Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO
Local Obituaries for the Week of August 30, 2007
Eric Joseph Blackwell
Eric Joseph Blackwell of Cuba, Missouri was born Friday, January 26, 1973
at St. Louis, Missouri and passed away Sunday, August 26, 2007 at the age
of 34 years and 7 months.
Eric worked the last 19 years for Munch Outdoor Maintenance in Overland,
Missouri as a landscaper. Eric was a very talented landscaper, he could
envision it and then build it.
He enjoyed playing the guitar, riding his bike for miles at a time, playing
sports: football, baseball, hockey, ice hockey, snow skiing and even had his
own golf clubs. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing in his spare time.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Joe Blackwell and one cousin,
Gina Marie Russo.
He is survived by his parents, Barbara and Bobbie Campbell of Cuba, Missouri;
grandmother, Marie Blackwell of Cuba, Missouri; one uncle, Joseph Blackwell of
Cuba, Missouri; aunts, Becky White of the state of Florida, and Judy Sims of
Overland, Missouri; cousins, Jessica and Lisia Sims and Lisa White, other
relatives and friends.
Visitation was held Tuesday, August 28, 2007 from 5-8 p.m. at Britton Funeral
Home, Cuba, Missouri with a 7 p.m. Prayer Service. Funeral Mass was at 10 a.m.
on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at Holy Cross Catholic Church of Cuba with Father
James Finder officiating. Interment at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri.
Russell E. Gray
Russell E. Gray of Overland, Missouri, was born on Tuesday, September 13, 1932 in
Cherryville, Missouri to James Garfield Gray and Ethel Jane Smith Gray. He passed
away at DePaul Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri on Thursday, August 16, 2007 at the
age of 74 years, 11 months and 3 days.
Russell married Bertha Virginia Starks in Salem, Missouri on December 12, 1953 and
to this union four children were born.
He was a veteran of the United States Army serving in the Korean War. After Virginia’s
passing, he married Dora Mandy Livesay in Rolla, Missouri on July 23, 1996. He was
a member of UAW Local #25, Webster Groves Spirit of St. Louis Lodge #27 AF & AM.
His hobbies were boating, touring Branson, hunting deer, squirrel and rabbit. He
enjoyed reading the daily newspaper and most of all spending time with family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Virginia; brothers, Glen (Minnie)
Gray, Earl Gray, Elmer (Edna) Gray; three infant brothers; sisters, Dorothy Callahan,
Opal Turnbough, Ruth Perry and Helen Francis and an infant sister; sisters-in-law,
Jeanne (Cletis) Connors and Evelyn Lewis; brothers-in-law, Willard Starks, Earl (Eleanor)
Starks and Bob (Grace) Starks; grandchild, Danielle Renee Gray.
He is survived by his wife Mandy of the home; children, Edward (Deborah) Gray of
Shreveport, Louisiana, Darlene (Ricky) Richards of Keithville, Louisiana, Coleen
Gray of Overland, Missouri and Rusty Gray of Cuba, Missouri; stepson, Ronald Smith
of Sterling, Colorado; brother, Lawrence Gray (Maxine) of Ballwin, Missouri;
sisters-in-law, Dorothy (Herman) Jackson of Steelville, Missouri, Terry Starks of
Cuba, Missouri and Mae Farrar of Bourbon, Missouri; brothers-in-law, Clarence
Turnbough and Mitchell Lewis, all of Cuba, Missouri, Cordell Callahan of St. James,
Missouri; seven grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren; two step grandchildren;
nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Visitation was Monday, August 20, 2007 at 11 a.m. at Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville,
Missouri with Rev. Delmar Hutson officiating. Burial at the Freeman Cemetery,
Cherryville, Missouri with full military honors.
All arrangements were under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home,
Steelville, Missouri.
