Mirror, Steelville Star-Crawford Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of August 27, 2014 Iva Pauline Adams Iva Pauline Adams was born February 17, 1917, to Phillip Marion Adams and Millie Neleta (Kimberlin) Adams and passed away Friday, August 15, 2014. Pauline graduated from Steelville High School in 1935 and taught at rural schools while taking college courses. She received her BS in Elementary Education from Southwest Missouri State College (now Missouri State University) and a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Missouri in 1958. She was employed by Crawford County Welfare Office in 1945 and later worked in Gasconade County as a caseworker. She worked with the Division of Family Services for 33 years and retired as State Day Care Licensing Supervisor. She was instrumental in development, implementation and supervised enforcement of Day Care Licensing Regulations in Missouri. As a part of her career she spent two years in Washington, D.C. working with the Children's Bureau in the U.S Department of Health, Education and Welfare and participated in International Social Work Events in South America, Greece, Africa, Sweden and other parts of Europe. She also traveled to Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, the Republic of China, the Philippines, Hawaii and Alaska. When she retired in 1980 she returned full time to the family farm and involved herself in community activities and volunteer services. She assisted in establishment of the Community Child Care Center, served as fundraising chairperson for the new Steelville Library, Farm Bureau, Steelville Elementary School volunteer, 4-H project leader, Crawford County Extension Council, Golden Echoes board member and volunteer, food pantry, Chamber of Commerce, Meramec Music Theater and Presbyterian Church. She was honored as Steelville Citizen of the Year for 1999. She was preceded in death by one brother, Henry; six sisters, Neola McKay (Archie), Ava Comfort (Glenn), Betty Ferrell (Lewis), Opal Comfort (Louis), Dorothy Weber (Bob) and Neleta Maloney; and one niece, Janet (Ferrell) Parrett. She is survived by sister, Anna Horn (Bob) of Delmar, New York; brother, George Adams (Sharon) of Steelville, Missouri; brother-in-law, Bryce Maloney of Salem, Missouri; nieces, Marian Roberts (John), Phyllis Burr (Wally), Linda Kendrick (Ray), Shirley Comfort, Gale Teasley (Ralph), Kim Busche (Keith), Lisa Hollander (Carey), Rebecca Fleahmann (Bruce), Leslie Trosset (Frank), Cindy Jackson (Steve), Julie Murray (Chuck), Debbie Juntti (Joe) and Diana O'Rourke (Mike); six nephews, Ray Comfort, Charles Ferrell (Wanda), Eddie Ferrell (Val), Todd Horn, Phil Adams, and Mike Adams; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 21, 2014 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home with Rev. John Welton officiating. Prelude music was provided by great great niece, Anna Miller on piano. Special music of "Beyond the Sunset," "In the Sweet By and By" and "Whispering Hope" was played on the hammered dulcimer by niece, Phyllis Burr. Special memories were shared by nephew, Mike Adams. Committal prayer and burial were in the Pleasant Point Cemetery at Steelville, Missouri. Casket bearers were family, Phil Adams, Dustin Adams, Ryan Ferrell, Mike Adams, Charles Ferrell and Wally Burr. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. Imogene (Copeland) Avery Imogene (Copeland) Avery of St. James, Missouri passed away on August 20, 2014 at the age of 88 years. Imogene retired from the banking industry after working a combined 39 years at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and Manchester Bank (Commerce Bank) of St. Louis, Missouri. Imogene was a member of several organizations, including: Past Matron Gardenville O.E.S. # 513; Past President Warder Club of St. Louis; Past President Golden Age Center St. James, Missouri; Piece & Plenty Quilt Guild of Rolla, Missouri. Past member Coffman Community Quilting Club. She was a passionate volunteer of her time and energy to many worthwhile causes. She received numerous awards for her tireless service, including: Volunteer of Year Award from Golden Age Center 1991; Citizen of the Year Award 1991 from Chamber of Commerce St. James; 1991 Citizen of the Year - Senior Citizens; 1992 St. James Chamber of Commerce - Citizen of the Year; 1993 MRPC Community Service Award; 1997 Woman of the year - Rolla Magazine. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Rufus and Iva Jane (Mayberry) Copeland; her husband, Clarence Bryan Avery; and her siblings. She is survived by her son, Wayne Edward (Dianne) Avery; grand- children, Michele Lynn Avery and Angela Marie Avery Sanders; stepson, Robert Duane (Judy) Avery; step grandchildren, Timothy Duane Avery, Kurt Edward Avery and Kathleen Ann Davis; great grandchildren, William, Macy, Katherine and Brighton; step great grandchildren, Sarah, Allison, Elizabeth, Hunter, Bryan, William, Xander and Alyssa; other relatives and friends. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. For more information please contact Angie Sanders at Amsanders79@gmail.com or Jones Funeral Home at 573-265-3278. Pearlie M. Graddy Pearlie M. Graddy, nee Litaker, of Sullivan, Missouri was born on Wednesday, November 16, 1938 in Kennett, Missouri to Harold H. and Alla Mae McNew Litaker and passed away Monday, August 18, 2014 at the age of 75 years, 9 months and 2 days. Pearlie married L. Dean Graddy on May 11, 1963 in Champaign, Illinois and to this union four children were born. Pearlie was a believer in Jesus Christ since she was seven years old and was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Bourbon, Missouri. She enjoyed cooking, gardening and camping in their RV. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Alla Litaker; son, Jeffrey Dean Graddy; brother, Marion (Frances) Litaker; sisters, Lola Mae (Bill) Burrows and Geneva (Robert) Brand; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Dorothy Mae Whitaker, Ronnie Pennock, Bill (Pearlene) Graddy, Harold Graddy, Ben Graddy, Cecil (Fran) Graddy, Betty Mayberry, Hilda (Muriel) Phillips and Bud (Kathleen) Graddy; grandson, Dean Waters; and son-in-law, Glenn Waters, Sr. She is survived by her husband. L. Dean Graddy of Sullivan, Missouri; children, Sherri (Paul Richard) Waters of Bowling Green, Missouri, Kevin (Heather) Graddy of Sullivan, Missouri and Andrew (Amanda) Graddy of Bourbon, Missouri; sister, Freda Carter of Kennett, Missouri; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Mildred Hurst of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Don (Faye) Graddy of Geyserville, California, Hazel Pennock of Peoria, Illinois, Ronnie Graddy and Ed Graddy, all of Bourbon, Missouri, Mick Graddy of Steelville, Missouri, Sue Graddy of Effingham, Illinois and Leo (Sherry) Mayberry of St. Louis, Missouri; five grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Visitation was Thursday, August 21, 2014 from 2-4 p.m. and memorial service at 4 p.m. at the First Assembly of God Church, Bourbon, Missouri with Pastor Derick Ruble officiating. Arrangements under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri. Janet Ruth Beezley Halbert Janet Ruth Beezley Halbert of Steelville, Missouri was born November 16, 1942 to Rowland and Vandelia Beezley in St. Louis, Missouri and passed away Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at the age of 71 years, 9 months and 3 days. In 1959, her parents bought a farm in Steelville and moved from St. Louis, Missouri to the farm. Janet graduated from Steelville High School in the Class of 1960. On November 24, 1962, Janet was united in marriage to Harold D. Halbert in Cuba, Missouri and to this union four sons were born. She enjoyed painting and decorating her home inside and outside. She had a big love for animals and loved spoiling her two Chihuahua dogs, Heidi and Ginger. After her children were raised she was a janitor at Steelville Elementary School. When she retired, she became a volunteer at Golden Echoes Senior Center for 12years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rowland and Vandelia Beezley; one son, Russell Halbert; and her brother, Jack Beezley. She is survived by three sons, Donny Halbert and wife Vickey of Cook Station, Missouri, Gary Halbert and wife Misty of Steelville, Missouri and Mark Halbert and wife Jennifer of O'Fallon, Missouri; one sister-in-law, Norma Beezley of Mesa, Arizona; seven grand- children; one great grandson; other relatives and friends. Visitation was from 10 a.m. until service time on Saturday, August 23, 2014 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2014 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri with Rev. Bob Coleman officiating. Special music of "I'll Fly Away" and "Peace in the Valley" was sung and played by Bob and Carol Coleman. