Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO
Local Obituaries for the Week of Sept. 27, 2001

Edna Blevins
Edna Blevins nee Hoelzer was born April 17, 1908 to the union of John
Valentine and Sophie Schnell Hoelzer in St. Louis, Mo. and went to sleep in
Jesus on September 15, 2001 at the age of 93 years, 4 months and 28 days.
Edna graduated from Cleveland High School in South St. Louis where she
played 1st violin in the school orchestra and excelled in sports with a 1st
place trophy. She went on to dance professionally along with her sister
Virginia, in ballet, tap and jazz at the St. Louis Fox Theater, the
Ambassador Theater and the Municipal Opera performing in 1927 in Robin Hood
and many other productions.
It was there she met and married Howard John Blevins of Granite City,
Illinois in August, 1932, to this union two children were born.
The family resided in Granite City, Illinois until 1945 then moved to Cuba,
Mo. purchasing 40 acres on Riverside Road, which is now Highway O, and
resided there until her passing.
Edna was preceded in death by her husband Howard in 1979, her father,
mother, three sisters, 2 brothers and one great-grandson.
Those who remain to mourn her passing, her daughter Jean Horsefield and
husband Bob, her son Brad Blevins and wife Terry of Texas, five
grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, one brother John of Fenton, Mo.,
family and very special friends.
Edna joined the First Presbyterian Church, Cuba, Mo. and loved the Lord and
her country very much. She loved flowers, animals, sewing, crocheting and
making dolls. She loved sharing her life's pleasures with those she cared
about, her dancing, and talked about the many actors she worked with at the
Muny who went on to be great stars.
Mom went to sleep, quietly at Beverly Health Care, Sullivan, Mo. surrounded
by her stuffed toys she carried around daily, and good friends that gave
her very special care.
Edna donated her gift of Body to St. Louis University School of Medicine.
All arrangements were under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home,
Cuba, Mo.

William O. Bouckaert
William O. Bouckaert of Bourbon, was born on August 1, 1926 at St. Louis,
Mo. to the union of Alois Bouckaert and Mildred (Pointer) Bouckaert and
passed away on September 20, 2001 at Phelps County Regional Medical Center,
Rolla, Mo. at the age of 75 years, 1 month and 19 days.
On August 18, 1951 William was united in marriage to Gerry Merkel at
Bourbon, Mo. One son, David, was born to this union, they had been happily
married for 50 years.
William was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Harold
Bouckaert.
William was inducted into the Army of the United States of America, on
December 15, 1944 and was honorably discharged on November 27, 1946. He
served in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre.
He was a member of the St. Francis Catholic Church, Bourbon, Mo., member of
Sullivan VFW Post No. 3982 and was a Bourbon Volunteer Fireman.
Those who survive to mourn his passing from this life are his loving wife,
Gerry Bouckaert; one son, David Bouckaert and wife Tonya; five
grandchildren, Dustin King and wife Cori, Derek King, William, Betsy and
Jett Bouckaert; one great-granddaughter Molly King; nieces; nephews; other
relatives and many friends.
Visitation was held on Friday, September 21, 2001 at the St. Francis
Catholic Church after 6 p.m. VFW Services was held at 7 p.m. and a Prayer
Service was held at 7:30 p.m. Funeral Mass was held on Saturday, September
22, 2001 at 11 a.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church, Bourbon, Mo. with
Father Bob Duesdieker officiating. Interment was in the Mt. Calvary
Catholic Cemetery, Bourbon, Mo. All arrangements were under the direction
of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Mo.