John Alan Johnson
John Alan Johnson, of Dixon, was born December 24, 1962, at Sullivan, Missouri,
a son of Grover L. and Bonnie Lee (Herd) Johnson, and passed away suddenly at
9:50 a.m., Sunday morning, August 19, 2007 in the Phelps County Regional Medical
Center, Rolla, Missouri at the age of 44 years, 7 months, and 26 days.
John was united in marriage on January 13, 1983, at Cuba, Missouri, to the former
Brenda Kay McMillian, and to this union two children were born.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Vicky Johnson on April 13, 1986.
He is survived by his wife, of the home near Dixon, Missouri; his mother, Bonnie
Johnson, Dixon, Missouri; father, Grover and wife, Michelle Johnson, Dixon, Missouri;
one son, Jonathan Johnson, Memphis, Tennessee; one daughter, Ashley and husband Eric,
Sherrell, Lebanon; two brothers, Joseph Johnson and Jamie and wife Deana Johnson,
Dixon, Missouri; one sister, Janet and husband Scott Lyons, Dixon, Missouri; two
grandchildren Kendra and Kane Sherrell; other relatives and friends.
John worked in various business trades throughout the years. You name it and there
is a chance that he dabbled in it. Farming, used cars, banking, trading, and factory
work are just a few of the numerous trades he has worked in. In fact, in his early
youth, he was called “the Mule Trader,” which was even printed on his license plate.
John’s boyhood dream was, owning his own farm, and today it’s a reality with the
beautiful homestead that John and Brenda created, which has been his pride and joy.
Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m., Thursday, August 23, 2007 in the
First Baptist Church in Dixon, Missouri, with Bro. Brandon McCombs, officiating.
Chuck Barber, Johnny Purdue, and Bob Burgess sang “Far Side Banks of Jordan” and
“Stroll Over Heaven With You.” Pianist Candace Hawkins and Guitarist Keith Ingram
provide the Prelude and Postlude of the service.
Interment was in West Fairview Cemetery near Dixon, Missouri, under the direction
of the Dixon Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.
Active pallbearers were Eric Sherrell, Brian McMillian, Scott Lyons, Ryan Johnson,
Ron Laney, Michael Miller, and Chris Paterson. Honorary pallbearers were Jerry Smith,
Kevin Wiedenkofer, and Gene Brostowski.
William Howard Reddick
William Howard Reddick was born November 7, 1934 at Cantwell, Missouri and passed
away August 23, 2007 at Rolla, Missouri at the age of 72 years.
On August 20, 1955 he married Charlotte Jean Blunt and to this union four children
were born.
He was a retired contractor and he enjoyed fishing, hunting and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Percy John Howard and Rosetta (Hutchings)
Reddick; one sister, Estelle LaHay; brother-in-law, Lawrence Blunt; mother-in-law
and father-in-law, Joe Blunt and Madeline Blunt Benson.
He is survived by his wife of Viburnum, Missouri; four children, Tonya Lozano and
husband Robert of San Antonio, Texas, Toreen LaRue and husband Terry of Viburnum,
Missouri, Tammy Howard and husband Francis of Nixa, Missouri and Shawn Reddick and
wife Verna of Viburnum, Missouri; three sisters, Ann Vandiver of Cape Girardeau,
Missouri, Naomi Hulsey and Andrea Black, both of Bonne Terre, Missouri.
Twelve grandchildren, Lucas LaRue and wife Tonya of Republic, Missouri, Brooke Pyatt
and husband Steve of Viburnum, Missouri, Krystle LaRue and Sammi LaRue, both of Salem,
Missouri, Willie Howard of Rolla, Missouri, Kallie Howard of Nixa, Missouri, Katie
Howard of Ash Grove, Missouri, Kellie Howard of Nixa, Missouri, Olivia Reddick of
St. Louis, Missouri, Emma Reddick of Viburnum, Missouri, Pilar Lozano and Ian Lozano,
both of San Antonio, Texas; two great grandchildren, Elijah Pyatt and Lanee Pyatt of
Viburnum, Missouri.