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. Betty Lou Hardy Betty Lou Hardy of Sullivan, Missouri was born on February 17, 1930 at Bourbon, Missouri to Virgil and Mary (Clayton) Simmerly and passed away Sunday, August 17, 2014 at the age of 84 years and 6 months. She was raised in the Bourbon area and on December 11, 1948 was married to James Junior Hardy and to this union a daughter was born. In 1965, the family moved to St. Louis, Missouri and Betty took a job in the manufacturing and retail sales industry as a cashier. In 1974, she made their home in Hazelwood, Missouri later coming to Sullivan to live. Betty was raised in the Baptist faith and enjoyed the fall season and its colors. She also found pleasure in shopping and sightseeing. She was preceded in death by her parents, Virgil and Mary Simmerly; husband, James on September 12, 1986; and two sisters, Lizzy Simmerly and Mildred Prince. She is survived by a daughter, Melinda DuBois of Montgomery, Alabama; one brother, John Simmerly and wife Bessie of Sullivan, Missouri; one sister, Mae Stumpf of the state of Texas; two grand- children, Timothy and Tabatha Dubois of Montgomery, Alabama; other relatives and friends. Visitation was from 4:30-8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri and on Thursday, August 21, 2014 from 9 a.m. until time of service at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services were conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday, August 21, 2014 from the Chapel of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri with Pastor Craig Tanner officiating. Interment was in Bourbon Cemetery, Bourbon, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri. Dolores "Dokey" Frances Pitts Dolores "Dokey" Frances Pitts of Cook Station, Missouri was born on Sunday, August 11, 1935 in a mining camp in Maxine, Alabama to Thomas Lee and Lola (Harbin) Smith and passed away August 16, 2014. She was united in marriage to Walter Leo Pitts in Hammond, Indiana on November 3, 1956 and to this union two daughters were born. Dolores first worked at Combustion Engineering in East Chicago, Indiana. She then worked at First National Bank in Granite City, Illinois. In later years she worked as a seamstress for Salem Sportswear California Manufacturing in Salem, Missouri and then Alfred Werber Clothing Manufacturing in St. James, Missouri. She was active for years in First Assembly in St. James, Missouri and later Canaan Community Church in Cook Station, Missouri. She enjoyed sewing, singing, gardening, cooking and canning. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Smith and Lola Smith; brothers, Thomas (June) Smith and Daniel Clyde Smith; brothers-in-law, Ralph Barker, Thomas Hicks, Cecil Pitts, Glenn (Kate) Pitts, John (Dolores) Pitts, James Pitts, and Pershing Pitts; sisters-in-law, Stella (Floyd) Clay and Cordine "Sis" (Lucian) Moore. She is survived by her husband, Walter Leo Pitts of St. James, Missouri; two daughters, Susan (Dean) Todaro of Gerald, Missouri and Jayne (fiance Dennis Campbell) Lewis of St. James, Missouri; brother, Robert "Glenn" Smith of Quinton, Alabama; sister, Dorothy Sue Barker of Crown Point, Indiana; brothers-in-law, Bob (Alberta) Pitts of Cook Station, Missouri and Eldon Monroe (Sherry) Pitts of Cook Station, Missouri; sisters-in-law, Florence Hicks of Steelville, Missouri, Doretta (Roy) Soper and Shirley (Larry) Cothran of Cook Station, Missouri and Helen Pitts of Sterling, Illinois; 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, both of Rolla, Missouri; eight great grandchildren, other relatives and friends. Visitation was Wednesday, August 20, 2014 from 5-8 p.m. at the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri and funeral service was Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 10 a.m. at the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri with Reverend Mick Thrasher officiating. Burial was in the Wesco Cemetery, Wesco, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Bonnie Louise Stephens