Obituary - Donald E. Black

Donald E. Black, 78 of Surprise, Arizona passed away November 6, 2014 in Peoria, Arizona. Funeral services are pending at this time and will be announced under the direction of the Mullinax Funeral Home (660-679-0009) in Butler, Missouri. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

A complete obituary will be provided as the information becomes available.

Habitat For Humanity still taking applications for their latest home in Rich Hill

Habitat for Humanity will be taking applications for their latest home located in Rich Hill on Saturday, November 8th from 1 – 3 at the Rich Hill Christian Church at 300 E. Walnut Street.

The Habitat for Humanity house is located at 1121 Park Avenue and has 2 bedrooms and 1 bath. Habitat for Humanity homes are offered interest free and your monthly payments are based on your income. Those applying must meet certain qualification guidelines.

If you have any questions contact Brenda Darr at 660-679-4355. Stop by the Rich Hill Christian Church on Saturday, November 8th from 1 – 3 and fill out an application.

Thanks and Sunday Dinner at the Butler Senior Center‏

A big "Thank You" to the voters of Bates County for the 60% approval on the Senior Services Fund.That will take effect in 2015 and will produce revenue when taxes are paid near the end of 2015.

So we will continue fund-raising events for another year. This weekend we are inviting folks to Sunday Dinner at the Senior Center.

Menu includes Chicken Dinner by "Kickin Chicken" plus potatoes and gravy, green beans, dinner roll and dessert.

Serving time will be between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. $8.00 tickets at the door or in advance from Board members.

submitted

Teen Convicted of killing step sister

Levi Elliott

WARSAW, MO (AP) – A southwest Missouri teenager who was 15 when he was accused of killing his younger stepsister has been convicted of second-degree murder.

A jury returned the verdict against 17-year-old Levi Elliott on Wednesday afternoon following a trial that began Monday. He was also convicted of armed criminal action and tampering with a vehicle.

Investigators said Elliott shot 12-year-old Sierra Elliott at their Polk County home west of Bolivar in March 2012 while his father and stepmother were away. He then drove to Clinton and got a ride to Kansas City, where his mother took him to a police station.

Elliott was tried as an adult in Benton County, where the trial was moved because of publicity about the case in Polk County. Sentencing is set for Dec. 19.

Obituary - Gerald Sutton Cross

Gerald Sutton Cross

Gerald Sutton Cross, son of Granville Jackson “Jack” and Ada Mae (Sutton) Cross was born December 25, 1935 in Clinton, Missouri. He departed this life at Ellett Memorial Hospital in Appleton City, Missouri on Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 78 years of age, after a lengthy illness.

Gerald spent his early life in Independence, Missouri, moving to Rockville and then Appleton City, where he graduated from Appleton City High School in 1953. For two summers after graduation he followed the wheat harvest throughout the western states.

On November 10, 1957, Gerald was united in marriage to Judy Irene Umstattd and to this union two children were born.

Gerald purchased the Skelly Oil “full service gas station” located across from Citizen’s Bank (now known as Community First Bank) in May of 1957 from Leo Higgins and Vernon Dines. The business was the start of Cross Service. In 1969, Gerald sold the business to Jack Gragg and he and Judy opened an auto repair shop and towing service south of Appleton City, carrying on the Cross Service name. He rented office space to United Parcel Service (UPS) and was employed as their mechanic.

After UPS moved to their new facility, Gerald resigned as their mechanic to focus on his auto repair and towing business until his retirement in 2011. Gerald and Judy enjoyed going on many motorcycle trips to various states and events like the annual BMW rallies as long as his health permitted. He also enjoyed watching NASCAR racing on television and working in the garden.

The funeral service for Mr. Cross will be held at Hill and Son Funeral Home in Appleton City, Missouri on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Tony Reynolds officiating. The visitation will be at Hill and Son Funeral Home on Saturday, November 8, 2014 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. with interment to follow at the Appleton City Cemetery, Appleton City, Missouri. If you would like to make a Memorial donation, the family suggests the Appleton City Cemetery.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Kenneth J. and Wally Cross. Survivors include his wife Judy; his two children, Mike Cross (Janine) and Jackie Perry (Dane); brother, Dennis Cross (Gayle); sisters-in-law, Lena Cross and Debra Cross; six grandchildren, including Becky Hill whom Gerald and Judy developed a special relationship with; 10 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Gerald will be greatly missed by his family and many friends he has made over the years.

Obituary - Dorothy Marie Thurman

Dorothy Marie Thurman, 95 of Newburg, MO, formerly of Harrisonville, Missouri, died Thursday, November 6, 2014 at Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 8, 2014 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville with burial in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Olive Baptist Church or Cass County Retired Teachers Association.

Dorothy was born April 1, 1919 in Oak Grove, Missouri, the daughter of Virgil and Nora (Schrimsher) Harp. Dorothy graduated from Warrensburg Missouri State Teacher College with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She had taught school in two rural schools, Saylor and Pleasant Prairie. She later taught at public schools in Higginsville, Odessa, Raymore and Harrisonville, where she retired in 1979 after 37 ½ years of teaching. Dorothy married Gilbert J. Thurman on October 15, 1944 in Odessa, Missouri. They had lived in Peculiar, Missouri before moving to Harrisonville in 1955. Dorothy was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Doolittle, Missouri and previously a long-time member of the First Baptist Church in Harrisonville. She was also a member of the Cass County Retired Teachers Association.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Gilbert on December 26, 1992. She is survived by one daughter, Ellen Kindle and her husband, Billy, of Newburg, Missouri, and one sister, Mildred Ransdell of Georgetown, Texas.

Butler Bear Spirit Wear

The Butler PTSO is offering Butler Bear Spirit Wear. The order forms are due back by Nov 19th. All students should have brought home order forms or will be this week.

If for some reason they did not you can contact Alisia Dugan at 660-200-5697 or Brandi Hill at 660-424-0914 to place an order or to get another order form. 

The money is due at the time of ordering. You can make checks payable to: Butler PTSO

St.Clair County Sheriffs Office: Warrant Arrest

Tommy Davidson Jr.

On Nov. 5, Tommy Davidson Jr., 34, Lowry City, was arrested in St. Clair County on a Henry County warrant charging him with a class A misdemeanor for
resisting/interfering with an arrest, detention or stop. Bond is set at $1,000 cash only. The charge stems from an incident in June.