Obituary - Kenneth Eugene Spicer

Kenneth Eugene Spicer, 60, Nevada, MO passed away on Thursday, January 2, 2020 at his home in Nevada. Kenneth was born March 25, 1959 in Nevada, MO to Ronald E. and Wanda Joan (Medearis) Spicer.

Kenneth grew up in Tuscan, AZ. He worked as a machinist in McPherson, KS most of his life. Kenneth has resided in Nevada for the past 15 years.

He is survived by his mother, Joan Spicer, Nevada; and one brother, Jeffrey Spicer, Nye, MT.

No services are planned at this time.

Nevada police seek subjects

Nevada Police are attempting to identify the following subjects. If you know the identity of these individuals please contact Det. Keithly at 417-448-5125.

Obituary - Evelyne Havens

Evelyne Havens, 87 of Butler, Missouri passed away January 2, 2020 at Butler Center in Butler. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Sunday, January 5, 2020 at Mullinax Funeral Home (660-679-0009) in Butler with Rev. Greg Mullinax officiating. Visitation will be from 1-2 PM prior to services at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Butler Public Library. Messages and memories for the family may be left at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

Evelyne Jean (Smith) Havens was born June 26, 1932 in Butler, daughter of Everett T. (Sr.) and Faunetta (Thomas) Smith. Evelyne was a graduate of Butler High School.

She married Earl J. Havens on July 9, 1950 and to this union, one son was born, Steven J. Havens. In 1956 she began working for Osage Valley Electric in the billing department, where she would continue for 38 years until retiring in 1994.

Evelyne always loved her family very much and cooked many, many meals for the whole family and many friends. Her specialties were bread, noodles, and homemade chocolate ice cream and strawberry pie. She especially enjoyed traveling in her Cadillac (by herself so that nobody would slow her down). She traveled to many states and went to Arizona for 7 years would stay for 3 months at a time, always hoping for hot weather, which she loved. She enjoyed mowing and taking care of her yard, which she continued doing until earlier this past year.

Evelyne was an avid reader and a member of the Butler Public Library. She spent many days on the porch with a book. She was a member of the Ohio Street United Methodist Church.

Evelyne was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Earl, one sister Nancy and two brothers Bob and Johnny. She is survived by her son Steven J. Havens (Linda) of Butler, as well as two sisters Helen and Mary, two brothers Everett T. and Lucky, two grandsons Shaun and Jeff, four great-grandchildren Tyler, Harlow, Lynerica,and Reagan, one great-great-granddaughter Kallie Ann; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Updated Obituary - Steve Oldfield

Steve Oldfield or as many you reading this called him, “Oldfield, Bro, Red Headed Paper Jockey, Pencil, Uncle Steve, Stevie Boy, Steve-O, Grandpa, Papa, Dad, and Son” has been a prominent figure in the community and in the lives of everyone he associated with or was connected to. Whether you were rubbing shoulders with him at a Lions Club meeting, watching him capture the history of this town from behind the lens of his camera, sitting in your home reading his rhetoric from the Adrian Journals Backside, or enjoying a cold one at the lake you could feel the love, passion, and genuine care for others that exuded from him. 

He was always helping others with odds and ends jobs, teaching his kids, nieces and nephews anything and everything he thought might benefit them. When he wasn’t immersed in work or volunteering his handyman skills, he enjoyed whipping up his famous pecan pies, his BBQ/Smoking meats, his infamous pickles that we all have tried to get the recipe of, spending time at the lake with friends and family or hiding from wildlife in hopes of a kill.

Although, some may have called him a transplant being from Kansas City, Steve’s Blackhawk Pride ran deep. He truly bled black and gold. Every thought and action that Steve had was not only geared toward his own children but towards every child he encountered.

Steve had a very large family in terms of his own personal one, his community, and the surrounding communities. His extended family reached even further into the arms of the Missouri Press Association whom he held near and dear.

