Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO
Local Obituaries for the Week of April 8, 2009
Harold Lee Claas
Harold Lee Claas of Gerald, Missouri was born in Leslie, Missouri on
April 21, 1932, the son of Carl and Freda (Shaw) Claas and passed away
Friday, April 3, 2009 at his residence at the age of 76 years, 11 months
and 13 days.
On June 24, 1956 at St. Paul’s Church in Gerald, Missouri, he was united in
marriage to Dorothy Ruth Tegeler.
He was a member of Champion City Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge #624 in
Owensville, Missouri and Ill-Mo Tractor Engine Club. Before his retirement
he was a machinist for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft.
He was preceded in death by his father.
He is survived by his wife; mother; son, Jimmy Claas and wife Tracie of Bland,
Missouri; brothers, Charles Claas and wife Fern of Beaufort, Missouri and
Jerry Claas and Jan of Gerald, Missouri; sister, Betty McGowan and husband
Richard of Bourbon, Missouri.
Funeral services were Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at the
Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville, Missouri with Rev. Brad Schmidt
officiating.
Burial was in the St. Paul Cemetery in Gerald, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the Gottenstroeter Funeral Home,
Owensville, Missouri.
Charles Eugene “Gene” Crider
Charles Eugene “Gene” Crider of St. James, Missouri was born in St. Louis,
Missouri on March 10, 1932 and passed away Sunday, March 29, 2009 in
St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 77 years.
Gene proudly served his country in the United States Army. He was an antique
car buff, and he owned a 1965 Chevrolet removing and cutting parts. He took
a tailgate off a Chevrolet pickup and welded it into the car leaving the words
Chevlet. He took it to many car shows always winning a first place ribbon for
the most unique car there.
He was baptized in 1979 at the First Bible Church in Lemay, Missouri. He loved
sports, his family and the business that he built. He was the owner of Crider
Welding, after spending many years as a union a welder at Progressive
Fabrication in St. Louis, Missouri, Gene moved to St. James, Missouri and
started his own welding company.
He is survived by his wife, Stelma Crider of the home; step children, Sharon
Coleman of St. Louis, Missouri, Carol Watkins and husband Kirk of St. Louis,
Missouri, William Coleman Jr. of Jefferson City, Missouri; brothers, Sam
Mayberry and wife Wanda of Sullivan, Missouri, Stanley Mayberry of St. James,
Missouri; sisters, Velma Mehlville of St. James, Missouri, Martha Barrett of
St. James, Missouri; three step grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held Thursday, April 2, 2009 from 6-8 p.m. at the James & Gahr
Mortuary, St. James, Missouri.
Funeral service was Friday, April 3, 2009 at 10 a.m. in the St. James Chapel
of the James & Gahr Mortuary with Reverend Kenneth Harper officiating.
Interment in the Park Lawn Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the James & Gahr Mortuary, St. James,
Missouri.
Pearl M. Harmon
Pearl Mary Harmon of Leasburg, Missouri was born to the union of Henry and
Pearl (Whitney) Scharfinski on October 6, 1934 in St. Louis, Missouri and
passed away Saturday, March 28, 2009 in Cuba, Missouri at the age of 74 years,
5 months and 22 days.
Pearl was united in marriage to Roy T. Harmon on June 2, 1951 in Piggott,
Arkansas and to this union four sons were born.
She was a homemaker and a member of the First Southern Baptist Church of
Leasburg. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, flowers and spending time with her
family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Thomas Harmon; two brothers,
Sonny and Charles Scharfinski; one sister, Eleanor Gagliardi; other relatives
and friends.
She is survived by her husband of Leasburg, Missouri; three sons, Edward and
wife Ruth Harmon of St. Louis, Missouri, Richard and wife Deborah Harmon of
Labadie, Missouri and John and wife Christine Harmon of St. Louis, Missouri;
two brothers, William and Vincent Scharfinski; five sisters, Henrietta Benne,
Cheryl “Cookie” Wiley, Norma Doane, Louise Atwood and Ethel Scharfinski; six
grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held Monday, March 30, 2009 from 5-8 p.m. at Britton Funeral
Home, Cuba, Missouri.
Funeral service was Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Britton Funeral Home
with Pastor Terry King, officiating.
Interment was private.
Arrangements under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba,
Missouri.
Irene Ryan Harris
Irene Ryan Harris, nee Isgriggs, of Steelville, Missouri was born on
Thursday, March 19, 1936 in Scotia, Missouri to Clarence Isgriggs and Mary
Edith Adams Isgriggs. She passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at Cuba
Manor at the age of 73 years and 9 days.
