Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO
Local Obituaries for the Week of December 23, 2004
Vivian Marie Black
Vivian Marie Black, nee Crafton, of Rolla, Missouri
(formerly of Leasburg, Missouri) was born on October 29, 1938 at
Como, Missouri to the union of Everett Crafton and Lena Cochran
Crafton and passed away on December 17, 2004 at Mt. Vernon, Missouri
at the age of 66 years, 1 month and 18 days.
On September 21, 1957, Vivian was united in marriage to
Vernon "Gene" Black in St. Louis, Missouri. They were happily
married until Gene preceded her in death on September 6, 1999.
Vivian was also preceded in death by her parents.
Those who survive to mourn her passing from this life
are her children, Gary Black, Gloria Ruffin, Sharla Senn and husband
Charlie, and Theresa Eudy. Two brothers, James D. Crafton and wife
Norma and James E. Crafton and wife Jackie.
Three sisters, Betty Brewer and husband David, Tilda Mae
Bouchillon and husband Teddy and Bernice McCrate. Six grandchildren,
two great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many
friends.
Vivian was a devoted wife, loving mother, sister,
grandmother, great grandmother and good friend to all who knew her
and will be sadly missed.
Vivian M. Black was in state at the Britton Funeral Home
of Cuba, Missouri, where funeral services were held on Monday,
December 20, 2004 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Terry King officiating.
Interment was in the Bunker City Cemetery, Bunker,
Missouri. All arrangements were under the direction of the Britton
Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri.
Roy Lewis Harman
Roy Lewis Harman (Sonny) was born Tuesday February 23, 1926, in
the Dry Creek area, east of Steelville, Missouri, a son of
the late Lee Roy Harman and Cora Belle (Cook) Harman.
He passed away Wednesday, December 15, 2004, at his home
in Linn Creek, Missouri, at the age of 78 years, 9 months and 22
days.
Roy attended school in Crawford County and moved with
his parents to Macks Creek in 1938, where he attended Hack Ridge
School. In 1942, Roy moved back to Steelville for a short time then
to St. Louis, where he worked at a machine shop.
Roy was drafted into the United States Army in June 16,
1943, and was a tank driver in the 10th Armored Division, Patton's
Army engaging in battles across Europe, including the Battle of the
Bulge. Roy received an Honorable Discharge June 15, 1946. He married
Helen Achurch, on September 12, 1947, daughter of Charles Robert
Achurch and Estora C. (Sites) Achurch. They made their home in
Steelville. Two sons, Alan and Bob, and one daughter, Elaine, were
born to this union.
He worked for the Missouri Highway Department for
several years, and then was hired by the Missouri Department of
conservation. Roy served as a conservation agent in Nevada,
Missouri, Hermitage, Missouri and finally in Camdenton, Missouri
where he was one of nine regional supervisors in the Law Enforcement
Division of the Conservation Department. Roy retired in 1987 after
37 1/2 years of service with the state of Missouri.
After retirement, Roy and Helen traveled around the
country in their motor home, as they loved to camp and sight-see.
Roy was preceded in death by his father Lee Harman in
1969, his mother, Cora in 2004, two brothers, Eldon Harman and
Gilbert Harman, two sisters, Ruby Lee Hinkley and Ada Hall and a
brother-in-law, Roy Blanton.
Among those who remain to mourn his passing are his
devoted wife, Helen Harman of the home; two sons, Alan Harman and
wife Tern of Camdenton, Missouri and Robert Harman and wife Barbara
of Blue Springs, Missouri and one daughter, Elaine Bland and husband
Dale of Linn Creek, Missouri.
One brother, John Harman and wife Janette of Bourbon,
Missouri; two sisters, Julia Mae Blanton and Edna Pratt and husband
Kenneth all of Steelville, Missouri. Nine grandchildren, two great
grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many
friends.
Roy will be greatly missed by his family and friends of
whom were many.
Roy Lewis Harman lay in state after 1 p.m. Friday,
December 17, 2004, at the Britton Brothers Funeral Home, Steelville,
Missouri.
Funeral services were held graveside 2 p.m. Friday,
December 17, 2004, at the Steelville Cemetery with Rev. Delmar
Hutson officiating.
Serving as pallbearers were agents of the Missouri
Conservation Department, Robin Brandenburg, John Cook, Gary Cravens,
Kurt Heisler, Chris Morrow and Thomas M. Strother III. The American
Flag was presented to the family by Conservation Agent J.R. Cramer.
Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Britton
Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri.
Alfrieda W. Jackson
Alfrieda W. Jackson of San Diego, California, formerly
of Steelville, Missouri, was born Sunday October 20, 1907, in St.
Louis, Missouri, a daughter of Louis Hoffman and Koenig Hoffman.
