Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week updated January 12, 2007 Leo Robert Brown Leo Robert Brown, 81, of Belle, Missouri, formerly of Cherryville, Missouri, passed away Friday, December 29, 2006 at Capital Regional Medical Center in Jefferson City, Missouri. Leo was born Tuesday, December 22, 1925 in Dupo, Illinois, the son of James and Edith Mae (Jackson) Brown. Leo was united in marriage to Lorraine Conaway on July 11, 1952 in Dupo, Illinois and to this union four children were born. He was preceded in death by one brother, Doyle Brown; one sister, Pearl Brown, and one grandchild and one great grandchild; four brothers-in-law, Clyde Green, Lawrence Conaway, Noel Conaway and Luther Conaway. Leo had worked as a painter and most recently as a small engine repairman. He liked to build birdhouses and feeders. He had served in World War II. He is survived by his wife, Lorraine of the home in Belle, Missouri; two sons, Larry Dale Brown of Mesquite, Nevada and Tim Leo Brown and wife Maria of Owensville, Missouri; two daughters, Deborah Simpson of Belle, Missouri and Sheila Padgett and husband Michael of Tyler, Texas. Ten grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; one brother, Carl Brown of Foristell, Missouri and one sister, Doris Gitch and husband Ray of King City, Oregon; four sisters-in-law, Geneva Green of Cherryville, Missouri, Mildred Conaway of Cherryville, Missouri, Velma Conaway of Cherryville, Missouri and Emily Conaway of East Carondelet, Illinois and two brothers-in-law, Paul Conaway and wife Mil of Cuba, Missouri and Irvin Conaway Jr. and wife Mary of Cherryville, Missouri. Funeral services were held Sunday, December 31, 2006 in the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home with Rev. Harrison Brown officiating. Special music of “Further Away,” “How Great Thou Art” and “When We all Get to Heaven” were sung by Bob and Carol Coleman. Committal prayers and burial was in the Freeman Cemetery with Jacob Cannon, Marty Calkins, Josh Simpson, Chris Simpson, Richard Simpson and Mark Davis serving as casket bearers. Arrangements were under the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. Barbara Jane Comfort Barbara Jane Comfort, age 48, of O’Fallon, Missouri, formerly of Davisville, Missouri, passed away at her home on Monday, January 1, 2007. She was born Saturday, November 8, 1958 in Steelville, Missouri, the daughter of Buddy and Bertha (Brooks) Woods. Barbara was a heavy equipment operator and was a member of Local #613. She enjoyed her Harley and the time spent riding. She was a member of the South St. Louis Harley Association. She will be remembered for her happy attitude and smile. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Barbara was preceded in death by her father, Buddy Woods; two brothers, Paul James Woods and Buddy Steven Woods; and one sister, Susan Woods. She is survived by her mother, Bertha Woods of O’Fallon, Missouri; two brothers, Robert Lee Woods and Robert Lee Woods, Jr.; and two sisters, Ruby Jeanett Hendrix and husband Tom of Eureka, California and Betty A. Woods and friend Catherine Burns of Defiance, Missouri. Funeral services for Barbara Comfort were held Thursday evening, December 4, 2007 in the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home with Rev. Bob Coleman officiating. Special music of “The Spirit in the Sky” and “Candle in the Wind” was played. Special tribute thoughts were given by her sisters and other friends. Arrangements were under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. Nortie Elma Conway Nortie Elma Conway nee Rives of Leasburg, Missouri was born on Saturday, November 27, 1926 in Union City, Tennessee to Vebel Rives and Mable Downing Rives. She passed away on Tuesday, December 26, 2006 in the Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 80 years and 29 days. Nortie married Samuel R. Conway on July 5, 1960 in St. Louis, Missouri where they made their home for many years. She worked as a coach servicer for Greyhound Bus Lines for 27 years. Her hobbies were fishing and traveling. She accepted the Lord several years ago and enjoyed attending different churches as her health permitted. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers and two sisters. She is survived by her husband, Samuel Conway of the home; children, Becky Hampton and husband Scott of Cherryville, Misouri, John Bolden and wife and granddaughter, Anita Hess of Hillsboro, Missouri; Devon Martin of Cuba, Missouri. Sisters, Lillian DeBois of Michigan, Wanda Poole and husband Mickey of Jackson, Michigan; great grandchildren, Tyle Bolden, Kayla Hampton, Katlyn Bolden and Alexa Hampton; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Visitation was Saturday, December 30, 2006 from 5-8 p.m. at the Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri. Funeral services were held Sunday, December 31, 2006 at the Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri with Brother Virgil Conway officiating. Burial was in the Bourbon Cemetery, Bourbon, Missouri with pallbearers, John Bolden, Scott Hampton, Steve Hampton, Tyler Bolden, Bruce Stork, Larry Champlain and Simon Rabjohns. All arrangements were under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri. John Cunningham John Robert Cunningham, 49, of Tipton, Missouri, formerly of Owensville, Missouri passed away Saturday, December 24, 2006 at Capital Regional Hospital in Jefferson City, Missouri. He was born to the late Levi and Earline Collier Cunningham on April 24, 1957. he married Mavis Abernathy of Whitewater, Missouri on December 18, 1976 at Crump, Missouri. He made his home in Tipton for more than 20 years and was a member of First Baptist Church. Preceding him in death was his parents and father-in-law, Raymond Abernathy. He is survived by his wife, Mavis of Tipton, Missouri; two sons, Cpl. Dewayne Cunningham and wife Courtney of Camp LeJeune, North Carolina and Robert Cunningham and wife Chastity of Tipton, Missouri; a granddaughter; mother-in-law, Martha Abernathy of Whitewater, Missouri. Three brothers, Jack Cunningham and wife Girlie of South Carolina, Jerry Cunningham and wife Mary of Owensville, Missouri and Jim Cunningham and wife Victoria of Sullivan, Missouri; two sisters, Judy Jarvis and husband Roger of Owensville, Missouri and Janet Thomas of Caruthersville, Missouri. Visitation was held Wednesday, December 27, 2006 from 4-8 p.m. at Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Service in California, Missouri. Funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church in Tipton, Missouri with Rev. Paul Posey officiating. Interment was in the Tipton Masonic Cemetery. Lena Lorene Eaton Lorene Eaton, 88, of Davisville, Missouri, passed away Saturday, December 23, 2006. She was born Sunday, December 9, 1918 at Courtois, Missouri, the daughter of Simon and Tolitha (Henslee) Brakefield. She was united in marriage to Raymond Eaton on January 10, 1946 in St. Louis, Missouri. After 28 years of marriage, Raymond passed away on October 21, 1974. Those left to mourn her passing are one son, Stanley Eaton and wife Tammy of Davisville, Missouri; one grandson, Roger Eaton and wife Kelly of Davisville, Missouri and one great grandson, Layne Eaton and one sister-in-law, Roseann Eaton. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one brother, Henry Brakefield and wife Lula and one sister, Bessie Mason and husband Reco. Lorene had lived her life on the farm as a wife and mother and homemaker. She enjoyed dogs and cats. She had been a member of the United Baptist Church in Viburnum, Missouri. Funeral services were held Wednesday, December 27, 2006 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home with Rev. Cletus Nichols officiating. Special music of “Amazing Grace,” “I Won’t Have to Cross Jordan Alone,” and “What a Friend We have in Jesus” were sung by Bob and Carol Coleman. Committal prayers and burial was in the Upper Indian Creek Cemetery in Viburnum, Missouri with Roger Eaton, Randy Parks, Chris Richardson, Joey Richardson, Kevin Hewkin and Paul Mason serving as pallbearers. Arrangements were under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. John Rainey Gann John Rainey Gann, 72, passed away Wednesday, January 3, 2007 at Gibbs Care Center in Steelville, Missouri. He was born the son of John H. Gann and Della (Strafford) Moses. John served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1955 and was proud of his country. During his working years, he lived in Rolla, Missouri and worked as a custodian at the University of Missouri for many years. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Bill Gann and Joe Gann and wife Joann. He is survived by three sisters, Ann Hoffman and husband Wally of St. Charles, Missouri, Leona Neidert and husband Jeff of St. James, Missouri and Eva Mae Earny and husband Bobby of St. James, Missouri; one sister-in-law, Donna Gann of Rolla, Missouri; four special nieces, Melanie Visnapuu of Rolla, Missouri, Pamela Gibson and husband Glenn, of Rolla, Missouri, Tamie Hinson and husband Bill of Washington, Missouri and Jackie Harris of St. Charles, Missouri. Graveside services were conducted Saturday, January 6, 2007 in the Steelville Cemetery with Rev. Joe Eaton officiating. Serving as casket bearers were Walter Hoffman Jr., Kevin