Mirror, Steelville Star-Crawford Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of August 1, 2018 John Thurmod Cheara Sr. John Thurmod Chears Sr. of St. James, Missouri was born on October 1, 1934 in Miller, Georgia to Vachel Thomas and Florie Beatrice Landing Chears and passed away on July 16, 2018 at the age of 83 years, 9 months and 16 days. He proudly served his country. He was preceded in death by his parents, Florie Beatrice Landing and Vachel Thomas Chears. He is survived by five sons, Thurmond Chears and wife Susan of Smithfield, North Carolina, John Chears and wife Paula of Pekin, Illinois, Charles Chears and wife Candy of Canton, Illinois, Wayne Chears and wife Dian of Dotha, Alabama and Anthony Chears and wife Jeanetta of Smithfield, North Carolina; brothers, Charles T. Chears of Charleston, South Carolina and Louis Chears of Charleston, South Carolina; 13 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Graveside services with full military honors were held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday July 24, 2018 at the St. James Cemetery with Mick Thrasher Officiating. Arrangements under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri. Orena Mae Karnes Orena Mae Karnes of Rolla, Missouri was born on August 21, 1922 in Licking, Missouri to Clarence and Stella (Easley) Jackson and passed away Friday, July 20, 2018 at the age of 95 years. On August 23, 1941 she married James "Walter" Karnes in Salem, Missouri. Mae worked in the kitchen for Phelps County Regional Medical Center for over 20 years. She volunteered for the Rolla Nutrition Site for many years after her retirement. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Stella Jackson; husband, James on February 24, 1991; two brothers, Herman Jackson and Albert Jackson; a sister-in-law, Clara Jackson; and a brother-in-law, Kenneth Hubbs. She is survived by a sister, Fern Hubbs of Colorado; sister-in-law, Dorothy Jackson of Steelville, Missouri; niece and caregiver, Billie Ramori and husband Hector of Cuba, Missouri; two other nieces, Shirley Jones and husband Dave of Kirbyville, Missouri and Dianna Hurden and husband Ed of Colorado; other relatives friends Visitation was held from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla, Missouri. Funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla, Missouri. Interment followed in the Ozark Hills Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla, Missouri. Mary Margaret Keeney Mary Margaret Keeney of Cuba, Missouri was born in Pacific, Mo. on October 3, 1939 to Fred Lee and Mary Nadine (Durbin) Glandon and passed away Saturday, July 28, 2018 at her home in Cuba, Missouri at the age of 78 years. She was united in marriage to Bob G. Keeney on February 7, 1959 at Pilot Knob Baptist Church in Pilot Knob, Missouri. She was a house wife and mother who enjoyed working on her farm, crocheting, gardening and spending time outdoors. She lived on her farm all of her life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob G. Keeney; daughter, Mary Lou Keeney; and four siblings, Agnes Buddemeyer, Eunice Hicks, Sonny Glandon, and Richard Glandon. She is survived by two sons, Bob D. Keeney and wife Pam of Owensville, Missouri and Steve M. Keeney and wife Tina of Owensville, Missouri; and one daughter, Tina L. Wells and husband Eric of Cuba, Missouri; one sister, Betty Neese of Bland, Missouri; 11 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Visitation was held from 9-11 a.m. on Monday, July 30, 2018 at the Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville, Missouri. Funeral services were held 11 a.m. on Monday, July 30, 2018 at Gottenstroeter Chapel in Owensville, Missouri with Reverend Kevin Sullivan officiating. Burial at Countryside Memorial Gardens in Owensville, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville, Missouri. James "Jim" Alan Miller James "Jim" Alan Miller of Fenton, Missouri, formerly of Steelville, Missouri, was born August 26, 1947 to Donald and Mabel May Miller and passed away Tuesday, July 24, 2018. He married Diane Perkins and after her passing married Valerie Conway. Jim graduated from Steelville High School in 1965. He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Mabel Miller; his wife, Diane Miller; and brother, Edward Miller He is survived by his wife, Valerie Miller; two daughters, Kim Willey and Sharon Lammert and husband John; two grandchildren, Julia Lammert and Brianna Willey; two great grandchilden; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 29, 2018 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 29, 2018 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri with Rev. Bob Coleman officiating. Music of "Amazing Grace," "Jealous of the Angels" and "Go Rest High" was played. The eulogy was given by Nancy Duncan. Committal prayer and interment were in the Steelville Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. Alta Margaretta Osherow Alta Margaretta Osherow (nee Kreamalmeyer) was born October 8, 1928 to Eural and Jennie Bettorf Kreamalmeyer and passed away on July 21, 2018 at age of 89 years. On February 29, 1952 at Mobile Bay, Louisiana, Alta married Jerome Baer Osherow at the Sha'arai Shomayin Congregation, in the customs of Israel. Alta graduated from Steelville High School and attended Rublican Business College and Statistical Business Training School. In 1950 she had taken a position with IBM and help start a family business, Direct Mail Advertising Corporation of America, with her husband Jerome Osherow. Alta studied