Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of December 30, 2009 Alice Jean Allday Alice Jean Allday of Charleston, South Carolina was born Friday, July 29, 1938 in Ayden, North Carolina to Warren B. and Mamie Cox McLawhorn and passed away in Steelville, Missouri on Sunday, December 20, 2009 at the age of 71 years, 4 months and 21 days. Alice married Bobby Gene Livesay in 1956 and to this union five children were born. Alice later married Harold Allday and they made their home together in Charleston, SC until his death in 2002. Alice accepted the Lord many years ago and was baptized in a Baptist Church. She looked forward to the home visits and tapes Pastor Mark Godbey blessed her with. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Charleston, South Carolina. She enjoyed square dancing, crafts, fishing, watching TV and tending to her flowers and gardening. She was preceded in death by her parents, Warren and Mamie McLawhorn; infant son, Timmy Joe Livesay; brother, Donald (Marie) McLawhorn; sisters, Madge Lackey, Bertha Brannon, Virginia (David) Garris; Frances Meyer and Doris (Dean) Shephard. She is survived by her children, Teresa (Wesley) Alford of Charleston, South Carolina, Donna Havard of Springfield, Missouri, Rick (Terri) Livesay of Steelville, Missouri and Michael Wayne “Mike” (Cheri) Livesay of Steelville, Missouri; grandchildren, Jessica, Allison, Lacey, Jennifer, Reanna, Tayler, Kylee, Randi, Dustin, Kasey and Mykenzie; great grand- children, Zeb, Emma and Alyssa Wilson; brothers-in-law, “J.B.” Lackey and Alvin Meyer of Charleston, South Carolina; other relatives and friends. Visitation was Wednesday, December 23, 2009 from 7-9 p.m. at the Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri and Memorial Service on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 9 p.m. with Pastor Mark Godbey officiating. Private burial at Steelville Cemetery, Steelville, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Winifred M. Benecke Winifred M. Benecke (nee Rohlfing) of Cuba was born to Harry C. and Mary Ann (Ahern) Rohlfing on September 25, 1917 at East St. Louis, Illinois and passed away Thursday, December 24, 2009 at Cuba, Missouri at the age of 92. Winifred was a homemaker and enjoyed entertaining others, knitting, playing bridge and word search puzzles. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry C. and Mary Ann Rohlfing; husband, Marc J. Benecke; two sisters, Rita Moore and Ruth Rohlfing and other relatives and friends. She is survived by her son, Mark T. and wife Rita Benecke of Cuba, Missouri; five grandchildren, Mark Jr., Brigitte, Max, Ingrid and Liesel, all of Springfield, Missouri; one sister, Dorothy Gillick of Lansing, Michigan; other relatives and friends. Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, December 26, 2009 at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Rosati, Missouri with Rev. James Finder as the celebrant. Interment followed at St. Anthony’s Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Cecil Leon Breeding Cecil Leon Breeding was born October 17, 1944 to Howard and Emaline (Hodge) Breeding and passed away December 25, 2009 at his home in Vichy, Missouri at the age of 65 years. He attended grade school in Vichy and graduated from Rolla High School in 1962. He served in the United States Army, stationed in Germany, until being honorably discharged in 1970. He was united in marriage on December 29, 1982 to Diane Vena of Rolla. He was a member of the Vichy Community Church. He worked nearly his entire career in the car business in and around the Rolla area until his retirement from Fairgrounds Chevrolet. Following his retirement he found great joy in spending time with his wife, family and friends and in working with his cattle and horses on the family farm where he lived almost his entire life. He was preceded in death by his father, Howard Breeding; his mother, Emaline Snodgrass; his step-father, Leonard Snodgrass and an infant brother, Howard Lou Breeding. He is survived by his wife, Diane (Toni) Breeding, of the home; sons, Leon Heide and wife Mary of Kansas, Shawn Breeding and wife Ronna of Vichy, Missouri, Mark Vena of Vichy, Missouri and Jay Barr of St. James, Missouri; grandchildren, Dalton, Josie and Austin Breeding, Alison Avery, Chelsea Vena, Katelyn Moylan-Heide, Liza Heide and Logan Barr. Visitation was held from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, December 27 at James & Gahr Mortuary in Rolla, Missouri. Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. on Monday, December 28, 2009 at James & Gahr Mortuary in Rolla, Missouri with Rev. Gary Lane and Rev. Terry Brady officiating. Burial was in the family plot at the Macedonia Cemetery in rural Phelps County. Arrangements under the direction of the James & Gahr Mortuary in Rolla, Missouri. Shirley Yvonne Bridgett Shirley Yvonne Bridgett of Leasburg, Missouri was born November 28, 1949 at Troy, Missouri to Harold and Margaret (Copher) Henry and passed away Friday, December 18, 2009 at the age of 60 years. She was a devoted wife and homemaker. She wrote poems (some of which were published) and had an extensive doll collection. She was united in marriage in May of 1980 to David Lee Bridgett. She is survived by her husband, David of the home; sons, Randy Bridgett and wife Tori of Leasburg, Missouri, David Bridgett and wife Crystal of Cuba, Missouri and Brian Carter and wife Jolene of Lee Summit, Missouri; daughters, Shari Henry of St. Clair, Missouri, Tracie Dotson and husband Damon of Leasburg, Missouri and Christina Jones and husband Danny of Steelville, Missouri; James Knowlton whom she raised and loved as her own; brothers, Larry Henry of Silex, Missouri, Ricky Henry of Washington, Missouri and Stacey Henry of Steelville, Missouri; sisters, Bonnie Mills of Troy, Missouri and Christy Asher of Londell, Missouri; 19 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 