Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO
Local Obituaries for the Week of March 9, 2011
Robert J. Ditmeyer
Robert J. Ditmeyer of Salem, Missouri was born December 16, 1941 in Chicago,
Illinois to James and Irene (Morgan) Ditmeyer and passed away March 6, 2011
at his home at the age of 69 years.
Robert devoted his life to farming, when his children were in school he was
very active in the FFA, helping his children learn the values of farming.
Robert was a dairy farmer and was selected as the Farm Family of the year at
the State Fair. He served on the Dent/Phelps School Board for six years;
taught night classes for veterans in the 1970’s, and served on the Dairy
Board. His greatest joy was time he spent with family and friends.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Kay, of the home; children, Jamie
Salts of Salem, Missouri, John Ditmeyer and wife Deone of St. James,
Missouri, and Adam Ditmeyer and wife Megan of Spokane, Washington; sister,
MaryAnn Fitzgerald of Illinois; eight grandchildren; four great grand-
children; other relatives and friends.
Graveside service Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 2 p.m. at the Miles Cemetery
in rural St. James, Missouri with Kenny Fiebelman officiating.
Arrangements under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary.
Charles Leon Ijames
Charles Leon Ijames of Bourbon, Missouri, formerly of the Williamsville,
Missouri, area, was born December 29, 1924, in Williamsville, Missouri, to
Charles S. and Willa Davidson Ijames and passed away Tuesday, March 1, 2011,
at St John’s Mercy Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 86 years.
He was a member of the Church of Christ, Sullivan, Missouri.
Following graduation from Williamsville, Missouri High School, Charles
entered the US Navy July 4, 1943, to serve our country during World War II.
He spent most of his time onboard the Samuel V. Stewart Liberty Ship
performing the duties of a gunner.
On January 9, 1946, he married Anita June Duckett.
After the military he worked for the VA Hospital in Poplar Bluff, Missouri,
before joining the US Corps of Engineers. He held many different positions
for the corps.
Charles loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing and hunting with fly fishing
being the favorite. He also enjoyed bowling, golf, and softball.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Willa Ijames; his
wife, Anita June Ijames; infant son, Steven Lynn Ijames; brother,
Don D. Ijames and sister, Mattie E. Warren.
He is survived by four daughters, Donna Eubanks of Puxico, Missouri,
Charlene “Ann” Zoll of Dexter, Missouri, Anita (Gerald) Mayo of Mt. Vernon,
Illinois, Cathy (Randy) Bremer of Bourbon, Missouri; 10 grandchildren and two
step grandchildren, Angie Townsend, Stephanie Ford, Misti McElroy, Ryan
Ijames, Mandi Lou Stilts, Tamara Clark, Landall Zoll, Justin Bouse, Austin
Ijames, Marcus Bremer, Athena Thacker, Andrea Bremer; 15 great grandchildren
and four step great grandchildren, Cory, Sydney, Myah, Gabe Townsend, Madilyn
and Keegan McElroy, Raigen, Bryleigh, and Bella Zoll, Lillian Stilts,
Gabrielle and Ava Clark, Evie Ford, Kaden and Brennan Bouse, Collin, Chase,
and Hannah Thacker and Laquayla Kerr.
Funeral services were held Friday, March 4, 2011, at Williamsville United
Methodist Church at 11 a.m.
Interment followed at the Holliday Cemetery, Williamsville, Missouri with
full military honors. Services were conducted by Pastor Ben Justice.
Pallbearers were Landall Fox, Ryan Ijames, Austin Ijames, Justin Bouse,
Marcus Bremer, Dan Ford and Greg Stilts.
Arrangements under the direction of the Ruegg Funeral Home, Williamsville,
Missouri.
Frances M. Keeven
Frances M. Keeven of Leasburg, Missouri was born to Joseph and Margaret
(Reichardt) Rosemann on August 8, 1934 in St. Louis, Missouri and passed
away Monday, February 28, 2011 at Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan,
Missouri at the age of 76 years.
