Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of November 11, 2004 Hallie M. Gray Hallie M. Gray, daughter of the late Oscar Harper and Ida (Slowensky) Harper, was born on June 28, 1913 in Huzzah, Missouri and entered into rest on November 6, 2004 in Rolla, Missouri at the age of 91 years. Hallie was united in marriage to Edward Gray on September 20, 1943. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband Edward; brothers, Thomas, William, Harry, Herbert and Orville Harper and sister Myrte Campbell. Hallie was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by her surviving family. A brother Donald Harper and wife Dorothy of Steelville, Missouri; nephew Sam Wilson of Belle, Missouri and many other nieces and nephews. Visitation for family and friends was Monday, November 8, 2004 from 6-8 p.m. at the James & Gahr Chapel. Funeral services for Hallie M. Gray were Tuesday, November 9, 2004 at 10 a.m. at the James & Gahr Chapel with Robert Campbell officiating. Pallbearers were: Edward Harper, Allen Harper, Charles Harper, Thomas Campbell, Arthur Campbell and Albert Campbell. Interment was in the Steelville Cemetery in Steelville, Missouri. All arrangements were under the direction of James & Gahr Mortuary in St. James, Missouri. Melvin Arch Hoefle Melvin Arch Hoefle of Sullivan, Missouri (formerly of Cuba, Missouri) was born on November 6, 1941 in St. Louis, Missouri to the union of Arch Chester Hoefle and Ruby Shelton Hoefle and passed away suddenly on November 2, 2004 at the Missouri Baptist Hospital, Sullivan, Missouri at the age of 62 years, 11 months and 26 days. Melvin was preceded in death by his parents. On December 30, 1961 he was united in marriage to Doris Ellen Maynard. One son, Joseph, and two daughters, Judith and Jeanne, were born to this union. Those who survive to mourn his passing from this life are his loving children, Joseph Hoefle and wife Christina of Hermann, Mo., Judith Burke and Jeanne Hoefle, both of Cuba, Mo.; one brother Milton Hoefle and wife Chris of Pontiac, Mo.; dear friend Diane Taylor of Sullivan, Mo.; one grandson Kegan Burke; other relatives and many friends. Melvin was a loving father, grandfather, brother, good friend to all who knew him and will be sadly missed. Memorial services for Melvin Arch Hoefle was held on Friday, November 5, 2004 at 5 p.m. at the Trinity Chapel, Cuba, Mo. with Gary Mace officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Mo. Charles E. Isgriggs Charles E. Isgriggs of Cuba, Missouri was born on Wednesday, March 6, 1940 in Scotia, Missouri to Clarence S. Isgriggs and Mary Edith Adams Isgriggs. He passed away on Monday, November 1, 2004 at the Missouri Baptist Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 64 years, 7 months and 26 days. Charles served his country honorably in the United States Marine Corps. He married Nancy Carol Bess in Advance, Mo. on July 14, 1962 and to this union one son, Keith, was born. He was employed with Laclede Gas in St. Louis, Mo. for several years and moved to Cuba, Mo. after retirement. He was a member of Local Union 56 Oil Chemical and Atomic Workers, and also Centerpoint Baptist Church. Charles enjoyed fishing, doing yard work, gardening, and spending time with his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Clarence Isgriggs and Leroy Isgriggs; and one sister Leona Isgriggs. Those who remain to mourn his passing are his wife Nancy of the home; son Keith Isgriggs of St. Peters, Mo.; brother Henry Isgriggs and wife Alice of Steelville, Mo.; sisters Dorothy Isgriggs and husband Forrest Nagle and Irene Harris, all of Steelville, Mo.; brother-in-law Gary Bess and wife Sally of Advance, Mo.; sister-in-law Peggy Winchester and husband Jack of Maryland Heights, Mo.; nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Visitation was Wednesday, November 3, 2004 from 4-8 p.m. at Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Mo. Funeral services were Thursday, November 4, 2004 at 11 a.m. at Huston Funeral Home, Steelville, Mo. with Bro. Delmar Hutson officiating. Burial was at Liberty Cemetery, Steelville, Mo. with pallbearers Ron Wood, John Grady, Ron Sonnenberg, Pete Zimmermann, Charles Edelen, and Richard Ezell. All arrangements under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Mo. Esther Carrie Laramore Esther Carrie Laramore (nee Wilhite) was born Monday, April 2, 1906 at Courtois, Missouri, a daughter of the late Charles and Elizabeth (Coplin) Wilhite. She entered eternal rest at the Potosi Manor, Potosi, Missouri, Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at the age of 98 years, 7 months and 1 day. In April, 1924, Esther was united in marriage to Lon Laramore. One son Charles, and one daughter Helen, were born to this union. In addition to Lon and her parents, Esther was preceded in death by her daughter and son-in-law Helen and Homer Worley; one brother, Arlie Wilhite; four sisters, Ona and husband Clifford Evans, Dona and husband Hallie Young, Lura and husband Hadley Midget, and Dorothy Wilhite. Among those who remain to mourn her passing are her loving son Charles E. Laramore of Courtois, Missouri; one brother Olen Wilhite and wife Hazel of Sullivan, Missouri; two grandchildren, Linda and Phil Humphres of Hillsboro, Missouri and Sandy Worley of Murphysboro, Illinois; one great grandchild, Melissa Roney; three great great