Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO
Local Obituaries for the Week of January 13, 2005
Earl Johnny Halbert
Earl Johnny Halbert of Steelville, Missouri was born on
Saturday, December 3, 1910 in the Cherryvalley Community, near
Steelville, Missouri, to the late Edward Harrington Halbert and
Martha Alice Edwards Halbert. He went to be with the Lord Wednesday,
January 5, 2005 at the age of 94 years, 1 month and 2 days.
Earl was a life-time resident of the Cherryvalley
Community in Crawford County where he grew up on the family farm and
continued to pass down that tradition to his children and
grandchildren. He farmed, gardened, especially watermelons, that he
shared with family and many friends, raised cattle, horses, mules,
(proudly calling himself a muleskinner), worked the WPA, the
Cherryvalley Mines, Christy Mines and earned 10 cents an hour at
Westover Fish Hatchery, working 10 hours daily to make a dollar a
day. Earl attended the Westover School completing the eighth grade.
He married Ada Mary Richardson on September 9, 1931 at
the Steelville, Missouri Courthouse, accomplishing something few
couples have shared, that of making their home together for 73
years; and to their union three children were born.
Earl gave his heart to the Lord early in his life and
was faithful to the Lord, speaking often of the Lord's goodness,
saying power and soon return, to practically everyone he came into
contact with. Many will remember Earl proudly quoting the scripture
verses, "If God be for us who can be against us" and "Jesus Christ,
the same yesterday, today and forever."
Earl had a way of lighting up a room when he entered it
and seemed to never meet a stranger. If he didn't know them, he
would before he left them. Earl was also featured in two
documentaries of this area, "Tree House, an Ozark Story" and "Don't
It Feel Like Home" produced by Alex Primm and Tom Shipley.
Earl was so well thought of by the younger folks that
many called him "Gramps." He had some unique talents, one being a
master of popping the bullwhip. Also, he could pop off a black
snake's head in like manner. Everyone anticipated seeing Earl riding
in the Harvest Festival Parade, as well as the Crawford County Fair
Parade. In earlier years his dog was trained to ride behind his
saddle.
Earl was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in
Steelville, Missouri and a charter member of the Ozark Trailblazers.
Earl was honored by the MRCP for his outstanding community service.
During the 1976 bicentennial celebration, he was part of a trail
ride, which began at Ozark Trailblazers arena and ended at Hershey,
Pennsylvania.
In 1978, he participated in another trail ride, which
ended at Loretta Lynn's Dude Ranch in Pidgeon Forge, Tennessee.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents: son Gene
Halbert; brothers, Frankie Halbert, Carl Halbert, B.L. "Doc"
Halbert, Edward "T" Halbert and sister Helen Hinch. Brothers-in-law
Clyde Hinch, Ken Payne, Herschel Richardson, Sonny Richardson;
sister-in-law Agnes Hunt; granddaughter-in-law Nancy Halbert and
grandson-in-law John Weber.
Those who remain to mourn his passing are his wife Ada
of the home; son Russell Halbert and wife Judy of Steelville,
Missouri; daughter Joyce Cottrell and husband Jim of Cherryville,
Missouri; daughter-in-law Maxine Halbert. Sister Dixie Payne;
sisters-in-law Ina Halbert, all of Steelville, Missouri and Ina
Barber and husband Vernon of Cuba, Missouri; 11 grandchildren; 24
great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren, nieces,
nephews, cousins and many friends.
Visitation was Friday, January 7, 2005 from 5-8 p.m. at
the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri.
Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 8,
2005 at the First Assembly of God Church, Steelville, Missouri, with
Pastor Jerry Beers officiating.
Burial was in the Halbert Family Cemetery, Steelville,
Missouri.
All arrangements were under the direction of the Hutson
Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri.
Eva M. Harris
Eva Missouri Harris, nee Callahan, was born Monday, June 28, 1920,
at Cherryville, Missouri, a daughter of the late Thomas
Callahan and Francis (Gregory) Callahan.
She entered eternal life Tuesday, January 4, 2005, at
the Phelps County Regional Medical center, Rolla, Missouri, at the
age of 84 years, 7 months and 6 days. On June 6, 1938, Eva was
united in marriage to Emmitt Cordell Harris. Two sons, Dwight and
Albert and three daughters, Fredia, Lucille and Ruth were born to
this union. They enjoyed over 56 years together before his death,
November 13, 1994.
In addition to her parents and Emmitt, she was preceded
in death by their two sons, Dwight Harris and Albert Harris; three
brothers, Arthur Callahan, Noah Callahan, Orvil Callahan and three
sisters, Beulah Harris, Julia Pyatt and Elsie Morrison; son-in-law,
Garland Collier, one grandson, Charles Cordell Fierce, three
great-grandsons, Jeffery Harris, Russell Collier and Joshua Collier.
