Mirror, Steelville Star-Crawford Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of December 4, 2014 Orville Louis Blanton, Jr. Orville Louis Blanton, Jr., of Sullivan, Missouri was born April 23, 1933 to Orville Louis Sr. and Irene Matilda (Terry) Blanton and passed away Sunday, November 16, 2014 at the age of 81 years, 6 months and 5 days. On December 1, 1956 he was united in marriage to Sue Ann Wiese at the First Assembly of God in Sullivan and to this marriage two children were born. He honorably served his country with the U.S. Army during the Korean War and attained the rank of Corporal. Orville was a life-long resident of the Sullivan area and was self-employed for a time as an auto body repairman. He later worked for Modern Garage in Sullivan, Missouri until his retirement in 1984. He was a member of the American Legion of Sullivan and the First Assembly of God. The one thing known about Orville is that he would say to everyone - "Be sure to pray!" His Godly legacy lives on and we shall all meet again in Glory on the Glad Reunion Day. He is survived by his wife, Sue; one son, Douglas Louis Blanton and wife Pat of Sullivan, Missouri; one daughter, Deborah Sue Betke and husband Steve of Sullivan, Missouri; one sister, Chickie Pinnell of Leasburg, Missouri; three grandchildren, Johnathan Williams and wife Hannah of the state of Hawaii, Hannah Betke of Sullivan, Missouri and Abi Pipkin and husband John of Lake St. Louis, Missouri; brother-in-law, Dennis Wiese of Sullivan, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Per Orville's request, private interment was in National Cemetery, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri. Richard Lee "Ric" Courtois Richard Lee "Ric" Courtois of St. James, Missouri was born on November 5, 1947 to Bernard and Helen Boyer Courtois in Cadet, Missouri and passed away on Friday, November 28, 2014 at the age of 67 years. He was united in marriage to Carolyn Lee Cates on June 7, 1969 at St. Clair, Missouri and to this union three sons were born. He is preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Helen Courtois. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Carolyn of the home; three sons, Richard Matthew Courtois and wife Miriam of Union, Missouri, Mark Patrick Courtois and wife Kathy of St. James, Missouri and Christopher Michael Courtois and wife Richelle of St. James, Missouri; two sisters, Billie Courtois of Potosi, Missouri and Kathy Thompson and husband Darrell of Potosi, Missouri; five grandchildren; other relatives and friends. He worked as a route salesmen, and he retired from a supervisory position within the company. He and his wife loved to attend their grandchildren's sporting events as well as other community sporting events. Visitation was held from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, November 30, 2014 at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri with prayer service at 5:30 p.m. Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. on Monday, December 1, 2014 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. James with Father Charles Pardee officiating. Pallbearers were Knights of Columbus members. Interment was in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in St. James, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri. Wanda French Wanda French of St. James, Missouri was born in Crawford County, Missouri on December 10, 1941 to William and Dorothy (Sheffield) Pitts and passed away Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at the age of 72 years. Wanda enjoyed life and was always a "giver," she spent her life helping others by serving as a Licensed Practical Nurse, she loved her job and the opportunity she had to help others. Aside from her working career Wanda enjoyed remodeling homes, country music and singing; she was a huge George Jones fan. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Dorothy Pitts; brothers, John Pitts and William Pitts Jr. She is survived by her children, Donald Fisher and wife Rita of Leasburg, Missouri, Pamela Rasmussen and husband Mike of Colorado, and Chris French and wife Anna of St. James, Missouri; brother, Jerry Pitts and wife Sharon of Cuba, Missouri; sisters, Betty Fisher of St. James, Missouri and Neet Shanks and husband David of Bland, Missouri; grandchildren, Tyler Fisher, Dusty Fisher, Caitlin Fisher, Anthony Jones,Olivia French, Andrew Albey (Kimberley), and Brandon Albey (Mindy); great grandchildren, Joseph Albey, Nicholas Albey and Aubree Albey; great great granddaughter, Samara Albey; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held on Friday, November 28, 2014 at the St. James Chapel of the James & Gahr Mortuary from 5-7 p.m. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at the St. James Chapel of the James & Gahr Mortuary with Pastor Lonnie Fisher Jr. officiating. Interment was in the Oak Ridge Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the James & Gahr Mortuary in St. James, Missouri. Edith M. Hamlin Edith M. Hamlin of St. Peters, Missouri was born on November 15, 1916 in Laverne, Oklahoma to Thomas Nelson and Gertrude Josie Goodale Land and passed away on Friday, November 28, 2014 at the age of 98 years. At three years old her father passed away and she was raised by her stepfather Albert C. Land. She married Albert E. Hamlin on March 17, 1933 in Venice, Illinois and to this union seven children were born. Edith made a profession of faith in 1936 at First Baptist Church, Leasburg, Missouri and was baptized in the Meramec River at Davis Ford. She moved back to Crawford County in 1961 from St. Louis, Missouri. She later was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Bourbon, Missouri where she taught adult Sunday School class and was active in the Women's Missionary Union (WMU). She also, volunteered many hours at the Agape House in Bourbon, Missouri. She was a wonderful homemaker and especially enjoyed sewing. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Gertrude Land; husband, Albert; son, Irwin Hamlin; step-father, Albert C. Land; brothers, William Jackson Land and Albert D. Land; step-brothers, Eulis (Margaret) Land, Ernie Cole, Leslie Land; step-sister, Opal Jonas; sisters-in-law, Viola Hertel, Virginia Fife and Ethel Reynolds. She is survived by her children, Barbara (Charles) Rogers and Thomas (Shirley) Hamlin of O'Fallon, Missouri, Howard (Mary) E. Hamlin of Annapolis, Missouri, Jackie (Steve) Vaughn of Viburnum, Missouri, Linda (Rich) Pieper of Sunrise Beach, Missouri and Duke (Donna) Hamlin of Rochester, New York; daughter-in-law, Joan Hamlin of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, half-brother, Leon (June) Land of Charleston, Missouri; sisters-in-law, Millie Land of St. James, Missouri and Mary Cole of Chesterfield, Missouri; 23 grandchildren; 42 great grandchildren; 20 great great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Visitation is Friday, December 5, 2014 from 10 a.m. to noon and funeral service at noon at the Crossroads Baptist Church, Leasburg, Missouri with Rev. Duke Hamlin officiating. Burial at the Crossroads Cemetery, Leasburg, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri. Clinton "Clint" T. Ridenhour Clinton "Clint" T. Ridenhour of Belle, Missouri was born October 10, 1925 and passed away Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at the age of 89 years. Clinton lived near Lanes Prairie and worked as a farmer. He also did construction work in Texas and Connecticut and was employed at Kingsford for a time. He loved to go to the boats to play the slots and loved giving food to people in need. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hardy Benton and Sarah Ann Ridenhour; and two brothers, Warren and Winfred Ridenhour. He is survived by four sons, David and his wife Jean Ridenhour of Doylestown, Ohio, Kenny and his wife Rose Ridenhour of Jefferson City, Missouri, Dwight Ridenhour of Belle, Missouri and Danny Ridenhour of Owensville, Missouri; two daughters, Donna Bethmann and her husband Fred of Belle, Missouri and Janice Dye and her husband Mac of Owensville, Missouri; 10 grandchildren, Thomas and Kimber Crull of Cuba, Missouri, Jessie Ridenhour of Belle, Missouri, Justin Ridenhour of Belle, Missouri, Heather Czechin of Union, Missouri, Clinton Ridenhour of Belle, Missouri, Samantha Dickenson of St. Louis, Missouri, Robert and Katria Morales of St. James, Missouri, Amy and Ben Richards of Jefferson City, Missouri, Mark and Autumn Ridenhour of Jefferson City, Missouri and Johnathan and Kassi Ridenhour of St. Clair, Missouri; eight great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, November 28, 2014 at Sassmann's Chapel in Belle, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Sassmann's Chapel in Belle, Missouri. Faye Elizabeth Shook Faye Elizabeth Shook, nee Spetnagel, of Steelville, Missouri was born on Monday, February 22, 1965 in Newport, Rhode Island to Jerry Franklin and Evelyn Clendenen Spetnagel and passed away on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at the age of 49 years and 9 months. Faye accepted the Lord at a young age at Trinity United Methodist Church in Covington, Kentucky. She married Scott Shook on March 3, 1987 in Waukegan, Illinois and to this union four children were born. Faye lived in the Steelville area for