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. ************************************************ 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