Mirror, Steelville Star-Crawford Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of June 10, 2015 Dorothy Lee Berlin Dorothy Lee (Spencer) Berlin was born September 1, 1951 at Phelps County Memorial Hospital to Elmer Lee and Sarah Ellen (Forrester) Spencer and passed away Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at the age of 63 years. After graduating from Rolla High School, she attended the University of Missouri-Rolla for one year, and then embarked on a career as sales manager at Bowles Aquarium for over 40 years, retiring in 2010 due to ill health. On October 8, 1977 she married Doug Berlin at St. Patrick Church in Rolla, Missouri and they shared nearly 38 years together. Dorothy was very active in the local Girl Scout organization and received many awards for serving as a troop leader, day camp director, various committee chairs, national delegate and most recently as treasurer. She was a volunteer first aid and CPR instructor for the American Red Cross. For many years she served as board member and secretary on the Central Missouri Regional Fair Board, now known as the Phelps County Fair Board. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Sarah Spencer. She is survived by her husband Doug of the home; daughter, Amanda Berlin; son, Aaron Berlin and wife Natasha, both of Cuba, Missouri; sisters, Beulah Marie Quesenberry of St. Charles, Missouri, Shirley June Dargatz and husband William of Huron, South Dakota, Martha Bowles and husband William of Salem, Missouri; nephews and nieces, Ronald Ketterman, George K. Ketterman Jr. and Steve Ketterman, all of St. Charles, Missouri, Julie Ramirez of Texas, Jimmy Dargatz of South Dakota, and Carol Bowles of Columbia, Missouri; goddaughter, Janet (Johnson) Huelsman; other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held from 9-11 a.m. on Friday, June 12, 2015 at the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla, Missouri. Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 12, 2015 at the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla, Missouri. Interment will follow in the Rolla City Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the Null and Son Funeral Home of Rolla, Missouri. Frances Ramona Ann Barnes Bigham Frances Ramona Ann (Henry) Barnes Bigham was born December 23, 1931 to Ralph James Henry Sr. and Alice May (Sturges) Henry in Norwood, Missouri and passed away June 1, 2015 at the age of 83 years, 5 months and 8 days. Frances attended Holy Cross School and Cuba High School and at age 17 she entered Notre Dame Convent teaching at Baton Rouge, Louisana then Illinois. She returned home to take care of her ill mother then her next venture was to work as a caretaker at St. Anns Orphanage, St. Louis, Missouri. Receiving her BS degree in Education at SMS, Springfield, Missouri she taught school in Kirkwood, Missouri. She married Clarence Barnes and returned to Cuba, Missouri to teach at Sunnyside School and Clarence taught at Oak Shade. Many will remember those great field days with the competitive baseball games, tug of war and sack races. Francis received her Master Degree in Education, Art and Music from South East State, Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She taught 43 years in four states and many years in St. Louis, Missouri and Chester, Illinois. She was Santa Claus for Chester, Illinois for years. Her teaching was in Lutheran, Catholic, Public Schools and private tutoring. She was featured in Educational books and Who's Who. She was proud that her mural she painted of the Mascot Tiger coming through the St. Louis Arch at Adams School in St. Louis, Missouri is still there. In 2006 she married Joseph Bigham of St. Ann, Missouri. She continued teaching music, art and computers and English. She is survived by her husband, Joseph Bigham; three children, Carlena Sue and Dan Biggs of Salem, Missouri, Victoria Fricke of Troy Illinois and Quentin Barnes and Laura of Champaign, Illinois; five grandchildren, Scott Holt and Jen Randle of St. James, Missouri, Aaron Fricke, Taylor Turner and Tessa Barnes; two sisters, Carol Breslich of Cuba, Missouri and Myra Henry of Steelville, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Frances chose cremation with her remains to be scattered in the Gulf of Mexico. Patricia Sue Guffey Patricia Sue Guffey was born November 29, 1960 in Washington, Missouri to George and Darlene Orr Kopsieker and passed away Friday May 29, 2015 at the age of 54 years. Patricia graduated from Pacific High School in 1979. She was united in marriage to Philip Guffey on September 15, 1979 at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Pacific, Missouri. Patricia owned and operated Guffey's Wall to Wall Video in Pacific, Missouri from 1989 until 2003. She was a very active parent volunteer at St. Bridget Catholic School while her son was a student. Patricia was known as a mama to all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her mother, Darlene Kopsieker in 2014. She is survived by her husband, Philip Guffey of Pacific, Missouri; one son, Nicholas