Rickie Walter "Rick" Hansen
Rickie Walter Hansen was born Monday, February 13, 1950, in St. Louis, Mo.,
a son of Genevra Jessie Hansen (nee Lawrence) and the late Lyle Paul
Hansen.
He entered eternal rest Thursday, September 20, 2001, at St. John's Medical
Center, St. Louis, Mo., (the result of a horse riding accident), at the age
of 51 years, 7 months and 7 days.
Rick graduated from Normandy High School, St. Louis, Mo. He was active in
the Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He served his country
in the United States Navy from July 1967 to September 1969. He was trained
in the field of electrical engineering in some of the Navys' best
electronic schools. He received his discharge at the U. S. Naval Station,
Mayport, Florida.
After his discharge he attended Rice University, Houston, Texas and
received associate degrees in Electrical Designing and Drafting. Rick was
very active as a community volunteer. He worked with the Boy Scouts and as
a Scout Master, Order of The Arrow Lodge Advisor, he was a volunteer
fireman for Steelville Fire Department, a volunteer Deputy Sheriff for
Crawford County, a volunteer for Missouri Conservation Commission and
Hunter Safety Instructor for Missouri Conservation Department.
On July 10, 1981, Rick was united in marriage to Betty Barnicle, they have
made their home in Steelville, Mo.
Rick was a member of First Baptist Church, Steelville, Mo. He was baptized
April 27, 1986 by the Pastor Rev. George Ormsbee.
In addition to his father he was preceded in death by his father-in-law,
Theodore Barnicle; and two brother-in-laws, Earl Carter and James Lee
Barnicle.
Among those who remain to mourn his death are his loving wife Betty of the
home; his mother and step-father, Genevra and John Hennecke of Palm Harbor,
Florida; one son, Brian Hansen and fiancee Lee Haines of Brentwood, Mo.;
one daughter, Angela Hansen of Kirkwood, Mo.; mother-in-law, Lillian
Barnicle of Steelville, Mo.
Two brothers, Carlyle Hansen and wife Elsie of El Paso, Texas, and Ronald
Hansen and wife Barbara of Houston, Texas; one sister, Marion Carter of
Ferguson, Mo.; a special niece Kelly White of Steelville, Mo.;
sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Dolores and Willard Bryant and Helen
McGruder, all of Steelville, Mo.; other nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives
and friends.
Rickie Walter Hansen lay in state 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, September 22,
2001, at the Britton Brothers Funeral Home, Steelville, Mo. Funeral
services were held 2 p.m. Sunday, September 23, 2001, in the Britton Chapel
with Rev. Alan Miles officiating. Committal prayers and interment were in
Schwieder Cemetery, rural Steelville, Mo.
Honoring Rick as pallbearers were Brian Hansen, Carlyle Hansen, Ronald
Hansen, Bill Barnicle, Brent Kaiser, Jeremy Miles, Kent Swyers, and A. J.
Tinker.
Arrangements were under the direction of Britton Funeral Home, Steelville,
Mo.

Letha F. McCleary
Letha F. McCleary of Sullivan, Mo. passed away at the Meramec Nursing
Center on Saturday, September 15, 2001 at the age of 72 years.
Letha was born on October 18, 1928 near Sullivan and had lived the majority
of her life in the Sullivan area. She was the daughter of James B. and
Bernice Irene (Gellinger) Sappington. Letha was a graduate of Sullivan High
School and was known for her outgoing personality and spirit. For a time,
she was employed at Paramount Headwear in Bourbon and later held various
jobs throughout her life. Letha was fondly known as "the cake lady" who for
some 31 years baked cakes for any and all occasions.
On August 4, 1952 she was married to Willard Gene McCleary in Sullivan and
to this marriage two children were born. She will be lovingly remembered as
a lady who never met a stranger and would extend assistance to anyone
needing help. Letha loved music and dancing and would play the accordion in
her brothers' band.
She is survived by her husband Gene of the family home; one daughter,
Melinda Alene McCleary of Sullivan; one son, Michael Gene McCleary of
Bourbon; one brother, Carl Sappington of Stanton; one grandson, Shaun
Michael McCleary; a niece, Myrna Parker, nephews, Carl Sappington, Jr.,
Timothy Sappington; other nieces and nephews and many friends. Along with
her parents, a brother, James Sappington, preceded Letha in death.
It was Mrs. McCleary's desire that private family services be provided
followed by cremation. Inurnment was in Stanton Cemetery, on Wednesday,
September 19, 2001. Arrangements were under the care of the Eaton Funeral
Home, Sullivan, Mo.

Mildred Alvina Miller
Mildred Alvina Miller was born Sunday, November 8, 1925 in Seymour, Mo. to
the late Ivel Webster Carrick and Ada Dunnigan Carrick and was discovered
at her home absent from the body but present with the Lord on Tuesday,
September 18, 2001 by her son Ron.
Mildred married Earl Miller on January 24, 1948 in Salem, Mo. She and Earl
made their home together in Steelville, Mo. since 1958 moving from St.
Louis, Mo. Mildred accepted the Lord many years ago and was a member of the
Centerpoint Baptist Church.
Mildred loved the outdoors and was very fond of her cats and dogs. She
enjoyed crocheting, needlepoint, and tending her outdoor plants in her
flower garden.
Mildred was preceded in death by her husband Earl, and her son Clyde
Miller.
Those who remain to mourn her passing are her loving children: Bob Miller
and wife Carol of Texas; Al Miller and wife Barbara of North Carolina; Ron
Wisdom and wife Jeanette of Steelville, Mo.; Dorothy M. Forsberg of Las
Vegas, Nevada; Mary E. Miller of St. Louis, Mo.
Daughter-in-law Beverly Miller of Sullivan, Mo.; her two brothers and
sisters-in-law Fred Carrick and wife Bertha of Cherryville, Mo.; Willard
Carrick and wife Nora of New Haven, Mo.; her three sisters Maxine Cates of
Springfield, Mo.; Darlene Berns of Springfield, Mo.; Margaret Philpott of
Springfield, Mo.
Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Paul Miller and wife Mary of Texas;
Delores Blanks and husband "Mac" Kelly of Cahokia, Illinois; Letha Miller
of St. Peters, Mo.; twelve grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, 6
great-grandchildren, three step great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other
relatives and many friends, all who will fondly remember and sadly miss
Mildred Alvina Miller.
Visitation was held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, September 21, 2001 at the
Hutson Funeral Home in Steelville, Mo.
Funeral service was held 11 a.m. Saturday, September 22, 2001 at the Hutson
Funeral Chapel in Steelville, Mo. with Rev. Delmar B. Hutson Funeral Chapel
in Steelville, Mo. with Rev. Delmar B. Hutson officiating. Those serving as
pallbearers were Ron Wisdom, Roy Lee Carrick, Tom Miller, Joe Miller, Brian
Richardson, and Harrison Dotson. The songs, Peace In The Valley, and In The
Garden were played by tape.
Burial was in the Ron Wisdom Cemetery south of Steelville, Mo.
All arrangements under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home in
Steelville, Mo.

