Mid America Live

Obituary - Betty Ann Pritchard

Betty Ann Haley Pritchard, age 92, of Columbia, Missouri, passed away on March 26, 2022.

The daughter of William and Ethel Haley, Betty Ann was born on October 27, 1929, in Nevada, Missouri. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and graduated from Nevada High School. She attended Cottey College in Nevada and was a proud PEO. Betty Ann never tired of relating that she was named after a loaf of Betty Ann Bread.

On August 23, 1952, she married Harry Lewis Pritchard in Nevada. They had two sons, Daniel and Kevin. For many years, Betty Ann worked with Harry at his insurance and real estate business in Nevada-Pritchard Real Estate and Insurance. Harry predeceased Betty Ann on January 14, 1991. Betty Ann moved to Columbia, Missouri in January 2017.

Betty Ann was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nevada, and St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Columbia.

Survivors include: two sons, Dan (Jan) of Columbia, and Kevin (Gail) of Tucson, Arizona; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; her sister, Mary Muenchinger (Bill); and many nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her parents, her brothers Bill and Jim, and her grandson, Patrick.

Burial will be held at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Nevada. Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 2, 2022, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nevada. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2022, at the Ferry Funeral Home Chapel in Nevada; the rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 330 N Main, Nevada, MO, 64772, or to the choice of the donor.

Obituary - Jared Christopher Vinzant

Jared Christopher Vinzant, 32, Olathe, Kansas departed this life on Friday, March 25, 2022 at his home.

He is survived by his mother and step-father, Jessica and Michael McCartney of the home; 4 sisters, Eryn K. Vinzant, Overland Park, Kansas, Twila L Travis (Brooks), Republic, Missouri, Jessie Madrid, Sedalia, Missouri, Farren Stanley, Seattle, Washington; a niece, Alexis A. Voytko, Overland Park, Kansas; other relatives and many friends.

Cremation. A Memorial Graveside Service with Military Honors will be held 1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 28, 2022 at the Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, Kansas.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 30, 2022 at the VFW Post 7397, 9550 Pflumm Road, Lenexa, Kansas 66215.

Family suggests memorial contributions may be made to Mission 22 - Treatment for PTSD for Veterans.

A complete obituary will be posted when it becomes available.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri.

From the Bates County Sheriff's Office

At approximately 535pm today the Sheriffs Office responded to check the welfare of a 14 year old walking through pasture property south of Butler. At approximately 545 we were notified that Butler Police Department had just put out a bulletin of a missing juvenile that matched the description of the 14 year old.

Because of the large area where the 14 year old was last seen, a multi-agency ground search was activated. Members of the Bates County Sheriff’s Posse, Sheriff’s Mounted Posse, Butler Fire, Butler Police, and Bates County Sheriff’s Office were all activated along with the area property owners to search the area. As equipment such as man power, 4 wheelers, UTVs, drones and horses began to arrive the 14 year old subject was located and returned safely to his family.

This shows the capabilities of our local emergency services and their ability to work together as one team to benefit our community.

Approximately 40 people arrived initially with another 20 to 30 additional volunteers loading equipment to respond. We would like to thank the property owners and public who helped with our efforts.

Obituary - Eleanor Jane (Muir) Gebo

Eleanor Jane (Muir) Gebo, age 98, passed away peacefully March 19, 2022 following a brief illness. Eleanor was born March 13, 1924 in Princess Anne, Maryland to John Mark Muir and Lillian Frances McGrath Muir. She was the second youngest of six children. Eleanor attended Princess Anne Elementary School, then studied at Washington High School (Princess Anne, MD) and Richard Montgomery High School (Rockville, MD) before returning to graduate from Washington High School.

Eleanor's interesting life included working in a shirt factory and clerking in a shoe store before she began a 26-year career with C&P Telephone Company where she retired in 1982. On Christmas Day 1942 Eleanor married the love of her life, Donald George Gebo, at St. Peters Episcopal Church in Princess Anne, Maryland, and the couple then moved to Baltimore, MD, where they made their home for 40 years. Their only child, Patricia Ann Gebo (Carson), was born on January 31, 1945. In retirement, Eleanor and Don Gebo moved back to the suburbs of Princess Anne where they lived for eleven years. Following Don's death in 1988 Eleanor moved to Butler, Missouri, to be near her daughter and grandchildren.

Eleanor remained active in the Butler community until her mid '90s, attending weekly services at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Butler, playing cards with friends, and donating many hours of service each week to her community. Her heart's work was volunteering at the gift shop at Bates County Memorial Hospital and dispatching for the Senior Taxi Service in Butler.

Eleanor (Auntie) was very religious and spent the last twenty months with her niece, Suzzanne Bilo, her husband David, and their daughters Rachel and Kristina, reading her bible, doing word searches, corresponding with friends and family, knitting, watching boats as they sailed by, and enjoying her daily glass of wine. She lived her life according to Ephesians 4:32 — "And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ."

Eleanor was predeceased by her husband, parents and all her siblings, John Muir, Jr., Bessie Bloodsworth, Edwina Martin, Edna Hight and Robert Muir; and by her daughter Patricia (Gebo) Carson.

Eleanor is survived by her grandchildren Leslie, Jim, and John Carson; three great grandchildren John, Jr., Courtney, and Jacob and four great, great grandchildren Zane, Jade, Carson and Courtney; nieces Suzzanne Bilo, Stacey Muir, Kerry Daniel and nephews Gary and John Muir, Hugh Martin, numerous other nieces and nephews, and her devoted friend and neighbor, Jim Lewis, who she frequently said was the "son I never had."

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Friday, April 1, 2022 at Hinman Funeral Home in Princess Anne, MD where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at All Saints Monie Cemetery in Venton, MD.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Butler Senior Citizens' Center at 611 West Mill Street, Butler, MO 64730. To express condolences to the family, visit www.hinmanfuneralhome.com

Four hurt in Barton County crash

On March 29th around 2:25 p.m. the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Barton County along with Barton County Sheriff's Office responded to a one vehicle accident on NW 1st Lane around 3 miles north of Lamar, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident occurred when the 2003 Lexus driven by 20 year old Hannah M. Garren of Sheldon, Missouri lost control on a gravel road, traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned.

Hannah M. Garren along with three other people in the vehicle 25 year old William R. Howard of Nevada, Missouri, A 2 year old female and a year old male all sustained minor injuries in this accident and all were transported to Cox Barton County Hospital for treatment.

View crash report below:

https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP68/AccidentDetailsAction?ACC_RPT_NUM=220156093

Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued

National Weather Service has just issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for our area till Midnight tonight.

A severe thunderstorm watch means that conditions are favorable for a severe thunderstorm to develop. Those in or near the watch area should: Be alert for changes in weather conditions.

Monitor local radio, television networks, or your weather alert radio for further potential developments.