grandchildren, Dalton, Jacob and Makayla Roney; nieces; nephews; cousins; other relatives and friends. Esther was a member of the Lower Indian Creek Church, Courtois, Missouri and was their Sunday School Treasurer for many years. In all of her 98 years, Esther only missed attending the annual Memorial Day service on two occasions. Once when she was one year old and once at the age of 97. In between, she attended these services an amazing 95 consecutive years, and attended a total of 96 times. Esther Carrie Laramore lay in state 4-8 p.m. Friday, November 5, 2004 at the Britton Brothers Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Funeral services were held Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Britton Chapel with Rev. James Peterman officiating. Committal prayers and interment were in the Lower Indian Creek Cemetery, Courtois, Missouri. Serving as pallbearers were Paul Barr, Phil Humphres, Harold Laramore, Jerry Limbaugh, Larry Sherrill, and Charles Young. Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Britton Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. George Andrew McBenge George Andrew McBenge, age 79, a native of Steelville, Missouri and a resident of Eigth Mile, died on Friday, October 29, 2004 at a local hospital. He retired from the U.S. Navy and Scott Paper Company. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jessie Smith McBenge; daughter Susan Starling (Paul) Rone; son, Mike (Patti) McBenge. Five grandchildren, Michelle M. (Matt) Wilson, Amy Starling, Geoffrey McBenge, Lee Rone, Jay Rone; one brother, Lester (Mary) McBenge, other relatives and friends. Funeral services were from the graveside on Monday, November 1, 2004, 10 a.m. with full military honors. Visitation was from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment was in the Smithtown Cemetery. Arrangements were by Radney Funeral Home, Saraland, Alabama. Bertha Loraine Smith Bertha Loraine Smith nee Short of Cuba, Missouri was born on November 15, 1916 at House Mills, Missouri to the union of J. L. Short and Sarah Foster Short and passed away on October 31, 2004 at St. Anthony's Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 87 years, 11 months and 16 days. In 1937 Bertha was united in marriage to Charles W. Smith. They have been married for 67 years. Bertha was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Raymond Short and one sister, Darlene Short. She was a member of the Cuba United Methodist Church. Bertha and Charles were long time residents of Crawford County and spent many winter months in Texas. Those who survive to mourn her passing from this life are her husband, Charles W. Smith; four sisters, Maxine Sellers, Eula Martin, Louise McLeod and Sara Hargis and husband Cleve; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends. Bertha was a devoted wife, loving sister, aunt, good friend to all who knew her and will be sadly missed. Bertha Loraine Smith nee Short was in state at the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri where funeral services were held on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Paul Lathum officiating. Interment was in the Steelville Cemetery, Steelville, Missouri. Memorials to the Golden Echoes of Steelville, Mo. All arrangements were under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Mo. Eva Marie Smith Eva Marie Smith nee Breakfield was born Sunday, September 22, 1912, at Courtois, Missouri, a daughter of the late Samuel Loranzi Dial Breakfield and Lula Anna (Martin) Breakfield. She departed this life Sunday, October 31, 2004, at Delmar Gardens West, Chesterfield, Missouri, at the age of 92 years, 1 month and 9 days. On July 31, 1937, at Union, Missouri, Eva was united in marriage to Charles Willard Smith, son of the late James W. Smith and Mary (Ash) Smith. They enjoyed over 66 years together, before his death December 30, 2003. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sons, Roger Gail Smith and Charles Fredrick Smith, one brother, Ralph Breakfield and five sisters, Ollie Laramore and husband Ray, Lonnie Gillam and husband Floyd, Ida Gillam and husband Rua, Mabel Setzer and husband Ray, and Zelma Mills, brothers-in-law, Webb Beers and Charles Halbrook. Among those who remain to mourn her passing are her devoted daughter, Mary Shaw and husband Jerry of St. Peters, Missouri; three sons, Noel Smith of Cuba, Missouri, Warren Smith and wife Jo of Canon City, Colorado, Wayne Smith and wife Lori of Grover, Wyoming. Also remaining are three sisters, Anna Beers and Cleo Halbrook, both of DeSoto, Missouri and Sylvia Halbrook and husband James of Fredericktown, Missouri; eight grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Eva Marie Smith lay in state 5-8 p.m. Thursday, November 4, 2004, at the Britton Brothers Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Friday, November 5, 2004, in the Britton Chapel with Rev. Bob Coleman officiating. Musical selections were provided by Darla Vance. Committal prayers and interment were in Shoal Creek Cemetery, rural Steelville, Missouri. Serving as pallbearers were Roger Halbrook, Jeff Shaw, Jerry Shaw, Bill Smith, David Smith and Jason Smith. 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. ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Winnie Brooks ====================================================================