Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO
Local Obituaries for the Week updated July 20, 2006
Nancy Rhea
Nancy Rhea, age 85, of Steelville, Missouri passed away
Wednesday, July 12, 2006 at Gibbs Care Center in Steelville,
Missouri.
She was born November 17, 1920 to the late J.R. and
Elizabeth (Jay) Wilkins. She was united in marriage to Manford Rhea
on August 25, 1941 in Springfield, Missouri and to this union two
children were born.
Nancy spent her early years in Wichita, Kansas, later
moving to the St. Louis area, graduating from Kirkwood High School
in 1937. She attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, where
she studied voice and piano and was an active member of the Theta
Iota chapter of Tri Delta. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1941 with
a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. She later received a
degree in library science from Southwest Missouri State University
(Missouri State University).
Nancy met her future husband, Manford Rhea at choir
practice at the First Baptist Church in Steelville where he was
directing the choir. Following their marriage, Nancy moved to
Diamond, Missouri to teach school and Manford entered the Army.
After a year's teaching, she followed him to San
Antonio, Texas and then to California for his flight training. After
the birth of their daughter, Nancy returned to Steelville to live
with her parents. When Manford returned from the service in 1945,
the couple once again began to serve as church musicians at First
Baptist Church. Nancy played piano for services and eventually began
a full graded choir program for children.
When the church acquired an organ, Nancy became the
organist and continued to accompany the adult choir, which Manford
directed. She was the Training Union Director for over 40 years. She
taught elementary school in Steelville public schools and later
became the school librarian. Nancy and Manford retired from their
positions of music leadership at First Baptist Church in 1996
following the presentation of their 50th Christmas Cantata.
Those left to mourn her passing are her husband,
Manford; her children, Rebecca "Becky" Smelser of Vidalia, Georgia
and Hal Rhea and wife Connie of St. James, Missouri; four
grandchildren, Susan (Mike) Tipton of Columbia, Missouri, Amy
(Jason) Arens of Louisville, Kentucky, Jim (Melissa) Rhea of Divide,
Colorado, and Judith Smelser of Orlando, Florida; five great
grandchildren, Sean and Cuillian Tipton, Jonathan and Logan Arens
and Weston Rhea; two sisters-in-law, Barbara Baker of Springfield,
Missouri and Adine Burton of Cooter, Missouri.
Funeral services for Nancy Rhea were held Saturday, July
15, 2005 at the First Baptist Church in Steelville with Revs. Kevin
Farr and Jesse Parrott officiating with Wanda Ransom serving as
organist. Since music was Nancy's love, special music of "When We
All Get To Heave" was sung by the quartet of Rob and Kay
Housewright, Joyce Vaughn and Ed Jones with Sara Housewright
accompanying. A special solo of "In the Garden" was sung by Bryan
Taylor. To close the service the choir under the direction of Jan
Weisel sang "Great is They Faithfulness".
Committal service and burial was in the Steelville
Cemetery with Robert Housewright, Jim Barksdale, Floyd Reed, Kent
Howald, Bill Freeman and Bryan Taylor serving as casketbearers.
Honorary casketbearers were Jim Bartlow, Jim Brand, John Britton,
Ken Brown, Art Cook, Charles Chipman, Wilber Grayson, Ken Halbert,
Warren Hendrix, Art Howald, Ed Jones, Charles Lint, Bob Midyett,
Scott Stice, Jeff Jolly, Jim Vaughn and Tom Weisel.
The family was cared for by the Britton-Bennett Funeral
Home of Steelville, Missouri.
Joseph Dale Shoemake
Joseph "Joe" Dale Shoemake, 22, of Steelville departed
this earthly life on Friday morning July 7, 2006 at St. John's
Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He was born the son of Rhonda
Creech and Robert. D. Shoemake Sr. in Rolla, Missouri on Tuesday,
December 6, 1983.
Besides his parents Robert and Rhonda, he is survived by
his daughter Alexis Renee Shoemake of Steelville, Missouri; his
fiancée, Jamie McLane; two brothers, Robert "Robby" D. Shoemake Jr.
and wife Jennifer of Steelville, Missouri and Christopher Shoemake
of West Covina, California.
Three sisters, Sherry Blaser of West Covina, California,
Natasha Schmidt and husband Joey of Cuba, Missouri and Alicia Hajek
of Steelville, Missouri. Grandparents, Cleveland and Alberta
Shoemake of Steelville, Missouri and Catherine Creech of
Victorville, California; many other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather Donald
Creech.
Joe had attended Northside Full Gospel Mission Church.
He was employed by the Conaway Saw Mill.
Funeral services for Joe Shoemake were held Monday, July
10, 2006 in the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri
with Paster Grover Barton and Pastor Dooly Garrison officiating.
Special CD's of "I Will Always Love You," "Maybe," and
"The Words Written in Red" were played. A poem for his brother was
written and read by Robert "Robby" Shoemake.
Serving as caskets bearers were Robby and Christopher
Shoemake, Butch Shoemake, Jake Shoemake Eddie Shoemake, and Joey
Schmidt with burial and committal Cemetery.
The family was cared for by the Britton-Bennett Funeral
of Steelville, Missouri.
Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the
Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site.
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