Mirror, Steelville Star-Crawford Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of May 20, 2015 Cleo A. Bierschenk Cleo A. Bierschenk, of Cook Station, Missouri was born on November 7, 1917 in Judsonia, Arkansas to Clancy and Mae Burkett and passed away Sunday, May 10, 2015 at the age of 97 years. In 1939, she married William E. Bierschenk. Cleo enjoyed watching game shows, cooking and bowling. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clancy and Mae Burkett; husband, William in 2003; one sister, Susie Fraser; and one infant brother. She is survived by one daughter, Nancy Wood and husband James of Darien, Illinois; three sons, Joseph Bierschenk of Cook Station, Missouri, Bert Bierschenk and wife Donna of Willowbrook, Illinois and Ed Bierschenk and wife Molly Woulfe of New Lenox, Illinois; three sisters, Nell Boeker of Glen Carbon, Illinois, Edith Chambers of Searcy, Arkansas and Martha Snow of Searcy, Arkansas; four grandchildren, Joseph Bierschenk Jr., Sondra Gavaris, Chris Wood and Trenton Bierschenk; three great grandchildren, Kortney, Samantha and Colleen; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla, Missouri. Funeral service was conducted at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla, Missouri. Private family interment was held at the Evergreen Cemetery in Judsonia, Arkansas. Arrangements under the direction of the Null and Son Funeral Home of Rolla, Missouri. Phyllis Ann Callahan Phyllis Ann (Gravatt) Callahan was born on May 9, 1928, in Leasburg, Missouri to Elias W. and Ruth Warren (Gibbons) Gravatt and passed away Thursday, May 14, 2015 at the age of 87 years. On June 12, 1949, Phyllis married James E. Callahan at the First Baptist Church in Steelville, Missouri. Phyllis was a member of the First Baptist Church of Steelville, Missouri and a member of Eastern Star. She was an excellent bridge player, spending many Wednesday afternoons with close friends, playing bridge at Rock Fair in Cuba, Missouri. Phyllis also enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and beating her sister, Bernice, at dominoes. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Callahan; her parents, Elias and Ruth Gravatt; two brothers, Elias Jr. and Newton; sister-in-law, Gertrude Gravatt; sister and brother-in-law, Naomi and Warren Rogers and brother-in-law, George Scofield. She is survived by her daughter, Denise Callahan, and partner Carol Bock, of Ballwin, Missouri; sister, Bernice Scofield, Houston, Texas; nephews and nieces, Dick (Judy) Rogers, Boise, Idaho, John (Sharon) Rogers, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Tom (Linda) Gravatt, Springfield, Illinois, Randy (Joann) Scofield, Sugarland, Texas; Gary (Debbie) Scofield, Denver, Colorado and Sandy (Jay) McGuire, Dallas, Texas; special family friend, Pat Duffy; two pet dogs that she adored, Chance and Rocky; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held on Saturday, May 16 from 4-6 p.m. and Sunday, May 17 from 1-2 p.m. at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Funeral services were held Sunday, May 17 at 2 p.m. at the Britton- Bennett Funeral Home with Rev. Kevin Farr officiating. Special organ music of "In the Garden" and "Heaven Came Down" was played by Connie Rhea. Eulogy and memories were shared by Felicia Scott. Committal prayer and interment were in the Steelville Cemetery, Steelville, Missouri. Casket bearers were Dick Rogers, John Rogers, Evan Rogers, Gary Scofield, Terry Beckham, Tom Gravatt, Kent Howald and Jerry Martin. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. Betty Jean Gillam Betty Jean (nee Abney) Gillam was born at Huzzah, Missouri on January 27, 1941 to Ralph Edward and Faye Eunice Williams Abney and passed away Sunday, May 10, 2015 at the age of 74 years. On May 3, 1958 in Waterloo, Illinois, she was united in marriage to Austin Gillam. Betty was of the Baptist faith. For over 30 years, she babysit for many children. In her spare time, she enjoyed working on crossword puzzles. Most of all she loved her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Faye Abney; one brother, William "Gene" Eugene Abney; and one sister, Bonnie Masters. She is survived by her husband Austin Gillam of Cuba, Missouri; two sons, Randy Gillam and wife Georgia of Richmond Heights, Missouri and Rick Gillam and wife Julie of House Springs, Missouri; three daughters, Brenda Macreno and husband Vince of St. Charles, Missouri, Beverly Elston and husband Mark of St. Charles, Missouri and Linda Yi and significant other Richard of St. Peters, Missouri; two sisters, Gladys Calvert and husband John of Arizona and Ann Schidler of Washington; 11 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Visitation was from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2015 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 15, 2015 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home with Rev. Jerry Beers officiating. Special music of "Angels among Us" and "Sissy's Song" was played. Committal prayer and interment were in the Czar