She departed this life Tuesday December 7, 2004, at San
Diego, California, at the age of 97 years, 1 month and 17 days.
Alfrieda was united in marriage to Fred E. Jackson. One
son, Paul, and one daughter, Jacqueline, were born to this union.
Fred preceded her in death, September 7, 1965.
Survivors include her daughter, Jacqueline Lambert, West
Virginia; son, Paul Jackson and wife Betty, Ramona, California.
Eight grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, other relatives and
friends
Viewing was 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, December 11, 2004 at
the Clairemont Mortuary, San Diego, California with services noon
Sunday, Peace Lutheran Church, San Diego, California.
Graveside services were held at 10 a.m. Saturday,
December 18, 2004, at the Steelville Cemetery, with Rev. Bob Coleman
officiating.
Committal prayers and interment were in Steelville
Cemetery, Steelville, Missouri under the care of Britton Brothers
Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri.
G. Fred Larason
G. Fred Larason most recently of Hull, MA formerly of
Webster Groves, Missouri and Cuba, Missouri, high school teacher and
coach passed away on Monday evening, December 13, 2004 following a
fall and resulting complications. He was 94 years old.
Born and raised in Mercer, Missouri he was a graduate of
Mercer High School. He received a BA from Maryville State Teachers
College (now NW Missouri State) in 1932. He achieved his Master's
Degree in plant ecology from Iowa State College in July of 1938.
He was united in marriage to Doris Anita Beavers in
Leon, Iowa in 1937. He was preceded in death by Anita in January of
2000.
He was also preceded in death by one daughter, Vicki
Landman in 1973 and a brother Lloyd Larason in 2000.
His career in education began in 1932 in Oregon,
Missouri where he served as an administrator, teacher and coach for
11 years. In 1943 he accepted a job at Maplewood/Richmond Heights
High School in suburban St. Louis. He remained there for 32 years
teaching, chemistry, physics and earth science. He also coached
varsity baseball and sophomore basketball. He spent many summers as
a senior staff member at Camp Nebagamon, a camp for boys in Lake
Nebagamon, Wisconsin.
After retirement from teaching in 1975 Mr. and Mrs.
Larason moved to Indian Hills Lake outside of Cuba, Missouri. There
they made many good and close friends, traveled often, were avid
gardeners and square dancers, active in the Cuba United Methodist
Church, Cuba Lakes Golf Club, Cuba Senior Center and the Homeowners
Association at Indian Hills.
Those who survive to mourn his passing from this life
are his son, Lanny Larason of Hull, MA, daughter Shari Forsythe of
Browder, KY, brother Leland Larason of Mercer, Missouri, five
grandchildren, three great grandchildren, other relatives and
friends.
Funeral services were held on Friday, December 17, 2004
at the Bethel Methodist Church, Mercer, Missouri at 11 a.m. with
Rev. Jenny Vertrees officiating. Interment in the Bethel Cemetery,
Mercer, Missouri under direction of the Britton Funeral Home of
Cuba, Missouri.
David Eugene Melton, Sr.
David Eugene Melton, Sr., age 50, of Cuba, Missouri,
formerly of Staunton, Illinois, passed away December 14, 2004 at his
sisters residence in Cuba. Mr. Melton was born July 28, 1954 in St.
Louis, Missouri, the son of Ernest Melton and Shirley Jean (Blanton)
Melton.
He attended Aimes School, St. Louis.
On December 28, 1979 he was united in marriage to Mary
A. (Pepper) Fuller. This marriage was later dissolved.
His father, and one brother, Leroy Melton, preceded him
in death.
David was a self-employed roofer and the Bartender at
the Cuba VFW Hall.
Those who remain to mourn his passing are his mother,
Shirley Jean Melton of Cuba, brother, Johnny Melton, Washington
state; sister, Betty Gould of Granite City, Illinois, brother Bruce
(Tammy) Melton, Washington, sister Cenda (Eva) Melton, of Cuba,
Missouri, sister Tina (Rick) Cook of Gillespie, Illinois, sister,
Wanda Melton, Washington, sister Doris (Thomas) Cook of Gillespie,
Illinois, brother Keith (Greg) Melton of Cuba, Mo., son, Larry E.
(Tracey) Fuller of Mt. Olive, Illinois, son Gary W. (Doree) Fuller,
Sr. of Staunton, Illinois, daughter Dawn M. (Kenny) White of
Lincoln, Illinois daughter Nancy J. (Ryan) Kerniskey of Charleston,
S.C., son David E. Melton, Jr. of Staunton, Illinois, son Steven D.
Melton of St. Louis, Mo., daughter Stephanie Melton, California,
daughter Davina Thomas, California; 12 grandchildren, Gary W.
Fuller, Jr., Kevin D. Fuller, Matthew S. White, Sydney D. White,
Autumn M. Fuller, Madison M. Fuller, Jordan L. Fuller, Taylor A.