Frances was united in marriage to Melvin G. Keeven on July 25, 1953 in
Normandy, Missouri and to this union four children were born.
She was a homemaker and a parishioner of St. Francis Catholic Church in
Bourbon, where she was a Eucharistic Minister. She enjoyed taking care of
others, especially volunteering at the Bourbon Food Pantry and Thrift Shop.
In her spare time she enjoyed flower gardening, crocheting and ceramics.
When her children were younger she was known as the Neighborhood Mom.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Margaret Rosemann;
four brothers, Bernard, Harold, Julius and Walter; three sisters, Marie
Chancellor, Rose Gelven and Dorothy Klein; three brothers-in-law, Ray Klein,
John Winkeler and Charles Carmichael; one sister-in-law, Lucille Rosemann.
She is survived by her husband, Melvin of Leasburg, Missouri; four
children, Donna and husband Joe Redel of Eureka, Missouri, Geraldine and
husband Gary Abbott of House Springs, Missouri, Robert and wife Diana Keeven
of Bourbon, Missouri and Thomas Keeven of Bourbon, Missouri; six grand-
children, Katie, Cindy, Jane, Christopher, Rebecca and Joseph; two sisters,
Theresa Winkeler of St. Louis, Missouri and Catherine Carmichael of Phoenix,
Arizona; four brothers, Elmer and wife JoAnn Rosemann of Memphis, Tennessee,
Joseph and wife Dorothy Rosemann of St. Louis, Missouri, Leroy and wife
Doris Rosemann of Salem, Missouri, Clarence and wife Alice Rosemann of
Bunker, Missouri; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held on Friday, March 4, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. until time
of Funeral Mass 11 a.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church in Bourbon, Missouri
with Rev. James Finder as the Celebrant.
Interment followed at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Bourbon, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba,
Missouri.
Edna Ann Moutray
Edna Ann (Halbert) Moutray was born January 30, 1923 at Steelville,
Missouri to Otis and Emma (Dierking) Halbert and passed away Saturday,
February 26, 2011.
Edna was united in marriage to Harold “Sandy” Moutray on December 17, 1949
in Arkansas and to this union one daughter was born. Edna and Sandy lived
in St. Louis for 27 years. In 1976, they retired and moved back home to
Steelville. She loved Steelville and never wanted to leave again.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Otis and Emma Halbert; her
husband “Sandy” on February 7, 1995; one sister, Bertha Luck and husband
Tom; one brother, Archie Halbert and wife Frances; brothers-in-law and
sisters-in-law, Fennell Moutray and wife Margaret, Raymond Moutray and
wife Aileen, Floyd Moutray and wife Madeline, Gladean Moutray, Ruth Birge,
Jake Moutray, Adrian Moutray and wife Mildred and Doyle Moutray.
She is survived by her one daughter, Gail Christian and husband Wayne
of Mesa, Arizona; two step-grandsons, Chad Christian and wife Caroline
and Marc Christian; one great granddaughter, Ashlyn; sisters-in-law, Mabel
Moutray of Steelville, Missouri, Peggy Moutray of St. James, Missouri, Clara
Gilmore of St. Ann, Missouri and Madeline West of Leasburg, Missouri; other
relatives and friends.
Visitation was from 4-8 p.m. on Monday, February 28, 2011 at the Britton-
Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri.
Funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at the
Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri with Rev. Lynn Stroup
officiating.
Special music of “In the Garden” and “How Great Thou Art” were sung by Jane
Eads and Patty Campbell with Steve Eads on guitar. Prelude and postlude were
chosen hymns of Edna played by pianist Ava Britton.
Committal prayer and burial were in the Steelville Cemetery.
Casket bearers were Wayne Christian, Marc Christian, Steve Eads, Tom Murray,
Jack England and John Bunch.
Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of
Steelville, Missouri.
Verna Ruth Parry
Verna Ruth Parry, of Salem, Missouri, was born on July 4, 1921 in the
Hawkins Bank community near Salem to Vernon Alvis and Jewel Ester (Zolder)
Head and passed away Thursday, March 3, 2011 at the age of 89 years.
