Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO
Local Obituaries for the Week of April 26, 2011
Rev. James S. Ford
Rev. James S. Ford Phd. of Minerva, Ohio, was born August 25, 1933 in
White Hall, Illinois to Howard and Blanche (Bell) Ford and passed away
Monday, April 18, 2011 in the Great Trail Care Center, at the age of 77
years.
He had worked for TRW in Minerva, Ohio and retired from Canton Drop Forge
where he was a Draftsman. His lifelong passion was his ministry. He graduated
from Malone University and received his doctorate in Theology from Liberty
University. He was the minister at Victory Baptist Church in Kensington and
the Marilyn Ave. Baptist Church in Canton and was the Editor of the Faith
Ministry Newsletter.
He wrote and published two books on religion.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan (Lanning) Ford in 2010; two
sisters, Lucille Collins and Fredline Westerfield; two brothers, Rochester
‘Rocky’ Ford and Coyner T. Ford.
He is survived by three daughters, Janice (Ray) Wilks of Alliance, Ohio,
Carla (Jim) McCully of Malvern, Ohio and Julie (Tom) Walker of Minerva, Ohio;
three sons, Tim Ford of Minerva, Ohio, Jamie (Keli) Ford of Minerva, Ohio and
Joe Enoch of Minerva, Ohio; 20 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; cousin,
Mary Grover of St. James, Missouri; nephew, Fred and Shirlee Collins of
Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
Visitation was Monday, April 25, 2011 from 6-8 p.m. in the funeral home.
Funeral services were Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 11 a.m. in the Gotschall-
Hutchison Funeral Home in Minerva, Ohio with Chaplain Larry Karlen
officiating.
Burial was in the Augusta Cemetery.
Arrangements under the direction of the Gotschall Hutchison Funeral Home,
Minerva, Ohio.
Myrtle C. Gerlach
Myrtle C. Gerlach of St. James Missouri, was born in Kirkwood, Missouri
on March 2, 1916 to Fred and Effie Hertel and passed away April 18, 2011
at the Helia Nursing Center in Rolla Missouri at the age of 95 years.
Myrtle was united in marriage to Albert W. Gerlach on October 25, 1946 in
Union, Missouri.
Myrtle was a devoted wife and mother, choosing to stay home and care for
her family, which not only allowed her more time with her children, but she
was able to dedicate time to her community and church. She was a member of
the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the St. James Women’s VFW
Auxiliary, Zion Hill Community Club and the Jeffersonian Women’s
Democratic Club.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Effie Hertel; husband,
Albert Gerlach, on December 2, 1997; son, Don Wood; daughters, Pat Bye,
Dody Tipton and Sally Wood; grandchildren, Garry Costoplos and Diane Wood;
brothers, Mike, Ray, Ernie and Virgil Hertel; sisters; Melba, Virginia and
Margie.
She is survived by her daughters, Mary Costoplos and husband Garry of
Rolla, Missouri, Earlene Wester and husband Gilbert of Bloomsdale,
Missouri,; grandchildren, Derrick Costoplos and wife Lauren of St. James,
Missouri, Lorri Snyder and husband Todd, of Rolla, Missouri, Errica Hartley
and husband Jon of St. James, Missouri, Celeste Bourbon, Guy Wester, Chris
Beffa, Cheryl Hussmen, Donna Krodinger, Carol Baisch, Angie Pope, Laura
Bye, Lisa Bye, Linda Bye, Mary Bye, Debbie Cox, Dean Tipton and Denise
Tipton; brother, Ronnie Hertel of Union, Missouri; several great grand-
children; great great grandchildren; nieces, other relatives and friends.
Visitation was Friday, April 22, 2011 from 6-8 p.m.
Funeral services were held Saturday, April 23, 2011 in the St. James Chapel
of the James & Gahr Mortuary with Father Charles Pardee officiating.
Interment was in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in St. James,
Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the James & Gahr Mortuary, St. James,
Missouri.
Robert R. Garrison
Robert R. Garrison of Rogersville, Missouri, was born November 5, 1936 in
Steelville, Missouri, to Hugh W. and Anna E. (Brown) Garrison and passed
away Wednesday, April 20, 2011 in his home at the age of 74 years.
He was united in marriage on October 18, 1958 in Leasburg, Missouri to
Marcella B. Burney.
Robert was a retired bus driver with the Logan-Rogersville School District.