Philip Guffey and Kayla Langevin and Amber Lamar of Pacific, Missouri; father, George Kopsieker of Villa Ridge, Missouri; two grandchildren, Jack and Gracie Guffey; two sisters, Cheryl Snodgrass and husband Dennis of Bourbon, Missouri and Trudy Huesgen and husband Tim of Villa Ridge, Missouri; cousin, Darla Petty of Union, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at noon at St. James Catholic Church in Catawissa, Missouri with Rev. Mark Bozada officiating. Burial followed in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Washington, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Oltmann Funeral Home in Union, Missouri. Douglas Arthur Lewis Douglas Arthur Lewis of Rolla, Missouri was born on Monday, January 5, 1959 in Rolla, Missouri to Melvin and Barbara Smith Lewis and passed away Thursday, May 28, 2015 at the age of 56 years, 4 months and 23 days. Doug worked most of his adult life as a carpenter in residential construction before his health started failing. One of his joys in life was spending time with his grandson Blake, especially working on an old boat getting it ready for fishing season, but he never got to use it. He did love to hunt and fish. Doug loved God and always tried to be a devout Christian. He was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Barbara Lewis; and his daughter Stephanie Lewis. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Lewis of Rolla, Missouri; son, Douglas Arthur Lewis Jr.; grandson, Blake Maylee; sisters, Linda and husband Greg Dettler of Cuba, Missouri and Debbie Keithley of Rolla, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Graveside service and burial was Thursday, June 4, 2015 at 2 p.m. at the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Rolla, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri. Wayne Melvin Mullen Wayne Melvin Mullen was born October 15, 1930 to John and Martha Walden Mullen in St. Louis, Missouri and passed away May 28, 2015 at the age of 84 years. Wayne was a 1949 graduate of Cuba High School, Cuba, Missouri. He was a Korean War veteran, proudly serving with the 5th and 18th Air Forces, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant. After service to his country, Wayne attended the University of Missouri. He retired from the John Oster Corporation, McMinnville, Tennessee with over 30 years service and held the positions of Human Resources Manager, Production Control Manager and Assistant Plant Manager. He was a member of the Woodbury Church of Christ for over 50 years. He was an avid reader and long distance runner and in retirement, loved gardening, especially giving away the fruits of his labor. He was preceded in death by parents, John and Martha Mullen; and brother, Col. Edward Mullen. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joy Smith Mullen; sons, Dr. Stan Mullen, Russell and Sherry Vaughn Mullen and Phillip and Kim Terry Mullen, all of Woodbury, Tennessee; sister and brother-in-law, Bill and Dolores Jones of Maryland Heights, Missouri; brother, Don Mullen of Cuba, Missouri; brother and sister-in-law, Clinton and Judy Mullen of Mulvane, Kansas; grandchildren, Brian Mullen, Laura Mullen Cain, Kristen Mullen West, Ben Mullen, Rachel Mullen, Chris Mullen, John Mullen and Katie Mullen; one great grandchild, Dylan Cain; other relatives and friends. Visitation was from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, June 6, 2015 at the Woodbury Funeral Home, Woodbury, Tennessee. Funeral services were 2 p.m. Sunday, June 7, 2015 at the Chapel of Woodbury Funeral Home with Bro. Herb Alsup officiating. Interment followed in the Riverside Gardens Cemetery, Woodbury, Tennessee. Arrangements under the direction of the Woodbury Funeral Home, Woodbury, Tennessee. James Aaron Oxendine James Aaron Oxendine was born Thursday, December 8, 1938 in Cherryville, Missouri to Earnest T. Oxendine and passed away Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at the age of 76 years, 5 months and 11 days. James was raised in Cherryville, Missouri and attended and graduated high school there. He was united in marriage to Lela B. Oxendine in 1960. In his marriage they lived in Wyoming and Mississippi. James was a Vietnam Era Veteran of the US Air Force, from which he retired. He was preceded in death by his father, Earnest Oxendine; his wife, Lela on February 6, 1991; and his brother, Ray Oxendine. He is survived by his son, Jonathan Aaron Oxendine of Steelville, Missouri; his devoted partner, Betty Boinski, step daughter Tara Boinski; step grandson, Aaron Sailors, all of Elberta, Alabama; other relatives and friends. Memorial arrangements under the direction of the Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home of Elberta, Alabama. James' cremains will be blended with his brother Ray and be entered at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida at a later date. Alberta J. Pitts Alberta J. Pitts (nee Moore) of Cook Station, Missouri was born on Wednesday, March 23, 1932 in Clay City, Indiana to Joseph Clarence and Hazel Alberta Frump Moore and passed away Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at the age of 83 years, 2 months and 11 days. She married Bobby Gene Pitts on June 6, 1953 in Clay City, Indiana and to this union four children were born. She accepted the Lord and attended Center Point Baptist Church, Steelville, Missouri and also Canaan Community Church in Cook Station, Missouri. She worked for many years at Salem Sportswear Company and also as Assistant Postmaster in Cook Station, Missouri. She was a member of the Cook Station Good Neighbors Club. She enjoyed her family, watching NCIS, reading her Bible and her flower garden. