Obituary - Bobby "Bob" Gene Brooks

Bobby "Bob" Gene Brooks age 83, of Clinton, Missouri, passed away Friday, January 21st, 2022 at his home. Memorial services will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at Vansant-Mills Chapel in Clinton. Visitation will be from 11:00-12:00 prior to the service. 

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Hermitage Masonic Lodge #288 or GVMH Hospice and can be left in care of the funeral home. Fond memories and condolences can be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.

Bob was born in 1938 to Clark and Racine (Estes) Brooks in Hickory County, Missouri near Cross Timbers. His mother passed away when Bob was 3 during childbirth to his baby sister who also passed away at that time. His father Clark was heartbroken and eventually joined the Army leaving Bob to raised by his grandmother, Estel Estes. He graduated from Cross Timbers High School in the class of 1955. He grew up attending the Cross Timbers Methodist Church. After high school he attended C.M.S.U. in Warrensburg for 2 ½ years majoring in business. He worked several jobs in Kansas City (Black, Sivils & Bryson, TWA, Bendix, H&R Block, Blue Springs Real Estate, as well as helping his Uncle Elmer in the construction business).

Bob and his wife Linda (Winter) met on a blind date in the summer of 1960. They married July 21, 1962 at the First Baptist in Clinton, Missouri. Making the family complete was the birth of their 3 children, Douglas in 1963, Daniel in 1964, and Robin in 1969.

They lived in Kansas City then Independence, Missouri. Not liking the city life they found a farm, with the help of Linda’s father, near Clinton, Missouri.

He continued to drive to Kansas City working at Bendix for a while, that traveling got old so he quit and worked at Clearfield for a while and later as a State Auditor at the local Employment Security office. He eventually returned to Bendix (now Honeywell) retired in 1992. Now he could enjoy farm life to the fullest watching his cattle herd multiply.

Bob was a life member of the Hermitage Masonic Lodge #288, Hermitage, Missouri; the Clinton Elks Lodge and formerly the Clinton Eagles Lodge. He spent many mornings going to the coffee shop to catch up on the latest news (gossip), then heading to the Elks Lodge to play cards with his buddies. He did some substitute teaching and bus driving for the Calhoun School. He loved to fish, taking several family vacations to Minnesota.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clark and Racine (Estes) Brooks, grandmother Ethel (Ray) Estes; uncle Elmer Estes; grandparents Edward and Effie (Garner) Brooks.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Linda, children; Douglas (Teresa) Brooks of Calhoun, Missouri, Daniel (Debby) Brooks of Fair Grove, Missouri, and Robin (Daniel) Everhart of Effingham, Kansas, grandchildren; Eric (Michal) Brooks, Stephanie (Cory) Shepard, Aaron (Belinda) Brooks, Jimmy Brooks, Janelle (Kyler) Steding, Cameron Brooks and Kaleb Giles, 12 great grandchildren; Jaselynn, Alyvia, Ava, Laira, London, Keagan, Vivian, Keaton, Jackson, Royce, Roman and Raelynn, cousins; Jim (Sharon) Burton, as well as other cousins, nephews, nieces and good friend Charlie Fields.

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

What a difference a day makes....

Apparently the weather got the memo that today is #oppositeday. Much cooler air has moved in resulting in highs today mirroring what we saw yesterday.

Wind chills near to below zero are expected this morning and overnight tonight into Wednesday so be sure to bundle up.

Obituary - Billy Eugene Burkett

Billy Eugene Burkett, age 61, passed away on Sunday, January 23, 2022 at his home in Clinton, Missouri. Fond memories and condolences can be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.

Billy Eugene Burkett was born on August 9, 1960 in Shamrock, Texas to Clarence and Colleen Burkett.

Billy was a wonderful father, brother, uncle, and friend.

Billy is survived by his two sons; Matthew Burkett, Billy Burkett, Jr., two brothers; Shayne Burkett of Clinton, Missouri and Norman Beasley of Knob Noster, Missouri, two sisters; Bernetta (Aaron) Roberts of Warrensburg, Missouri and Ronetta (Greg) Denison of Clinton, Missouri, his cousin Vickie Bean, his uncle David Burkett, along with many nieces and nephews.

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

Obituary - Theodore "Ted" William Bridges

Theodore "Ted" William Bridges, 94, of Adrian, MO, passed away peacefully at home with his wife of 72 years, Rosalie by his side on Wednesday, January 19, 2022. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 28, 2022 at the Calvary Baptist Church in Adrian with visitation from 10:00-11:00. Burial to follow in Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to charity of choice.

Ted was born in Willow Springs, Missouri on November 29, 1927, to John Thomas Bridges, Sr. and Anna Isabelle Dunning-Smith (Bridges). At the age of 18 Ted enlisted in the United States Army Air Corp. He was stationed in Fort Richardson, Alaska where he worked as a radio mechanic, working his way up to Sergeant before his discharge in 1949.

Ted met the love of his life, Rosalie (Payne) Bridges when he hitched a ride on a school bus while making his way home from the service. They were married in the fall of 1949, starting their married life in Kansas City before eventually moving to Adrian Missouri where they built their own house. They had four children, JoAnn, Lynn (deceased), Theresa (deceased), and David along with adopting Lynn's daughter Danielle after her death.

Ted provided for his family by working at Westinghouse, and then Bendix before quitting in 1964 to pursue his dream of owning and operating his own business. He purchased a service station in Adrian, Ted's Apco, which he ran until his retirement in 1993. Along with operating his business, he was a founding member of Calvary Baptist Church in Adrian, sponsored a little league baseball team for many years, and served as fire chief for the volunteer fire department.