He served in the 407th Army Reserve from 1954-1960. He was a member of
United Masonic Lodge No 5 and Abou Ben Adhem Shrine. He was an avid
Cardinals fan and enjoyed fishing, turkey hunting and sitting on the front
porch listening to country music.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh and Anna Garrison; brother,
Paul Garrison and nephew, Paul “June Bug” Garrison, Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Marcella; six daughters, Kay Reeves and husband
Fred of Bolivar, Missouri, Cathy Choate and husband Rico of Springfield,
Missouri, Coretta “Tina” Maggard and husband Bob of Brighton, Missouri,
Marcy Hammers and companion Dennis Mork of Rogersville, Missouri, Melissa
Garrison of Rogersville, Missouri, Christy Morriset and husband Fred of
Holden, Missouri; two nieces, Ann Ellis and husband Jim of Imperial, Missouri
and Jean Cowsert and husband Roy of Paris, Tennessee; 17 grandchildren; 24
great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; other relatives and
friends.
Visitation was held from 6-8 p.m. Monday, April 25, 2011, in J.D. Lee and
Sons Funeral Home, Rogersville, Missouri.
Graveside services, with military honors, were held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday,
April 26, 2011 in the Holland Cemetery, Rogersville, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the J.D. Lee and Sons Funeral Home,
Rogersville, Missouri.
Joan M. Groenda
Joan M. Groenda of Jefferson City, Missouri, was born April 3, 1927, in
St. Louis, Missouri, to John H. and Olive (Hamilton) Murphy and passed away
Friday, April 22, 2011, at Adams Street Place, Jefferson City, Missouri, at
the age of 84 years.
She was united in marriage on September 17, 1948, in St. Louis, Missouri
to Hartmut O. Groenda.
Joan attended Henry Hough Elementary School and was a graduate of Kirkwood
High School in Kirkwood, Missouri. She was a homemaker and enjoyed
gardening, but most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hartmut on May 30, 2010; two
brothers and one great grandson.
She is survived by four children, Kurt Groenda (Janet) of Palmyra,
Missouri, Gretchen (Allen) Walz of Jefferson City, Missouri, Kristina
“Birdy” (Dan) Duvall of Poplar Bluff, Missouri and Ann (Jeff) Zoellner
of Jefferson City, Missouri; 12 grandchildren; five great grandchildren;
other relatives and friends.
Private family services were held on Sunday, April 24, 2011.
Interment was in the Hamilton Cemetery in Cuba, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of Houser-Millard Funeral Home,
Jefferson City, Missouri.
Wilma Ilene Harrymore
Wilma Ilene (Groves) Harrymore was born April 10, 1936 in Stone County,
Missouri and passed away on March 15 2011 in Springfield, Missouri.
Wilma was a writer of Ozark Folklore. She wrote books, poems and songs.
One of Wilma’s books can be seen in the Ozark section of Folklore at Lucy
Wortham James Library for all people interested in the Ozarks.
She is survived by four children and one sister, Avenell Richards of
St. James, Missouri.
Funeral services were held on Friday, March 18, 2011 at 11 a.m. at the
Old Lampe Church with Pastor Glen Jones officiating.
Music was provided by Don and Glenda Parton.
Austin James Hoener
Austin James Hoener of St. James, Missouri was born in Rolla, Missouri
on Saturday, March 28, 1998 to Zach and Cheryl Lewis Hoener of St. James,
Missouri and passed away on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at the age of 13 years
and 26 days.
Austin was a seventh grade student at St. James Middle School where he
participated in football, baseball and enjoyed hanging out with his friends.
His hobbies were hunting, fishing and riding ATVs. He grew up helping his
grandparents, Greg and Linda Dettler, with farming and operating heavy
equipment.
He was preceded in death by his great grandparents, Jean Mullen and
Barbara McCain.
He is survived by his parents, Zach and Cheryl Hoener of St. James,
Missouri; sister, Ashley Hoener of St. James, Missouri; grandparents, Greg
and Linda Dettler of Cuba, Missouri, Joe and Donna Hoener of Columbia,
Missouri; great grandparents, Don Mullen and Toni and Alan Bailey, all of
Cuba, Missouri; uncle and aunts, Tom Lewis of St. James, Missouri, Allen
Overshon and Sarah Overshon of Cuba, Missouri, Sybil Schlater and Holly Young
of Columbia, Missouri, Gloria and Charlie Schroeder of Cuba, Missouri; other
relatives and friends.
Visitation was Tuesday, April 26, 2011 from 5-9 p.m. at St. James Middle
School and funeral service was Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 2 p.m. at the
St. James Middle School with Rev. Spencer Hutson officiating.
