Friday, December 31, 2021

Obituary - Shirley Frances Hunter

Shirley Frances Hunter, age 65, passed away peacefully at the family home, after a short illness, on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at her home in Clinton, Missouri with her loved ones by her side. Funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, January 3, 2022 at Vansant-Mills Chapel in Clinton. 

Visitation will be from 12:00 - 1:00 PM prior to the service. The family request that masks be worn for the visitation and service. Burial will follow in Englewood Cemetery, Clinton. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to GVMH Hospice or St. Jude's and can be left in care of the funeral home.

Shirley was born the thirteenth of fifteen children to Johnie & Velma Snowden on September 28, 1956 in Stayton, Oregon. Shirley grew up with her mother, father, 9 brothers and 5 sisters, in various parts of the United States and graduated from Blue Eye High School in 1975.

After graduation, Shirley ventured out for various jobs in Branson and then Wyoming. Wyoming didn’t turn out to be her cup of tea, so when her sister Linda offered her a job at the Clinton Country Club, Shirley jumped at the chance. It was there that she met the love of her life, Rodney Hunter, where he also worked as a greenskeeper on the golf course. Shirley and Rodney were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton on November 24, 1979. Shirley and Rodney settled in Clinton and in 1982, their daughter, Tara, was born. Tara was the center of Shirley’s life, and she was incredibly proud of her when she graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in film production.

Shirley had a servant’s heart and was always willing to lend a hand wherever needed. She was a hard worker her entire life and found great satisfaction in a job well done. She loved to tell a good joke, play a round of golf with her friends, watch the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs, grow flowers in the summer and spend time with family and friends. Shirley always looked forward to her annual 4th of July party— complete with a fireworks display that had no rival.

Shirley will be remembered for her love of family and fun.

She is preceded in death by her mother Velma Snowden; her father Johnie Snowden; brothers Allen, Kenny, Virgil, Ferris, and Lonnie Snowden.

She is survived by her husband, Rodney Hunter of the home; her daughter, Tara Hunter of wherever she is working at the moment. Five sisters; Carolyn King of Blue Eye, Missouri, Linda Cowan of Clinton, Missouri, Brenda Rogers of Harrison, Arkansas, Rita Lawheed of Walnut Shade, Missouri, Jan Robbins of Aurora, Missouri. Four brothers; Earl Snowden of Blue Eye, Missouri, Bobby Snowden of Lampe, Missouri, Bill Snowden of Kirbyville, Missouri, and Donnie Snowden of Harrison, Arkansas.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri.


Winter Storm Expected Late Tonight-Saturday

Here are the Updated details and Snow Totals for the Winter Storm. Happy New Year everyone and stay safe in all your travels this weekend!

Obituary - Ruby Joan Folkner

Ruby Joan Folkner, 89, Nevada, MO passed away on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at Nathan Richards Healthcare Center in Nevada. Ruby was born November 29, 1932 in Nevada to Marion R. and Lulla E. (Carroll) Moore. She married Ralph A. Folkner on August 9, 1952 in Eureka Springs, AR and he preceded her in death.

Ruby grew up in Nevada and attended Nevada Schools. Following her marriage to Ralph, they lived in Kansas for 3 ½ years before returning to Nevada where they lived the remainder of their lives. Ruby worked at various jobs in Nevada including the Moore Family Café and Grocery Store, Vieth’s Café, Kresses, Key Work Clothes, Quick Dine (with her brother, Larry and her sister, Dorothy), the Tent Factory, Fram for 20 years until her retirement, and after retiring she worked at 54 Café. Ruby was the tax collector for Badger Township for 17 years. She loved to be with children and helped with reading at Truman school. She enjoyed crocheting, quilting, and was always searching for new recipes to share with her family and friends.