Following her mother’s death, from the age of two years old she was raised
by her maternal grandmother, Augusta (Chumley) Zolder, her uncle Bernard
Zolder and his wife, Pearl.
On October 9, 1941 she was united in marriage to Ira Parry, Jr. For the
next 49 years they worked together on the Parry Farms in Phelps County; and
from 1987 to 1989, on her family’s Missouri Century Farm in Dent County,
where she continued to reside until her death.
Ruth served her community in a variety of roles. She was past-president
of the Intercounty Electric Cooperative Ladies’ Auxiliary; including being
chairperson of the NRECA national convention craft show. She served as
president of the Phelps County Home Economics Extension Council, and many
terms as president of the Show-Me Homemakers Extension Club. At the time
of her death, she was vice-president of the Plant and Pray Garden Club and
an active member of the Helping Hands Christian Church Circle. She has
been awarded her 50-year pin for membership in the Order of The Eastern
Star.
She and Ira together publicly professed their faith in Jesus Christ and
were baptized at the First Christian Church in St. James, Missouri. She
was later a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Rolla, Missouri and
East Salem Christian Church, Salem, Missouri. At the time of her death,
she was a member and faithfully attended Salem Christian Church.
Ruth loved music, especially gospel music. For a period of time she sang
in churches all around central Missouri as lead singer with the Parry
Quartet.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Jewel Head; husband
Ira Parry, Jr., step-mother, Mary Head; other relatives and friends.
She is survived by her daughter, Kay Snowden; son-in-law, Dalton Snowden;
two granddaughters, Carrie Williams and husband, Todd and Emily Turner and
husband, Brad; two great grandsons, Cade Turner and Wesley Williams, all
of Salem, Missouri; sister-in-law, Susan Parry of St. James, Missouri;
other relatives and friends.
Visitation was from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, 2011.
Funeral service was at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 7, 2011 at the Salem Chapel
of the James & Gahr Mortuary with Pastor Tim Hill and Jim Chilton
officiating.
Interment was in the Asher Cemetery.
Arrangements under the direction of the James & Gahr Mortuary.
Kathalee “Kathy” Pevehouse
Kathalee “Kathy” Pevehouse of Cuba, Missouri was born March 28, 1923 at
Jermyn, Texas to William Rice and Myrtle Minnie (nee Easter) Pevehouse and
passed away Saturday, March 5, 2011 at Cuba, Missouri at the age of 87 years,
11 months and 7 days.
In May of 1941 her father was transferred from Texas to Cuba to work for the
Frisco Railroad. She went to work for Cuba Telephone Company in 1944 and
worked for 39 years in the telephone industry. At an early age of 11 she
accept Christ as her personal Savior and remained faithful throughout her
life and was a long time member of the First Baptist Church of Cuba.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Rice and Minnie Pevehouse and
other relatives and friends.
She is survived by her cousins, Kenneth McCluerr and Billy H. Easter, both
of Graham, Texas; special friends Tim and Barb Bailey of Cuba, Missouri and
other friends.
Visitation was held Tuesday, March 8, 2011 beginning at 4 p.m. and the
funeral service followed at 6 p.m. with Pastor Bob Knight officiating.
Special music will be “How Great Thou Art,” “Amazing Grace” and “When They
Ring the Golden Bells.”
Interment and prayers will be held at Winn Hill Cemetery, Jacksboro, Texas
on Thursday, March 11, 2011.
Arrangements under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba,
Missouri.
Bette Rae Price
Bette Rae Price of Cuba, Missouri was born July 8, 1933 at St. Louis,
Missouri to Harry A. and Virginia R. (nee Stowers) Evans and passed away
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at Sullivan, Missouri at the age of 77 years,
7 months and 24 days.
Bette was united in marriage to William E. Price on November 25, 1950 at
St. Louis, Missouri and to this union four children were born.
Bette retired in the early 1990’s from Metzger Tool & Dye Company of
St. Louis after 20 years of dedicated service as a production worker.