Burial was at the Lick Creek Cemetery, Leasburg, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri.
Benjamin Dalton Jordan Light
Benjamin Dalton Jordan Light was born October 12, 2000 in Springfield,
Missouri and passed away April 20, 2011 in Rolla, Missouri at the age of
10 years.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Craig Light and Rodney Light.
He is survived by his mother, Darlene (King) Light of Rolla, Missouri;
grandparents, Phil and Lillian Dugger of Sikeston, Missouri; brothers,
Roger Light, Steven Light and wife Jane, Bill Light and husband Brian,
Jason Light and wife Katie, Nicholas Light, Jordan Light and Trevor Light;
sisters, Juli James and husband Daren, Debra Stephens and husband Rick,
Monica Massmann and husband Kevin, Erica Henson and husband Lee, Jazmine
Light, Lisa Light, Kayla Underwood and husband Daniel, Sara Light, Rebekah
Hull and husband Travis, Kaitlan Light, Laura Light, Summer Light and Kelly
Light; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held on Monday, April 25, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at
James & Gahr Mortuary in Rolla, Missouri.
Services were held on Monday, April 25, 2011 beginning at 1 p.m. at
James & Gahr Mortuary in Rolla, Missouri with Rev. Bettie Hull officiating.
Arrangements under the direction of James & Gahr Mortuary of Rolla,
Missouri.
Brooklyn Taylour Mercedes Light
Brooklyn Taylour Mercedes Light was born December 7, 2009 in Phelps
County, Missouri and passed away April 20, 2011 in Rolla, Missouri at the
age of 1.
She is survived by her parents, Erica (Church) Henson and Lee of St. James,
Missouri; grandmother Darlene Light of Rolla, Missouri; grandfather, David
Clark of Miami, Missouri; brothers, Trynten Perron of St. James, Missouri,
Kurt Picker of St. James, Missouri, Trevor Light of Rolla, Missouri and Kole
Light of St. James, Missouri; sisters, Summer Light and Melissa Light of
Rolla, Missouri; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held on Monday, April 25, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at
James & Gahr Mortuary in Rolla, Missouri.
Services were held on Monday, April 25 beginning at 1 p.m. at James & Gahr
Mortuary in Rolla, Missouri with Rev. Bettie Hull officiating.
Arrangements under the direction of James & Gahr Mortuary of Rolla,
Missouri.
Linda Kay Light
Linda Kay Light was born January 9, 1971 in Hamburg, Iowa and passed away
April 20, 2011 in Rolla, Missouri at the age of 40 years.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, Craig Light and Rodney Light.
She is survived by her parents, Darlene (King) Light of Rolla, Missouri;
father, Ronald Light of Hamburg, Iowa; grandparents, Phil and Lillian Dugger
of Sikeston, Missouri; daughters, Amber Dawn Light, Autumn Caitlyn Light and
Melissa Ann Light, all of Rolla, Missouri; brothers, Roger Light, Steven
Light and wife Jane, Bill Light and husband Brian, Jason Light and wife
Katie, Nicholas Light, Jordan Light and Trevor Light; sisters, Juli James
and husband Daren, Debra Stephens and husband Rick, Monica Massmann and
husband Kevin, Erica Henson and husband Lee, Jazmine Light, Lisa Light,
Kayla Underwood and husband Daniel, Sara Light, Rebekah Hull and husband
Travis, Kaitlan Light, Laura Light, Summer Light and Kelly Light; other
relatives and friends.
Visitation was held on Monday, April 25, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at
James & Gahr Mortuary in Rolla, Missouri.
Services were held on Monday, April 25 beginning at 1 p.m. at James &
Gahr Mortuary in Rolla, Missouri with Rev. Bettie Hull officiating.
Arrangements under the direction of James & Gahr Mortuary of Rolla,
Missouri.
Ranceford R. Medlock
Ranceford “Rance” R. Medlock of Davisville, Missouri, was born
December 26, 1940 at Darien, Missouri to Roscoe and Violet (Schafer)
Medlock and passed away Thursday, April 21, 2011 at Gibbs Care Center,
Steelville, Missouri, at the age of 70 years.
On April 5, 1958 in Salem, Missouri he was united in marriage to Lois
Wilkinson and to this union three sons was born.