Cemetery, Viburnum, Missouri. Casket bearers were J.R. Macreno, Jesse Gillam, Jonathan Yi, Shane Gillam, Austin Finnern and Devin Finnern. Arrangement under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. David William Morgan David William Morgan of Sullivan, Missouri, was born in St. Louis, Missouri on March 29, 1963 to Bernard Joseph "Joe" Morgan, and Kathleen May Morgan (nee Brockelmeyer) and passed away May 11, 2015, at the age of 52 years, 1 month and 12 days. As a young man, he married and had one son. Later he married and had two children. Later in life, he married and had one daughter. David was a Christian of the Catholic faith and attended St. Clare Catholic Church in St. Clair, Missouri. He was currently employed as a maintenance supervisor for American Precision Die Casting in Cuba, Missouri, having been with the company for about six years. He was also a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1 of St. Louis, Missouri, having worked through the union in past years. David was an avid outdoorsman and was happiest when he was in the woods hunting. He was a skilled bow hunter as well as a marksman and was proud of his many mounts. He was naturally talented with the ability to fix anything and did all his own auto mechanics as well. Other favorite pastimes included fishing, riding his four wheeler and going on the river. His girls were his pride and joy and he was a special "g daddy" to his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his infant son, Dustin Morgan; and his daughter, Jessica Morgan. He is survived by two daughters, Sarah Morgan and fiancˇ Wesley Reck of Bellingham, Minnesota and Samantha Morgan of Sullivan, Missouri and her boyfriend Zachary Bandermam of St. Clair, Missouri; his parents, Joe and Kathleen Morgan of Sullivan, Missouri; one brother, Joe Morgan and wife Lisa of Belvidere, Illinois; two sisters, Rose Butler and husband Rick, of Belle, Missouri and Julie Moore and husband Bill of St. Clair, Missouri; two grandchildren, Eli McGuffin and Kobe Reck of Bellingham; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held on Friday, May 15, 2015, at the Russell Colonial Funeral Home in St. Clair, Missouri, with rosary services at 7:30 p.m. Funeral mass was held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2015, at the St. Clare Catholic Church in St. Clair, Missouri with Father Bob Knight officiating. Interment was in the Crestview Memorial Park, St. Clair, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of Russell Colonial Funeral Home in St. Clair, Missouri. Goldie Mae Palmer Goldie Mae Palmer (nee Turnbough) of Steelville, Missouri was born on Wednesday, February 9, 1927 in Viburnum, Missouri to John Dallas and Ida Alice (Gilliam) Turnbough and passed away on Monday, May 11, 2015 at the age of 88 years, 3 months and 2 days. Goldie accepted the Lord and attended the Presbyterian Church. She married Vernon Key Palmer on December 6, 1946 in Rolla, Missouri and to this union three sons were born. Goldie, together with her husband Vernon, owned and operated the notorious Spare Rib Cafe in down town Steelville, Missouri for several years. They later sold it and bought the Wayfarer Cafe in Rolla, Missouri. They expanded their culinary entrepreneurship skills with a funnel cake wagon that they set up in town and took to special events. They also, owned and operated a Jean Shop in Steelville, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ida Turnbough; parents-in-law, Gilbert and Blanche Palmer; husband Vernon Palmer; brothers, Albert Turnbough, Leonard (Dorothy) Turnbough, and Murphy Turnbough; half-brother, Al Beers; sisters, Blanche (Otis) Thompson, Zula Turnbough, Gladine Turnbough, Lula (Marcus) Midyett, Yuri Turnbough, and Marie Smith; brothers-in-law, Doyle Palmer and Ralph Palmer; sisters-in-law, Norma Lee Palmer, Aline Palmer; a brothers-in-law Elmer Turnbough and George Smith. She is survived by her sons, Johnny (Martha) Palmer of Rolla, Missouri, Terry (Brenda) Palmer and Ted (Donna) Palmer, all of Steelville, Missouri; sister, Geraldine (Willis) Callahan of Steelville, Missouri; sisters-in-law, Margaret Beers of Steelville, Missouri and Hallie Turnbough of Cuba, Missouri; grandchildren, Pamela Sue Palmer of Bentonville, Arkansas, Annie (Brian) Arnold of Seattle, Washington, Justin Palmer, Faye Feeler, Annie Feeler and Sophie Feeler, all of Steelville, Missouri, Ashley (Chris) White of Holts Summit, Missouri and Josh Palmer of Bowling Green, Kentucky; 10 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; other relatives and friends. Visitation was Thursday, May 14, 2015 from 5-8 p.m. at the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Funeral service was Friday, May 15, 2015 at 10 a.m. at the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri with Pastor Jerry Beers officiating. Arrangements under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site. http://www.threeriverspublishing.com/ ************************************************ 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