Mid America Live

Sunday, July 30, 2023

Charles David McLanahan

Charles David Mclanahan born June 29, 1941 to Frank and Opal (Burris) Mclanahan in East Lynne, Mo.

After schooling, he worked for Modot at West Line, MO. He was drafted into the army serving part of his time in Germany. After the service, he returned to Modot at Archie and eventually became shed boss until retirement in 1996. After retirement from Modot, he ran a dozer for Bob Wilson for a few years and made rat runs.

In his after work hours, Charlie was always working on something from C&B welding with his brother Bill Mclahanan, to overhauling an engine, to the famous 5 minute fix job for someone.

Charlie married Linda Blakeley (Grah) on December 17, 1994. They had a little over 28 years together.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, brothers Bill Mclahanan and Jim Mclahanan. He is survived by his wife Linda of the home, son Phillip Mclahanan of Sarcoxie, Step-children Crystal Gainey of Archie and Brian (Becky) Petty of Archie, Grandchildren Tristen, Christian, Kelton, Dara, Ali, Olivia, and Rylee, Great grandchildren: Oakley, Lilian, and Marlie, Brothers: Connie Mclanhanan of Butler, Mike (Sonja) Mclahanan of Archie, many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri. Cremation.

Family will receive friends Wednesday, August 2, 2023 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.Memorial contributions may be made to the Archie High School Agriculture Department.

Update: Structure fire in Clinton

At 5:13pm on Friday, July 28th, the Clinton Fire Department was dispatched to 501 East Ohio Street on a reported cooking fire in the kitchen of the residence.

The on-duty crew of 3 personnel responded in 2 apparatus. Fire Chief Mark Manuel was first to arrive on scene and reported heavy pressurized smoke coming from the home as well as active fire on an enclosed porch area in the rear of the home. A second alarm was requested for a working structure fire and the need for additional personnel.

Upon arrival of the on-duty fire crew at 5:16pm, suppression efforts immediately began after determining that no one was inside the home. Due to the complexity of the construction of the home, the extent of the fire upon arrival, extreme ambient outdoor temperatures, and lack of initial response personnel on scene, suppression efforts were very difficult. Deputy Fire Chief Matt Willings arrived on scene shortly after the on-duty crew. With only 2 personnel able to conduct fire suppression operations initially, Chief Willings assisted in fire attack operations until more personnel arrived on scene.

The extreme outdoor temperatures created a very unsafe environment for fire firefighters. With exhausted resources and the need for additional assistance, Fire Chief Mark Manuel requested a 3rd alarm for personnel and mutual aid assistance from Deepwater Fire Department. Mutual Aid assistance was also requested from Calhoun Fire Department. Both departments combined provided a total of 8 personnel. These 8 individuals were critical to the positive outcome of this incident.

The cause of the fire was determined to be caused by a grease fire that started on the stove in the kitchen. The fire quickly spread throughout the kitchen, into a rear enclosed porch area and spread to the attic of the home prior to the arrival of fire crews. Fire/Smoke damage to the home was extensive. 3 people have been displaced as a result of the fire. The American Red Cross was contacted to assist the family.

In total, 14 Clinton Firefighters responded to the incident including Fire Chief Manuel and Deputy Fire Chief Willings. A Clinton Firefighter and Calhoun Firefighter were transported to Golden Valley Memorial Hospital for heat related injuries. Both have been released as of the time of this press release and are expected to make a full recovery.

The Clinton Fire Department would like to extend a thank you to Deepwater and Calhoun Fire Departments for their assistance. Additionally, we would like to extend a special Thank You to Golden Valley Ambulance and their crew members that assisted with rehab operations for personnel. These individuals went above and beyond to ensure all personnel on scene were cooled down, hydrated, and medically cleared to perform operations. Thank you to the Clinton Police Department as well for their assistance with traffic control and overall willingness to assist where needed.

In total, fire crews were on scene for approximately 5 hours.

Saturday, July 29, 2023

Obituary - Louis Gene Baggerly

Louis Gene Baggerly, age 76, of Belton, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, surrounded by family and friends.

Services are scheduled for Wednesday, August 2, at South Haven Baptist Church, in Belton, MO. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed immediately by services at the Church. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri.