Kerniskey, Dylan R. P. Kerniskey, and three grandchildren in
California.
Graveside services were held Monday, December 20, 2004
at 11 a.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery, Staunton, Illinois with Father
Larry Aschutz officiating.
Afton "John" Pitts
Afton Pitts was born Tuesday, November 17, 1927, at Cook
Station, Missouri, a son of the late Frank Pitts and Ruthe (Earney)
Pitts.
He entered eternal rest at his home in Cook Station,
Missouri, Monday December 13, 2004, at the age of 77 years, and 16
days.
He was working in Chicago when he met Dolores June
Christisen in Steelville in 1946 and they were married in 1949, at
Crown Point, Indiana. Dolores preceded him in death, May 13, 2000.
They enjoyed over 50 years together, with three sons and two
daughters being born to this union. He continued to work for the
next 30 years for Lipsett Steel and Hyman Michaels. He later became
a self-employed farmer.
In addition to his parents and Dolores, he was preceded
in death by two sons, Johnny Scott Pitts (six years old) and an
infant son, Dale Alan Pitts, and two brothers, Cecil Pitts and James
Pitts.
Among those who remain to mourn his passing are two
daughters, Carolyn Abrams of Steelville, Missouri and Rhonda Bennett
and husband Brian of Cook Station, Missouri; one son Donald Pitts
and wife Rhea of St. James, Missouri. Eight grandchildren, six great
grandchildren.
Five brothers, Pershing Pitts of Kentucky, Glen Pitts
and wife Judy, Walter Pitts and wife Delores, Monroe Pitts and wife
Sherry, Robert Pitts and wife Alberta, all of Cook Station,
Missouri. Four sisters, Florence Hicks of Steelville, Missouri,
Shirley Cothran and husband Lawrence of Cook Station, Missouri,
Cordene Moore and Stella Clay, both of Hammond, Indiana. Sisters-
in-law and brothers-in-law, Helen Pitts of Sterling, Illinois,
Melvin and Rene Christisen of Fenton, Missouri, and David and Ruby
Christisen of Cuba, Missouri; nieces, nephews, cousins, other
relatives and many friends who will remember him as a man who loved
his children, grand-children, and as a good neighbor.
He enjoyed hunting and caring for his farm and having
fun with the grandchildren. He will be missed.
Afton "John" Pitts lay in state 4-8 p.m. Wednesday,
December 15, 2004, at the Britton Brothers Funeral Home, Steelville,
Missouri.
Funeral services were held 11 a.m. Thursday, December
16, 2004, in the Britton Chapel with Rev. Delmar Hutson officiating.
Committal prayers and interment were in Wesco Cemetery,
Wesco, Missouri. Serving as pallbearers were Ricky Pitts, Monte
Pitts, Bobby Pitts, Richard Pitts, Alan Pitts, Brian Bennett and
Scott Williams.
Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Britton
Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri.
Barbara Sue Ransom
Barbara Sue Ransom nee Lumley of Leasburg, Missouri was
born on June 14, 1960 in St. Louis, Missouri to the union of Elmer
Lumley and Nina Wilkinson Lumley and passed away on December 12,
2004 at the age of 44 years five months and 28 days.
On September 20, 1997 Barbara was united in marriage to
Roger Ransom. They have been happily married for seven years.
Barbara was preceded in death by her father Elmer
Lumley, one daughter Melinda Niedbalski, mother-in-law Imo Ransom,
step father Herman Skaggs, two sisters Sharon Mullen and Lois Jean
Lumley.
Those who survive to mourn her passing from this life
are her loving husband Roger Ransom; one son Mike Niedbalski; two
step children Justin Ransom and Stephanie Dotson; mother Nina
Skaggs; father-in-law Jim Ransom and wife Betty; two brothers Larry
Lumley and Mike Lumley.
Three sisters Brenda Crittendon and husband Sonny,
Patricia Crittendon and friend Joe, and Diane Markely and husband
Joe; stepsisters Linda Skaggs, Geraldine Sellers and husband Gilbert
and Kathy Reeves and husband Mike; step brother Gary Skaggs;
brothers and sisters-in-law Hank Crittendon, Bob Ransom and wife
Sonja, Raymond Ransom, Debra Ransom and Rick Ransom; other relatives
and many friends.
Barbara was a devoted wife, loving mother, daughter,
daughter-in-law, stepmother, sister, good friend to all who knew her
and will be sadly missed.
Barbara Sue Ransom nee Lumley was in state at the
Britton Funeral Home in Cuba, Missouri where funeral services were
held on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Harrison
Brown officiating. Interment was in the Crossroads Cemetery,
Leasburg, Missouri.
All arrangements under the direction of the Britton
Funeral Home of Cuba, 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
====================================================================