Steve was very active in the community and helped pave the way for future generations. He was the President and member of the school board, Lions Club President two times and active member, Adrian Chamber of Commerce, Secretary, Library Board member, Elks member, Little League President. Vision 2007 Committee member, CEMO Press Association President, Adrian United Methodist Church Member, Owner of Wimfields on Main, Newspaper Publisher, Welcome to Adrian Sign contributor, Missouri Press President 1 year/member and Hall of Fame inductee. At the end of his presidency Steve had a gavel made to be passed down to the incoming President which has become a standing tradition.

With all of this being said, the ornery Steve Oldfield that we all love had an unfortunate event take place 12 years ago that could have knocked him out of the game, yet he persevered. He may have had bad days, but nine times out of 10 he had his well known mischievous grin on his face. What he lacked in his physical ability he made up for in his words of wisdom and memories that he wanted to pass on. He had a passion for hunting and enjoyed spending time in the woods with his buddies or flying solo. He always said, “I may not go to church, but when I’m in the woods that’s my church; I can be by myself and talk to God.”

Unfortunately, Steve experienced a second brain aneurysm, which he was not able to overcome. He is now free of his earthly ailments and is in his woods having his time with God and now we have the joy of knowing we have one of the best guardian angels watching over us. It is now our responsibility to keep his memory alive and share stories and memories so that he will live on for generations to come.

As a final gesture of his love of life, he was able to be an organ donor.

Stephen “Steve” Michael Oldfield, 64, departed this world on December 31, 2019 at Research Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Steve was born on January 1, 1955 to Robert and Marilyn Oldfield. They resided in Kansas City, Missouri until moving to Adrian, Missouri in 1967.

Steve graduated from Adrian R-III in 1973. After graduation he held several different jobs in different fields until he became a part of The Adrian Journal in 1982. He was united in marriage to Linda Gaye Gunn on August 30, 1974. To this union two daughters were born, Chara Leigh and Jill Susann.

He was preceded in death by his mother Marilyn. He is survived by his wife Linda, of the home; daughters Chara (Derek) Jensen, Marshfield, Missouri and Jill (Brad) Jacobs, Drexel, Missouri; six grandchildren, Joey, Bryson and Jaclyn Jacobs, Adrian, Missouri, Braden, Brock and Parker Jensen, Marshfield, Missouri; father Robert Oldfield, Adrian, Missouri and a host of relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at the Adrian United Methodist Church in Adrian, Missouri. Burial in Crescent Hill Cemetery, Adrian, Missouri. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 pm on Friday, January 3, 2020 at the Adrian United Methodist Church in Adrian. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Adrian United Methodist Church or the Adrian Lions Club.

Obituary -Lorene Boyd

Funeral services for Lorene Boyd will be 11 a.m. Saturday, January 4, 2020 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler. 

Visitation will be prior to services from 10-11 a.m. at Schowengerdt Chapel. Burial in Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler, Missouri. Contributions to Friendship Full Gospel Church. Online condolences, www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Lillian Lorene Boyd, age 93 of Butler, Missouri died January 1, 2020 at Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler. She was born October 22, 1926 to Elmer Floyd and Jewell Wingo Blankenship in Rockville, Missouri.

Lorene is survived by her son, Bobby Lee Evans and wife Lisa of Butler, Missouri; one daughter, Reda Ann Cumpton of Adrian, Missouri; stepson, Brian Boyd and wife Gayla of Butler, Missouri; stepdaughter, Cindy Rodriguez and husband Rod of Overland Park, Kansas; one sister, Geraldine Carney and husband William of Topeka, Kansas; 6 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband Buford C. Evans; second husband Junior G. Boyd; brother, Willard Dean Blankenship; granddaughter, Jessica Evans; and two sisters, Darlene Kash Stover and Mildred Wilcox.

Obituary - William “Bill” Irwin Heathman

William “Bill” Irwin Heathman, 90, formerly of Richards, MO passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 at Cameron Regional Medical Center in Cameron, MO. 

Bill was born August 16, 1929 in Richards’s, MO to Jerry and Susannah Jane (Bogart) Heathman. He was married to Mary Davenport who preceded him in death in 1999, he then married Mary Lee (Endicott) Davenport in 2006 and she preceded him in death in 2017.

