Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Happy Retirement Clifford
Obituary - Allen Conrad Henley
Allen was a 1978 Lee’s Summit High School graduate. He attended Longview Community College and was a graduate of the University of Missouri at Columbia College of Engineering.
Allen was an Agricultural Engineer. Although self-employed for the last fifteen years, he had worked for Case IH for 15 years and at Allis Chalmers. He enjoyed working the family farm, welding, and metal fabrication. He loved animals, especially, the family dog, Cookie, who was a stray he befriended and his cat, Rocky.
Allen is survived by his parents, Connie and Edith Henley of Pleasant Hill; one brother and sister-in-law, Eric and Marymae Henley and their sons Ethan and Logan, of West Orange, New Jersey; other relatives and friends.
Cremation has been accorded. Memorial services will be held at a later date.
Obituary - Ronald Lawrence Hoffman
Ronald was born July 8, 1929 on a little farm, just west of Tiffin, Missouri to George Lawrence Hoffman and Bernice Loree Downs Hoffman. He grew up on farms in the El Dorado Springs and Stockton, Missouri areas where he attended a 1-room country school through the 8th grade in Cedar County. Ron graduated from High School in El Dorado Springs, Missouri in 1947. He then entered the US Navy in 1948 and in 1951 he switched and reentered military service for the US Air Force. Ronald retired with over 22 years of service in 1970 as a Senior Chief Master Sargent.
Ronald married Pearl Louise Shaffer on May 26, 1951 and was married for 66 years. Pearl passed away August 25, 2017. Ron and Pearl were devoted to each other, military service, and traveling, living in many places during the 20 years of US Air Force service and ultimately entering civilian life in Anchorage, Alaska. Ron and Pearl sold their home in Anchorage in 1975, moving back to Nevada, Missouri to be closer to their mothers and assist them as they grew older.
Ron and Pearl built a home on a farm near their roots in Nevada Missouri. They found jobs in town at the Fram Corporation, and both retired from there. They sold their farm in 1996 and moved into the town of Nevada, Missouri. Then a life of fun started when they purchased the first of several RV’s. They traveled to most of the lower 48 states, plus Alaska. Their favorite states were Alaska, Washington, Montana, and Missouri in the summer, Arizona in the winter.
Ronald was converted and joined the Pace Town Pleasant Ridge Baptist church in August 1942. Later, Ronald and Pearl were devoted members of the Pape Christian Church just outside Tiffin, Missouri close to where Ron was born. Ron and Pearl said they always felt like they were going home at the Pape Church and they considered the people at Pape their family.
Ronald is survived by his son Dennis and his wife Cyndi Seltzer Hoffman of Juneau, Alaska, two Grand-Daughters Jessica Louise Hoffman Hitchenor and husband Ross of Great Britain, and Nichole Renee Hoffman Bergen of Salem, Oregon, three Great Grand Children Ziggy Hitchenor, Lukas Bergen, and Jaxon Bergen, one brother, Claud Milton Hoffman, of Ramona, California, sister Wanda Hoffman Heistand and her husband Myron, of El Dorado Springs Missouri, nephew Tony Hoffman and his wife Janice, of Anchorage Alaska; nieces Claudia Hoffman Miller and husband Larry, of Ramona California, Rhonda Heistand Williams, of El Dorado Springs Missouri; and Great Grand-niece Randa Williams Bruce and her husband Matthew, of El Dorado Springs Missouri.
There is no death on earth that soothes the pain of losing someone dear to them without a tear. Ronald will greatly be missed.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Bro. Dennis Wallen officiating. Interment with Military Honors will follow in the El Dorado Springs City Cemetery. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at Ferry Funeral Home.
Obituary - David “Dave” William Dunlap
David “Dave” William Dunlap, age 63 of Amoret, Missouri died Sunday, May 23, 2021 at Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler, Missouri. He was born December 3, 1957 to William Herbert and Lois Ann Smith Dunlap in Independence, Missouri.
Dave is survived by two sons, David Dunlap of Independence, Missouri and Chris Dunlap of Odessa, Missouri; his fiancè, Janet West of Amoret, Missouri; his father, William Herbert Dunlap of Amoret, Missouri; twin sisters Diane DeLozier and husband Gene and Doreen McDonald all of Butler, Missouri; three grandchildren, Courtnie, Christopher and Camden; and nephews, nieces and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother and a sister, Debbie Lawrence.
Obituary - James Robert Board
James "Jim" Robert Board, age 66 of Lee’s Summit, Missouri died Sunday, May 23, 2021 at his home in Lee’s Summit. He was born July 8, 1954 to Marjorie Lou (Peggy) Kearns and Glen L. Board in Kansas City, Missouri.
Jim is survived by his wife, Nancy Board of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; daughter, Elizabeth Nix and husband Jacob of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; two brothers, Larry Board and wife Connie of Vichey, Missouri and John Board and wife Donna of Mesa, Arizona; two grandchildren, Avery Nix and Harley Nix. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Obituary - Darell Fern Garrison
Darell Fern Garrison, age 57 of Adrian, Missouri died Friday, May 21, 2021 at Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler, Missouri. He was born July 24, 1963 to Pedro Fern and Donnalynne Miller Garrison in Phoenix, Arizona.
Darell is survived by his daughter, Jessica Garrison of Joplin, Missouri; two brothers, Farold Garrison and Jerold Garrison both of Phoenix, Arizona; three sisters, Venus James and Cindy Welch both of Phoenix, Arizona and Tonya Garrison of Las Vegas, Nevada; three grandchildren, Adrianna Erway and husband Trey, Austin Bulger and Ashlyn Bulger; one great-grandson, Elijah; and numerous nephews, nieces and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Harold Garrison.
Obituary - Jacob (Jake) Bradley Kukovich
WMATMA: Great beginnings part III
The Spruce Mercantile building
Story by Don Arndt
Continuing with the history of Frontier Village
1984 was a huge year for WMATMA and Frontier Village. Our 6th annual show was that year and was held on our new grounds being moved from the City Park. For the first time we were able to put something up permanent. Construction of several buildings on our new grounds were started that year and we “temporarily” called the whole endeavor Frontier Village with plans to give the little town a permanent name later. One of the largest undertaking that year was the acquisition of a wooden two-story store building at Spruce Mo, East of Butler several miles. At the corner of BB and H highways, it had a long history starting circa 1900. It was the Odd Fellows Lodge who built it and using the top floor for themselves and the ground floor was a general store. Members of WMAT MA tore the structure down, every board and piece of trim, windows, and all. We hauled it all to the “Village” and under the supervision and planning of Don Hill, where we re-built the store but only as a one-story building. By the 1985, 7th annual show and with hundreds of donations from all over the area, the Ladies Aux outfitted the old store with memorabilia making the general store look much like it did in the early part of the 20th century.
The men and their wives put in countless hours dismantling the old building and then building it back. I remember many of the women driving the nails out of all the boards that were taken down and the loading it all on trailers. Cleaning used lumber is not an easy job! The girls also removed all the decorative square wall and ceiling tin work carefully so it could all be used to finish the “new” store. I wish I could remember and list those that worked on the huge project, but I’m sure I would leave out some names. I will say that the driving force and expertise was Don and Lillian Hill. It was worth the effort because the Spruce Mercantile Store is certainly a highlight of our living museum to this day. After completion, the ladies then added a kitchen area enabling them to serve their famous meals for several years until the present-day kitchen was built.