the last 20 years and had attended Center Point Baptist Church. She thoroughly enjoyed her dog grooming business and was a third generation dog groomer. She liked the outdoors, riding motorcycles and was a member of the Saddletramps Motorcycle Club. She was preceded in death by her mother, Evelyn Spetnagel; father-in-law, Tom Riley; and sister, Sheryl Willett. She is survived by her husband, Scott Shook of Steelville, Missouri; children, Josh Shook and Scotty Shook, Jr. of Steelville, Missouri, Christina Moss of Beach Park, Illinois and Rachel and husband Anthony Jordan of Covington, Kentucky; father, Jerry Spetnagel of Villa Hills, Kentucky; brothers, Ward Spetnagel of Tuscan, Arizona and Dean Spetnagel of Big Muddy, Illinois; mother-in-law, Jeannine Riley of Cuba, Missouri; brothers-in-law, Chad Riley of Houston, Texas and Darryl Willett of Erlanger, Kentucky; grandchildren, Davyn Moss and Dani Cansler of Beach Park, Illinois, Nicholas Jordan of Covington, Kentucky, Jacob Shook and Eli Shook of Steelville, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Visitation was Wednesday, November 26, 2014 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and funeral service was at 1 p.m. at the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri with Pastor Ellen Ryerson officiating. Arrangements under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Norman C. Stoddard Norman C. Stoddard of Bourbon, Missouri was born on June 14, 1928 at New York, New York to Chester and Frances (Parker) Stoddard and passed away Sunday, November 23, 2014 at the age of 86 years, 5months and 9 days. After graduating high school, he became employed in the construction trade in Boston. In the 1950's, he came to Missouri and settled in the Elsberry area continuing his profession as a residential carpenter. Norman retired and came to Bourbon, Missouri in 1993. He was an avid football fan and the St. Louis Rams was his favorite team. Norman enjoyed fishing and hunting and being in the outdoors and also found enjoyment in all sports. Norman also appreciated a good cigar. On February 28, 2004, he was united in marriage to Brenda Licklider Davis. He was preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Frances Stoddard; two sons, Kim and Norman, Jr.; and one sister, Virginia Hornor. He is survived by his wife, Brenda of the family home; two sons, Michael Stoddard and wife Carol of O'Fallon, Missouri and David Stoddard of the state of Louisiana; three step-sons, Jason Davis and wife Shannon, Jeff Davis and Jeremey Davis and companion Summer Beeman; two daughters, Susan Stoddard of O'Fallon, Missouri and Karla Jones of Wentzville, Missouri; a sister, Elizabeth Simms of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts; 16 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; five step-great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri. Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 from the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri with Pastor Jeff Reed officiating. Interment was in the Crow Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri. Daniel G. Unger Daniel G. Unger of Cuba, Missouri, formerly of New Haven, Missouri, was born in Washington, Missouri on November 9, 1951 to Maurice and Hope (Drewel) Unger and passed away Friday, November 21, 2014 at the age of 63 years. He was a heavy equipment operator and worked mostly in rock quarries. He worked for several companies in the area including Ed's Drilling and Blasting in Krakow, Missouri, Twehous Excevating in Jefferson City, Missouri and KR Wilson Heavy Equipment Operators in Sullivan, Missouri. Daniel loved to go deer hunting and fishing. He is preceded in death by two brothers, Michael and Timothy Unger. He is survived by his two sons, Cody Unger and fianceŽ Crystal Williams of Bourbon, Missouri and Dustin Unger and wife Sarah of Sullivan, Missouri; parents, Maurice and Hope Unger of New Haven, Missouri; two brothers, Lowell Unger of Maryland Heights, Missouri and Loren Unger and wife Tonia of New Haven, Missouri; two sisters, Cindy Pointer and husband Mike of New Haven, Missouri and Mona Easte of Belle, Missouri; six grandchildren, Destiny, Jordan, Brantlee and Garrett Unger, Brandon and Cynthia Williams; other relatives and friends. Visitation was Tuesday, November 25, 2014 from 4-8 p.m. at the Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home in New Haven, Missouri. Funeral services was held at the Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home in New Haven, Missouri at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 with Rev. David Poe officiating. Arrangements under the direction