Hoffman, Jeremy Light, Glen Gibson, Bill Hinson and Aaron Gann. Arrangements were under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. Iva Loraine Goggin Iva Loraine Goggin was born April 5, 1920 in Ellington, Missouri to George and Nellie M. Gilmer Sutton and passed away January 3, 2007 at Baldwin Health Care Center. Ms. Goggin moved to Lawrence, Kansas in 1996 from Cuba, Missouri and recently resided in Baldwin City, Kansas. She worked for Emerson Electric Co. for 27 years and formerly as a nurse’s aide for Missouri Baptist Hospital, both in Missouri. She was a member of Brook Creek Neighborhood Association in Lawrence, Kansas. She is survived by a half brother, Donald Roy Sutton; and a half sister, Elsie L. Hall. Graveside services for Iva Loraine Goggin were held at 1 p.m. on Friday, January 5, 2007 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence, Kansas. Helen Hyacinth Gunn Helen Hyacinth Gunn of Cuba, Missouri was born on February 20, 1912 to the union of William Henry Gunn and Lillian Pearl (Cook) Gunn and passed away Monday, January 1, 2007 at the age of 94 years, 10 months and 10 days. Helen was a telephone operator for many years and worked at the shoe company also. She was a member of the Cuba United Methodist Church of Cuba, Missouri. She was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, great aunt, good friend and neighbor and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Helen is preceded in death by her parents, William and Lillian Gunn; two brothers, William “Budge” Gunn and Daniel Christopher Gunn; one sister, Mary Ursula Gunn. Those who are left to mourn her passing from this life are her nieces and nephews, Lillian and husband Hoyt McCann of Cuba, Missouri, Bill and wife Linda Gunn of Cuba, Missouri, Bobby and wife Sheila Gunn of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Margaret and husband Glenn Rousset of Fenton, Missouri, Buddy Gunn of Rolla, Missouri, Mary Gunn of Wagoner, Oklahoma, Christine and husband Gary Durbin of Cuba, Missouri, Catherine and husband Rich Goyette of Knoxville, Tennessee and Winifred Gunn and husband Bob Fleming of Rolla, Missouri; special great niece, Janice Brummet of Cuba, Missouri; special great nephew, Bill Taber of Cuba, Missouri; many other family and friends. Visitation Saturday, January 6, 2007 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Britton Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri. Funeral service 2 p.m. Saturday, January 6, 2007 at Britton Funeral Home, Cuba with Rev. Paul Lathum officiating. “In the Garden” and “Amazing Grace” was the special music for the service. Serving as pallbearers were Bill Taber, Billy Gunn, Bobby Gunn, Johnny Gunn, Hoyt McCann and Joe White. Burial at Lea Cemetery, Leasburg, Missouri. Arrangements were under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri. Violet Koski Violet A. Koski of Sullivan, Missouri, passed away Sunday, December 24, 2006 at the age of 85 years. She was born in Wakefield, Michigan on September 13, 1921 to Marco and Kathryn Sertich, one of six children. She married Felix E. Koski on July 6, 1940. She retired from the Sullivan Public Schools after 30 years in food service and served for 40 years as a member of the St. Matthew Lutheran Church Altar Guild. Besides her love of family and friends, she loved writing and receiving letters. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Felix Koski; daughter, Joann Londo; two brothers, John and Mark Sertich; sister, Anne Blaszchyk and a grandson, Michael McCance. Violet is survived by two sons, Richard Koski and wife Charlotte of Negaunee, Michigan and Bob Koski and wife Judy of Cuba, Missouri; two daughters, Carol Anderson of Neenah, Wisconsin and Karen Kohne and husband Bill of Sullivan, Missouri. A brother, Tony Sertich of Ft. Collins, Colorado; two sisters, Kay Sertich and Helen Anton, both of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; nine grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 29, 2006 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Sullivan, Missouri, with Pastor Jeffrey Duncan officiating. Interment was in the IOOF Memorial Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan, Missouri. Festus Kreamalmyer Festus Glenn Kreamalmyer of Steelville, Missouri was born on Friday, March 15, 1918 in Cherryville, Missouri to Daniel Kreamalmyer and Carrie Cummins Kreamalmyer. He passed away on Sunday, December 17, 2006 at the Gibbs Care Center, at the age of 88 years, 9 months and 2 days. Festus married Dolores Vera Brand on June 14, 1952 in Steelville, Missouri and to this union one daughter, Linda, was born. Festus for a few years was