Ruby is survived by three daughters, Karen Frazier, Lawrence, KS, Kitty Bear (Dennis), Nevada, and Kelly Simpson (Bruce), Nevada, MO; stepson, Jimmy Folkner (Barbara), Omaha, NE; eight grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren; 13 step-grandchildren; one brother, Larry Moore (Marilyn), Springfield, MO; several nieces and nephews as well as other relatives and friends. In addition to her husband Ralph, she was preceded in death by a brother, Junior Moore; sister, Dorothy Herstein; and a great-grandson, Ethan Palmer.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada. Interment will follow in Moore Cemetery in Nevada. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at the funeral home

Memorials are suggested to Vernon County Cancer Relief c/o Ferry Funeral Home.


Obituary - Timothy Pultz

Lt. Timothy D. Pultz USN AW/SW Retired, 59 of Hume, Missouri passed away December 17, 2021 at St. Luke’s East, Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Graveside services will be held 12:30 pm Friday, January 14, 2022 at Fort Scott National Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kansas. Services under the direction of Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). 

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Veterans Community Project (VCP). Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com

Tim was born on May 25, 1962 in Los Angeles, CA the son of Kenneth Dean Pultz and Sarah Blodgett

He grew up in San Gabriel, CA and attended Coolidge Elementary School and Clairborne Middle School. His family moved to San Marino, CA in 1976 ,and he attended San Marino High School, graduating in 1980. He spent most of his free time learning wood working and the building trade from his Father who was a general contractor. You could find Tim on the job sites whenever he was not in school. Upon graduation he attended Pasadena City College and obtained an AA degree in Engineering and Technology.

During his 20’s he worked for his Father in his home building and remodeling company and also worked for a surveying company in the area. In 1992, at the age of 30, Tim enlisted in the US Navy and attended bootcamp at the Recruit Training Center in San Diego, CA. He graduated number one in his recruit class and was given the Honorman Award.

Tim began his 22 year naval career attending numerous schools for structural mechanic safety equipment earning collateral duty inspector qualifications, surface warfare specialist qualifications and completing weight and balance school to become qualified to release aircraft “Safe for Flight”.

Tim served with the following commands:
• VA-34 Blue Blasters NAS Oceana VA
• VFA-34 Blue Blasters Cecil Field, FL
• Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 9 “Vampires” VX9 China Lake, CA
• Tim met Cynthia Lorraine Pultz in 1999 while stationed in China Lake and they were married March 18, 2000.
• VFA-83 Rampagers NAS Oceana VA-While attached he deployed on the USS George Washington and the USS John F. Kennedy
• NSA Souda Bay Naval Base in Souda Bay, Greece
• VFA-131 WILD CATS NAS Oceana, VA
• NAS Norfolk FRC Norfolk, VA

During this time his decorations, metals and achievements were numerous and well deserved.

On 28 April 2006 was his LDO Commissioning Ceremony - becoming a Mustang which is an Officer who has promoted up from the ranks of Navy enlisted personnel through the in-service procurement program with no interruption of his active duty status.

Tim retired December of 2014 and moved to Hume, MO with Cindy and their beloved dogs; Bonnie, Clyde and Buck. Tim’s dream was to live on a lot of acreage, build a house in the country where he could hunt, fish and throw balls to his dogs. Tim was able to achieve his dream.

He was preceded in death by his Paternal Grandmother, Mildred Penwarden, Grandfather, Kenneth Pultz, Maternal Grandparents Max and Grace Blodgett as well as his wife Cindy who passed away in Oct. of 2021.

Tim is survived by his Father Kenneth “Dean” Pultz, his Mother Sarah Allison and stepfather, Charles Allison

sister Michelle Agadoni and husband Brad Agadoni, a Nephew and Niece Max and Reilly Agadoni and many Uncles, Aunts and cousins.


Thursday, December 30, 2021

Obituary - Leonard Robert Payette

Leonard Robert Payette, age 75, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday, December 29, 2021.

