Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of July 1, 2009 Clarence Liburn Boggs Clarence Liburn Boggs of Bloomfield Court, Cartersville, Georgia, formerly of Indian Hills, Cuba, Missouri, was born October 16, 1918 to Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Boggs and passed away Friday, June 19, 2009 at the age of 90 years. Clarence was a veteran of the Merchant Marines, having served in World War II, was a member of the Cartersville American Legion and St. Francis Church of the Assisi. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Boggs of Cartersville, Georgia; daughter, Barbara Maryfield, of Cartersville, Georgia; grandchildren, Kris Holbert of Canton, Georgia, Terri Ottinger of Kennesaw, Georgia, Penni Hedrick and Scott Maryfield of Cartersville, Georgia; eight great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; sister, Leta Semar of Florida; brother, Wilbur Boggs of St. Louis, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Funeral services were Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 11 a.m. at St. Francis Church of the Assisi with Father Dan Stack officiating. Burial was in the Georgia National Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the Owen Funeral Home, Cartersville, Georgia. Mary Lou Collins Mary Lou Collins of St. James, Missouri, formerly of Cuba was born Thursday, June 21, 1934 at Steelville, Missouri to Thomas and Geneva (nee Atchisson) Nichols and passed away Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at Rolla, Missouri at the age of 75 years and 2 days. Mary Lou was united in marriage on January 29, 1972 at St. Louis, Missouri to James Howard Collins. Mary Lou worked as a Kick Press Operator for 20+ years before retiring in 1981 from a fuse manufacturing company in St. Louis, Missouri. After retiring Mary Lou and James moved to Cuba, Missouri. She enjoyed being outside, taking care of all her flowers and mowing the lawn. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Geneva Nichols; sister, Wilma Carroll; brother, Rainey Nichols; half sister, Beulah Mae Vann; other relatives and friends. She is survived by her husband, James Howard Collins of the home; son, James Floyd McMillen of St. James, Missouri; two step sons, Howard J. Collins of Jackson, Missouri and Harold J. Collins of Chaffee, Missouri; three sisters, Donna Dickens, Florence Bedwell and Ann Bentley; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held Friday, June 26, 2009 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Funeral service was Friday, June 26, 2009 at 1 p.m. at the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Special music for the service was “Amazing Grace” and “In the Garden.” Interment followed at Meramec Hills Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Walter Counts Walter Counts of Sullivan, Missouri was born on April 22, 1928 in Shannon County, Missouri to Pete and Myrtle (Hinson) Counts and passed away on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at the age of 81 years. On April 21, 1943 in Eminence, Missouri he married Hazel Allene Piatt and to this union five children were born. He moved his family to Sullivan, Missouri in 1955. He was an avid card player, liked to travel and made friends easily. He played a guitar and liked to play and sing songs his entire life. Walter retired from Pea Ridge Mine in 1988 after 25 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Myrtle Counts; three brothers; a half-sister; and his wife, Hazel, in 1993. He is survived by two sons, James Counts of Rolla, Missouri and Junior Counts and wife Leora of St. James, Missouri; three daughters, Janet Kline and husband Jerry of Sullivan, Missouri, Judy Eichwald and husband Ron of Sullivan, Missouri and Joyce Hartzel and husband Mark of Cuba, Missouri; half brother, Arthur E. Thomas of Georgia; sister, Lucy May Tuttle of Springfield, Missouri; 18 grandchildren; numerous great grandchildren and great great grandchildren; special friend and traveling companion, Lil Brown; other relatives and friends. Graveside services were conducted at 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 28, 2009 at the Piatt Cemetery in Round Springs, Missouri with Mike Delashmit officiating. All arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home. Velma F. Edgar Velma F. Edgar of Cuba was born Wednesday, January 10, 1917 at Wright County, Missouri to William B. and Rena G. (nee Holt) Findley and passed away Thursday, June 25, 2009 at Titusville, Florida at the age of 92 years, 5 months and 15 days. Velma was united in marriage to Swithen Edgar at St. James, Missouri on May 4, 1933 and to this union two children were born. Velma spent her life taking care of her home and her family. In her spare time she enjoyed crocheting and sewing, but what she always loved most was being with and spending time with her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Rena Findley; husband, Swithen Edgar; two brothers, Clifford and Thurman Findley; other relatives and friends. She is survived by her children, Eugene “Gene” and wife Yvonne Edgar of Titusville, Florida and V. Marie Bryan of Hillsboro, Missouri; sister, Glenus Cranmer; seven grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held Tuesday, June 30, 2009 from 5-8 p.m. at the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Funeral service was held Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Interment followed at Kinder Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Elizabeth “Liz” Jean Hinch Elizabeth “Liz” Jean (nee Richardson) Hinch was born in Steelville, Missouri on December 1, 1951 and passed away on June 21, 2009, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. On January 28, 1972, she was united in marriage to Gary A. Hinch at First Baptist Church of Steelville, Missouri. She worked for 34 years at the Crawford County Family Support and Children’s Services office as a social worker and clerical supervisor, and retired in 2006. She loved planting flowers, spending time with friends and family and taking care of her dogs. She did not belong to a particular church, but was a woman of great personal faith, compassion and courage. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Emily “Jean” Richardson and her father-in-law, Lindell Hinch. She is survived by her husband, Gary; her daughters, Ann Hinch of New Castle, Indiana, and Christina Hinch of Steelville, Missouri; her sisters and their husbands, Barbara and Larry Lewis of Steelville, Missouri and Edna and Gary Davidson of Warrenville, Illinois; mother-in-law, Anna Hinch of Steelville, Missouri; nephews and nieces, Joshua Davidson of Chicago, Illinois, Laura Davidson and Katherine Davidson of Warrenville, Missouri and Daniel Lewis of Steelville, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Visitation was from 4-9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri with Rev. Jerry Beers officiating. Special music of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” was played and “You Raise Me Up” was played and sang by Rev. Jerry Beers. Fond memories were given by daughters, Christina and Ann. Committal prayer and burial were in the Keysville Cemetery. Casket bearers were Jason Chew, Larry Lewis, Joshua Davidson, Rocky Swyers, Neil Swyers and Bill Edgar. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. Mike Huitt John Michael Huitt, known to his family and friends as “Mike,” of Festus, Missouri formerly of Cuba, Missouri was born Tuesday, January 24, 1961 at St. Joseph Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri and passed away Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at the age of 48 years and 5 months. Mike’s passion was golf and his occupation was a groundskeeper for golf courses, such as AAA and Forest Park Golf Courses in St. Louis. He played golf with many notables and beginners with the same attitude, “the game is supposed to be fun.” In 2006 Mike moved to Festus to be the caretaker for his ailing mother and began working as a seasonal for the Missouri Division of State Parks. He had a wonderful zest for life and a great sense of humor that brightened any room he walked into. He was preceded in death by his father, William Huitt; other relatives and friends. He is survived by his mother, Alice Juanita Huitt; brothers and sisters, Bill Huitt, Dennis Huitt, Randy Huitt, Delecia Huitt, Jim Huitt, Larry Huitt, Denise Jones and Katy Mathews; half sister, June Huitt of Chicago, Illinois; foster daughter, Mary; other relatives and friends. Visitation was Saturday, June 27, 2009 from 5-7 p.m. at the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Funeral service was at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, 2009 with Pastor Scott Perry officiating. Interment followed at Delhi Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Jimmie Lee Jost Jimmie Lee Jost of Sullivan, Missouri, was born July 24, 1951 in Sullivan, Missouri and passed away June 21, 2009 in Herculaneum, Missouri at the age of 57 years. Jimmie was a mechanic by trade and a well-known fisherman in the surrounding area. He was preceded in death by his father, Henry Jost and a sister, Deborah Jo Lavin. He is survived by his mother, Georgia Lavin, nee Barber, of Sullivan, Missouri; daughters, Sandy (Mike) Gozia of Sullivan, Missouri, Jamie (Mark) Hammack of Leasburg, Missouri and Annie Jost of Sullivan, Missouri; brothers, Steve Allen Knoblock of Bourbon, Missouri, Joseph Mark Lavin of St. James, Missouri, Jerry (Heather) Vanover of Sullivan, Missouri and Larry (Denise) Vanover of Sullivan, Missouri; sister, Sherry Amann of Sullivan, Missouri; four grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Funeral service was Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 2 p.m. at the Eaton Funeral Home Chapel, Sullivan, Missouri. Interment in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Sullivan, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Robert D. Brown Funeral Home, Hillsboro, Missouri. Charles Calvert Kessler, Jr. Charles Calvert Kessler, Jr. was born on July 26, 1941 in Clearfield, Pennsylvania to Charles Calvert, Sr. and Julia (nee Ritz) Kessler and passed away at his home in rural St. James, Missouri on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at the age of 67 years, 10 months and 30 days of age. On December 6, 1962 he was united in marriage to Diana Lynn LaMonica