FUNERAL MASS will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday May 29, 2020 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Montrose, Missouri.
VISITATION/ROSARY - VISITATION will begin at 9:30 AM on Friday May 29, 2020 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Montrose, Missouri, with the ROSARY beginning at 10:30 AM. If you choose to come to the church, face masks are suggested, and social distancing will be observed. Friends may sign the online register book at www.hillandson.net or come by the Hill & Son Funeral Home in Appleton City during business hours to sign.
OFFICIANT at the Mass will be Fr. Jason Koch.
INTERMENT will be St. Mary’s Cemetery, Montrose, Missouri.
The family suggests MEMORIAL donations be given for Intercessory Masses for Rolla.
VISITATION/ROSARY - VISITATION will begin at 9:30 AM on Friday May 29, 2020 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Montrose, Missouri, with the ROSARY beginning at 10:30 AM. If you choose to come to the church, face masks are suggested, and social distancing will be observed. Friends may sign the online register book at www.hillandson.net or come by the Hill & Son Funeral Home in Appleton City during business hours to sign.
OFFICIANT at the Mass will be Fr. Jason Koch.
INTERMENT will be St. Mary’s Cemetery, Montrose, Missouri.
The family suggests MEMORIAL donations be given for Intercessory Masses for Rolla.
Rolla G. Houk, aged 84, passed away peacefully at his home in Independence, Missouri on May 23, 2020. He was the son of Rolla Guymond and Myrtle Mary (Johnson) Houk. Rolla spent his formative years in the Clinton, Missouri area, where he graduated from Clinton High School in 1953. During this time, he met and later married Mary Kathryn Firsick on November 22, 1956 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Montrose, Missouri, his wife of 62 years. To this union four children were born: Sonny, Rhonda, Pamela, and Jerry. During high school he worked a projectionist at the Clinton Movie Theater, a job he dearly loved. Rolla joined the United States Army in 1960, where he served his country proudly. He then began a career at the Kansas City Power and Light Company, working as a heavy equipment operator and later a supervisor in the transportation department until his retirement in 1991. He then worked at the Thrifty Nickel newspaper for 18 years as well as for the Sisters of St. Francis Convent in Independence as grounds-keeper and maintenance worker for many years.
The most important thing in Rolla’s life were times spent with his beloved family, especially his grandchildren. He was an incredibly hardworking man, who always took care of his family. Apart from this, he enjoyed woodworking and music, especially playing the guitar. Rolla had a knack for finding many “treasures” at thrift stores and garage sales that he brought to his family. Genealogy research was a favorite hobby of Rolla, and he further enjoyed riding his bicycle on local trails into his 80s. He was also a proud member of the Northern Cherokee Tribe of Missouri and Arkansas. Along with these things, his faith always proved a cornerstone of his life, remaining an active member of St. Mark’s Parish in Independence, Missouri as long as he was able.
Rolla was preceded in death by his parents, Rolla Guymond and Myrtle Mary (Johnson) Houk; his wife, Mary Kathryn (Firsick) Houk; and his sister, Phylis Henry.
Survivors include his children, Sonny Houk, Rhonda (Mark) Long, Pamela (Mark) Twenter and Jerry Houk and Stacey Beck; his grandchildren, Joshua Twenter, Christopher Twenter, Rachel (Twenter) Robertson, Nicholas Twenter, Clara Twenter and Katie Twenter; his great-grandson, Henry Twenter; along with many extended family and dear friends. Rolla will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
