Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of October 8, 2003 Geneva E. Ayers Geneva (Homfeldt) Ayers, of Rolla, formerly of Cuba, was born November 28, 1916 to George H. and Effie Mahalia (Jenkins) Homfeldt in the Oak Hill, Missouri area.She passed away at the Heritage Park Skilled Care Center on September 30, 2003 at the age of 86. Preceding her in death was her husband of 65 years, William L. Ayers, her father and mother, stepfather, Jacob Ackerman, sisters, Olna Northcutt and Marie Brandenburger, brother Wayne, two stepbrothers, George and Bill Ackerman, two brothers- in-law, Shields and Armin Ayers, and sister-in-law, Pauline Ayers. She is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Connie and Donald Davidson, of Edgar Springs, Willene and Kenneth Allison, of Rolla, and Judi and Bill Edgar, of Edgar Springs; two sisters-in-law, Mabel Homfeldt, of Owensville, and Verna Ayers, of Hope, Arkansas. Eight grandchildren and spouses, Tami and Marty Allison, Kelly and Cathy Davidson, Jami and Curty Jeff Naugle, Lisa and David Pitts, Scott and Robin Ayers, and Carrie Edgar. Fifteen great grandchildren, Chad Martin, Kaitlin Reppond, Jeremy Davidson, Audrey Allison, Cody Allison, Kylee Naugle, Hailey Reppond, Meredith Allison, Jody Davidson, Chance Reppond, Nolan Allison, Zettye Brown, Logan Pitts, Carter Pitts, and William Ayers. Special friends, Minnie Heflin; numerous nieces and nephews, other extended family and friends. Geneva was an avid gardener who grew a large tomato patch each year into her eighties. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends. Funeral services for Mrs. Ayers were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 4, 2003 at the Null & Son Funeral Home. Interment followed the service in the Ozark Memorial Gardens Cemetery. A visitation for family and friends was held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, October 3, 2003 at the funeral home. All arrangments were under the direction of the Null & Son Funeral Home in Rolla. Hazel Grace Beezley Hazel Grace Beezley nee Gulley was born Friday, February 12, 1916, at DuQuoin, Illinois, a daughter of the late Daniel Gulley and Della (Florence) Gulley. She entered eternal life Saturday, September 27, 2003, at the Ozark Care Center, Ozark Beach, Missouri, at the age of 87 years, 7 months and 15 days. On December 31, 1937, at St. Charles, Missouri, Hazel was united in marriage to Charles A. Beezley. One son, David, was born to this union. They enjoyed over 63 years together before his death June 7, 2001. In addition to her parents and Charles, Hazel was preceded in death by her sister Leela Lollie. Among those who remain to mourn her passing are her son David Beezley of Sunrise Beach, Missouri; three grandchildren, Kathleen Cento of O'Fallon, Missouri, William Charles Beezley and wife Teri of Osage Beach, Missouri, and Cindy Plamondon of Lake Sherwood, Missouri; seven great- grandchildren, Jeffrey, Jamie, Travis, Joey, Ray, Michael, and Michael; nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. Hazel Grace Beezley lay in state after 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 30, 2003. Graveside services were held 1 p.m. Tuesday in the St. James Cemetery with Rev. Windell Starns officiating. Committal prayers and internment were in St. James Cemetery, St. James, Missouri. Serving as pallbearers were William C. Beezley, Jeffrey David Schaper, Robert Dean Whiteman, and John Witte. Arrangements were under the direction of Britton Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Virgil Eugene Chapman Virgil Eugene Chapman of Cuba, Missouri was born on February 4, 1915 at Cuba, Missouri to the union of Walter Chapman and Bertha Nelson Chapman and passed away on September 21, 2003 at Cuba, Missouri at the age of 88 years 7 months and 17 days. On April 12, 1947 Virgil was united in marriage to Roberta Crow at Bourbon, Missouri. Two sons, Gary and John, and one daughter, Maureen, were born to this union. They were happily married for 56 years. On December 10, 1941 Virgil was inducted into the Army of the United States of America and was honorably discharged on December 14, 1945. Virgil was preceded death by his parents and one sister Catherine V. Chapman and two brothers, Norbert and Don Chapman. He was the owner/operator of the drycleaners in Cuba, Missouri for many years until his retirement. He was a member of Holy Cross Church of Cuba, Missouri and the Cuba American Legion Post 522. Those who survive to mourn his passing from this life are his devoted wife Roberta Chapman; two sons, Gary Chapman and wife Beverly and John Chapman and wife Nancy; one daughter, Maureen Godbey and friend Jim Godbey. Nine grandchildren; four great grandchildren, other relatives and many friends. Virgil Eugene Chapman was in state at the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri where funeral services were held on Friday, September 26, 2003 at 10 a.m. with Father James Finder officiating. Interment was in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Sullivan, Missouri. All arrangements were under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Minnie Scott Crisan Minnie Scott Crisan, Louisiana, Missouri, was born June 23, 1938 at Berryman, Missouri to