed Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at Barton County Memorial Hospital.  Floyd was born December 8, 1940 in rural Barton County to Floyd Allen and Helen Irene (Shaw) Lee.        Floyd graduated Lamar Highschool in 1959 and then served his county in the United States Navy. On October 2, 1962, he married Barbara...

Howard J. Helms, age 82, of Lamar, Missouri, passed away Saturday morning, August 5, 2017, at Truman Healthcare Center.      Howard was born April 26, 1935, in Van Nuys, California, youngest of the six children of Dewey and Stella (Petty) Helms.  He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Edward Helms who was killed in World War...

Mario Alejandro Delapena, age 32, of Lamar, Missouri passed unexpectedly Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at his home.      Mario was born May 25, 1985 in Orange, California to Mario L. and Ana Marie (Silvidanio) Delapena. He graduated high school in Anaheim, California.  On August 25, 2007, he married Corina Angelica Contreres.  He was employed at Redneck Blinds and enjoyed working...

Velma Norine McKenzie, age 75, of Lamar, passed away Thursday night, July 27, 2017, at Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada, Missouri.      Velma was born December 2, 1941, in Ava, Missouri, the daughter of Monroe and Audra (Graham) Strong and was raised by her mother and step-father, Floyd Harris. Velma was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers,...

Helen Jean Keithly, age 74, of Lamar, Missouri, passed Monday, July 24, 2017 at KU Medical Center after suffering a stroke on Saturday.      Jean was born May 5, 1943 in Irwin to Harvey and Iva (Greer) Mayfield.  She graduated Lamar High School in 1961 and on June 16, 1963 she married Bob Keithly and together they raised two children. ...

Bill B. Woods, age 87, of rural Liberal, peacefully passed away Tuesday morning, July 25, 2017, surrounded by his family at home.       Bill was born September 3, 1929, at the family farm home in Barton County, Missouri, the son of George and Alice (Barr) Woods.  He graduated from Lamar High School in 1947 and enlisted in the Regular Army...

Betty Eloise Gordon-Dennis, age 72, of Lamar, peacefully passed away Sunday morning, July 16, 2017, at Truman Healthcare Center, surrounded by her family.      Betty was born January 22, 1945, in Madera, California, third of the six children of Willis and Martha (George) Gordon.  On September 2, 1989, Betty married Luther Lee Dennis and he preceded her in death September...

Jerry Ray Noyes, age 60, of rural Liberal, Missouri, passed away Friday, July 14, 2017, at Truman Healthcare Center in Lamar.       Jerry was born March 6, 1957, at Pittsburg, Kansas, one of the four children of James and Luella (Bunton) Noyes.  He graduated from Liberal High School in 1975.  On June 23, 1978, in Jasper, Missouri, Jerry married Jane...

Merle Marlene Sprenkle, age 78, of Springfield, formerly of Lamar, passed away Sunday, July 9, 2017 at Neighborhoods at Quail Creek where she was recovering from back surgery.         Merle was born May 13, 1939, in Lamar, Missouri, the only child of Walter and Mary (Clements) Haile.  She attended Forest Grove Rural School and graduated from Lamar High School in...