Obituary - William J. Copelin

William Joe “Billy Joe” Copelin, 71, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, was born, July 15, 1949, in Beaufort, North Carolina, the son of Elias Joe and Edith Marie (Walbaum) Copelin. He departed this life, Friday, April 9, 2021, at the Saint Luke’s Hospice House, Kansas City.

Billy Joe was a 1967 Ruskin High School graduate. He served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Conflict. Following his time in the service he attended the Kansas City Art Institute and Longview Community College.

On April 3, 1971, he was united in marriage to Millie Ann Wells in Belton; they divorced in 2001. On November 22, 2003, he was united in marriage to Dawn Marie Fischer in Grandview; she survives.

Billy Joe was Marketing and Communication Director for the Fike Corporation. He was a member of the Faith Ministries Church in Grandview. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, metal detecting, motorcycle riding, and was an avid photographer. He most enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

Billy Joe was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Dawn of the home; two sons, John (and Mara) Copelin and Matthew (and Michele) Copelin of Independence; one step-son, Sean Fischer of Raytown, Missouri; six grandchildren, Matthew, Jr., Jacob, Rylan, Paxton, Grace, and Michael; one brother, David Copelin of Van Nuys, California; three sisters, Doris Noonan of Los Canada, California, Christina (and Richard) Bagdazian of Brownsboro, Alabama, and Karen (and Reggie) Goodin of Reeds Spring, Missouri; other relatives and a host of many friends.

Visitation will be held 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the Stanley-Dickey Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 19, 2021, at the funeral home. Pastor Howard Carter will officiate. Private graveside military services and interment will be in the Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery, Higginsville. Casket bearers are David Copelin, Jacob Copelin, John Copelin, Matthew Copelin, Matthew Copelin Jr., and Sean Fischer. Honorary casket bearers are Michael Copelin, Paxton Copelin, and Rylan Copelin.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Diabetes Association https://www.diabetes.org/donate/donate or they may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.stanleydickeyfuneralhome.com

Arrangements: Stanley-Dickey Funeral Home, 203 N. Armstrong St., Pleasant Hill, Missouri 64080 (816) 540-5550

Obituary - Shad M. Rehms

Shad Michael Rehms, 47, of Osage Beach and Kansas City, was born June 4, 1973, in Kansas City, Missouri. He departed this life, Friday, April 9, 2021, at the Lake Regional Hospital, Osage Beach.

Shad attended Raytown High School.

On September 7, 1991, he was united in marriage to Rose Calvert in Kansas City. She survives but they were no longer married.

He was a gifted mechanic, owning and operating his own mechanic shop. He enjoyed fishing, working on cars, tinkering in his shop, and loved to dance. He was funny and a jokester and could make anyone laugh.

Shad was preceded in death by his father, Wayne E. Rehms; one brother, Shane Hedges; two sisters, Shalene Hedges and Shanon Rehms-Jenson; and his maternal grandmother, Claudine Larimer.

He is survived by his mother and step-father, Jennifer and Evan Woodworth of Pleasant Hill; one son, Kyle Rehms of Grandview; one daughter, Kirstin Rehms of Lee’s Summit; four grandchildren; Cameron, Khloe, Riley, and Chad; one brother, Cody (and Hillary) Rehms of Blue Springs; one sister, Sherri Hedges of Kansas City; other relatives and friends.

A Celebration of Shad’s life will be held 7:00 p.m. Thursday, April 15, 2021, at the Stanley-Dickey Funeral Home. Reverend D. Kent Deubner will officiate. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. until service time.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the family and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.stanleydickeyfuneralhome.com

Arrangements: Stanley-Dickey Funeral Home, 203 N. Armstrong St., Pleasant Hill, Missouri 64080 (816) 540-5550

Disabled American Veterans Meeting

Disabled American Veterans Meeting

by News Desk

The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter #67 Butler, Missouri invites all Disabled Veterans to attend their monthly meeting.

The chapter meets the third Wednesday at 1:00 PM in the Bates County Museum on Elks Drive.

Our next regular meeting is April 21, 2021 at 1:00 PM.

Butler Highschool FFA News

Poultry and Dairy Foods teams at State FFA. Both teams had a great run this year. Thank you all for your dedication and sacrifice.

Poultry-11th

Randi Noel - High Individual

Talli Madison

Reana Van Voorst

Bailey Cox

Dairy Foods-13th

Rylee McBrayer - High Individual

Paige Switzer

Raegan Page

Mason Wheatley

Help needed: Locally written book has chance to hit the big screen

This is the true life story of a four-year-old little girl who took over seven thousand volts of electricity thru her body. Doctors told her parents to plan her funeral because she would not survive a week. Fifty years later, this is the story of my "life unarmed."

The book Life Unarmed My Story, written by Diana Taylor of Butler Mo. recently got the attention of a company who would like turn the words of her life story into a screenplay, which ultimately then could become a movie.

In speaking to Diana, it is clear she has taken something quite tragic and turned it into a positive with great help from the Lord; and now she has been given the opportunity to transition her written words to the big screen.

Due to some legalese, Diana, who lives on a very limited budget, is required to front an amount of money to start the process of conversion to screenplay and we are asking the community to help her raise the needed $4,617.90 to get the ball rolling.

Mid America Live spoke to Diana this week about helping her cause, and she has made it clear that any money raised over the target amount will go fully and directly to the Carpenter's Cup in Butler as a donation. Likewise, investigation has been done into the company to insure they are legitimate.

Now, here's how you can help- share this information with your friends, fellow church members, civic groups etc. and let's help get her story out for the world to see in cinema! Donations may be made at Community First Bank in Butler (either location). Use either account holder name Thomas J. McArthur or Douglas Mager c/o Diana Taylor Fundraiser.

The timeline for submission of money is rather short and any help would be greatly appreciated. Mid America Live will be providing updates on a regular basis. Thank you in advance!

Obituary - Charles Rodney McGee

Charles Rodney McGee, 64, of Martin City, MO, passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at his home. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Monday, April 12, 2021 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO. 

 The family will receive friends 10:00-11:00am Monday at the funeral home. Burial in Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville. A complete obituary will be posted when it becomes available.

Update: Boating accident in Henry County

On April 9th around 9:55am the Missouri State Highway Patrol along with Henry County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a boat collision at G23 Mile Marker on Truman Lake around the Bucksaw Marina area.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident occurred when 2012 Lowe driven by 68 year old Albert A Weaver of Pleasant Hill, Missouri made an abrupt turn in front of the 2014 Tracker driven by 69 year old Randal E Stone of Holden, Missouri causing the two boats to collide and eject Mr. Weaver from his boat.

Both males sustained moderate injures and both were transported by ambulance to the hospital for treatment.

Obituary - Helen L. Kitchen

Helen L. Kitchen, 97, of Oak Grove, departed this life, Thursday, April 8, 2021, at her home surrounded with love and family.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at the Stanley-Dickey Funeral Home, Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Pastor Matthew Miller, her grandson, will officiate. 

Private burial will follow in the Kingsville Cemetery. Casket bearers are Kenneth M. Miller, Gerald W. Miller, Stephen D. Miller, Mark A. Weir, Kenneth W. Miller, and Sampson J. Alperin. Honorary casket bearers are Doug Bagshaw, James Miller, and Larry Weir.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Ascend Hospice and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.stanleydickeyfuneralhome.com

Arrangements: Stanley-Dickey Funeral Home, 203 N. Armstrong St., Pleasant Hill, Missouri 64080 (816) 540-5550

A complete obituary will be published here as that information becomes available