Irene married Joel Harrison Ryan on June 30, 1952 in Little Rock, Arkansas
and to this union four children were born.
She worked several years at Brown Shoe Co. in Steelville, Missouri. She
recently accepted the Lord as her personal Savior. She loved her family and
especially her grandchildren. Her hobbies were gardening and raising her
cats.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Charles, Henry and
Clarence Isgriggs and infant brother, Leroy; sister, Leona Isgriggs; great
grandson, Lane Shackelford; and brother-in-law, Forest Nagle.
She is survived by her children, Mary Halbert (Dr. Charles) Leezy of Cuba,
Missouri, Mike (Sheila) Ryan, Joan (Ernie) Bunton, and Joel Ryan, all of
Steelville, Missouri, and Anne (Tadd) Buchanan of Springfield, Missouri;
sister, Dorthy Isgriggs; sisters-in-law, Alice Isgriggs of Steelville,
Missouri and Nancy Isgriggs of Cuba, Missouri; son-in-law, Gean Halbert of
Steelville, Missouri; aunts, Mabel Simpson of Steelville, Missouri, Gladys
Isgriggs of Maryville, Missouri and Pearl Isgriggs of Rolla, Missouri;
12 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was Monday, March 30, 2009 from 5-8 p.m. and funeral 11 a.m.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri
with Rev. Delmar Hutson officiating. Burial at Steelville Cemetery,
Steelville, Missouri.
All arrangements under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville,
Missouri.
Thomas T. Houseman
Thomas T. Houseman of Bourbon, Missouri was born at Cuba, Missouri on
September 15, 1941 to Dewey and Christina (Heseman) Houseman and passed away
Monday, March 30, 2009 at Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan, Missouri at
the age of 67 years.
He was a life-long resident of the Bourbon and Sullivan areas and was a long
time employee of Boeing Aircraft Manufacturing in St. Louis, Missouri having
retired from there just two years ago.
He always led life by example and was a man of character. He could be
counted on. He devoted his life to his children and family. There would be
countless days in the backyard playing sports with his children and he was
a die-hard baseball fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, fond of nature and the
outdoors. He loved to listen to crickets and tree frogs and enjoying the
world.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Lloyd and James
Houseman and sister, Lucille Garrett.
He is survived by four children, Catherine Faraoni and husband William of
Lewisville, Texas, Vernon Peters and wife Aubrey of Bourbon, Missouri,
Thomas L. Houseman of Bowling Green, Kentucky and Rachelle Peters of
Deepwater, Missouri; six grandchildren; five great grandchildren; other
relatives and friends.
Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2009 from
the Chapel of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan, Missouri with interment
in the New Salem Cemetery, rural Owensville, Missouri.
Joseph W. Grotha
Joseph W. Grotha was born on December 16, 1920 in St. James, Missouri to
William Thomas and Clara C. (Sanders) Grotha. He passed away at the Missouri
Veteran’s Home in St. James, Missouri on Sunday, April 5, 2009 at the age of
88 years, 3 months, and 20 days.
Joseph was a carpenter and a farmer. He served in the US Army in WW II
acquiring the rank of Sergeant.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Lawrence Grotha; one
sister, Marcella Marie Grotha (Sister Seraphine a School Sister of Notre
Dame).
He is survived by one sister, Lillian Audry of St. Charles, Missouri; a
sister-in-law, Betty Jane Grotha of St. James, Missouri; other relatives
and friends.
Visitation was Tuesday, April 7, 2009 from 6-8 p.m. at the Jones Funeral Home
Chapel in St. James, Missouri. Prayer Service was held at 5:30 p.m. on
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at the Jones Funeral Home Chapel in St. James,
Missouri.
A Funeral Mass was conducted at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 with David J. Viet officiating.
Ministry of music was Helen Cornick with Estelle Grotha at the organ.
Burial with full military honors were in the Immaculate Conception Catholic
Cemetery in St. James, Missouri.
All arrangements are under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in
St. James, Missouri.
Ralph E. Ray
Ralph E. Ray of Steelville, Missouri was born on Thursday, July 18, 1918 in
Willow Springs, Missouri to James Carson Ray and Sammie Graham Ray. He
passed away at Cuba Manor on Friday, April 3, 2009 at the age of 90 years,
8 months, and 16 days.
Ralph served his country honorably in the United States Army. He married
Delores Sanders in Willow Springs, Missouri in 1936 and to this union three
children were born.