Ted was preceded in death by his father, John Thomas Bridges, his mother Anna Isabelle Dunning (Bridges), five brothers, five sisters, and his daughters Lynn and Theresa. Survivors include his wife Rosalie, his children JoAnn, David, and Danielle, along with seven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren

Obituary - Tammy JoAnn (Bartlett) Powers

Tammy JoAnn (Bartlett) Powers, 57, departed this life and into the arms of Jesus on Friday, January 21, 2022 at the Cass Regional Medical Center, Harrisonville, Missouri.

She is survived by her husband of 36 wonderful years, Pat Powers of the home; two daughters, Jennifer (Spencer) McLean and Laura (Kyle) Schneidler all of Garden City, Missouri; four grandchildren, Addisynn, Shayne, Sydney and Austyn McClean; two sisters, Tracey Bowers, Belton, Missouri, Jamey (Eric) Derks, Branson, Missouri; her father-in-law, Jim Powers, Garden City, Missouri; three brother-in-laws, Jim (Vicky) Powers, Latour, Missouri, Andy (Marcella) Poweres, Garden City, Missouri, Sean (Andrea) Powers, Harrisonville, Missouri; many nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 28, 2022 at the Harrisonville Community Church, 1606 Chapel Drive, Harrisonville, Missouri with burial in the Clearfork Cemetery near Garden City, Missouri.

Family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, January 27, 2022 at the church.

Family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Kinder Castle.

Obituary - Kenneth “Ken” William Vogel

Kenneth “Ken” William Vogel, 84, Montrose, MO, passed away Sunday, January 23, 2022 at Crown Care Center in Harrisonville, MO. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, January 27, 2022 at St. Ludger Cemetery in Germantown, MO, under the direction of Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to the family, care of Atkinson Funeral Home.

Ken was born August 31, 1937 in Henry County, MO, a son of Nicholas and Geneva (Goth) Vogel. He worked for Santa Fe Railroad for 42 years as a switchman. Ken was an avid KC Chiefs fan, #15! He also enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Nick and Geneva Vogel, his wife, Mary, on August 1, 2021, and daughters, Anita Vogel-Hyde and Jolene Vogel. He is survived by his children, Sherry Hendricks (Randy) and Trent Vogel (Judy); his brothers: Delbert Vogel, Roger Vogel, and Roy Vogel; stepchildren; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many extended family and friends.

Obituary - Clarence Roger Watts Sr.

Funeral services for Clarence Watts will be 11 a.m. Thursday, January 27, 2022 at the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. Visitation prior to services from 10 - 11 a.m. Thursday, January 27 at the Schowengerdt Chapel. Interment with military honors in Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler, Missouri. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Clarence Roger Watts Sr., age 89 of Qulin, Missouri, formerly of Butler, Missouri died Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at Westwood Hills Health and Rehab in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He was born July 6, 1932 to Clarence Jacob and Opal Arvelia Giddens Watts in Adrian, Missouri.

Clarence is survived by two sons, Clarence Roger Watts Jr. of Ellington, Missouri and James Watts and wife Sandra of Warsaw, Missouri; two daughters, Elaine Kaighen and husband Chuck of Harrisonville, Missouri and Judith Jean and husband Michael of Bay City, Michigan; one brother, Delbert Watts and wife Marion of Adrian, Missouri; long time companion, Colleen Nail of Qulin, Missouri;14 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren plus three on the way. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; twin infant sons in 1962, William Dean and Robert Austin; one grandson, Derek Watts; one daughter, Patricia Davis; one brother, Dale Watts; and one sister, Joyce Arnold.

BCMH Announcement: Pharmacy Director named

Lauren Casey, PharmD, is the new director of pharmacy at Bates County Memorial Hospital (BCMH), a position she assumed earlier this month. Casey has worked as a pharmacist at BCMH for 10 years.

Lauren grew up in Kansas City, KS and earned her bachelor's degree in Biology at the University of Kansas. After getting married to her husband, Bryan, they moved to Georgia so her husband could go to college there. While he was in school, Casey worked in a lab, but her husband knew she wanted to do something different.

“Math and science were always my favorite subjects, so we found pharmacy to be a good choice. He urged me to apply to pharmacy school, and I got accepted.” Following her husband’s graduation, they moved back to Missouri, and in 2008, Casey graduated from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a doctorate.

Upon graduating, Casey worked in retail pharmacy at Walgreens. The pace was hectic; some days, she said, she felt she was working a conveyer line. When she had the opportunity to work for Bates County Memorial Hospital in 2012, Casey jumped at the opportunity, in part because the schedule would benefit her family life. The transition also proved gratifying for her professional goals.

“I like the idea of hospital pharmacy because I feel like I can make a difference in a patient's care. I have the ability to make recommendations or modify patient orders to provide the best care,” she said.

The role of the hospital pharmacist is quite involved as they work with the hospital’s medical staff to ensure all orders are correctly dosed and administered. In addition to filling orders for medications required in the operating rooms or for patients on the medical-surgical floor of BCMH, Casey is part of the team overseeing care for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and other infusion treatments at BCMH.

As director of pharmacy, Casey will focus on ensuring the department is following state and federal laws and the rules and regulations regarding the practice of pharmacy and makes sure the hospital remains compliant and up to date with any safety and quality standards.

“I have enjoyed the small-town hospital feel of working at BCMH. We get to know the patients and their histories. We are able to provide a more personalized level of care here that the big hospitals may not be able to provide.”

Casey and her husband live in Raymore, Mo. They have two sons, ages 14 and 12.