Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO
Local Obituaries for the Week of December 09, 2009



Walter Elwood “Woody” Aytes

Walter Elwood “Woody” Aytes of Cuba, Missouri was born in Owensville,
Missouri on Wednesday, May 20, 1936 to Alva R. and Violet (Carwile) Aytes
and passed away on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 in Rolla, Missouri at the age
of 73 years, 6 months and 11 days.
On September 1, 1957, he was united in marriage to Rosella Mae Bock and to
this union two children were born.
Woody worked as a meat cutter for Grannemanns IGA in Owensville until 1962.
During this time he also served for two years in the MO Air National Guard.
On April 1, 1962, he was appointed to the 25th Recruit Class at the MO State
Highway Patrol Academy in Rolla, Missouri.
Woody retired on September 1, 1991 after 29 years of service to the citizens
of Missouri. He was a leader and a mentor to many troopers and other law
enforcement officers in the area. He enjoyed traveling and camping was an
avid hunter, fisherman, and enjoyed working in the outdoors. He was a member
of the Cuba United Methodist Church. He was a Past Master of the Cuba
Masonic Lodge and served as Grand Representative to the State of West
Virginia. He was a member of 32 Degree KCCH Scottish Rite body and Moolah
Shrine, St. Louis, Missouri. Woody was awarded the Honorary Demolay Legion
of Honor. For several years, he served on the board for Walker Scottish Rite
Language Disorder Clinic and also served as a Past Patron for the Order of
Eastern Star. Woody was a member and past president of the Cuba Kiwanis Club.
He was a member of MASTERS (MO Association of State Troopers Emergency Relief
Society) and served on the Executive Board as vice-president for the Missouri
State Troopers Association.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Alva and Violet Aytes; son, Jeffery
Aytes; brother-in-law, Eldon “Bud” Bock and sister-in-law, Verna Breece.
He is survived by his wife Rosella (Bock) Aytes of the home; daughter, Karen
Sue Moreland; two grandsons, Shannon and Ryan Moreland both of Cuba,
Missouri; one brother, Glenwood (Betty) Aytes of Owensville, Missouri;
sisters-in-law, Elenora (Bill) Hart and Mary Bock, all of Owensville,
Missouri; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was Thursday, December 3, 2009 from 5-8 p.m. with Masonic Service
at 7 p.m. at Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri.
Funeral Service was Friday, December 4, 2009 at 10 a.m. at Cuba United
Methodist Church, Cuba, Missouri with Rev. Paul Lathum and Rev. Bob Knight
officiating.
Burial was at the Bland Union Cemetery, Bland, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri.


Earl J. Bell

Earl J. Bell of Sullivan, Missouri, was born August 7, 1940 in Belle,
Missouri to John Sylvester and Nettie Jewell (Johnson) Bell and passed away
Sunday, November 29, 2009 at the age of 69 years.
After his first wife, Cindia, he married Hilda Pendleton on October 1, 1978.
Most of his adult life he spent fixing cars as a mechanic. He also was a
cabinetmaker. He loved NASCAR and working in his yard He was also an active
member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aire #3781 in Sullivan, Missouri.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Nettie Bell; his first
wife, Cindia; brother, Harold “Red” Bell; sisters, Sharon Ray, Iva Foster,
Juanita Rowe and Bonnie Cottrell.
He is survived by his wife, Hilda Mae of the family home; four children,
Dennis Earl Bell and wife Renee of Greensboro, North Carolina, Beth
Bell-Jones of Bourbon, Missouri, Doug Bell and wife Paula of Cuba, Missouri
and James Earl Bell and wife Gwen of Sullivan, Missouri; brothers, Claude
“Skimp” Bell and wife Jenny of Dixon, Missouri, Ronnie Bell and wife Joan
of Pennsylvania, Larry Bell and wife Sherry of Nevada; sisters, Irene “Mick”
West of Sullivan, Missouri and Wanda King of Missouri; grandchildren,
Christopher, CJ, Lonnie, Austin, Jade, Hannah, Zoie, Clarissa, Amber and
Tori; other relatives and friends.
A memorial service, including an Eagle Service were conducted at 7 p.m. on
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at the Chapel of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan,
Missouri with Paul Harmon officiating.
Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan,
Missouri.