Funeral service was August 25, 2007 in the First Baptist Church of Viburnum,
Missouri with Brother Michael Knight officiating.
Interment was in the St. Philip Benizi Catholic Cemetery in Viburnum, Missouri.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Wilson Mortuary of Salem, Missouri.
Okel Elizabeth Tayloe
Okel Elizabeth Tayloe, of Bem, Missouri, was born in Oak Hill, Missouri on
September 6, 1912, the daughter of the late Lewis Franklin and Ruth Etna (Simpson)
Rutz, and passed away on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at Frene Valley Healthcare
South in Owensville, Missouri, at the age of 94.
On November 28, 1934 in Hermann, Missouri she was united in marriage to James Lee
Tayloe. She was a member of the Royal Neighbors of America and a member of
St. John’s United Church of Christ in Bem, Missouri, where she belonged to the
Pairs and Spares and the Quilters. She was a veteran ice cream mixer for the
church picnics, a veteran apple butter maker and served on the Hospitality
Committee. She was a Bem 4-H Club Charter leader and she and her husband, James,
received special recognition for outstanding achievement for “Balanced Farming”
in 1952 by the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis.
She was preceded in death by her husband; one brother, Dallas Rutz and a
granddaughter, Jill Ann Dotson.
Survivors include her two daughters, Carole Ann Dotson and husband Sonnie of Bem,
Missouri and Janet Sue Smith and husband John D. of Cuba, Missouri; brothers,
Lewis S. Rutz and wife Wilma of Cuba, Missouri, Warren Rutz and wife Elaine of
Grandbury, Texas, and Armin Rutz and wife Beulah of Owensville, Missouri; sister,
Fern Kramme of Owensville, Missouri; six grandchildren, Jane Dotson Peanick and
husband Gary of Owensville, Missouri,Tom Dotson and wife Becky of Belle, Missouri,
James Smith and wife Michelle of Owensville, Missouri, Jeffrey Smith and wife
Barbara of Owensville, Missouri, Joseph Smith of Cuba, Missouri and Jon Smith
and wife Teresa of Long Lane, Missouri; 13 great grandchildren and two great,
great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Bem,
Missouri on Friday, August 24, 2007 with Pastor Rick Oberle officiating.
Interment was in the St. John’s Cemetery in Bem, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of Gottenstroeter Funeral Home.
Pearl Wave
Pearl Wave was born December 22, 1923 in Summersville, Missouri to Everett
and Lucinda (Cooley) Ellis, and passed away February 25, 2007 at the age of
83 years.
She married Thurston Hogan on March 31, 1945 and to this union four children
were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; sisters, Lillian Lewis
and Nellie Steelman; brothers, Vernon Jesse and Lester Ellis; step son,
Donald Thurston Hogan and step grandson, Mark Hogan.
She is survived by children, Roger Hogan and wife Pauline, Negaunee, Michigan,
Richard Dean Hogan and wife Diane of Steelville, Missouri, Rhonda Kay Stephens
and husband George of Salem, Missouri and Christina Lynn Hogan, Salem, Missouri
one step daughter, Ann Major, Carbondale, Illinois; four grandchildren,
John Hogan and wife Lacey, Grand Forks, North Dakota, Tony Stephens and wife
Kendra, Columbia, Missouri, Lisa Ellis of St. Louis, Missouri and Ricky Hogan
and wife Melissa of Steelville, Missouri; five step grandchildren, Donnie Hogan
of St. Louis, Missouri, Dirk Hogan of St. Louis, Missouri, LeAnn, Mary and Molly;
10 great grandchildren; five step great grandchildren.
Funeral service was held March 1, 2007 at Wilson Mortuary Chapel in Salem,
Missouri with Brother Terry Hogan officiating.
Interment was in the Sellers Cemetery at Dillard, Missouri.
Pallbearers were George and Tony Stephens, Larry Wood, Rick Stephens,
Jesse and Roger Hogan.
Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the
Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site.
====================================================================
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
Archives by: Winnie Brooks
====================================================================