Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO
Local Obituaries for the Week of October 7, 2004
Pocahontas Thompson Barnett
Pocahontas "Pokie" Barnett 93, died on September 29, 2004 at
Lenoir Health Care Center, Columbia Missouri. Mrs. Barnett was born July
3, 1911 in St. Francois, Mo., the daughter of Stella Anthony and J. Frank
Thompson. She met William James Barnett, whom she affectionately called
Mr. Jim, and they were married at the family's home on Kuhlman Court in
Columbia on June 11, 1937. He preceded her in death in April of this year.
She is survived by one son, William James Barnett Jr. (Jill),
Cuba, Missouri and two grandsons, William James Barnett Ill, Chicago, IL,
and Andrew Price Barnett, St. Louis, Missouri.
Pokie had an older sister, Frances Anthony "Bock" Garrett who
lived in Fredericktown until her death in 1980 and a younger brother, J.
Frank "Bud" Thompson Jr. of Kansas City who died in 2000. She attended
grade school in Flat River, Missouri. After her father's death when Pokie
was in Jr. High, her mother moved the family to Columbia. There she
developed a love for art, attending Jefferson Jr. High School and
graduating from Hickman High School in 1929.
She attended the University of Missouri, and was a member of
Pi Beta Phi sorority. Pokie often chuckled when telling the story of being
in a dressing room and overhearing a conversation that the Pi Phi's had
pledged a rich Indian girl from Oklahoma-all of which was untrue! All of
her life her name has been a source of curiosity, perhaps shaping her
strong-willed personality. She recalled that students at the. University
sat in alphabetical order. She became accustomed to everyone turning
around to see Pocahontas Thompson. Pokie was the third in her family to be
blessed with the name Pocahontas.
After graduating in 1933, she attended the Art Institute in
Chicago. She also taught art at Jefferson Jr. High and Stephens College in
Columbia.
In 1952 Pokie and Mr. Jim bought 15 acres "out in the country"
where they raised sheep, cattle, chickens, and had 21 cats at one time!
In 1959 Mr. Jim began going to Cuba, Missouri three days a
week to manage Peoples Bank. Pokie served as a member of the Peoples Bank
Board of Directors until 1972. Coin collecting and fishing were favorite
past times during her many trips to Cuba.
Over the years they enjoyed traveling, especially many trips
to Sarasota, Florida. She was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed
painting, wallpapering, and refinishing furniture. She loved art,
antiques, playing the organ, the company of many dogs, and entertaining
and being with her many friends. A graveside service will be held at
Kinder Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri on Wednesday, October 6 at 11 a.m.
Memorial donations may be given to the Crawford Co. R-II
Scholarship Fund or Viva Cuba. Inc., PO Box H, Cuba, MO 65453.
Fern Marie Bartruff
Fern Marie Bartruff nee Schaeperkoetter of Columbia, Missouri,
formerly of Cuba, Missouri, was born on October 24, 1923 at Rosebud,
Missouri to the union of Christ H. Shaeperkoetter and Louise Sophie
Brinkmann Shaeperkoetter and passed away on Septmeber 25, 2004 at
Columbia, Missouri at the age of 80 years 11 months and 1 day.
On August 16, 1958 Fern was united in marriage to Marion
Albert Bartruff. They were happily married until he preceded her in death
on January 1, 1988.
Fern was also preceded in death by her parents, one brother,
Alvin Schaeperkoetter and one sister Violet Baldwin.
She was a member of the Cuba United Methodist Church and was
the organist for the Bland United Methodist Church for many years.
Fern and her husband traveled extensively and had been to
every state in the United States and to Europe. She was devoted to her
family and friends.
Those who survive to mourn her passing from this life are her
stepdaughter Sandra Vandergriff; nephew Carl Schaeperkoetter and wife Ann;
niece Irene Alexander and husband James; three step grandchildren James
Graf, Michelle Graf and Michael Graf; four great nephews; one great niece;
other relatives and many friends.
Fern was a devoted wife, loving stepmother, aunt, grandmother,
great aunt, good friend to all who knew her and will be sadly missed.
Fern Marie Bartruff nee Schaeperkoetter was in state at the
Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri where funeral services were held on
Tuesday, September 28, 2004 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Paul Latham officiating.
Interment was in the St. James Cemetery, St. James, Missouri.
All arrangements under the direction of the Britton Funeral
Home of Cuba, Missouri.
Helen Doris Edwards
Helen Doris Edwards was born Sunday, September 18, 1927, at
Desolge, Missouri, a daughter of the late William Matthew Edwards and
Helen M. Edwards (Nee Byer).
She entered eternal life Sunday, September 26, 2004, at the
Gibbs Care Center, Steelville, Missouri, at the age of 77 years and 8
days.
Helen was preceded in death by one sister Sharon Joyce Keith
and one sister-in-Law, Beth Edwards.
Among those who remain to mourn her passing is her brother,
William Carlton Edwards of St. Louis, Missouri; three nephews, John,
Michael and Jim Edwards and one niece JoAnn Walton; cousins, other
relatives and friends.
Helen Doris Edwards lay in state 4-8 p.m. Monday, September
27, 2004, at the Britton Bros. Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri.
Funeral services were held 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 28,
2004, in the Britton Chapel with Rev. Jerry Beers officiating. Musical
selections were also provided by Rev. Beers.
Committal prayers and interment were in St. Francois Memorial
Park, Bonne Terre, Missouri. Serving as pallbearers were Don Ballard, Bob
Earney, Lloyd Earney, John Edwards and Jeffery Harrington.
Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Britton Funeral
Home, Steelville, Missouri.
Earl Albert Rich
Earl Albert Rich of Cuba, Missouri was born on August 5, 1925
at Parson, Kansas to the union of Dewey Rich and Bessie Allen Rich and
passed away on September 28, 2004 at the Phelps Count Regional Medical
Center of Rolla, Missouri at the age of 79 years, 1 month and 23 days.
On August 29, 1959 Earl was united in marriage to Mary Fry at
Hutchison, Kansas. One daughter, Sarah, was born to this union. They have
been happily married for 45 years.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents and by two brothers,
Glenn and Paul Rich.
On December 7, 1943 Earl entered active service in the Navy of
the United States of America. He was awarded the Victory Medal, American
Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the Philippine
Liberation Campaign Ribbon. He was honorably discharged on May 1, 1946.
He graduated from the Kansas State University of Pittsburg,
Kansas with an industrial arts degree. He taught industrial arts in the
Steelville R-1 School.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Cuba VFW Post No.
7147.
Those who survive to mourn his passing from this life are his
loving wife, Mary Rich; daughter Sarah Lee and husband Ronald; one
stepson, Thomas Polcyn; two step-daughters, Jane Luttrell and husband Rick
and Joanne Baltis and husband Bo; one sister Dorothy Bohrer; two
grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Earl was a devoted husband, loving father, step-father,
brother, grandfather, good friend to all who knew him and will be sadly
missed.
Earl Albert Rich was in state at the Briton Funeral Home of
Cuba, Missouri where funeral services were held on Friday, October 1, 2004
at 11 a.m. with Father Brendan Lawless officiating. Interment was in the
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with military honors.
All arrangements were under the direction of the Britton
Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri.
Norma Elsie Myreen Richards
Norma Elsie Myreen Richards nee Gray of Steelville, Missouri
was born on Saturday, April 30, 1921 in Steelville, Missouri to John O.
Gray and Ida E. Cassidy. She passed away on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 at
Missouri Baptist Hospital, Sullivan, Missouri at the age of 83 years, 4
months and 28 days.
Norma was married to Arthur Richards on July 17, 1945 in
Kansas City, Missouri and to this union seven children were born.
Norma was a loving mother, homemaker, enjoyed working in her
flowers, watching birds and most of all taking care of her children and
grandchildren. She was a member of the Crawford County Helping Hands and
served at one time on the Child Welfare Advisory Committee.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Arthur,
brothers Cordell Gray and wife Hazel, Charles Gray and wife Dollie, Curtis
Gray and wife Myrtle, June Gray and wife Melody, and sister Hazel Gibbs
and husband Pete.
Those who remain to mourn her passing are her children Roger
Richards and wife Sue of Conyers, Georgia, Gary Richards and wife Crystal
of Cuba, Mo., Larry Richards and wife Vonnie of Leasburg, Mo., Ricky
Richards and wife Darlene of Keithville, Louisiana, Johnny Richards and
wife Rachel, Sheila Collins and husband Kenneth, all of Steelville, Mo.,
and Sandra Richards of Union, Mo.; step-son Arthur Pointer of Des Moines,
Iowa; brother and sisters-in-law Vester Crum of Lake Charles, Louisiana,
Geraldine Gray of Harrison, Arkansas, and Shirley Richards of St. Ann,
Mo.; 23 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins,
and many friends.
Visitation was Thursday, September 30, 2004 from 5-8 p.m. at
Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri.
Funeral services were Friday, October 1, 2004 at 1 p.m. at
Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Mo. with Bro. Jerry Beers officiating.
Burial at Freeman Cemetery, Cherryville, Mo. All arrangements
under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Mo.
Paul James Woods
Paul James Woods was born Monday, February 28, 1955 at St.
Louis, Missouri, a son of Bertha Ellen (Brooks) Woods and the late Buddy
Woods.
He departed this life Friday, September 24, 2004, at his home
in Bourbon, Missouri, at the age of 49 years, 6 months and 26 days.
In addition to his father, one brother, Buddy S. Woods and one
sister, Susan Woods, preceded him in death.
Paul served his country in the United States Marine Corps,
receiving his honorable discharge on the 25th day of October, 1972.
Among those who remain to mourn his passing are his mother,
Bertha E. Woods of Leasburg, Missouri; two daughters, Jana Lyn Woods of
the home and Lea Susan Woods of St. Louis, Missouri; two brothers, Robert
L. Woods of St. Charles, Missouri and Robert L. Woods, Jr. of Leasburg,
Missouri; three sisters, Ruby Hendryx and Barbara Comfort both of Eureka,
California and Betty Woods of Defiance, Missouri; aunts, uncles, nieces,
nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Paul James Woods lay in state 5-9 p.m. Sunday, September 26,
2004, at the Britton Bros. Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri.
Funeral services were held 11 a.m. Monday, September 27, 2004,
in the Britton Chapel with Rev. Anthony "Tony" Amato officiating.
Committal prayers and interment were in Davisville Cemetery,
Davisville, Missouri. Serving as pallbearers were his brother, Robert
Woods, nephews, Joshua Woods and Thomas Woods, uncle Martin Manasco, and
friends John Comfort and Tony Sickenger.
Military honors were given at graveside by the presentation of
the American flag.
Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Britton Funeral
Home, Steelville, Missouri.
Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the
Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site.
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