writing in 1972 at Washington University. Joined the Literary Club of University City, Missouri, where she lived with her family. Divorced, May, 26, 1977, retired and moved back to her home town of Steelville, Missouri. She assisted in writing the "Crawford County History" published by Ken Fiebelman. She loved to work in her garden. She was a great story teller, a great cook and hostess and loved nature. She was known by the children in her neighborhood as the "Flower Lady". She was well traveled, cycling the Dykes of Holland, becoming a "Freshlander" by cycling into a canal. She was a great golfer, playing all over the world and winning many championships. She went to the British Open with her son Randy and wife Ceci. She volunteered and supported Golden Echoes for many years. She designed and rebuilt her home at 203 Spring Street in Steelville, winning the Garden of the Year Award. In 2008 she moved from Steelville to San Antonio, Texas. She made lifelong friends in Andres Hernandez Sr. and Belinda and Andres Hernandez Jr. who used to listen to her stories of days gone by. She was preceded in death by five brothers, Edgar, Claude, Clarence (Ina), Dan and Jack Kreamalmeyer; one sister, Hilda Kreamalmeyer; one brother-in-law, Harry Martin; and one great-nephew, Harry Martin, III. She is survived by her sister, Wilma Martin and her nephew Harry Martin, Jr.; brothers, Bob (Shirley) Kreamalmeyer and Ben (Georgette) Kreamalmeyer; sisters-in-law, Jeannine Kreamalmeyer, Marylee Kreamalmeyer, Connie Kreamalmeyer and Martha Kreamalmeyer; sons and daughters-in-law, Randy and Cecilia Osherow and David and Deborah Osherow; grandson, Skyler Ford Osherow; step-grandaughter, Autumn Greenberg; granddaughter, Elina Yan Osherow; her beloved dog, Buttercup; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri with John Brice officiating. Interment was in the Alexander-Kreamalmeyer Cemetery at Cherryville, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. Amelia "Susie" Skouby Amelia "Susie" Skouby was born on August 12, 1925 in Perry, Illinois to Ernest and Helen (Geisendorfer) Liehr and passed away July 21, 2018 at the age of 93 years. She was preceeded in death by her parents, Ernest and Helen Liehr; eight siblings; the father of her children, Anton Skouby; a son, Eric Skouby; and a grandson, Jacob Skouby. She is survived by her children, JoAnn Kinsey and husband Gary of Cedar Hill, Texas and Craig Skouby and wife Judy of Vichy, Missouri; daughter-in-law, Donna Skouby of St. Jacob, Illinois, Jernsen Skouby and wife Jan of Belle, Missouri, Toni Dautenhahn and husband Fred of Vichy, Missouri and Iver Skouby and wife Darlene of High Ridge Missouri; grandchildren Helen Strackeljahn a nd husband Samuel of Anchorage, Alaska, Matt Kinsey and wife Kami of Mansfield, Texas, Jessie Anderson and fiance Jake Lammers of Hartsburg, Missouri, Carmen Mann and husband Brad of Hartsburg, Missouri, Anthony Skouby and wife Corinne of Cibolo, Texas, William Skouby and wife Leslie of Hartsburg, Missouri, Jerlin Basinger and husband Ray of Magnolia, Texas, Carla Brakensiek and husband Phil of Marthasville, Missouri, Jarod Skouby and wife Annessa of Saint Jacob, Illinois, Erika Pratte and husband Jake of Glen Carbon, Illinois, Sylvia Skouby of St. James, Missouri, Justin Skouby and wife Danielle of Hartsburg, Missouri, Chris Keeney and wife Karen of Jefferson City, Missouri, Mellissa Voigt and husband Chris of St. James, Missouri, Genny Hale and Heath of Rolla, Missouri, Marie Dautenhahn; Wallie Dautenhahn and wife Monica, Artie Dautenhahn and wife Stephanie; Cara Wisler and husband Robert, Ashley Skouby and Cody of St. Louis, Missouri; numerous great and great-great grandchildren that blessed her life. Visitation was held from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, July 23, 2018 at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at the High Gate Baptist Church with Doug Williams officiating. Pallbearers were Matt Kinsey, William Skouby, Justin Skouby, Anton Skouby, Jarod Skouby and Chris Keeney. Internment was at the High Gate Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri. Hilbern O. "Hib" Whitson Hilbern O. "Hib" Whitson of Rolla, Missouri was born on April 19, 1930 in St. Louis, Missouri to Charles Whitson and Birdie (Edgemond) Whitson and passed away Thursday, July 19, 2018 at the age of 88 years. On March 20, 1950 he married Lena (Horn) Whitson in Washington, D.C. Hib was employed as a window clerk at the Rolla Post Office for 29 years. He was a big fan of Cardinals baseball and loved watching old westerns. Hib was a member of the Highgate Baptist Church. Hib and Lena loved to travel. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Birdie Whitson; wife, Lena in 2011; one brother, Robert Jewell Whitson; and an infant son, Robert. He is survived by one daughter, Linda Williams and husband Melvin of St. James, Missouri; one brother, Charles Whitson of Rolla, Missouri; sister, Betty Dablemont of Rolla, Missouri; two grand- children, Douglas Williams and wife Rachel of St. James, Missouri and Matthew Williams and wife Stephanie of St. Peters, Missouri; two great grandchildren, Zachary Williams and Savannah Williams; 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 held at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 23, 2018 at the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla, Missouri. Interment follow in the Ozark Hills Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla, 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