a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse in Black Jack, Missouri. He later was the manager for Steelville Telephone Exchange, Inc. for 20 years before retirement. He also raised Angus cattle on his farm. He had attended the Cherryville Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Kenneth Kreamalmyer; half brothers, Wayne Kreamalmyer and wife Lillian, Arthur Kreamalmyer and Albert Kreamalmyer; half sisters, Florence Worley and husband Theodore, Minnie Dotson and husband Emmett and Carrie Kreamalmyer. Those who remain to mourn his passing are his wife Dolores of the home; one daughter, Linda Louis-Van Reed and husband Bruce of St. Louis, Missouri; nephew, Dan Kreamalmyer and wife Lisa of Steelville, Missouri; nieces, Judy Helmering and Kary Lynn Kreamalmyer, all of Steelville, Missouri; great nephews, cousins and many friends. Visitation was Tuesday, December 19, 2006 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Funeral service was Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at 2 p.m. at the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri with Rev. Delmar Hutson officiating. Burial was in the Freeman Cemetery, Cherryville, Missouri with pallbearers Bruce Van Reed, Dan Kreamalmyer, Henry Martin, Bob Richardson, Joe Alexander and Richard Conaway. All directions were under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Don Cape Riebel Don Cape Riebel, 63, of Westerville, Ohio, passed away Wednesday, January 3, 2007 at Columbus Alzheimer’s Care Center. He was born Thursday, September 2, 1943 in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of George and Brenda (Cape) Riebel. Don was united in marriage to Dolores Ann Halbert on August 20, 1966 and to this union one son and one daughter were born. He was a graduate of Steelville High School and Southeast Missouri State University. He was a member of Mifflin Presbyterian Church in Gahanna, Ohio, Lebanon Lodge #77 A.F. and A.M. in Steelville and Westerville Lions Club. He had retired from Bank One in Columbus, Ohio in 1995. He was preceded in death by his parents and his father-in-law, B.L. “Doc” Halbert. Those left to mourn his passing are his wife of 40 years, Dolores of the home; one son, Eric Don Riebel and partner Chad Streff of Westerville, Ohio; one daughter, Erin Christianne Riebel and special friend Richard Buchsieb of Columbia, Ohio; one brother, George Norman Riebel and wife Joyce of Kansas City, Missouri. Mother-in-law, Ina Halbert; two sisters-in-law, Virginia Mae Halbert and Wanda Grayson and husband Alan; one brother-in-law, Kenneth Halbert and Elizabeth, all of Steelville, Missouri; nieces and nephews. Masonic services were held Sunday, December 31, 2006 at 7 p.m. at the Steelville Masonic Lodge. Funeral services were held Monday, January 8, 2007 in the Presbyterian Church in Steelville, Missouri with Rev. Mary Arnold officiating. Special music of “His Eye is on the Sparrow” was sung by Mary Arnold with Deloris Bell accompanying. Congregational songs of “A Mighty Fortress” and “Amazing Grace” were sung. Committal prayers and burial was in the Steelville Cemetery with Eric Riebel, Chad Streff, Richard Buchsieb, Kyle Grayson, Karen Swinford and Randy Lewis serving as casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers were Kevin Riebel, John Halbert, Scott Halbert, Samuel Halbert, Joseph Halbert and Bill Cape. Frances Junette Sidars Frances Junette Sidars of Cuba, Missouri was born to the union of the late Frank Hollingshead and Pearl Sarah Hollingshead (nee Coutant) on October 29, 1926 in St. Charles, Missouri and passed away January 1, 2007 at the age of 80 years, 2 months and 3 days. Frances retired from Defense Mapping Agency Aerospace Center as an accounting clerk. She enjoyed her family, her late dog Patty, crocheting and reading. She is preceded in death by her parents, Frank Hollingshead and Pearl Sarah Hollingshead (nee Coutant); and one sister, Juanita Boyer. She is survived by a daughter, Delores (Kevin) Rybacki of Cuba, Missouri; grandson, Isaiah (Stacey) Rybacki of Cuba, Missouri; one brother, Herbert (Nona) Hollingshead of Hazelwood, Missouri; nieces, nephews and host of other family and friends. Visitation was held Thursday, January 4, 2007 from 5-8 p.m. at Britton Funeral Home in Cuba, Missouri. Funeral service was held Friday, January 5, 2007 at 11 a.m. at Britton Funeral Home with Rev. Mike Brooks, officiating. Entombment at Mt. Hope Mausoleum, Lemay, Missouri. Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site. ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Winnie Brooks ====================================================================