Obituary - Doil Eugene “Gene” Abernathy

Doil Eugene “Gene” Abernathy of Quapaw, OK passed away Thursday, March 5, 2015 at his home. He was 77.

Gene was born August 29, 1937 at Douthat, OK to Lester and Verna (Karnes) Abernathy. He had lived in the Quapaw are most of his life for the exception of 5 years he lived in Grants, NM.

He worked as a truck driver for Yellow Freight in Baxter Springs, KS and later for General Steel in Joplin, MO. He also raised horses.

Gene was preceded in death by his wife JoAnn , his daughter Shelly Clark, his parents and two brothers Junior Abernathy and Bob Abernathy.

Survivors include two sons, Chad Abernathy and his wife Daleen of Quapaw, OK and Brad Abernathy and his wife Kandy of Amsterdam, MO. Also surviving are two brothers, Jack Abernathy and Jim Abernathy of Quapaw, OK, three sisters, Marie Bennett of Joplin, MO, Joyce Fenter of Tulsa, OK and Dorothy Weiland of St. Louis, MO, 7 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

Services will be Saturday, March 7, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Paul Thomas Funeral Home Chapel in Miami, OK. Rev. Audie Tash will officiate. Interment will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Northwest of Treece, KS. Herb Logan, Pat McCoy, Jack Wilkerson, Danny Garner, Harold Jones and Red Houser will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Services have been placed in the care of Paul Thomas Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Miami, OK. Online condolences may be made at www.paulthomasfuneralhomes.com.

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Obituary - Julia Ann Parrish Daley

Julia Ann Parrish Daley, 55, Sugar Creek, Missouri, formerly Harrisonville, Missouri, died Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at her home. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, March 9, 2015 at the Orient Cemetery in Harrisonville. Visitation will be from 12:00-1:00 p.m. Monday at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville. (A complete obituary will be posted when available).

Throwback Thursday- We Never Are Ready

Courtesy of the Eddie Herrman archives and the Bates County Museum

East side of the Butler square circa 1880. M.S. Cowles Dry Goods store on the left. Photo from the Ed Robertson estate.

March 5

1872-The Bates County Court establishes a new township in Southeast Bates County called Rockville township

1883-Sam Welsh and Milt Whiteley, who are prospecting East of Butler a few miles, strike solid rock bearing gold and silver at 84 feet.

1913-The Worland Coal Company is chartered.

1923-Radio station WNAR (We Never Are Ready) of Butler broadcasts a special radio program to Mrs. W. W. Clark of Clinton, MO between 5;30 and 6:00 PM and several of her neighbors crowd into her home to enjoy the program with her.

1945-Mr. Russell Cox has a party for the boys who have been killing sparrows for him. Those present are: Jr. Thompson, Don Grimes, Ralph Umstattd, John Umstattd, Max Hurt, Walt Pettus, Art Box, Leroy Grimes, Melvin Griffith, and Homer Gooden.

1947-For the first time in Bates County history, women’s names are called and sworn in for the jury panel in Circuit Court. Mrs. L. D. Harper and Mrs. Edith Lincoln, of Adrian; Mrs. Elode Young of Butler, and Mrs. Laura B. Mullies of Rich Hill.
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Obituary - Ethel Lee Kochsmeier

Memorial visitation will be 5 - 6 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2015 at the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel

(660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. Contribution to Alzheimer's Association. Ethels wishes were to be cremated.

Ethel Lee Kochsmeier, age 92 of Butler, Missouri died Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at her home in Butler, Missouri. She was born February 22, 1923 to William Henry and Mary Lou Ella Townsend Swanigan.

Ethel is survived by her husband, Jim Kochsmeier of Butler, Missouri; three sons, Robert Todd of Butler, Missouri, Larry Todd of Butler, Missouri and Travis Todd of St. Joseph, Missouri; two daughters Norma Jean Berry and husband Jim of Butler, Missouri and Patsy Yates of Adrian, Missouri; seven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren and six great great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Clarence Todd; three brothers, Floyd, James and William Swanigan and three sisters, Lillie Appleberry, Arzetta Thomas and Mary Appleberry.
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Cancellation for this evening...

Awana, Youth, and all other activities at First Baptist Church, Butler are cancelled for tonight,

Wednesday, March 4th.

-our thanks to Terry J. Davis, Pastor
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Obituary - Jack Foster Spangler

Jack Foster Spangler

Jack Foster Spangler, age 8, went to be with Jesus on Saturday, February 28, 2015.

Jack was born in Springfield, MO on October 27, 2006 to Chad and Jill (Whitesell) Spangler. At age nine months, Jack and his parents moved to Nevada where he resided until his death.

Jack attended school at Nevada and was currently a 2nd grade student at Benton Elementary. He loved all sports and participated in football, basketball, and baseball. He was an outdoor enthusiast, actively engaging in bow hunting and shooting sports. Some of his favorite moments were spent with his dad and Uncle Todd in a deer stand or turkey blind. Other activities included church and Sunday school at St. Paul Lutheran, 4-H, 4-wheeler riding, fishing, swimming, and boating with his family on the lake. Jack had a thirst for learning and loved school and reading, but most of all loved PE and recess. He already held his friends close, at such a tender age, and loved having sleepovers, playdates, sports practices, and games. Endless hours were spent with family, filled with teasing, laughter, but most of all, love.

We will always remember his ornery grin (complete with dimples), quick wit, and infectious laugh. His all-boy exterior hid a mighty and tender heart. This was exemplified best in Jack’s relationships with his two younger sisters, Simone and Vivi. Although he would tease and antagonize them, he remained their greatest champion. For the girls, he was their lionhearted protector.

Survivors include his parents, Chad and Jill Spangler, and sisters, Simone and Vivienne; maternal grandfather Gary Whitesell, paternal grandparents Donna Spangler and Tim Spangler, paternal great-grandmother Anna Lee (Spangler) Neal; many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Preceding him in death was his maternal grandmother, Karen Whitesell.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at First Baptist Church in Nevada, Pastor Chris Deines officiating. The family will be accepting visitors from 6-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

Memorials are suggested in his memory to Timberline 4-H in c/o Ferry Funeral Home or Go Fund Me online.

Former St. Clair County Sheriff pleads guilty in federal court to stealing recovered property

A former St. Clair County Sheriff has pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing recovered property. United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri Tammy Dickinson says, 47 year old Ronald Snodgrass, of El Dorado Springs, pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. Snodgrass served 3 terms as the elected Sheriff in St. Clair Country from January 1st, 2001 through December 31st, 2012. 

Snodgrass admitted that during his tenure, he illegally took possession of a John Deere zero turn mower, which was recovered as stolen property. Snodgrass allegedly keep the mower after an agreement between him and the insurance company was reached to take care of a falsified tow and storage bill. The mower, under state law, should have been sold at a sheriff's auction. Under federal statutes, Snodgrass is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine of up to $250,000. Snodgrass must also forfeit the John Deere mower and a 2009 Polaris Ranger UTV, which he illegally obtained in September of 2012. 

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of the presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.