Turnbough Bonnie Louise Stephens Turnbough (nee Earney) of Davisville, Missouri was born May 16, 1937 at Wesco, Missouri to Everett and Anna Mae Gunter Earney and passed away August 20, 2014 at the age of 77 years, 3 months and 4 days. Bonnie graduated Steelville High School in 1955. Bonnie worked at Quick Point Pencil Factory in St. Louis, Missouri and later worked for Laclede Stoker Furnace Company in St. Louis. She later met and married Richard I. Stephens who was stationed at Scott AFB, Belleville, Illinois. They moved from St. Louis to Belleville, Illinois. They had two children. The family later returned to St. Louis and purchased a home in the Shaw neighborhood. The family belonged to Shaw Avenue United Methodist Church. Bonnie later divorced and went to work for the Target store on Hampton, in St. Louis where she retired. She met Lawrence C. Turnbough in September of 1986. They were together for 18 years before marrying on November 22, 2004. She was preceded in death by her parents, Everett and Anna Mae Gunter Earney; infant son, Timothy Lee Shepard; husband, Lawrence C. Turnboughon January 20, 2014; brothers, Roy Clifton Earney and wife Faye; Delmar Wilson Earney and wife Memory, Raymond Harrison Earney, Maurice Edward Earney and Donnie Lee Earney (infant); sister, Fern Meiser; step-son, David Turnbough; daughter-in-law, Janice Stephens; brothers-in-law, Roy Turnbough and wife Helen, Richard Turnbough and Troy Turnbough; sisters-in-law, Bonnie Turnbough Welker and infant Geraldine Turnbough; brothers-in-law, Leahman Pierce and Jake Turnbough; stepson, Jesse Clements; and stepsons-in-law, Cliff Wideman and Gene Farrar. She is survived by her son, Michael Allen Stephens and wife Jennifer of Pleasant Hill, Missouri; daughter, Pamela Ann Stephens and husband Michael J. Westermayer of Robertsville, Missouri/Parrish, Florida; step-daughters, Terri Jaycox and husband Russell of Potosi, Missouri, Louise Wideman of Fenton, Missouri, Pat Liscomb and husband Charles of Pacific, Missouri and Almaretta Farrar of Salem, Missouri; step-son, Lawrence (Sonny) Turnbough and wife Sharon of Davisville, Missouri; grandsons, Michael Andrew Stephens of Belleville, Illinois, Scott Alexander Stephens of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, Nicholas Allen Stephens of Belleville, Illinois and Ian M. Westermayer USN of Jacksonsville, Florida; one granddaughter, Stacy L. Cote and husband Russell of Arizona; sister, Pearl Stites and husband Cecil of Steelville, Missouri; brother, Lawrence Earney of Steelville, Missouri; sisters-in-law, Estrellita Earney of Las Vegas, Nevada, Rosalene Turnbough of Davisville, Missouri, Dorothy Pierce of St. Louis, Missouri and Mary Turnbough of Cuba, Missouri; brothers-in-law, Ellis Turnbough and wife Dawn of Davisville, Missouri and Dale Welker and wife Virgie of Potosi, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, August 22, 2014 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2014 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri with Rev. Jerry Beers officiating. Special music of "In the Sweet By and By" and "On Day at a Time" was sung and played by Bob and Carol Coleman. Other music played was "There are Angels Among Us" and "Tonight I hold This Candle." Committal prayer and interment were in the Wesco Cemetery, Wesco, Missouri. Casket bearers were Dale Earney, Tim Earney, Clarence Bruce, Jr., Ray Keys, Scott Stephens and Darrell Bruce. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. Midred D. Turnbough Mildred D. Turnbough, (nee Midyett) passed away Saturday, August 16, 2014. Wife of the late Roy C. Turnbough; mother of Terry Turnbough, Barbara (Mike) Young and the late Sharon S. Turnbough and Steven Wayne Turnbough; sister of James (Rayma) Midyett and the late Lucille Wyatt, Harold Midyett and Harvey Midyett; other relatives and friends. Visitation was at the Kutis Affton Chapel in St. Louis, Missouri on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 from 3-9 p.m. Funeral service was at the Czar Church, Viburnum, Missouri on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at 11 a.m. Interment was in the Czar Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the Kutis Affton Chapel in St. Louis, 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