He attended Center Ridge Pentecostal Church. In his spare time, he
enjoyed fishing, hunting and following the game of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Most of all he enjoyed and loved his family and his grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Roscoe and Violet Medlock;
brothers-in-law, Jim Jacob, Lloyd Hunter, Tim Wilkinson, Clyde Wilkinson
and Plas Wilkinson and wife Jean.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lois Medlock; three sons, Steven
Medlock and wife Angela of Goodman, Missouri, Mike Medlock and wife Kim and
Tim Medlock and wife Amy, all of Davisville, Missouri; one brother, Bob
Medlock and wife Linda of the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri; three sisters,
Josephine McDonald and husband Max of Jadwin, Missouri, Pat Jacob of Texas
and Dena Adams and husband Gary of Valley Park, Missouri; five grandchildren,
Angel, Devin, Eli, Cole and Jasmine; one great grand-daughter, Serenity;
brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Juanita Pyatt, Leon Wilkinson and Pat
Wilkinson, all of Cherryville, Missouri, Kenneth Wilkinson and wife Doris of
Davisville, Missouri, Freda Hunter of St. Peters, Missouri, and Rilma
Wilkinson of Cuba, Missouri; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, April 22, 2011 at the Britton-
Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri.
Funeral service was at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at the Britton-
Bennett Funeral Home with Rev. Bob Coleman officiating. Special music of
“One Day at a Time” and “If You Only Knew” were sung by Phyllis Gibbs
accompanied on piano by Shirley Brown. Other music of “I Can Only Imagine”
was sung by Kyle Gibbs.
Committal prayer and burial were in the Davisville Cemetery.
Casket bearers were Angel Medlock, Leon McDonald, Bill Dotson, Tony
McDonald, Devin Medlock, Tracey McDonald and honorary casket bearer,
Eli Medlock.
Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of
Steelville, Missouri.
Faye Louise Parkinson
Faye Louise Parkinson of St. James, Missouri, was born on June 26, 1932
in Phelps County, Missouri to Ed and Ella (Hammack) Soper and passed away
Thursday, April 21, 2011 at the Helia Nursing Center in Rolla, Missouri at
the age of 78 years.
Faye loved the outdoors, fishing and spending time with family and friends.
She also enjoyed playing cards and sewing.
She was preceded in death by husbands, Everett Bullock and George
Parkinson; sister, Geneva Soper; brothers, Orville Soper, Gral Soper and
Alfred Soper.
She is survived by her children, Herbert Bone and wife Kathleen of
St. James, Missouri, Sherry Berinji of Virginia, Reda Wadlow of St. James,
Missouri, Gary Bone of Belle, Missouri; brother, Roy Soper and wife June
of Rolla, Missouri; sister, Mabel Hodge of Rolla, Missouri; eight grand-
children; nine great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was Monday, April 25, 2011 from 5-7 p.m.
Funeral service was Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 11 a.m. at the St. James,
Chapel of the James & Gahr Mortuary with Roger Campbell officiating.
Interment was in the High Gate Baptist Cemetery.
Arrangements under the direction of the James & Gahr Mortuary,
St. James, Missouri.
Brenda M. Wilkinson
Brenda M. Wilkinson (nee Youngman) of Leasburg, Missouri, was born on
March 30, 1955 in East St. Louis, Illinois to Eugene and Joann (Vernoy)
Youngman and passed away, Monday, April 18, 2011, at the age of 56 years.
She worked at Paramount Cap for several years and at the Casey’s Mart
in Sullivan, Missouri until they closed.
She married John Jay Wilkinson on November 11, 2000 in Washington,
Missouri.
They enjoyed traveling, especially in Colorado where they literally made
their marks by carving initials on several Aspen trees.
Brenda loved supporting “Relay for Life” and had an extensive
angel collection. She loved seeing and spending time with her -
grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Joann Youngman.
She is survived by her husband, Jay of the family home; two sons, Jimmy
Clark of New Haven, Missouri and Eugene Clark and wife Mary of Cuba,
Missouri; eight grandchildren, Matthew, Cody, Timothy, Valerie, Kayla
Austin, Bobbi Josephine, and Brendan; her father, Eugene Youngman of East
St. Louis, Missouri; two sisters, Loretta Devine and husband Steve of
O’Fallon, Illinois and Patricia Snider and husband Bill of Granite City,
Illinois; a brother, Jimmy Brown and wife Jenny of North Carondolet,
Illinois; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were conducted at noon on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at
the Chapel of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri, with Pastor
Maryetta Lewis officiating.
Burial was in the Bourbon Cemetery, Bourbon, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan,
Missouri.
Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the
Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site.
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