Mirror, Steelville Star-Crawford Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of November 10, 2015 John C. Ames Sr. John C. Ames Sr. of Cuba, Missouri was born on Friday, January 1, 1965 in St. Louis, Missouri to Richard and Judith (Olmstead) Ames and passed away on Monday, November 2, 2015 at the age of 50 years. John was united in marriage to Katherine "Kathy" Murphy on October 19, 1995 and to this union two children were born. John was a truck driver for Krupp Trucking Company in St. Louis, Missouri for several years and was a carpenter. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. His other passions were being a sports fan of NASCAR, St. Louis Cardinals, Blues and Rams. He enjoyed tinkering with Jeeps. He was preceded in death by his mother, Judith (Olmstead) Ames; father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Jacqueline Murphy; and one brother-in-law, Kenny Murphy. He is survived by his wife, Kathy Ames of Cuba, Missouri; three children, Christopher Meyer of Perryville, Missouri, John C. Ames, Jr. and Shannon Ames of Cuba, Missouri; three grandchildren, Colton, Ava and Adelaide; father, Richard Ames of House Springs, Missouri; one sister, Laura and husband Keith Novara of Union, Missouri; one brother, Myke and wife Christy Ames of St. Louis, Missouri; two brothers-in-law, Pat Murphy, Danny and wife Nina Murphy, all of Eureka, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 from 5-8 p.m. at Mizell Funeral Home in Cuba, Missouri. Funeral service was held on Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Mizell Funeral Home with Father Rich Boever officiating. Interment followed at the Hamilton Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Mizell Funeral Home in Cuba, Missouri. David James Apperson David James Apperson of Granite City, Illinois was born December 15, 1963 in Granite City, Illinois to John William and Virginia E. (nee Rector) Apperson and passed away Thursday, October 29, 2015 at the age of 51 years. David was a graduate of Granite City High School South and San Francisco Culinary School. He lived in San Francisco, California Saudi Arabia, and New Orleans. David was a world traveler, great thinker, avid disc golf player and loved cooking. He worked as a chef at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and was also a life member of the Society American Magicians. He is survived by his parents, John William and Virginia E. Apperson of Granite City, Illinois; brother, Gary Todd (Andrea) Apperson of Maryville, Illinois; two nieces, Gabrielle and Eliza; aunts and uncles; Elinor (nee Rector) Snelson, Glenda (nee Rector), Gary Warnhoff, Bud and Judy Apperson; other relatives and friends. Cremation service entrusted to Wojstrom Funeral Home & Crematory in Granite City, Illinois. The family had a party for David's life starting with a "Stage Show" and "The Life & Times of David" on Sunday, November 1, 2015 at the Granite City Masonic Lodge, Granite City, Illinois. Arrangements under the direction of the Wojstrom Funeral Home & Crematory in Granite City, Illinois. Etta "Verniece" Lea Etta "Verniece" Lea (nee Turnbough) of Steelville, Missouri was born November 19, 1929 at Huzzah, Missouri to Wayne and Luettie Scott Turnbough and passed away Saturday, November 7, 2015 at the age of 85 years, 11 months and 19 days. On April 7, 1951 in Salem, Arkansas Verniece was united in marriage to Charles "Hack" Lea. Verniece taught in the public school system and retired from the Steelville Schools in 1988 after 36 years of service. She was a long-time member of the Steelville First Baptist Church and was a dedicated chairperson of the church library for over 37 years and taught Sunday school and church training. Verniece was a past member of the Crawford County Literary Council, past President of the Golden Echoes Board, past member of Gibbs Care, Community Betterment Program and an advocate in building the Steelville Library. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wayne and Luettie Turnbough; her husband, Hack Lea in 2014; two brothers, Clarence Turnbough and wife Opal and Glen Turnbough and wife Juanita; two sisters, Fran Guess and husband Frank and Pauline "Polly" Walden and husband Walter; brothers-in-law, Bud Lea and wife Dottie, Charles Counts and Richard Majer; and sister-in-law, Matred Kehner and husband Leslie. She is survived by her son, Gary Lea of Azle, Texas; one daughter, Sandy Earney and husband Treff of Steelville, Missouri; one brother, Gilbert Turnbough and wife Louise of Cuba, Missouri; brothers-in-law, Pete Lea and wife Bonnie and Bill Lea and wife Dormalee, all of Steelville, Missouri; one sister-in-law, Shirley Mager of