Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of May 8, 2002 James Franklin Alvey James Franklin Alvey was born Wednesday, November 20, 1940, at Garden City, Mo., a son of Lucy Melvinia Alvey (nee Firestine) and Benjamin Woodrow Alvey. He entered eternal rest at his home in Steelville, Mo., May 4, 2002 at the age of 61 years, 5 months and 14 days. His father preceded him in death April 30, 1987, and one brother, Charles Edward Alvey, March 7, 2002. Among those who remain to mourn his passing are his devoted mother, Lucy Alvey of Cherryville, Mo.; one sister, Loretta and husband Vick Troutt of St. James, Mo.; four brothers, Bobby Dale Alvey and wife Cheryl, Lester Andrew Alvey, all of Bourbon, Mo., Billy Ray Alvey and wife Iona of Cuba, Mo., Chester Glen Alvey and wife Ladonna of Cherryville, Mo. Also remaining to mourn his passing are his nieces and nephews, Amanda Skaggs, Casie Alvey, Annie Barnett, Billy Alvey, Jr., Peggy Alvey, Holden Alvey, Benny Alvey, Melissa Ransom, Andrew Alvey, Jr., Brandon Alvey, Merissa Alvey, Laura Turner and Preston Turner; cousins, other relatives and many friends. He loved the outdoors and raising animals. In his earlier days he was an accomplished cowboy and often rode his favorite quarter horse in local races. His family and friends will miss him. James Franklin Alvey lay in state 4-9 p.m. Saturday, May 4, 2002, at the Britton Brothers Funeral Home, Steelville, Mo. Funeral services were held 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5, 2002, in the Britton Chapel with Elder Gerald Goff officiating. Committal prayers and interment were in First Baptist Church Cemetery, Cherryville, Mo. Serving as pallbearers were Bobby Dale Alvey, Billy Ray Alvey, Sr., Chester Glen Alvey, Lester Andrew Alvey, Vick Edward Troutt and Billy Ray Alvey, Jr. Arrangements were under the direction of Britton Funeral Home, Steelville, Mo. Freda June Freeman Freda June Freeman of Sullivan, Mo. was born on September 19, 1941 at Belle, Mo. to the union of Winford Andrew Freeman and Hazel Florine (Hassler) Freeman and passed away on April 27, 2002 at the Missouri Baptist Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. at the age of 60 years, 7 months and 8 days. Freda was preceded in death by one daughter, Carol Jean Hoeber, her parents and two brothers, Johnny Sheets and Phillip Freeman. Those who survive to mourn her passing from this life are her loving son John E. Durbin, Jr.; four daughters, Janice Witthaus, Frankie Dickens and husband Roger, Sharon Witthaus and Marcella Niedbalski and husband Gene; eight brothers Fred Freeman and wife Joyce, James Sheets, Jesse Sheets and wife Sandy, Jacky Sheets, Winford Freeman, William Freeman, Roger Freeman and Christopher Freeman; nine sisters, Pamela Ellis and husband Sam, Patricia Lemmer and husband Mike, Jennie Cardinale, Billie Hewlett and husband Steve, Paula Sheets, Sharon White, Mildred Witlow, Treasa Jakoubek and Judy Rowe; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; other relatives and many friends. Freda was a loving mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, good friend to all who knew her and will be sadly missed. Memorial services for Freda June Freeman were held on Wednesday, May 1, 2002 at 7:30 p.m. at the Britton Chapel, Cuba, Mo. with Rev. Rick Gill officiating. All arrangements were under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Mo. Louise Hardin Louise Hardin nee Beck was born Tuesday, May 31, 1926, at St. Louis, Mo., a daughter of the late Homer Beck and Lillie Mae Beck (nee Martin). She departed this life Friday, April 26, 2002, at the St. Anthony's Medical Center, St. Louis, Mo., at the age of 75 years, 10 months and 25 days. Louise was united in marriage to James Ralph Hardin. Four sons and three daughters were born to this union. Ralph preceded her in death May 9, 1980. She was also preceded in death by one son Don Strieler; two brothers, Jim Beck and Leo Lloyd; three sisters, Helen Carrell, Catherine and husband Elmer Fleeman, Cleo and husband Charlie Carroll and brother-in-law, John Conley. Among those who remain to mourn her passing are three sons and three daughters, Danny Hardin and wife Susi of Holden, Mo., Wayne Hardin and wife Barbra, Jimmy Hardin and wife Sandy, Sue and Ron McCall, Robin and husband Donnie Warren, Tina and Bryce Bird, all of Steelville, Mo.; daughter-in-law, Laura Strieler of Jefferson City, Mo.; one brother, Sonny Beck of