After retirement they moved to Cuba and Bette became a member of TOPS MO
662, The Extension Club and the Red Hat Ladies. She enjoyed crossword
puzzles, reading and watching war movies. But what she loved most was
spending time with her children, grandchildren and family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Virginia Evans;
husband, William E. Price; sisters, Annie and husband Roland Lewis and
Louise and husbands Olin Jones and Bill Meeko; brother-in-law, Edward E.
Price; sisters-in-law, Nancy Schuchman and Dorothy Schuchman; other
relatives and friends.
She is survived by her children, Curt and wife Cindy Price of Cuba,
Missouri, Christine and husband William Nischbach of Barnhart, Missouri,
Brenda and husband Greg Lehmuth of Cuba, Missouri and Deborah and husband
John Berney of Schoolcraft, Michigan; eight grandchildren, Carey (Peggy),
Brian (Christy), John (Sherri), Mike, Jennifer (Nick), Tim, Denise (Kevin)
and Nicholas; nine great grandchildren; brother, Harry A. and wife Mary
Evans Jr. of Cuba, Missouri; sister, Marian and husband Dwight Brown of
Granite City, Illinois; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held on Friday, March 4, 2011 from 5-8 p.m. at the Britton
Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri.
Funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at the Britton
Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Special music will be “What a Wonderful World”
and “Love Me Tender.”
Interment and prayers followed at the Meramec Hills Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba,
Missouri.
Manford T. Rhea
Manford T. Rhea of Steelville, Missouri was born April 4, 1918 in Purdy,
Missouri to James S. and Lela Henderson Rhea and passed away Thursday,
March 3, 2011 at Gibbs Care Center in Steelville, Missouri at the age
of 92 years.
On August 25, 1941 in Springfield, Missouri, he married Nancy Patricia
(Wilkins) Rhea. Manford grew up in Purdy, Missouri and later moved with his
family to Seneca, Missouri where he graduated from high school. He attended
Southwest Missouri State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science
degree in Music Education. After college, he moved to Humansville and taught
school for one year and then made another move to Steelville where he taught
band and chorus.
He served in the Army-Air Corps where he became a pilot and a Captain.
He and Nancy moved back to Steelville where they would raise their two
children and spend the rest of their lives. Manford then went to work for
his father-in-law, J.R. Wilkins at the Hardwood Charcoal Company where he
worked for 20 years. In 1964, he became an insurance agent and would
continue that profession for over 40 years.
He was a deacon and music director for the choir at the First Baptist
Church in Steelville for 50 years alongside his wife, Nancy, as she played
the organ. Manford was involved in the Chamber of Commerce, the Steelville
School Board, became one of the first board members in 1978 of Golden
Echoes Center and the first president of the board for Gibbs Care Center.
Manford enjoyed playing tennis and going skiing with Nancy to Colorado.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Lela Rhea; his wife,
Nancy; one brother, Hal Rhea and one sister, Barbara Baker and husband
Loren.
He is survived by his son, Hal Rhea and wife Connie of St. James, Missouri;
his daughter, Rebecca “Becky” Smelser of Vidalia, Georgia; four grand-
children, Susan Goudie and husband Owen, Amy Arens and husband Jason, Jim
Rhea and wife Melissa and Judith Smelser and husband Steve Mort; six great
grandchildren, Sean Tipton, Cuillian Tipton, Jonathan Arens, Logan Arens,
Weston Rhea and Cadence Rhea; sister-in-law, Adine Rhea of Cooter, Missouri;
other relatives and friends.
Visitation was from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, 2011 at the Britton-
Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri.
Funeral service was at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 7, 2011 at the First
Baptist Church in Steelville, Missouri with Rev. Jesse Parrott and Rev.
Kevin Farr officiating.
Special music of “Victory in Jesus” was sung by Rob Housewright, Kay
Housewright, Joyce Vaughn and Bryan Taylor. The First Baptist Choir sang
“It Is Well with My Soul” accompanied by Connie Rhea on piano and led by
Hal Rhea. “Great is Thy Faithfulness” was sung by Bryan Taylor accompanied
by Jan Weisel on piano.