Steelville, Missouri; three grandchildren, Eric Earney and wife Melanie, Lana Mabe and husband Matt and Wayne Earney; four great grandchildren; Rylee and Landon Mabe and Hailey and Cammie Earney; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 5-8 p.m. on Sunday, November 8, 2015 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 9, 2015 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri with Rev. Kevin Farr and Pastor Kermit Lonning, Jr. officiating. Special music of "Till the Storm Passes By" and "Even in the Valley" was sung by Vernon Bradley and Laura Whisler. Committal prayer and interment were in the Steelville Cemetery. Casket bearers were Matt Mabe, Treff Earney, Eric Earney, Wayne Earney, Bill Lea and Rusty Lea. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. George Casper Meek Jr. George Casper Meek Jr. of Rolla, Missouri was born on Thursday, August 16, 1959 in St. Louis, Missouri to George Casper Sr. and Margaret Rose Earnest Meek and passed away on Sunday, November 1, 2015 at the age of 56 years, 2 months and 16 days. George worked most of his adult life as a bricklayer in residential construction. He was a member of Missouri Brick Layers Union Local #1 and retired in 2010. Several years he was employed at Lee Masonry. His hobbies were fishing and putting large models together. He was creative in building things. He was a hard worker and liked his job. He was a thoughtful man always willing to help others. He was preceded in death by his grandparents; and parents, George Sr. and Margaret Meek. He is survived by his sisters, Pamela Hank of Cuba, Missouri, Christina (Chris) Enloe of Steelville, Missouri, Cynthia (Jim) Joyce of Grand Junction, Colorado; brother, Christopher Meek of Escondido, California; other relatives and friends. A memorial service is Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 1 p.m. at the Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri with Father Rich Boever officiating. Arrangements under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri. Gladys Turnbough Gladys Turnbough was born in Dent County, Missouri on October 16, 1930 to Arthur and Bertha (Richards) Thompson and passed away on October 29, 2015 at the age of 85 years. Her parents moved the family to St Louis, Missouri when Gladys was about 12 for Arthur to work. At about age 16-17 Gladys and the family moved back to Barnes Lake near Salem, Missouri. On February 28, 1948 she married Elmer Turnbough. They began their married life in St Louis, Missouri. The family joined the Berkeley Free Will Baptist Church. Elmer and Gladys attended a revival at Southside Free Will Baptist Church where Gladys' brother Lawrence would preach his second sermon that night. They did go and Elmer went forward and was saved. They returned on Tuesday evening and Ben Scott was the preacher for the evening. Gladys went forward and was saved that night. March of 1952, Lawrence and Elmer started the Salem Free Will Baptist Church. Elmer answered God's call to preach and presented his first sermon in February, 1953 at Salem, Missouri. In 1954 Elmer and Gladys moved to South Roxana, Illinois. While continuing to work at Purex they commuted to the Salem and Viburnum area almost every weekend for Elmer to preach in local churches. In 1961 they moved to Desloge, Missouri to pastor. In 1963 they were called to pastor the Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church in Sesser, Illinois. They became church planters in 1966, working in Springfield and Moline, Illinois. They pastored churches in many states and eventually came back to Missouri. In these years they were active in youth camp ministry in all these states. Most often Elmer would direct the camp and Gladys was "the chief cook and bottle-washer". Elmer and Gladys enjoyed seeing much of God's great world. They toured Spain and Europe, Japan and the Holy Land. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Paul, Lawrence, Roy, and Junior; and sister, Pauline Stephens. She is survived by her husband, Elmer; sisters, Maxine Blacklock of California and Melva Terril of Salem, Missouri; brother, Larry Thompson of St Louis, Missouri; sons, Jim and wife Julie Turnbough of Graham, North Carolina and Jeff and wife Susan Turnbough of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; daughter, Judy and husband Ken Bailey of Tokyo, Japan; seven grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2015 at the Rolla Chapel of the James & Gahr Mortuary, Rolla, Missouri. Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site. http://www.threeriverspublishing.com/ ************************************************ 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