Obituary - Gracie May Webster

Gracie May Webster, of Harrisonville, MO, went to be with her Lord and Savior on June 24th, 2022.

Gracie was born to Bud and Hazel Sulser on April 7thh, 1933 in rural Cass County. Gracie attended East Lynne Elementary and subsequently graduated from Pleasant Hill High School. In 1951, Gracie married Forrest Ellis Webster and they were blessed with two daughters, Jamie and Tammie.

Gracie was considered a friend by most, loved my many, and kind to all whom she encountered. Gracie was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother. She was aptly named as she will be remembered always for her beauty, wit, and grace. Gracie enjoyed traveling and experiencing life to its fullest, but most enjoyed talking, singing, laughing, and spending as much time as possible with Ellis and the rest of her family, even throughout her final days.

Gracie was preceded in death by her father, mother, three siblings, and her eldest daughter Jamie Sue Lee. She is survived by her husband Ellis, her daughter Tammie Farr of Harrisonville, eight grandchildren, Travis and Lisa Hillmer of Greenwood, MO, Michael and Bryan Widman of Strasburg, CO, Jeremy and Alison Farr of Lee’s Summit, MO, and Eric and Kaitlin Farr of Archie, MO, nine great-grandchildren (Alyssa, Kassi, Jordan, Jaden, Tyler, Maddox, Lucia, Preston, Colson) and two great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on June 29th at the First Christian Church of Harrisonville at 4:30pm with the service to begin at 6:00.

Obituary - Joyce Carrol (Goldsberry) Halbrook

Joyce Carrol (Goldsberry) Halbrook became a citizen of heaven on June 26, 2022 shocking all who loved her by making a quiet exit without any fanfare.

Desperately missing her are her beloved daughters Sandra Dawn Halbrook and Candace Elizabeth Halbrook Fowler (Brian), all of Windsor, Missouri; seven grandchildren: Elizabeth Rivera (Javier), Gary Glenn Villines, Jr. (Katie), Morgan Renick (Cole), Carlton Fowler, Camden Fowler, Coleman Fowler, and Chapman Fowler; five great-grandchildren: Hunter, Silas, Ford, Jack, Finley Luisa, and Marlo Elizabeth who is expected to arrive in September.

Also mourning Joyce is her younger sister, Rowena Sue Castor (Fred), Camdenton, Missouri, two sisters-in-law, Mary Elizabeth Thompson (C. Lee), Surprise, Arizona, and Leta Marie Lough (Gary), Montgomery, Texas; and several nieces, nephews and countless friends. Joyce and her husband, Jim, who preceded her in death on May 9, 2021, first met on a blanket under a tree when their mothers placed them in the shade at a church picnic when they were both under the age of five years old. Jim and Joyce married June 5, 1955, in Houston, Missouri, just a few days after Joyce graduated from Houston High School. It was always ‘Jim and Joyce.’ It is hard to think of Joyce without thinking about Jim, because Joyce was always who Jim needed her to be. As reported elsewhere, Joyce was a rule follower and compliant in all respects – except for that one time she was sent home from school because she wore pedal pushers with a zipper up the side which broke the 1950’s school dress code for girls. Joyce and Jim made their home in Clinton, Missouri, where Joyce wore a path to and from Jim’s State Farm Agency. She lovingly supported Jim throughout his 40 plus years as an Agent. She was the ‘woman behind the man’ helping him achieve numerous accolades throughout the years. After seven years of marriage, Joyce gave birth to her favorite daughter, Sandra Dawn, in 1962. Joyce loved to tell stories of when Sandy was a baby. Joyce would lay out one baby outfit for the morning, one for the afternoon, and one for the evening. Certainly Sandy was not lacking in attention. In 1971, Joyce gave birth to Candace Elizabeth, also her favorite daughter. In 1971, Joyce was considered an old mom giving birth to a baby at the advanced age of 34. Joyce and Jim endured much ribbing about being a modern day Sarah and Abraham giving birth. Certainly, Candy was an unexpected blessing. Anyone who knew Joyce knew that she adored her girls. Joyce was an impeccable planner and was the hostess extraordinaire. She delighted in entertaining in her home as well as planning numerous events for her church and community. Not to be outmatched by a massive stroke in 2002 that left her paralyzed on the left side, she mastered planning and entertaining, employing her dutiful husband to pour batter, carry cinnamon rolls, and ice angel food cakes. Jim was selfless in his desire to assist the hostess. Suffice it to say, Jim was a very smart man. Joyce reveled in entertaining, playing the piano and organ, creating needlepoint, directing Senior choirs, and raising money for Windsor Museum Research Center & Historical Society. However, Joyce’s real passion was people and especially serving in her church, First Baptist Church of Clinton, Missouri. Joyce was generous with her time and money. She sent hundreds of cards to friends, family and strangers. And in her later years, she would often make several trips (per day) to the Dollar Store to find just the right card. Joyce felt that a job worth doing was worth doing very well – very, very well. She enjoyed making things beautiful. No matter where she, Jim and their girls lived, she always made a house a home, and made every occasion something spectacular. Don’t even get us started on Christmas. Christmas was always extra! Although Joyce’s curtain call was unexpected, it brings great joy to her girls that their mother is reunited in heaven with their dad. Sixty-six years on earth together was not enough, but eternity should be just about the right amount of time for the lovebirds. And because of Jesus, they have the hope they will see them again one day. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 1, 2022, at the First United Methodist Church (916 Thompson Blvd.), Sedalia, Missouri, with Rev. Jim Downing officiating. Graveside services will follow at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the Englewood Cemetery, Clinton. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. The family suggests contributions to the First United Methodist Church, Sedalia, in care of the funeral home.