of the Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home in New Haven, Missouri. Marvin E. Wisdom Marvin E. Wisdom was born in St. James, Missouri on March 24, 1939 to Everett and Lola (Swyers) Wisdom and passed away on November 26, 2014 at the age of 75 years. Marvin worked for several years at the Maramec Spring Park in St. James, Missouri. Marvin worked most of his life for MFA in Cuba and Salem, Missouri. He loved old tractors, and watching Westerns and horses. He was preceded in death by his parents, Everett and Lola Wisdom; wife, Willadean Wisdom; son, Everett Wisdom; brother, John Wisdom; and two sisters, Freda Wilbur and Carmalle Patt. He is survived by his companion, Ava Thomas of the home in Salem, Missouri; son, John Wisdom and wife Velma of Salem, Missouri; daughter-in-law Kristy Wisdom of St. Louis, Missouri; grandchildren, Elaine, Lyndi, Emmy, Noelle, and James Wisdom; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 11 a.m. until time of service at 1 p.m. at the Dent County Memorial Chapel in Salem, Missouri on Saturday, November 29, 2014. Interment was in the Round Pond Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the Dent County Memorial Chapel in Salem, Missouri. Kevin James Woods Kevin James Woods of St. Charles, Missouri was born June 29, 1968 in St. Louis, Missouri to Richard James and Janet Faye Miller Woods and passed away Thursday, November 20, 2014 at the age of 46 years, 4 months and 21 days. On February 14, 2003 in St. Charles, Missouri he was united in marriage to Beverly Philipps. Kevin was baptized at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church of St. Louis, Missouri when he was younger. He worked in St. Louis in the construction business and was a former member of the Pressmen Union. He always enjoyed hunting, fishing, riding 4-wheelers and being around horses. As a young boy, he enjoyed showing his steers in the 4-H shows. He was preceded in death by his mother, Janet Faye Miller Woods Edgar; and brother, Richie Allen Woods. He is survived by his wife, Beverly Woods of O'Fallon, Missouri; father, Richard James Woods of St. Louis, Missouri; two daughters, Mackenzie Hoelscher and Abbigael of O'Fallon, Missouri; step-father, Jerry Edgar of Cuba, Missouri; one brother, Jason Edgar of Bourbon, Missouri; one sister, Deborah Faye Woods of Wentzville, Missouri; special friend, Sara Lacey; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 11 a.m. until service time on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri with Rev. Jerry Beers officiating. Special music of "Fred Bear," "Those I Have Loved," "Never Gonna Be Alone" and "Amazing Grace" was played. Memories were shared by friend, Joe Stisi. Committal prayer and interment were in the Liberty Cemetery, Steelville, Missouri. Casket bearers were Jason Edgar, Brian Edgar, Joe Stisi, Jay Hamlet, Sean Turner and Jason Brozynski. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. Anita Louise Ziegler Anita Louise Ziegler of Owensville, Missouri was born to William M. and Jessie L. (Huff) Green on March 17, 1947 in St. Louis, Missouri and passed away on Thursday, November 27, 2014 at the age of 67 years. Anita was united marriage to William Henry Ziegler on July 5, 1966 in Union, Missouri and to this union one son was born. Anita worked several years for Meramec Shoe Company in Union, Missouri and later she was an Independent Sewing Contractor for the Children's Factory in Union, Missouri. She was a member of the American Kennel Club and enjoyed being a Boxer breeder. She was an avid bingo player and loved being at the river, fishing and camping. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Jessie Green; one son, Keith Ziegler; one brother, Samuel M. Green. She is survived by her husband, William Henry Ziegler; two grandchildren, Jessica and husband Timmy Holland and Jake Ziegler; three great grandchildren, James, Jayden and Keith Holland, all of Owensville, Missouri; two brothers, Kenneth L. Green of Union, Missouri and William "Bill" Green of St. Louis, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held on Sunday, November 30, 2014 from 2 p.m. until time of service at the Mizell Funeral Home in Cuba, Missouri. Funeral service was held on Sunday, November 30, 2014 at 4 p.m. at the Mizell Funeral Home in Cuba, Missouri. Cremation followed the visitation and funeral service. Arrangements under the direction of the Mizell Funeral Home in Cuba, Missouri. Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site. http://www.threeriverspublishing.com/ ************************************************ Copyright. 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