Elmer Edmund Tyree
Elmer Edmund Tyree of Bourbon, Mo. passed away at the family home on
Monday, September 3, 2001 at the age of 98 years.
Mr. Tyree was born on October 17, 1902 to the late James Samuel and Cora
Jane (Benson) Tyree in Oak Hill Township, north of Bourbon, on the farm of
his grandfather, David M. Tyree. He was educated at Oak Hill School in
Crawford County. Elmer married Arlie Colisity Murphy on June 15, 1923 in
Kansas City, Mo., and to their union four children were born. They spent
most of their lives in Crawford County, except for a few years in St.
Louis. Elmer and Arlie enjoyed a long married life together of 76 years.
Elmer distinguished himself as a farmer, as well as the director and
chairman of the Federal Land Bank in Rolla. He was the oldest Democratic
Party County Central Committeeman in the Show-Me State. Elmer served as a
member of the Oak Hill School Board, the Bourbon School Board, the County
Welfare Board, the MFA Board, the Bourbon Special Road Distinct, and the
County Extension Board. He also served as a Presiding Judge and County
Commissioner for four years. In addition, he was a member of the Sullivan
I.O.O.F. Lodge #156. As an active participant in so many organizations,
Elmer earned community recognition as a dedicated public servant for the
conscientious, proficient, and professional manner in which he served
others.
He is survived by four children, Bernadine Rosier of Sherwood, Oregon,
Shirley R. Williams and husband, Clifford R., of Williamsburg, Virginia,
Sheila F. Wood and husband, William. G., of Rolla, Mo., and Roger E. Tyree
of Leasburg, Mo.; thirteen grandchildren, Claudia Howell of Salem, Oregon,
Joan Reynolds and Deborah Laboyen, both of Sherwood, Oregon, Melanie
Williams of Lake Oswego, Oregon, Gregory Wood and Christopher Williams,
both of Chicago, Illinois, Lesley Hill of Millersville, Maryland, Diane
Stirn of Brookfield, Wisconsin, Celia Williams of New York, New York, Lisa
Wood of Madison, Wisconsin, Teresa Cusick of St. Clair, Mo., Linda Wood of
Redmond, Washington, and Roger Wayne Tyree of Sullivan, Mo.; thirteen
great-grandchildren, Coral McDonald of California, Stephanie Reynolds,
Jamie Laboyen, and Devon Swank of Oregon, Braden Hill of Maryland,
Samantha, Joseph, and Stephanie Stirn and Allison Packard, all of
Wisconsin, Brandon, Rachael, and Joshua Cusick and Michael Wayne Tyree, all
of Missouri; one great-great-grandchild, Tiaja Chardonnay McCay of
Milwaukee, Wisconsin; two sisters-in-law, Fern Murphy Oster of South
Carolina and Mrs. Ted (Emma) Murphy of Illinois; nieces, nephews, other
relatives, and friends. In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Tyree was
preceded in death by three brothers, William Franklin, Walter Scott, and
James Vernon Tyree, four sisters, Mary "Edith" Higgins, Carrie May Jenkins,
Opal Clementine Kluesner, and Roberta Mable Murphy, and one granddaughter,
Charlotte Sue Williams.
Funeral services in celebration of Elmer's long and productive life were
conducted at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 8, 2001 from the Chapel of the
Hassebroek Funeral Home in Sullivan with Pastor Connie Gallagher
officiating. Interment was in Crow Cemetery, (rural) Sullivan, Mo.
Pallbearers were Gregory A. Wood, Roger Wayne Tyree, Christopher P.
Williams, Albert Bishop, William G. Wood, and Clifford R. Williams.
Honorary pallbearers were Norris Jenkins, Wilbur Ray Jenkins, Melvin
Jenkins, Vernon Higgins, Leland Higgins, C. Dale Murphy, Neil C. Murphy,
Donald R. Chapman, Howard Smith, James (PG) Smith, James Manion, Robert
Culver, Eugene Johnson, Eugene Souders, and Gene Spurgeon. Elmer's favorite
songs were sung by James K. Tice and accompanied by David Hartwick. If
desired, contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of
Bourbon or to Sullivan Hospice in memory of Elmer Edmund Tyree. All
arrangements were under the care of the Eaton Funeral Chapel of Bourbon.

Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the 
Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site.
<http://www.steelvillestar.com/>


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