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Hazel Moore; brothers, Lucian (Kordean "Sis") Moore, Hubert Moore and Don Moore; sisters, Janet Fatch, Floy Moore and Marlene Moore; parents-in-law, Frank and Ruth Mae Pitts; brothers-in-law, Pershing Pitts, Cecil Pitts, Glen (Kate) Pitts, John (Dolores) Pitts, Walter (Dolores) Pitts, James Pitts,Tom Hicks, Daryl Freeman and Lawrence "Larry" Cothran; sisters-in-law, Stella (Floyd) Clay and Glenna Pitts. She is survived by her husband, Bob Pitts of Cook Station, Missouri; sons, Ricky Pitts and Robert "Bobby" Joe (Paula) Pitts, all of Cook Station, Missouri; daughters, Belinda (David) Nash-Gabel of Rolla, Missouri and Cindy (Joe) Luebbert of Salem, Missouri; sister, Jeanie Freeman of Clay City, Indiana; brother-in-law, Monroe (Sherry) Pitts of Cook Station, Missouri, sisters-in-law, Pat Moore of Clay City, Indiana Shirley Cothran, and Doretta (Roy) Soper, all of Cook Station, Missouri, Helen Pitts of Sterling, Illinois and Florence Hicks of Steelville, Missouri; grandchildren, Kristopher Nash and Gregory Nash, both of Rolla, Missouri, Scott Pitts of Owensville, Missouri, Steven (Michelle) Pitts of West Palm Beach, Florida, Aaron Pitts of St. James, Missouri, Matthew (Krystal) Luebbert of Salem, Missouri and Mark (Amy) Luebbert of Rolla, Missouri; seven great grandchildren, other relatives and friends. Visitation was Monday, June 8, 2015 from 6-8 p.m. at the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Funeral service was Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri with Pastor Chuck Whitmire officiating. Burial was at the Wesco Cemetery, Wesco, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Walter L. Pitts Walter L. Pitts of St. James, Missouri, formerly of Cook Station, Missouri, was born on Thursday, August 13, 1925 in Wesco, Missouri to Frank Scott and Ruth Mae Earney Pitts and passed away Monday, June 1, 2015 at the age of 89 years, 9 months and 19 days. Walter served his country honorably in the United States Navy during World War II. He married Dolores Frances Smith on November 3, 1956 in Hammond, Indiana. He was a member of Steelville Country Club and the Iron Workers Union in Indiana. He enjoyed cutting wood, gardening and being outdoors. He was a very caring person and was always thinking of others. He was a loving caregiver for his wife Dolores. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Ruth Pitts; son, Jimmie Pitts; brothers, Pershing Pitts, Cecil Pitts, Glen (Kate) Pitts, John (Dolores) Pitts and James Pitts; sisters, Stella (Floyd) Clay and Cordine "Sis" (Lucian) Moore; brothers-in-law, Thomas (June) Smith, Larry Cothran, and Ralph Barker; and sisters-in-law, Glenna Pitts and Alberta Pitts. He is survived by his daughters, Susan (Dean) Todaro of Gerald, Missouri, Jayne Lewis (and fiancˇ Dennis Campbell) of St. James, Missouri and Lorraine Leyba of Hammond, Indiana; son, Larry Pitts of Hammond, Indiana; brothers, Bob Pitts and Monroe (Sherry) Pitts, all of Cook Station, Missouri; sisters, Shirley Cothran of Cook Station, Missouri and Florence Hicks of Steelville, Missouri; brother-in-law, Robert "Glen" Smith of Quinton, Alabama; sisters-in-law, Doretta (Roy) Soper of Cook Station, Missouri, Helen Pitts of Sterling, Illinois and Dorothy Sue Barker of Crown Point, Indiana; grandchildren, Crystal DeLuca of St. Louis, Missouri, Cara ( Mike) Snyder of Edgar Springs, Missouri, Tim (Dani) Middaugh of Columbia, Missouri, Rebecca (Cody) King and Jacob (Shaina) Lewis, all of Rolla, Missouri; eight great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Visitation was 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2015 at the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Funeral service was at 11 a.m. Friday, June 5, 2015 at the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri with Bro. Alan Miles officiating. Burial was at the Wesco Cemetery, Steelville, Missouri with full military honors. Arrangements under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Martha Elzabeth Spurgeon Sewell Martha Elizabeth Spurgeon Sewell was born on March 20, 1916 to Galloway and Clara Alice Ferris Spurgeon and passed away on June 1, 2015 at the age of 99 years, 2 months and 12 days. Martha grew up near the Royal Community in northern Phelps County along with five brothers and three sisters. She married Marshall Sewell in 1938 and lived near St. James, Missouri for a few years, but moved