Steelville, Mo.; one sister, Thelma Conley of Desloge, Mo.; twenty-one grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Louise Hardin lay in state 5-9 p.m. Sunday, April 28, 2002, at the Britton Brothers Funeral Home, Steelville, Mo. Funeral services were held 1 p.m. Monday, April 29, 2002 in the Britton Chapel, with Rev. Larry Martin officiating. Darla Vance provided musical selections. Committal prayers and interment were in New Home Cemetery, Steelville, Mo. Serving as pallbearers were Daniel Onofre Hardin, James Scott Hardin, Richard Allen Hardin, Robbie Lea Hardin, James Edward Meintz, Brian Lee Warren, Christopher Michael Warren, and Shane Earl Warren. Arrangements were under the direction of Britton Funeral Home, Steelville, Mo. Lee McPherson, Jr. Lee McPherson, Jr. of Cuba, Mo. was born on October 10, 1932 in Texas County, Mo. to the union of Lee McPherson, Sr. and Flossie Dot (Lee) McPherson and passed away on April 30, 2002 at Cuba, Mo. at the age of 69 years, 6 months and 20 days. On November 13, 1952 Lee was united in marriage to Mary Ann Menz in Arkansas. Nine children, Tom, John, Sherman, Leroy, Sharon, Debbie, Bonnie, Julie and Nancy were born to this union. Lee and Mary had been happily married for 49 years. Lee was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Lovena Downs and one brother, William McPherson. He was a long time resident of Crawford County and retired from the Crawford County R-2 School District as the Bus Maintenance and Supervisor. Lee had a strong faith in his God. Two of his favorite hobbies were hunting and fishing. Those who survive to mourn his passing from this life are his loving wife Mary Ann McPherson; four sons Tom McPherson and wife Connie, John, Sherman and Leroy McPherson; five daughters Sharon Harvey, Debbie Lewis and husband Theodore, Bonnie Lawless, Julie Richardson, and Nancy McPherson; three brothers, Dail McPherson and wife Nina, Tom McPherson and wife Maggie and James McPherson and wife Peggy; 20 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; other relatives and many friends. Lee was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, good friend to all who knew him and will be sadly missed. Visitation for Lee McPherson, Jr. was held on Thursday, May 2, 2002 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Britton Funeral Home, Cuba, Mo. All arrangements were under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Mo. Memorials to the American Cancer Fund or a charity of your choice. Lester E. Politte Lester E. Politte of Sullivan, Mo. passed away on Monday, April 29, 2002 at the age of 68 years. Mr. Politte was born on September 22, 1933 in Sullivan, Mo. to Abraham and Mary Olivia (Litteral) Politte and lived his entire life in the Sullivan area. He was raised in the Catholic faith and attended Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Sullivan. He honorably served his country during the Korean Conflict with the U.S. Army. After his discharge from military life, Lester became employed as a sheet metal worker in the commercial construction trade. He retired from this vocation in 1995. On July 15, 1995 he was married to Matilda (Tillie) Degenhardt at Hermann, Mo. Lester enjoyed hunting and fishing in his retirement years and was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Arie No. 3781, V.F.W. Russell Schmidt Post No. 3987, and Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 36 of St. Louis. He is survived by his wife, Tillie, of the family home; one daughter, Kathy; one stepson, Sherman Riley of Tallahassee, Florida; two stepdaughters, Sharon Riley of Houston, Texas and Donna Robbs of Sullivan; three brothers, Winnie Politte of Sullivan, Jim Politte of Sullivan, and his twin brother, Chester Politte, of Indian Hills, Mo.; two sisters, Louise Cross of Sullivan and Mildred Miller of St. Clair, Mo.; three step-grandchildren, Spencer Riley, Anthony Robbs, and Alexander Riley; other relatives, and many friends. Along with his parents, Lester was preceded in death by two brothers, Albert and Clarence Politte, and one sister, Pearl Woodcock. Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 3, 2002 from the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan with Rev. Theodore Brunnert officiating. Interment was in the Saint Anthony Cemetery. Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joe L. Miller ====================================================================