from the Chapel of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri with Pastor Robert Ayres officiating. Interment was in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan, Missouri. Merrill Elmer Larson Merrill Elmer Larson was born in Palmer, Michigan to Charles and Matilda (Kanniainen) Larson and passed away at Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan, Missouri on December 18, 2009 at the age of 78 years. Merly, as he was known by his family and friends, honorably served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict and was stationed in England. On December 27, 1952, he was united in marriage in Negaunee, Michigan to Anne Priuska. He worked in the iron mines in Negaunee until the mines slowed down their production, moved from Michigan to Grants, New Mexico in 1958 and to Sullivan, Missouri in 1964. He retired as a foreman from Pea Ridge Mine in 1991. After retirement, he drove cars for four dealers in the area along with a special friend, Jim Burns. When he was younger, he played on baseball teams, bowling leagues, and liked to deer hunt. He was a fan of the baseball Cardinals and NASCAR racing. He was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Bourbon, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Matilda Larson; an infant son, Mark and a daughter, Lori. He is survived by his wife, Anne; two daughters, Susan (Jim) Horstmann of Wildwood, Missouri and Kris (Dwight) Pohle of St. James, Missouri; three grandchildren, Megan Cope, Adam and Kelly Horstmann; sister, June (the late Ken) Kosky of Naples, Florida and a brother Harold (the late Sharon) Larson of Ishpeming, Michigan; two brothers-in-law, Oliver Priuska of Ishpeming, Michigan and Roy (Carolyn) Priuska of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; other relatives and friends. Visitation was from 4:30-8 p.m. on Sunday, December 20, 2009 from the Southside Chapel of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri. Funeral services with full military honors were conducted at 1 p.m., Monday, December 21, 2009 from the Southside Chapel of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri, with Pastor Patrick Runk officiating. Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan, Missouri. Frederick C. Palmer, Sr. Frederick C. Palmer Sr. of Cuba, Missouri was born Friday, August 1, 1924 at Cuba, Missouri to Orlando and Rachael Palmer and passed away Monday, December 21, 2009 at Cuba, Missouri at the age of 85 years, 4 months and 20 days. Fred was united in marriage to Elmira A. Irvin on May 15, 1945 and to this union five children were born. Elmira passed away in 1985. Fred was united in marriage to Kathleen “Kay” Roberts. Fred retired in 1986 as a welder from Steel Weld Company in St. Clair, Missouri after many years of dedicated service. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, writing his own songs and poems, working in his garden and working. He was a longtime member of the Delhi Baptist Church of Cuba and loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Orlando and Rachael Palmer; first wife, Elmira Palmer; other relatives and friends. He is survived by his wife, Kay Palmer of Cuba, Missouri; five children, Marvin and wife Barbara Palmer of Jacksonville, Florida, Fred Jr. and wife Linda Palmer of Leasburg, Robert “Bob” Palmer of Springfield, Missouri, Ronald and wife Betty Palmer of Cuba and Beverly Dixon of the state of Ohio; 11 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; one brother, Glen Palmer; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held Monday, December 28, 2009 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Funeral service was held at 1 p.m. on Monday, December 28, 2009 with Pastor Doug Windle officiating. Special music was “Amazing Grace,” “How Great Thou Art” and “In the Garden.” Interment followed at the Meramec Hills Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Zelma Louise Smith Zelma Louise (Watkins) Smith was born at Hawkins Bank, Missouri on September 6, 1909 and passed away December 6, 2009 at the age of 100 years and 3 months. Zelma was united in marriage to Everett L. Smith on June 12, 1941 and to this union three daughters were born. Zelma was baptized in 1942. She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church, St. James, where she served as Chairman of the Hospitality Committee for many years, taught Sunday School and Training Union, and sang in the choir. She worked in the garment industry for 30 years and was a member of the Rebecca Lodge. In her retirement, she devoted her life to her family and her church. She enjoyed traveling and entertaining. In the summer, Zelma and Everett often worked at the Phelps Co. Association Youth Camp. She was known for blue-ribbon Swedish tea rings, giving many as gifts during the holiday season. She was preceded in death by her parents; 10 siblings; her husband, Everett, and two sons-in-law, Don Schebaum and John D. Collier. She is survived by three daughters, Cordelia (Gene) Davault of St. James, Missouri, Bonnie Collier of Desoto, Missouri and Peggy Schebaum of Wildwood, Missouri; seven grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren, seven great great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Visitation was December 9, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m., the time of funeral. Services were conducted on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 11 a.m. with Jerry Baumann officiating. Pallbearers were Eric Davault, Kevin Davault, Bruce Collier, Lee Collier, Derek Collier and Patrick Davault. Burial was in the family plot in the St. James Cemetery in St. James, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home, St. James, Missouri. Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site. ************************************************ 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