in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He served his country in the United State Air Force from August 1960 until September 1982, achieving the rank of Master Sergeant. He retired from the Air Force in September 1982. He was baptized into the name of the Triune God as an infant and confirmed that faith given in baptism on April 3, 1955 in Pennsylvania. He was preceded in death are his parents, Charles Calvert Sr. and Julia (Ritz) Kessler. He is survived by his wife of the home, Diana (LaMonica) Kessler of St. James, Missouri; one son, Charles Calvert III and wife Kathryn, Cole and Cade Kessler of Glendale, Arizona; one daughter, Cheryl-lyn Adele Philo and husband James of Seattle, Washington; two sisters, Barbara Mullen and husband Thomas of Campton, New Hampshire and Lois Wagner and husband Paul of Chicago, Illinois; one brother, Brian and wife Holly; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at St. John Lutheran Church in St. James, Missouri. Funeral service was conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at St. John Lutheran Church in St. James, Missouri with Rev. Jeff Schanbacher officiating. Pallbearers were Bruce Brown, Michael Jacquin, Jack Lansberry, Robert Mounce, Gary Raymond, and Henry Sethhaler. Jean Stevens was the organist and Frankie Stevens, vocalist. All arrangements are under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri. Jimmie Lee McClary Jimmie Lee McClary of Leasburg, Missouri was born on Sunday, September 1, 1946 to James McClary and Martha Pennock McClary and passed away at Belleview Valley Nursing Home, Belleview, Missouri on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at the age of 62 years, 9 months, and 17 days. He married Shirley Barber in Sullivan, Missouri on May 4, 1968 and to this union two sons were born. He later married Patsy Beers on March 8, 1975 and to this union one daughter was born. Jimmie had previously worked on an assembly line in an exhaust fan manufacturing plant before retiring. He enjoyed trout fishing, swimming in the ocean and listening to Joy FM Christian music. He was preceded in death by his mother, Martha McClary; infant daughter, Shelly Lea; brother, Mark McClary; and sister, Dee West. He is survived by his sons, Aaron McClary of Jefferson City, Missouri and Jason (Liz) McClary of Columbia, Missouri; father, James McClary of Leasburg, Missouri; three brothers, Brad McClary of Sullivan, Missouri, Randy (Toni) McClary of Owensville, Missouri and Jay (Rini) McClary; sisters, Donna McLin and Debbie (Ralph) King, all of Leasburg, Missouri and Della (Dave) Hodge of Branson, Missouri; five grandchildren, Samantha, Alex, Briana, Tyson and Ella McClary. Visitation was Monday, June 22, 2009 from 6-8 p.m. at Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri. Funeral service was Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 10 a.m. at Crossroads Baptist Church with Rev. Delmar Hutson officiating. The burial at Bourbon Cemetery with pallbearers Dale McClary, BG McClary, Johnny Schuler, DJ King, JR King and Jesse McClary. All arrangements under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri. Steven J. Sheffield Steven J. Sheffield of Rolla, Missouri was born December 28, 1958 in St. Louis, Missouri to Joseph and Helen (Mooney) Sheffield and passed away Friday, June 26, 2009 in Springfield, Missouri at the age of 50 years. Steven served his country in the United States Navy where he stayed until his retirement in December 1994. He received three Good Conduct Awards, seven sea service ribbons, the Humanitarian Service Medal, two Battle “E” Awards, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Star, and the Navy Achievement Medal. He was a wrestler in high school and he loved woodworking and the outdoors. He was an avid fan of his daughter’s softball games where he spent many years as their coach. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Helen Sheffield He is survived by his wife, Kelly of the home in Rolla, Missouri; children, Julie Sanders and husband Bryan of Springfield, Missouri, Victoria Sheffield of Gray Summit, Missouri, Michele Sheffield of Gray Summit, Missouri; step- children, Deborah Soper and husband Shannon of St. James, Missouri, Phillip St. Clair of St. James, Missouri, Marc St. Clair of Rolla, Missouri, Veronica St. Clair of Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, Dallas St. Clair of Rolla, Missouri, J.C. Shepherd of Rolla, Missouri; brothers, George David Shelton and wife Kay of Ballwin, Missouri, Charles Shelton and wife Kathy of Wildwood, Missouri, Michael Sheffield and wife Nancy of Pacific, Missouri, Richard Shelton and wife Barbara of Ballwin, Missouri, Joseph Sheffield and wife Lena of Pensacola, Florida; sisters, Virginia Leuthauser of Pace, Florida, Linda Carroll of Cedar Hill, Missouri, Terry King and husband Buddy of Bourbon, Missouri, Jill Sheffield of St. James, Missouri; six grandchildren, one step-grandchild; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held Wednesday, July 1, 2009 in the St. James Chapel of the James & Gahr Mortuary from 9-11 a.m. Funeral service was Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. in the Jefferson Barracks Chapel in St. Louis, Missouri with