Obituary - Joan Elizabeth Mabry

A funeral service for Joan will begin at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 30, 2022 at Hill and Son Funeral Home in Appleton City, Missouri.

Visitation will precede the service beginning at 9:00 a.m. Pastor David Hill will officiate at the service

Interment will be in the Appleton City Cemetery, Appleton City, Missouri. The family suggest any memorial donations be made to Heartland Hospice.

Joan Elizabeth Mabry, 75, of Appleton City, Missouri., passed away at Appleton City Manor in Appleton City on Sunday, June 26, 2022. She was born to Eldon and Marjorie (Stone) Mabry on June 18, 1947, in Independence, Missouri., and grew up around the Kansas City, area. She attended Van Horn High School in Independence. She married Richard R. Barton in 1964, and together they had three children: two sons, Richard Eldon and Brian Scott, and a daughter, Joan Elizabeth.

Joan supported her children by working as a secretary in various offices around Kansas City, and in 1976 she and her children moved to Appleton City to be near her parents where she worked in various jobs, including as a bank teller and for the Internal Revenue Service.

After her parents’ deaths and when her children had become adults, Joan became a manager with Casey’s Convenience Stores, which caused her to relocate outside of Appleton City. She retired from Casey’s in 2012 and settled back in Appleton City.

Her biggest enjoyment was being a grandmother and she dearly loved her dogs Casey, Sis, and Milly.

Joan is survived by her two sons, Rick Barton, Branson, Missouri., Scott (Kelly) Barton, Louisburg, Kansas.; daughter, Joan (Karl) Sieleman, Appleton City, Missouri, along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Sign up now for the Poplar Heights Farm scavenger hunt!

The 1st annual FAST and the FURIOUS SCAVENGER HUNT will be held July 9th, 6:30 pm at the Bates county courthouse gazebo. This is a fundraiser hosted by Poplar Heights Farm to fund ongoing projects.

$50 entry fee per 4 person team. Must be 21 or older to participate. Limit of 20 teams. Prizes awarded to each member on the winning team. Bring selfie stick as any pictures taken must include all team members. After completing the list, bring all items and phone pictures to Poplar Heights Farm for verification.

Call 660-200-5620 to register your team. Deadline to register and play is July 1st.

Let's have some fun!

$50,000 winning Powerball ticket sold in El Dorado Springs

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Learn how to play: https://bit.ly/3pgWeFx

Obituary - Ruth Evelyn (Dodson) Robinson

Ruth E. Robinson, 100, of Ottawa, formerly of Blue Mound, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 25, 2022. Ruth was born on January 17, 1922 to Oscar and Lula (Wray) Dodson at Blanchard, Oklahoma.

When she was very young her family moved to Weatherford, Oklahoma where she attended all twelve years of schooling. At ten years of age, under the teaching of her Christian parents, Ruth understood the plan of salvation and asked Jesus to come into her heart to save her and be her Lord.