Ralph Arthur Combs, Sr.

Ralph Arthur Combs, Sr. of Bourbon, Missouri, (formerly of Fredericktown,
Missouri) was born on November 1, 1933 in St. Louis, Missouri to George
Arthur and Ruby (Simpson) Combs and passed away Wednesday, December 2, 2009
at the Life Care Center in Sullivan, Missouri at the age of 76 years.
On November 1, 1969 in St. Louis, Missouri, he was united in marriage to
Mary Hale Menteer.
He was a United States Air Force veteran and he worked for the Pea Ridge
Iron Ore Co. Inc. in Sullivan, Missouri. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and
flying and was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Bourbon,
Missouri.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Ruby Combs and a
brother, Clifford Combs.
He is survived by a son, Ralph Combs, Jr. of Bourbon, Missouri; step sons,
David Menteer, Richard Menteer, all of Fredericktown, Missouri and James
Menteer of Conyers, Georgia; step daughters, Brenda Menteer Clark of Canton,
Georgia, Carol Rogers of Park Hills, Missouri and Mary Angela Francis of
Billings, Montana; 15 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; other relatives
and friends.
Visitation was from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at the Wilson
Funeral Home, Fredericktown, Missouri.
Funeral services were at 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 6, 2009 at the Wilson
Funeral Home with Rev. James Austin officiating.
Interment was at the Higdon Cemetery, Fredericktown, Missouri with full
military honors.
Arrangements under the direction of the Wilson Funeral Home, Fredericktown,
Missouri.


Eldon Dunlap

Arthur Eldon Dunlap was born on Monday, October 19, 1914 in Bixby, Missouri
to James Preston and Cecil Leanner Vance Dunlap and passed away on Sunday,
November 29, 2009 at Phelps County Regional Medical Center, Rolla, Missouri
at the age of 95 years, 1 month and 10 days.
Eldon married Vetta Grace Ransom on May 4, 1939 in Salem, Missouri. He was
a logger for most of his life and also built several wagons. He was a charter
member of the Ozark Trailblazers and attended the First Assembly of God
Church in Steelville, Missouri where he made a profession of faith in Jesus
Christ at a young age. He enjoyed trading horses and beagles. He was
fascinated with his horses and mules, but most of all he loved his
grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Preston and Leanner Dunlap; sister,
Bonnie Dunlap; brothers, Herman (Frona) Dunlap, Amel, Vernon, and Clyde
Dunlap; son-in-law, Butch Miller; daughter-in-law, Glenda Caron; other
relatives and friends.
He is survived by his wife Vetta Dunlap of the home; son, Ron Caron of Cuba,
Missouri; daughters, Juanita (Bill) Bell and Sue Miller, all of Steelville,
Missouri; sister-in-law, Betty Garms and brother-in-law, Herb Ransom, both
of Steelville, Missouri; grandchildren, Randy, Travis, Donnie, Sandy,
Stoney, Alan, Roxie, Shelly, and Chad; 16 great grandchildren; six great
great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was Wednesday, December 2, 2009 from 5-8 p.m. and funeral service
at 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville,
Missouri with Rev. Jerry Beers officiating.
Burial was at the Steelville Cemetery with pallbearers Randy Bell, Alan
Laws, Donnie Miller, Bill Richardson, Colby Hemby, Anthony Richardson and
Jerry Richardson and honorary pallbearer, Wyatt Hemby.
Arrangements under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville,
Missouri.


Ronald E. Hodges

Ronald E. Hodges of Sullivan, Missouri was born January 4, 1959 at Albany,
New York and passed away Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at the age of 50 years.
As a child the family lived in various places in Missouri and eventually
settled in the Sullivan, Missouri area.
He was employed at several industries in the area that included, St. Clair
Die Casting, Precision Ring Builders and Industrial Wire Products. He
enjoyed hunting and fishing and was known for his sense of humor and
computer skills.
He was preceded in death by his father, George Ronald Hodges and his twin
brother, Donald Hodges.
He is survived by his daughter, Rhonda Martinez of O’Fallon, Missouri; two
brothers, Perry Hodges of the state of Florida and Terry Hodges of
Owensville, Missouri; one sister, Kellies Hodges of Cuba, Missouri; two
grandchildren, Karla Martinez and Fernando Hinojo; step mother, Nadine Hodges
of Sullivan, Missouri; good friend, John Wilcox; other relatives and friends.
Ronald was to be cremated. A family gathering and memorial service will be
at a future date.
Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan,
Missouri.