He later was married to Anna Brand Long on October 3, 1975 in St. Louis,
Missouri. Ralph had previously been employed by Gibbs Care Center,
Steelville, Missouri as their grounds keeper. His hobbies were gardening
and watching St. Louis Cardinal baseball.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Eddie Lee Ray; daughter,
Deanna Ray; wives Delores Ray and Anna Ray; stepson, Lloyd Long; three
brothers, Jim, Ora, and Charlie Ray; and three sisters Maude Woods, Velma
Peters and Pearl Ray.
He is survived by his son, Norval (Yvette) Ray of Warrenton, Missouri;
stepsons, Nick (Janey) Long of Dardenne Prairie, Missouri and Dick (Nancy)
Long of St. Peters, Missouri; step daughter-in-law, Holly Long of
St. Charles, Missouri; 17 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; one great
great grandchild; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was Monday, April 6, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. until time of service
and funeral at noon on Monday, April 6, 2009 at Hutson Funeral Home,
Steelville, Missouri with Rev. Delmar Hutson officiating. Burial at Oak
Ridge Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri.
All arrangements under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville,
Missouri.
Alfred E. Spurgeon
Alfred E. “Al” Spurgeon of Cuba, Missouri was born to the union of Alfred E.
and Frances Bryan (nee Wright) Spurgeon on Saturday, June 7, 1924 at Denver,
Colorado and passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at St. James, Missouri at
the age of 84 years, 9 months and 24 days.
Al proudly served as a Private First Class in the United States Army during
WWII from February 17, 1943 until January 6, 1946. He fought in the Omaha
Beach and the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded three Bronze Stars and
the Good Conduct Medal.
Al retired in 1987 after many years of service as the Highway Maintenance
Supervisor for Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). He was a member
of the First Baptist Church of Cuba, Missouri and the Cuba Saddle Club. His
life revolved around his horses, in which he enjoyed being a trainer, going
on trail rides and attending the National Rodeo Finals. He also was the State
Champion in Team Pining. He also enjoyed raising cattle, deer hunting and
being outdoors.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, LaVern (nee Lay) Spurgeon;
one brother, James Spurgeon; one sister, Dora Jane Spurgeon; step-mother,
Docia Spurgeon; other relatives and friends.
He is survived by his aunt, Marjorie Spurgeon and family of St. James,
Missouri; one sister-in-law, Mary Spurgeon of St. James, Missouri; one nephew,
Norman and wife Linda Spurgeon and family of St. James, Missouri; one niece,
Rita and husband Tom Keith and family of Henley, Missouri; step-sister,
Virginia Hogan and family of Bourbon, Missouri; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held Thursday, April 2, 2009 from 5-8 p.m. at Britton Funeral
Home, Cuba, Missouri.
Funeral service at 1 p.m. Friday, April 3, 2009 at Britton Funeral Home
with Pastor Bob Knight, officiating. Special music “Precious Memories”
provided by Sandy Mitchell vocalist and Darlene Cape organist.
Interment was at Meramec Hills Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri with full military
honors.
Arrangements under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home, Cuba,
Missouri.
James M. “Jim” Williams
James M. “Jim” Williams, of Rolla, Missouri was born in Waynesville,
Missouri, on October 7, 1950, to Ulysses “Budd” Stanley and Mary Elizabeth
(Boulware) Stanley. He passed away Monday, March 30, 2009, at the Phelps
County Regional Medical Center at the age of 58 years, 5 months and 23 days.
On May 22, 2004, he married Barbara Welschmeyer.
Jim was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He attended the
Mount Olive Baptist Church in Doolittle, Missouri.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Jamie and one brother,
George.
He is survived by his wife of the home; his son, Joe Williams, of Buffalo,
Wyoming; step daughters, Deanne Connell and husband Tim, of Holt Summit,
Missouri, and Grace Brooks, of Rolla, Missouri; brothers, Stan Williams and
wife Linda, of Newburg, Missouri and Johnnie Williams and wife Gail, of Eagle
River, Wisconsin; two sisters, Doris McCoy, of Rolla, Missouri and Connie
Heavin and husband Gary, of St. James, Missouri; father-in-law and mother
-in-law, Marty and Angela Welschmeyer, of Freeburg, Missouri; sister-in-law,
Janet Hale, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; three grandchildren; other relatives
and friends.
Visitation was from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 2, at the Null & Son Funeral
Home, Rolla, Missouri.
Funeral service was at 2 p.m. Friday, April 3, 2009, at the Null & Son
Funeral Home with Rev. Timothy Hughs and Larry Davis officiating. Interment
followed in Ozark Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
All arrangements under the direction of the Null & Son Funeral Home in Rolla,
Missouri.
Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the
Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site.
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