Reflections of Manford’s life were shared by Jim Barksdale. Prelude was
played by Wanda Ransom and postlude was played by Sara Brownsworth and Amy
Housewright.
Committal prayer, burial and full military honors were in the Steelville
Cemetery.
Casket bearers were Robert Housewright, Jim Barksdale, Floyd Reed, Kent
Howald, Bill Freeman, Bryan Taylor, Jim Vaughn and Ken Halbert. Honorary
casket bearers were Jim Bartlow, John Britton, Ken Brown, Art Cook, Charles
Chipman, Warren Hendrix, Art Howald, Ed Jones, Bob Midyett, Scott Stice,
Jeff Tolly and Tom Weisel.
Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home
of Steelville, Missouri.
Raymond Leo Sammet
Raymond Leo Sammet of Beauford, Missouri, was born on July 25, 1923 in
Union, Missouri to Frederick and Elizabeth (nee Hahn) Sammet and passed
away, Tuesday, March 1, 2011, at the age of 87 years.
He was a 1941 Union High School graduate. Raymond honorably served his
country in the US Army during the Korean War and later worked through local
#110 for 50 years.
He married Mary Ann Small on February 24, 1961 in Durant, Oklahoma.
His many hobbies were fishing and hunting, gardening, building birdhouses
and trellises and working on cars. He especially enjoyed playing Bingo
with Mary Ann who was truly the love of his life.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Melvin Sammet and a sister,
Delores Berger.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary Ann Sammet (nee Small) of
Owensville, Missouri; three sons, Rodney Sammet and wife Karen of Cuba,
Missouri, Stacey Sammet and wife Wanda of Beaufort, Missouri, Bryan Sammet
and wife Tami also of Beaufort, Missouri; a step-son, Duane “D.J.” Otte; a
sister, Evelyn Shink of Union, Missouri; nine grandchildren; great
grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were conducted at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 4, 2011 at
the Chapel of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri with Reverend
Arpad DeKallos officiating.
Interment followed in the St. Jordan’s Cemetery.
Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan,
Missouri.
Richard Oran “Dick” Stewart
Richard Oran “Dick” Stewart of St. James, Missouri was born on
October 13, 1940 at Rolla, Missouri to Oran Adrain and Eva Mae (Breuer)
Stewart and passed away at the Phelps County Regional Medical Center on
March 1, 2011 at the age of70 years, 4 months and 16 days.
Dick was united in marriage to Judith Irene Stout on March 10, 1962
in St. James, Missouri.
Dick grew up and attended school in Cuba, Missouri. He worked in
St. Louis, Missouri for the Local 513 Operators Union working with many
construction companies. He worked weekends at Spurgeon’s 66 for 30 years.
He dearly loved the outdoors, deer hunting, and working on his food plots
and loved gardening and always had a very big garden for his family and
neighbors.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Oran Adrian and Eva Mae (Breuer)
Stewart.
He is survived by his wife of the home, Judith Stewart of St. James,
Missouri; two sons, Daniel Richard Stewart and wife Patricia of Belleville,
Illinois and Darren Douglas Stewart of St. James, Missouri; one brother, Don
Stewart of Cuba, Missouri; two sisters, Sue Brown and Sandra Stewart, both of
Cuba, Missouri; four grandchildren; two great grandchildren; other relatives
and friends.
Visitation was from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, 2011 at the Jones Funeral
Home in St. James, Missouri.
Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 4, 2011 at the
Jones Funeral Home Chapel in St. James, Missouri with Gary Mace officiating.
Pallbearers were Chuck Medows, John Spurgeon, Harding Meadows, Jason Brown,
Joshua Brown and Doug Williams.
Honorary pallbearers were John Williams and Travis Hall.
Burial was in the family plot in the Bowen Cemetery in rural St. James,
Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James,
Missouri.
Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the
Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site.
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.org/mo/mofiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWebArchives by:
Winnie Brooks