the Navy Chaplin officiating. Interment in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the James & Gahr Mortuary, St. James, Missouri. Nena Inez Barksdale Shockley Nena Inez Barksdale Shockley of Caruthersville, Missouri, formerly of Steelville, Missouri was born February 17, 1918 in Bear Creek, Alabama to Walter and Elizabeth (Howell) Raburn and passed away Thursday, June 25, 2009 at the Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti, Missouri at the age of 91 years. Inez was a former member of the First Baptist Church in Steelville, Missouri and was presently a member of the Baptist Church in Hayti, Missouri. Inez had been employed many years in the shoe manufacturing business. In her spare time she loved to fish with her sister, Opal, and friend Clyde. She always enjoyed having Thanksgiving dinner in Hayti for all of her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Elizabeth Raburn; two husbands, Edgar Barksdale and Eugene Shockley; three brothers, Arnold, Ivan and Lois “Hoss” Raburn and three sisters, Clara Tedder, Opal Howell and Velda Ballentine. She is survived by two sons, James “Jim” Barksdale and wife Georgia Beth of Steelville, Missouri and Wayne Barksdale and wife Carol of The Villages, Florida; one daughter, Glenda Crysler and husband Bill of Caruthersville, Missouri; a special friend, Clyde Holbrook; one brother, Larry Raburn of Michigan; one sister, Therra Sisson of Piedmont, Missouri; seven grand- children, Kim Barksdale, Kevin (Terry) Barksdale, Janice (Tom) Weisel, Jeff (YoLanda) Barksdale, Danny Barksdale, Dustin Barksdale and Julie Tomlinson; 10 great grandchildren, Sarah, Steven, Adam, Christan, Jeff, Sabina, Josh, Ashley, Jackie and Jordan; other relatives and friends. Visitation was from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2009 and 2-3 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, 2009. Funeral services were at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, 2009 at the Britton- Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri with Rev. Kevin Farr officiating. Special music of “Blessed Assurance” and “Surely the Presence” were sang by Hal Rhea and accompanied on piano by Connie Rhea. Memories were shared by Jim Barksdale. Casket bearers were Kevin Barksdale, Jeff Barksdale, Adam Barksdale, Danny Barksdale, Jordan Tomlinson and Raymond McCormick. Committal prayer and burial were in the Steelville Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. Sharon Ruth Slape Sharon Ruth Slape was born on July 2, 1934 in St. Louis, Missouri to Arleigh Darrell and Agness Alnetta Robinson Carpenter and passed away on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at the age of 74 years. She married Troy L. Slape on June 10, 1954 in Steeleville, Missouri. She had been a baker for the Eagle’s Food Store Chain retiring in 1998. She was a volunteer at Methodist Medical Center and Northmoor Grade School and a member of Bradley Epworth United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers; one sister; son-in law, Phillip Fisher Sr. and great granddaughter, Amy Wallace. She is survived by her husband, Troy L. Slape; two daughters, Sandra E. Fisher of Hanna City and Deborah (Gordon) Crow of Peoria, Illinois; two sons, Steven (Janet) Slape of Metamora and Dennis (Abbigail) Slape of Peoria, Illinois; nine grandchildren, Emily and Christopher Crow, Molly, Heather, Billy, and Aurelia Slape, Caroline Carle, Phillip Fisher Jr., and Tracie Ritchie; seven great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; three sisters, Merna Smith, Phyllis Dorf, and Alice Carpenter. Visitation was from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, June 26, 2009 at the Woosley-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria, Illinois.    Funeral Services were held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria, Illinois. Burial in Swan Lake Memorial Gardens. Leda Belle Weister Leda Belle Weister was born February 14, 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri to Herbert and Mary (Castles) Bennett and passed Friday, June 19, 2009 at the Baptist Home, Ironton, Missouri at the age of 84 years, 4 months and 5 days. She was married to Royden Claire Weister on October 10, 1942. Leda Belle worked for the Missouri Department of Revenue as an Audit Clerk until she retired. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Jefferson City, Missouri. She lived at the Baptist Home, Arcadia Valley since March 19, 2005. She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Mary Bennett; husband, Royden Weister; two brothers, Norman and Malcolm Bennett; two sisters, Daisy Cornet and Norma Jean Ross and son-in-law, Jack Hammonds. She is survived by three children, Carol Lee Hammonds of O’Fallon, Missouri, James Clark Weister and wife Margaret Ann of Pacific Junction, Iowa and Leda Ann Edgar and husband Arnold of Jefferson City, Missouri; seven grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; other relatives and friends from Steelville, Missouri. Funeral service was Monday, June 22, 2009 at 10 a.m. in The Baptist Home Chapel. Interment was in the Hawthorn Memorial Gardens, Jefferson City, 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