Stanley Joseph Moreland

Stanley Joseph Moreland was born in St. James, Missouri on July 1, 1949 to
William Delmar and Grace Edna (Weaver) Moreland and passed away at the
Golden Living Center in St. James, Missouri on December 1, 2009 at the age
of 60 years and 5 months.
He was known as Joe by his family and friends.
Joe was a meat cutter for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Grace Moreland; two
brothers, Carl and Paul Moreland; three sisters, Judith Faye Moreland,
Novella Bullock and Wilma June Gardner.
He is survived by four brothers, Charles Moreland of Fayette City,
Pennsylvania, D.G. “Skeeter” Moreland of Rockport, Missouri, James Max
Moreland of St. James, Missouri and William Larry Moreland of Steelville,
Missouri; three sisters, Marietta Carol Ritz of Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania,
Janet Eyman of Vichy, Missouri and Brenda Skaggs of St. James, Missouri;
other relatives and friends.
Services were conducted Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 2 p.m. at the Jones
Funeral Home Chapel in St. James, Missouri with Jerry Beers officiating.
Burial was in the family plot at the Flags Springs Church Cemetery near
St. James, Missouri.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in
St. James, Missouri.


Dorothy A. Nilges

Dorothy A. Nilges of Bourbon, Missouri passed away Thursday,
November 26, 2009 at the age of 80 years old.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Cora Knoerr; brother,
John Knoerr and his wife Laura, sisters, Helen Reed, Laurine Stewart and
Cora Beller and husband, James.
She is survived by her children, Lyle Nilges and wife Julie of St. Louis,
Missouri, Bruce Nilges and wife Crarie of St. Louis, Missouri, Mark Nilges
and wife Melissa of Bourbon, Missouri and Beverly Nilges of Jefferson City,
Missouri; grandchildren, Jason, Drew, Katie, Jessica, Chandra, Alleanna,
Lauren, Dalton, Drake and Andrew; brother, Wilbur Knoerr of Linn, Missouri;
sisters, Marie Thompson of Westphalia, Missouri and Catherine Balkenbush
and husband Alois of Linn, Missouri; other relatives and friends.
Visitation from 9-11 a.m. before the service Saturday, December 12, 2009
at St. Francis Catholic Church in Bourbon, Missouri with Father James Finder
officiating.
Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan,
Missouri.


Lawrence Vernon Ray

Lawrence Vernon Ray of Republic, Missouri was born December 5, 1924 in Butts,
Missouri to Floyd Kenneth and Edith Alma (Gormley) Ray and passed away
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 in Cox South Hospital, Springfield, Missouri
at the age of 84 years.
Lawrence was a U.S. Army Veteran serving in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre
and the Philippines during World War II.
He was united in marriage to Florence Stephens on January 24, 1948.
A retired truck driver, he was a member of the Teamsters Retiree Club #245,
and the American Legion #81. He was of the Baptist faith.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Edith Ray; a sister,
Ethel Harmon; two brothers, Kenneth Ray and Alvin Ray and a daughter-in-law,
Judith Ray.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Florence Ray, of the home; two sons,
Larry Ray of Springfield, Missouri and Gary Ray and his wife Debbie of
Republic, Missouri; four grandchildren, Stephanie Quigley, Stephen Ray,
Erica Glenn, and Heather Thompson; five great grandchildren, Kody, Allyson,
Jake, Ethan, and Lyndon; a sister, Dorothy Hopwood of Bourbon, Missouri;
other relatives and friends.
Visitation was from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, December 3, 2009 in the funeral
home.
Funeral services were at 9 a.m. Friday, December 4, 2009 at Meadors
Funeral Home, Republic, Missouri, with Pastor Jim Sutherlin officiating.
Burial was at 11 a.m., with military honors, in the Missouri Veteran’s
Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the Meadors Funeral Home, Republic,
Missouri.



Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the 
Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site.
<http://www.threeriverspublishing.com/>

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