Obituary - Betty Jane Smith

Betty Jane Smith, age 86, of Raymore, Missouri, passed away on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 surrounded by her loving daughter.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at the Ball Church of Christ in Dora, Missouri, with burial in the Ball Cemetery.

Betty was born in Dora, Missouri on March 6, 1935 to Clifford Russell and Dorothy (Howard) Russell. She graduated from Bakersfield High School. In the summer of 1952 she was joined in marriage with her late husband, Henry on June 7th. Their union was blessed with two children, Bruce and Sheila. Betty was employed at Western Electric/AT&T for over 25 years. She was very involved with the Telephone Pioneers, in which she was in charge of fundraising for the group, for over 20 years. Betty managed and bought for the company store in the Lee’s Summit facility, as well as many other events throughout the years, raising money for the Pioneers to help the local under served community.

In life Betty and Henry enjoyed traveling. Having been to all 50 states, they ventured out into the Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe. After retirement they bought an RV, traveling in that for part of the year and eventually they found a place in Florida to buy and settle down in the winter months, giving up life on the road. She especially enjoyed their winters in Florida and attending music venues as Henry was an avid guitar player.

Betty was preceded in life by her loving husband of over sixty-four years, Henry J. Smith; her twelve year old son, Bruce Wayne Smith; and parents, Clifford and Dorothy Russell.

She is survived by her loving daughter, Sheila Smith; brother C. Eldon Russell; and one niece, Brenda Frealy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Alzheimer’s Association, 3846 W. 75th Street #4126, Prairie Village, Kansas 66208.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278

Adrian Lions Club Appreciation Day!

Obituary - Helen Faye Mielke

Helen Faye Mielke, age 63, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday, September 30, 2021, at the Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. She was born June 2, 1958, in Rocky Mountain, North Carolina, the daughter of Chester Eugene Crim and Judy Bass Crim. Faye married Michael E. Mielke on August 8, 2009, in Ft. Scott. 

Faye had worked in customer service at both Digital Lighthouse and Cigna. She enjoyed gardening, tending her flowers, going to rummage sales and auctions and playing cards. She was a member of the Lighthouse Tabernacle in Pittsburg, Kansas and had recently been attending Open Door Mission Church in Arcadia, Kansas.

Survivors include her husband, Mike, of the home, two sons, Steven Bailey (Kaytie), of Ft. Scott and Jerry Bailey (April), of Branson, Missouri and two daughters, Suzie Haffer, Orange Beach, Alabama and Hillary Henson, of Osawatomie, Kansas; a step-daughter, Deserie Salazar of Chicago, Illinois several grandchildren and a great-grandson. Also surviving are her step-mother, Mary Crim of Holden, Missouri, a brother, Kelly Crim of Holden, Missouri, two sisters, Gail Crim, Olathe, Kansas and Linda Sieg, of Leavenworth, Kansas and a step-sister, Debbie Wiely and a step-brother, Louis Wiely both of Leavenworth. She was preceded in death by her father.

There was cremation. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 A.M. Monday, October 11th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Faye Mielke Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Public Service Announcement from the Butler License Office

Motor Vehicle and Drivers License systems just went down state wide. We are unaware how long this will be down. 

Please call or check back on the page for updates. So sorry for any inconvenience.

(660) 679-0061

Attention City of Rockville Residents

NOTICE:
The City of Rockville water tower will be turned off due to water repairs on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

The Streets will be Bates & 2nd & Lakeview & 2nd. A Water Boil Advisory will be in place from Tuesday, October 5, 2021, beginning at 12:00 p.m. Thru Friday, October 8, 2021, Ending at 12:00 p.m. 

Thank You, The City of Rockville

BCMH Board Member Spotlight: Jerry Jones

Bates County Memorial Hospital’s board member spotlight features Jerry Jones, who was first elected for his position in 1986, and has served on the board a total of 32 years.

Jerry, who grew up in Bates County and graduated from Butler High School in 1967, believes his hometown hospital is an underrated asset to the community.