In her second year of college on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day, Ruth was in Sunday School when a telegram came from the War Department offering her a civil service job for which she had applied several months previously.

Never having traveled over one hundred fifty miles from home, seven days later she arrived in Washington D.C. thrilled by all the wonderful sights. She worked in Counter Intelligence Corps where she was secretary to a navy liaison officer.

Nothing in a Christian’s life is coincidental. Eltheda Kennedy, who was her best friend and roommate, was also a first cousin to Adrian. He was stationed at Dover Delaware, which made it easy to come to D.C. to visit Ruth.

Even enjoying Washington D.C. as she did, she missed her large family who had moved to Los Angeles. She joined them in 1943. Ruth worked as secretary at the LA Board of Education until November 30, 1947 when she and Adrian were married after his return from service overseas in the Pacific Theatre.

From then on, Blue Mound was her home. Almost three years later their first child, Janet, arrived and five years later their son, James. Ruth always said they were the daughter and son the Lord knew would perfectly fit her heart.

Over the years, in L.A. and Blue Mound, she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, rejoicing as students came to the Lord and grew in faith. Through the decades she loved being a homemaker on the farm.

Her kitchen was her domain, cooking delicious meals for family, farm hands, and her church family. Summers were filled with canning Adrian’s abundant garden harvest. In 2014 Adrian and Ruth moved from the farm to Vintage Park of Ottawa to be close to family.

The compassionate staff and residents at Vintage Park became their extended family. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Adrian; a grandson, Caleb; and a great grandson, Jackson. She is survived by a daughter, Janet Wright, and husband Brent of Ottawa, KS; their son, Jim Robinson, and wife Teri of Coffeyville, KS; five grandchildren: Todd Wright (Catherine), Abby Howe (Brian), Sara Forsythe (Josh), Luke Robinson (Christine), and Ben Robinson (Christoi), and eleven great-grandchildren. Today she is at home with her Lord and Savior and the close family she loved.

Funeral service will be 10:30 am Thursday, June 30, 2022 at the Blue Mound Federated Church. Burial in the Sunny Slope Cemetery.

Individual respects and guest registry can be made Wednesday June 29 at the Schneider Funeral Home, Mound City Chapel.

Contributions are suggested to the Blue Mound Federated Church. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

Obituary - Harold Raymond Long

Harold Raymond Long, age 91, Paola, Kansas passed away Sunday, June 26, 2022. He was born in Jingo, Kansas on March 17, 1931 the son of George and Norma Russell Long. He graduated valedictorian from La Cygne Rural High School in the Class of 1951.

He attended Pittsburg State University for one year. After high school, he served his country in the United States National Guard. Harold worked as a farmer, for Bendix and later retired from KDOT.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Leonard, George, and Dennis Long, and a sister, Berniece Ryan. Harold is survived by ten nieces and nephews, Judy Patterson, Jerry Long, Joy Saxton, JoAnn Burtness, John Ryan, Rebecca Ryan, Patrick Ryan, Maria Artzinger-Bolten, Robert Long, and Kathy Schlegel.

Funeral service will be 11 am Friday, July 1, 2022 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, La Cygne Chapel. Burial in the Oak Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm Thursday at the La Cygne Chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to La Cygne Historical Society. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

Information from the Linn County Sheriff's Office

For those departments sending Honor Guards to honor fallen Firefighter Joshua Haynes, the family and funeral team ask that members of the your Honor Guard arrive at Tuesday’s visitation at Pleasanton High School, 1001 Ash St, Pleasanton, KS 66075, by 1:30 pm. Department personnel wishing to participate in the Honor Tunnel should arrived by 2:00pm.

For those Honor Guards participating in the funeral on Wednesday, please arrive at Pleasanton High School by 7:45am. Department personnel that wish to participate in the Honor Tunnel should arrive by 8:00am, Wednesday morning. Fire apparatus should be dry.
The Sleep Inn and Suites, 302 E Wall St, Fort Scott, KS 66701 is holding a block of rooms for Honor Guards needing to stay overnight. 

They can be reached at 620-223-2555. The rooms are held under “Fire Department Honor Guard”, Group number VV97M4.

If your department/ Honor Guard plan on participating in the Visitation and/or Funeral, please send an email with your department name and number of Honor Guard members to Funeralserviceteam@linncountyfire.org