Bill grew up in Richards, MO and attended the Hilltop County School in the Richards area. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War. Upon his return from the service he, along with his father, operated a dairy farm in Richards. Bill was a farmer his whole life.

He is survived by three children, Jerry Heathman (Sandy), Paola, KS, Michael Heathman (Laurie), Birmingham, AL, Ronald Heathman, Kansas City, MO; four grandchildren, Brian Carter, Christy Carter-Little, Jeff Heathman, Jennifer Kash; several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife Mary, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Julia Ann Carter; one granddaughter, Brenda Lee; two brothers, J.W. Heathman, and Bert Heathman; and one sister, Julia Mae Sandbothe.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 6, 2020 at Richland Cemetery in Richards. Arrangements are under the direction of Ferry Funeral Home.  

Obituary - Steven Olen Rice

Steven Olen Rice, 66, formerly of Nevada, passed away on Monday, December 30, in his home in Bella Vista, Arkansas. Steve was born September 2, 1953 in Canyon, Texas to Lonnie Rice and Jimmie Doris (Hunter) Rice.

Steve moved with his family to Nevada, Missouri, when he was nine years old. Steve attended Nevada High School where he perfected his mother’s signature for notes to the administration, graduating in 1972. Following graduation, Steve met the love of his life – the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Steve earned his Bachelor of Science Business Administration in accounting in 1976.

Following graduation, Steve worked for Crane Co. in Nevada as an accountant until 1979. He then moved to Evansville, Indiana, where he went to work for Peerless Pottery. In 1985, Steve moved to Rockport, Indiana, where he worked for Peerless as the Vice President – Finance Secretary/Treasurer of the Corporation until the company was sold and closed in 2004. While in Rockport, he volunteered and was Chairman of Spencer County’s Coalition for a Drug Free Community and also was on the Board of Directors for United Way of Southwestern Indiana. He was awarded the Community Volunteer Award for the Governor’s Commission for a Drug Free Indiana and Outstanding Booster for the South Spencer High School Booster Club. In 2004, Steve returned to Arkansas and his retirement home on Lake Rayburn in Bella Vista. From 2009 to 2018, Steve worked in shipping for Wal-Mart in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Upon his return to Arkansas, Steve became a fixture at Razorback games. He was a rabid Razorback fan. Always an adventurous spirit, Steve loved to get in the car and go exploring – usually with his mother, aunt and cousin in the car – down Pig Trail Road out of Fayetteville or to any parts of the countryside. He loved to visit Pawhuska, Oklahoma, and the Pioneer Woman ranch. Steve had an infectious, boundless joy for life, and he enjoyed teasing everyone, especially his nieces.

Steve is survived by his mother, Jimmie Rice, of Nevada, MO; brothers, Bruce Rice (Debbie) of Nevada, Jim Rice (Kelly) of North Richland Hills, TX, and Mike Rice of Chicago, IL; nieces, Katie Rice of Noblesville, IN and Lindsay (Rice) Kerbs (Jordan) of Prairie Village, KS; and nephew, William Rice of McQueeney, TX. Steve was preceded in death by his father, Lonnie Rice and his brother, Gregg Rice (Doris).

The family will receive friends from 1-2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Razorback Foundation at 1295 S. Razorback Rd. #A Fayetteville, AR 72701 or c/o Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, MO.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Reports Zero Traffic Fatalities, Zero Boating Fatalities, and Zero Drownings During New Year’s Counting Period

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that no one died in a traffic crash during the 30-hour 2020 New Year’s holiday counting period. 

Last year, there were 11 fatalities during the much longer 102-hour counting period. The 2020 New Year’s counting period ran from 6 p.m., Tuesday, December 31, 2019, through 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, January 1, 2020.

2020 New Year’s Holiday Traffic Statistics

Troopers investigated the following:

Crashes ― 72
Injuries ― 34
Fatalities ― 0
DWI ― 56

[Note: During the 2019 New Year’s counting period, there were 1,301 traffic crashes, which included 447 injured and 11 fatalities. Troopers made 130 arrests for driving while impaired during the 2019 New Year’s holiday. There were no boating crashes. No one drowned over the 2019 New Year’s counting period.]