Mirror, Steelville Star-Crawford Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of October 23, 2013 Nancy Jane Branstetter Nancy Jane Branstetter of St. James, Missouri was born April 29, 1929 in Larned, Kansas to Gerald and Fay (Nelson) McConnaughhay and passed away Thursday October 17, 2013 at the Arbors Nursing Home in Cuba, Missouri at the age of 84 years, 5 months and 18 days. On June 6, 1957 in Ft. Worth, Texas  Nancy was united to Don Branstetter. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and Fay McConnaughhay; two sons, Michael Clark Branstetter on May 26, 2011 and Larry Branstetter in 1983; brothers, John and Robert McConnaughhay. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Don Branstetter of St. James, Missouri; brother, Dave McConnaughhay of Kechi, Kansas; sisters, Donnie DeAngelo of Topeka, Kansas and Leona Figgs of Sabetha, Kansas; other relatives and friends. Visitation was from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, October 20, 2013, at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri. Services were conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 21, 2013 at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri. Burial was in the Branstetter Cemetery.   Arrangements under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri. Paul Daniel Deatherage Paul Daniel Deatherage of St. James, Missouri, formerly of Eureka, Missouri, was born on July 30, 1930 in St. Louis, Missouri to Nep and Maude (Ramsey) Deatherage and passed away at the Missouri Veteran’s Home in St. James, Mo. on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at the age of 83 years, 2 months and 2 days. Paul was a St. Louis City fire fighter for 32 years.  He served his country in the United States Navy.  While in the service he received the Good Conduct Medal (First Award; Korean Service Medal; United Nations Service Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal (European Clasp) and the National Defense Service Medal.  He was a loving husband, and father. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nep and Maude Deatherage and his wife, Merita (Nassie) Deatherage. He is survived by his son, Patrick Deatherage and wife Lisa of Eureka, Missouri; grandchildren, Matthew and Nicholas; other relatives and friends. Burial with full military honors was in the Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri on Tuesday, October 15, 2013, at 10 a.m. Arrangements under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri. John R. Jones John E. Jones was born on Tuesday, January 8, 1957 in Rolla, Missouri to Arthur “Chick” and Vera Margaret Evers Jones and passed away on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at the University of Columbia Medical Center at the age of 56 years. He lived in Fulton Missouri with his wife Martha on the farm surrounded by his beloved horses. They had raised them together and he was very proud of the many awards Martha won with them. He was only 56 years old, but certainly lived his life on his terms and more fully than any other person. John graduated from Linn Technical College in Automotive Science as a certified electrician and high pressure water technician. He married Martha Brown at First Baptist Church, Cuba, Missouri on February 14, 1989. His previous work experience was a mechanic at IL-MO Bobcat; grounds keeper and tending to horses at the Old Hawthorne in Columbia, Missouri; an electrician/supervisor for the Department of Corrections in Fulton and Jefferson City, Missouri, where he retired. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, raising gardens and beautiful flowers. He was quite the conservationist; there was nothing he couldn’t identify in the forest, edible or otherwise. John was a perfectionist and could master nearly everything with very little practice after being shown once. He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur “Chick” Jones; niece, Margaret Elizabeth and mother-in-law, Jamesette Brown. He is survived by his wife, Martha Jones of Fulton, Missouri; mother, Vera Jones; sister, Cheryl (Bruce) Donal, all of Cherryville, Missouri; brother, Richard (Paula) Jones of Benton, Louisiana; special friend, Jeni Giboney of Fulton, Missouri; nieces and nephews Doug (Launa) Donal of Cherryville, Missouri, Richard (Christina) Jones, John Paul Jones, Christie Jones, Sarah Jones and Emily Jones, all of Benton, Louisiana; great nieces and nephews Trinity and Serenity Donal, Karmen and Issabella Jones; other relatives and friends. Memorial service is at noon on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at Cherryville Baptist Church, Cherryville, Missouri with Rev. Delmar Hutson officiating. Arrangements under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Earl Schmelz Sr. Earl Schmelz Sr. of Villa Ridge, Missouri was born April 17, 1921 and passed away Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at the age of 92 years. He is survived by two sons, Earl Schmelz Jr. and his wife Donna of Cuba, Missouri and Bill Schmelz and wife Tina of Washington, Missouri; six grandchildren, Tracy Schmelz, Tommy and Ashely Schmelz, Travis Schmelz, Adam and Kim Schmelz, Ben and Alexis Schmelz, and Katie Schmelz; seven great grandchildren, Jessica, Aaron, Chase, Chasidy, Addison, Audrey and Hunter; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held Wednesday, October 16, 2013 from 4-8 p.m. at the Oltmann Funeral Home in Union, Missouri. Funeral service was held Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 10 a.m. at the Oltmann Funeral Home in Union, Missouri. Burial was in the Midlawn Cemetery in Union, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Oltmann Funeral Home in Union, Missouri. Dale William Springer Dale William Springer of St. James, Missouri was born on April 11, 1948 in St. Louis, Missouri to Roy and Francis (Hartung) Springer and passed away at his home on October 9, 2013.  Dale Springer was 65 years, 5 months and 28 days of age. Dale proudly served his country in the United States Navy.  Dale was a draftsman. He is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Francis Springer. He is survived by one brother, Dennis Springer of Monroe, Utah; nieces, Rachel and Jennifer; other relatives and friends. Visitation was from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri. Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri with Reverend Amy Turner officiating. Music was provided by vocalist Connie Pirtle and organist Charlet Hemme. Pallbearers were family and friends.   Burial with full military honors at the St. James Cemetery in St. James, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri. Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site. ************************************************ 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