Freeman and Elsie Mason Scott. She passed away Sunday, September 21, 2003 at the age of 65 years, two months and two days. Mrs. Crisan was employed by American Airlines/Ozark and TWA for 24 years as a supervisor of publications. She was preceded in death by her parents Freeman and Elsie Scott of Steelville. She leaves to mourn her husband John R. Crisan of Louisiana, Missouri. Daughters Lynne and husband Dwayne Meyer of St. Charles, Dana and husband Michael Klinghammer of St. Charles. Step-daughter Cynthia Ann and husband Ralph Fredd, of Hannibal, Missouri, step-son John Bradley Crisan and wife Lori, of St. Charles, Missouri, a sister Nina Fitzgerald of Middlebrook, Missouri and brothers Freeman Scott Jr., of Nachogdoches, Texas and Donald Scott of St. Louis, Missouri. She had five grandchildren. Cremation preceded the service held Thursday, September 25, 2003 at 6 p.m. at Baue Funeral and Memorial Center in St. Charles. Clarence S. Schomisch Clarence Schomisch of Bourbon, Missouri was born on Friday, September 1, 1933 in Fond Dulac, Wisconsin to the union of Albert and Ethel Schomisch. He passed away at Meramec Nursing Center, Sullivan, Missouri on Thursday, October 2, 2003 at the age of 70 years, 1 month and 1 day. Clarence served his country honorably in the United States Navy after he graduated from high school. He later married Carol Sanderfoot on September 3, 1960 in Waukeegan, Illinois and to this union four children were born. He spent most of his career owning and operating the Valley TV repair shop. His hobbies were fishing, boating, water skiing, woodworking, camping, hunting, bowling and spending time with family. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Martin Schomisch, and brother Albert Schomisch. Those who remain to mourn his passing are his wife Carol of the home; son Stephen Schomisch of Oklahoma, daughters Michelle Pettis and husband Johnny of Ft. Worth, Texas, Wanda Green and husband Ed of Pawanee, Oklahoma, and Stephanie Schomisch of California. Five grandchildren; one brother-in-law Kenneth Sanderfoot and wife Patti of Sylva, North Carolina; two brothers Cecil Schomisch of California, Charles Schomisch and wife Betty of Arizona; two sisters June Horyna and husband Bob of Kansas, and Lucille Calvert of Ohio; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. Memorial services were Monday, October 6, 2003 at Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Mo. with Rev. Delmar Hutson officiating. Interment was at Meramec Regional Crematory, Sullivan, Mo. All arrangements wee under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Mo. Phyllis Jean Wiest Phyllis Jean Wiest nee Cowling was born Saturday, June 14, 1958, at St. Louis, Missouri, a daughter of Betty Jean (Hogan) and Robert Cowling. She was killed by a train near Bonnots Mill, Missouri, Saturday, September 27, 2003, at the age of 45 years, 3 months and 13 days. On December 26, 1982, at Washington, D.C. in the L.D.S. Temple, Phyllis was united in marriage to Walter R. "Bud" Wiest. Three sons and three her in death, September 2, 2003, at the age of 6 years. Among those who remain to mourn her passing are her devoted husband, Walter R. "Bud" Wiest of Bonnots Mill, Missouri; three sons, Colin D. Wiest on a mission trip in Portugal, Walter M. Wiest, Jason E. Wiest; two daughters, Shaina E. Wiest and Katherine Wiest all of the home in Bonnots Mill, Missouri; her mother, Betty Cowling of Troy, Missouri, her father and step-mother, Robert and Gayla Cowling of Davisville, Missouri; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Dr. Walter and Myrlene Wiest of St. George, Utah. Four brothers and two sisters, Anya Allred and husband Bryan of Orem, Utah, Bobbi Benesh and husband Pete of Boise, Idaho, Forrest Cowling and wife Beth of New Hope, Missouri, Christopher Cowling and wife Andrea of Cauldwell, Idaho, Milton Cowling and wife Karen of St. Charles, Missouri, Daniel Cowling and wife Kristina of Steelville, Missouri. Step-brother and step-sisters, Casey and Timothy Nothum of Washington, Missouri, Chanda and Todd Hakanson of Las Vegas, Nevada. Benjamin Campbell of Columbia, Missouri and Cinnamon and Robert Cornick of Steelville, Missouri; aunts, uncles, nieces, cousins, other relatives and many friends. Phyllis Jean Wiest lay in state 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, October 1, 2003, at the Britton Brothers Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Funeral services were held 1 p.m. Thursday, October 2, 2003, in the Britton Chapel. Opening prayer was given by David Wiest, speakers were Pam Mason, Walter Gibson Wiest and Durk Merrell. Closing prayer given by Chris Cowling. Musical selections were provided by vocalist Paula and Marie Schulte and pianist Joan Merrell. Committal prayers and internment were in Sellers Cemetery. Brian Anderson gave the prayer of dedication at the graveside. Pallbearers were Brian Anderson, Christopher Cowling, Forrest Cowling, Milton Cowling, Bart Wiest, Colin Wiest and David Wiest. Arrangements were under the direction of Britton Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. --------- Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Winnie Brooks ====================================================================