“The service we provide to our community is not always recognized," he said. “Our stability in the past benefits us now, and hopefully will continue to in the future. We have good health care providers, which includes everyone here – doctors, nurses, housekeeping, dietary – not just one group, but the entire staff.”

Jerry’s career started with BCMH, cutting grass for the hospital at age 15. He was an orderly for the hospital in 1969 while taking classes in Ft. Scott, then at a nursing school in Nevada, where he earned his LPN in 1974.

In 1973, BCMH was approved by the State Division of Health to provide ambulance service to Bates County, and Jerry was among the first to obtain his EMT license. At the inception of the ambulance program, an employee from every department at the hospital obtained an EMT license to assist with the new ambulance service. Eventually, a dedicated ambulance department was formed, and Jerry served as its first director. To help build the program, he coordinated and taught EMT classes for a number of years in partnership with the University of Missouri. Paramedic services were added around 1978.

Jerry’s career path took him away from BCMH in 1984, but he remained closely connected to the hospital and community through his service with the board of directors. His background in health care, and later in information technology with Truman Medical Center and Cerner, has proved to be valuable in his position. Still, he says, a hospital board member’s role requires ongoing training to stay current with regulations and other changes in the health care industry, which at times evolve rapidly.

Together with his fellow board members, Jones was among the founding members of the Bates County Community Health Foundation, formed in 1998. In 2004, he received the Excellence in Governance Award from the [Missouri Hospital Association].

“My interest has been for this hospital, for this community,” Jerry said. “I have seen the value that we have here. I hope we can continue to have it in the future.”

Jerry and his wife Sharon reside in Butler, and they enjoy spending time with their two grandsons. Their son, Jeremy Jones, is a physical therapist for Rehabilitation Services at Bates County Memorial Hospital.

The hospital medical staff, employees and volunteers thank Jerry Jones for his service.

 

About BCMH Board Members: As elected officials, BCMH board members serve five-year terms on a volunteer basis, and oversee such matters as making strategic decisions for the hospital, hiring and monitoring an effective CEO, ensuring the hospital is providing quality care, overseeing the hospital's financial well-being, staying educated in healthcare industry news and best practices, and being a representative of the hospital in the community. They delegate the responsibilities for the hospital’s day-to-day operations and decision making to the chief executive officer and the hospital’s management team.

Obituary -Jesse E. Reid

Jesse Edward Reid, 32, of Blue Springs, Missouri, was born, February 6, 1989, in Overland Park, Kansas. He departed this life, Saturday, September 25, 2021, at his home.

He attended Center High School.

Jesse was a United States army veteran proudly serving in 82nd Sustainment Brigade in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. During his time in the army, he earned the Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, and the Parachute Rigger Badge.

Jesse was employed as a Union Electrician Journeyman. He was a member the IBEW Union Local #124. He enjoyed playing league pool and playing video games.

Jesse was preceded in death by his mother, Donna Holmes.

He is survived by his father and stepmother, Kenneth and Ona (Green) Reid of Pleasant Hill; his twin-sister, Angela Nicole Reid of Pleasant Hill; other relatives and friends.

Cremation has been accorded.

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 - Richard Lee Statler II

Richard Lee Statler II, age 58, of Raymore, Missouri, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 30, 2021.

Services will be scheduled at a later date.

Richard was born in Hugoton, Kansas on March 13, 1963 to Richard Lee Statler and Sara Jean (Miller) Statler. Richard graduated from Raymore-Peculiar High School in 1981 and continued his education briefly before working as an IT Technician for various banks. In life, Richard loved nothing more than spending time with his friends and family whether playing cards, watching the Chiefs, Nebraska Cornhuskers or just socializing. He was loved by many and enjoyed listening to his favorite artist LeAnn Rimes and spending time with his two dogs when he lived in California.

Richard was preceded in death by his long time life partner Ron Williams, maternal and paternal grandparents; and sister, Cheryl Knoche.

He is survived by his loving parents, Richard Lee and Sarah Jean Statler; brother, Gary Statler (Valerie); sister, Terri Finke (Richard); eight nieces and nephews; and many great nieces and nephews.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278