Among those who remain to mourn her passing are her
three devoted daughters, Fredia Fierce and special friend Rich,
Lucille Green and husband Glen, Ruth Haffer and husband Walter all
of Cuba, Missouri; 18 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren, nieces,
nephews, cousins, other relatives; special friends, Wayne and
Juanita King of Cuba, Missouri, and many other friends.
Eva M. Harris lay in state 4-8 p.m. Thursday, January 6,
2005, at the Britton Brothers Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri.
Funeral services were held 11 a.m. Friday, January 7, 2005, in the
Britton Chapel with Rev. Marvin Callahan officiating.
Committal prayers and interment were in Martin Cemetery,
Cherryville, Missouri. Serving as pallbearers were Dennis Collier,
Jake Collier, Russell Collier, Bud Harris, Jeff Harris, Matthew
Harris and Ralph Prickett.
Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Britton
Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri.
Arno Kreter
Arno Simon Kreter, 89, died Tuesday, Janaury 4, 2005 at
Cedar Crest Manor in Washington, Missouri.
He was born August 17, 1915 at Bem, Missouri to Henry
and Mary Stock Kreter. On July 25, 1937 he married Lois Ficke at the
Presbyterian Church Parsonage in Gerald. He was employed as a
trucker and was a member of the Owensville Masonic Lodge 624.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters Elizabeth
Bartram and husband Ron of Webster Groves, Missouri and Mary Chapman
and husband Bruce of Rosebud, Missouri; two sons John Kreter and
wife Vera and Lee Kreter, all of Owensville, Missouri; six
grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother Armin
Kreter and a sister Mae Silver.
Funeral services were held Friday, January 7, 2005 at
10:30 a.m. at St. John's United Church of Christ in Bem with Rev.
Todd Hackmann officiating. Burial in the Church Cemetery.
Arrangements were handled by Gottenstroeter Funeral
Home, Owensville, Missouri.
Dalton Gage Messmer
Dalton Gage Messmer, son of Scott and Kimberly (Lorene)
Messmer of Bonne Terre, Missouri, was born June 1, 2004 and passed
away January 2, 2005 at St. John's Hospital in St. Louis at the age
of 7 months and 1 day.
Besides his parents, Dalton is survived by his
grandparents Tom and Diana (Pinkston) Lorene of Pevely, Missouri and
Mike and Holly Messmer of Bonne Terre, Missouri.
Great grandparents Fred and Shirley Pinkston of Cuba,
Missouri.
Dalton was in state at Mahn Funeral Home in Festus,
Missouri. Burial in Shepherd of the Hills Cemetery, Festus,
Missouri.
Harold L. Turnbough
Harold L. Turnbough of St. Louis, Missouri departed this
life on Saturday, November 20, 2004. At the age of 83 years, 1 month
1 day. He was born at Quaker, Missouri October 19, 1921 to the late
John and Nettle (Thomas) Turnbough.
He served his country in the U.S. army during World War
II. He went on to college at Washington University in St. Louis,
Missouri and graduated with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Harold worked for Alvey Inc. for 36 years. He was also
the past master of Pomegranate Lodge.
Harold was united in marriage to Minnie Crabtree on July
14, 1951.
Among those who remain to mourn his passing are his wife
Minnie of 53 years; three daughters, Sandra Marx and husband Michael
of Naperville, Illinois, Brenda Rabbitt and husband Michael of St.
Louis, Missouri, Janice Kohl and husband Todd of St. Louis Missouri.
Seven grandchildren Colleen, Jason, Austin, Stephanie,
Emily, Zachary and Lindsey. One sister Nadene Blair of Potosi,
Missouri; sisters-in-law Eunice Wood of St. Louis, Missouri, Bernice
Adams of Viburnum, Missouri and Geraldine Alexander and husband Joe
of Steelville, Missouri.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in the death
by an infant grandson Justin Kohl, one sister and five
brothers-in-laws, Hilma Thompson and husband Paul of Tucson,
Arizona, Winfred Blair, Harry Wood, Jacob Adams and Orville
Crabtree. One sister-in-law Lucille Crabtree.
Funeral services were conducted by Pastor Pritchard
Wednesday November 24, 2004 at Kutis Chapel and burial at Sunset
Memorial Park St. Louis, Missouri.
Serving as pallbearers were Bill Wood, Ray Adams, Bob
Crabtree, Kenneth Adams, Larry Adams and Bill Cape.
Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the
Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site.
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