to Rolla, Missouri in 1955. She was part of the original group who started meeting as the Church of Christ in St. James, Missouri in the late 1940's and had been a member of that congregation since that time. She worked for the County Welfare Office for a couple of years but began to work for Rolla Motor Parts in 1953 and continued there as bookkeeper for the 28 years. She retired in 1981. She was preceded in death by her parents, Galloway and Clara Spurgeon; her husband, Marshall; brothers, Leslie, Oral, Charles and Allen; and one sister, Ethel Plemmons. She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Sewell of Rolla, Missouri; son, Norman Sewell and wife Jo Ann of Harrison, Arkanas; three grandchildren, Mark of Springfield, Missouri, Bryan of Nixa, Missouri and Melissa Sewell Taber of St. James, Missouri; seven great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; two sisters, Allene Goers of Higginsville, Missouri and Clara Harvey of Kansas City, Missouri; one bother, Galloway of the Royal Community near St. James, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held on Thursday, June 4, 2015 from 6-8 p.m. at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri. Funeral services were conducted on Friday, June 5, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri with Lynn Huggins officiating. Pallbearers were Mark Sewell, Bryan Sewell, Austin Sewell, Nathan Sewell, Jordan Sewell and Brandon Tabor. Burial was in the Oak Grove Cemetery in rural St. James, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri. Thomas H. Spiers Thomas H. Spiers of St. James, Missouri was born on October 27, 1937 in Odessa, Texas to Willie and Rofy Mae (Thompson) Spiers and passed away June 1, 2015 at the age of 77 years. Thomas retired from the U.S. Forestry Service where he spent over 30 years. He attended the First Assembly of God Church in St. James, Missouri for many years. He enjoyed reading, working word search puzzles and visiting with family and friends. Having lost his parents at an early age, Thomas grew up in an orphanage in Oklahoma. He knew the importance of having a family and was a very dedicated husband to Rusty Spiers. He met Rusty at the U.S. Forest service where she worked as a personal manager, and Thomas in the field, this union would merge two families as one. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Rofy Spiers; his wife, Rusty on 2009; and a daughter, Wanda Foster. He is survived by his children, Phil Scruggs of Edgar Springs, Missouri, Gail Boyce and husband Jim of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kim Roberts and wife Melanie of Hernando, Mississippi, Randy Rouse of Grand unction, Colorado and Thomas Spiers of Amarillo, Texas; 12 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Private funeral services were held on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at the St. James Chapel of the James & Gahr Mortuary with Brother Mick Thrasher officiating. Interment was in the St. James Cemetery. Pallbearers were Phil Scruggs, Jim Boyce, Jim Foster, Kim Roberts, Ethan Foster and Gary Davis.Arrangements under the direction of the James & Gahr Mortuary in St. James, Missouri. William John Swaller William John Swaller was born June 30, 1955 in High Ridge, Missouri to John Rudolph Swaller and Anna Ruby (nee Schierhoff) Swaller and passed away Thursday May 28, 2015 at the age of 59 years. Bill graduated from Fox High School in 1973. He was united in marriage to Bettye Hamilton May 25, 1985 in High Ridge, Missouri; the couple made their home in Union, Missouri. Bill was employed as a brick layer for Leonard Masonry. He was a member of the American Legion Post #297 and a fellow of the Moose Lodge in Union, Missouri. Bill enjoyed fishing and was an avid deer hunter. He also enjoyed tractors. He was preceded in death by one son, Travis Swaller on April 15, 2006. He is survived by his wife, Bettye Swaller of Union, Missouri; five sons, William Swaller II and fianceˇ Jodie of DeSoto, Missouri, Nathan Price of High Ridge, Missouri, Jeremiah Swaller of Union, Missouri, Plumas Swaller and wife Christa of Union, Missouri, and Christopher Beckmann and wife Michelle of Union, Missouri; one daughter, Amanda Swaller and Travis Guzman; 12 grandchildren, Skylar, Jade, Shad, Baily, Ethan, Chase, Piper, Morgan, Cecilia, Annabelle, Jayden and Brantley; father, John S. Swaller of Cuba, Missouri; three sisters, Maryann Rarick of Florida, Linda Horton and husband Johnny Dale of Otto, Missouri, and Rita White and her husband Bob of Cuba, Missouri; two brothers, John Swaller and his wife Rose of Cuba, Missouri and Tim Swaller and his wife Danielle of Sullivan, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Funeral service was held Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at the Oltmann Funeral Home in Union, Missouri with Rev. Joe Post officiating. Burial followed in the Midlawn Cemetery in Union, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Oltmann Funeral Home in Union, 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