The playground whistle blows. Everyone freezes. And in his loudest, baddest principal voice, Mr. Payette announces recess is over and everyone lines up. But a kindergartner strolls up to him, announces he has ketchup on his nose, and the tough exterior melts away. He starts to laugh.

That was the embodiment of Leonard Payette, appearing firm and stern on the outside but a kind and gentle man on the inside with generations of students, classrooms, and teachers impacted by his passion for education.

Leonard was full of grit, resilience, tenacity, and a little onerous. He was thoughtful, had quick wit, humorous, giving, and above all generous. In 2019 while in the hospital, he offered to buy the nurses and doctors dinner nightly from his favorite Mexican or Thai restaurant so they didn’t need to eat hospital food. When his daughters were younger, he sat in the make-believe salon for hours allowing his makeup and hair to be done.

He was born in New Bedford MA, but Southern California became his home for decades. There is where the majority of his adult life was lived and where he was happiest - in the town of Solvang, the mountains of Lake Arrowhead or in his home watching The Simpsons. He is preceded in death by his best friend, wife and partner, Elaine Payette, and his parents Ernest and Cecile Payette and brother, John Payette. Carrying on his legacy are his three siblings, Gerard, Raymond and Jackie, and his two daughters, Carla (Jerome) and Emily(Daven). He is survived by four grandchildren, Aiden, Bella, Amelia, and Leo - his namesake. Little Leo would be consistent in reminding Big Leo to watch his sugar.

It has been 18 years since he has been with you Mom, but he is coming to you. And hopefully, you two go on a heavenly date and eat Macho Nachos from the highest-rated YELP Mexican restaurant in heaven.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278

Celebration of Life service is pending at this time.


Winter Weather Expected Saturday

Prepare to ring in the new year with winter weather. Precipitation is expected to start early Saturday morning. Wintry mix transitions to snow Saturday afternoon.

Expect hazardous road conditions and blowing/drifting snow which will reduce visibilities.

Celebration of Life for David Robert Etterling

Celebration of Life for David Robert Etterling
Submitted by Sarah Lacer

Robert Alexander Lee Etterling (Alex) would like to announce a life celebration for his father. On December 27th 2021, David Robert Etterling passed.

The official obituary and memorial service will be at a later date to have him placed near his father and eventually his mother at Mount Moriah in Kansas City. There will be a Celebration of Life Ceremony held at Altona Baptist church on Sunday, January 9th 1:00pm.

Everyone that loved David is welcome as he loved so many. He was a great friend to many people. He frequently expressed to me the multitude of people that impact his life daily. I could never be able to recount each of you by name. I don’t want to leave any single person unlisted because you all were near and dear to his heart.

Alex would like to honor his dad and meet all the wonderful people that crossed his life. Our small town came together to support him with his medical needs and David always wanted me to make sure that when this day comes you all know you have a place in his heart. I know he felt it from all of you as well because I know about all the OATES trips, all of the medical professionals, all the home health professionals, the Methodist church family, the Altona Baptist family, the Yoss Thriftway family, the Harrisonville Sonic family, and so many more that I’m wishing I took notes.

Anyone that knows they would like to attend please let Sandi Schoor know so I have an approximate count for the church family hosting our celebration on Sunday January 9th at 1:00pm.

Courtesy of the Adrian News Leader


Forecast Snow Amounts Saturday


Not much change to the previous forecast. Timing of freezing precipitation still looks to arrive after midnight tomorrow night. The heaviest snow looks to occur north of a St Joseph to Kirksville line where 5 to 8 inches of snow is likely. 

The minor change to the forecast was south of that line where a longer period of sleet/freezing rain overnight Friday into Saturday morning may lower snow totals slightly. 

That being said 2 to 5 inches is expected across the KC Metro with heavier amounts expected across the northern Metro. 

Freezing precipitation will transition to all snow through the morning with snow continuing through the afternoon before tapering off in the evening Saturday.



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