Lou was preceded in death by his parents, Harold & Juanita Baggerly, his beloved Father-In-Law, Bernard William Flucke, and one sister-in-law, Mary Dianne Flucke.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Teresa Susan (Flucke) Baggerly, cherished sons, Louis Tucker Baggerly (wife Haley), and Nathaniel Gene Baggerly; beloved daughters, Shawna Dawn Baggerly and Tonya Jean Carter; and several grandchildren including a precious granddaughter (Evelyn Virginia) who has yet to enter the world. He also leaves behind his Mother-in-law (Mary A. Flucke), six brothers/sisters-in-law, and brother/sister at heart, John Bussiere (Donna).

Louis was born in Springfield, Illinois on March 18, 1947, to Harold & Juanita Baggerly. He grew up in Palmyra, Missouri, where he gained his adventurous spirit through exploring the wilderness, caves, swimming in the Batey Charles, and perfecting the art of general mischief. Upon graduation from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served with honors as a 3rd Class Petty Officer and Crew Chief. He valiantly completed one tour of duty with the HC-1 ‘Pacific Fleet Angels’ and one tour of duty with the HSC-3 ‘Pack Rats’, where he flew in Holy Helo, Recon Assistance, Mercy Mission, and Vertical Replenishment in Vietnam.

Upon discharge, he joined the Kansas City Missouri Police Department where he served for 27 years. His career included serving as a Patrolman, Crime Scene Investigator, and Motorcycle Instructor in the Traffic Enforcement Unit. In 1972, he received the Distinguished Service Medal and Gold Award for conspicuous bravery and heroism.

During this time, he met his best friend and soulmate (Teresa) with whom he spent the rest of his life raising his beautiful family and having many wonderful adventures. After retiring from the service, he started a new career and built a trucking company. Twenty-one years later he “retired” for six months, quickly going back to work helping a local farmer and friend. He would continue to work until nine months before his passing. He loved being outside, fishing, woodworking, raising bees, and above all else, being with his family.

Lou was a loyal husband, friend, devoted father, a kind and generous man, and the hardest worker. He brought love and laughter into many lives, even in his final moments.

In Lou’s final moments, his last request was that everyone “tell stories”. Lou slipped away in his sleep, surrounded by his family and friends, comforted by laughter and love.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Vietnam Veterans of America (820 SE Vista Drive, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063), Missouri Department of Conservation (visit https://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/DonationForm.pdf and complete the form) or Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) (visit https://heroes.vfw.org/page/21776/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=homepage and complete the form).

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278

Hay scam floating around Cedar County

Scam Alert:

I would like to make everyone aware that here is an apparent scam going around where someone is posting hay for sale.

We have had one report of this where the buyer was asked for and made a partial payment for delivery fees, then the hay was never delivered.

Then the alleged sellers post disappeared and they could not be contacted again. If someone asks for advance payment, it is most likely a scam, unless you know the seller or know they are legitimate.

Thank you
Cedar County Sheriff James McCrary

Obituary - Wanda Marlene Keyes

Wanda Marlene Keyes, 70, of Jefferson City, Missouri, formerly of Clinton, Mo., passed away Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City. She was born May 10, 1953 in Clinton, Mo., the daughter of Allen Edward Wilson and Wanda June (Church) Wilson.

Wanda held various positions in an array of occupations. She was a welder, a veterinary assistant, worked in a phlebotomy lab, was a resident assistant for a school for the deaf in Fulton, Mo., and was a clerk with the Missouri Department of Revenue.

She loved to deer hunt, even traveling to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado to hunt. She also enjoyed fishing, camping, playing pool and taking pictures. She adored taking care of her nieces and nephews and spending time with family.

Surviving are her husband, Mike Keyes, Hartsburg, Mo.; one son, Lance McKinney (Amanda), Osceola, Indiana; one step-son, Jeremy Sebastian (Leslie), Jefferson City, Mo.; seven grandchildren; two brothers, Bill Wilson, Quartzsite, Arizona and Gary Wilson, Clinton, Mo.; two sisters, Denise Lee (Richard), Jefferson City, Mo. And Glenna Lawson, Clinton, Mo.; one sister-in-law, Linda Wilson, Clinton, Mo.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, July 30, 2023 at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. just prior to the memorial service. Interment at a later date will be in the Englewood Cemetery. Condolences may be left online at www.bradleyhadley.com.

Obituary - George L. Ragan

George Lawrence Ragan, of Clinton, Missouri, passed away on July 23, 2023 at ninety-six years old.

He was born on November 18, 1926 to George Francis & Edith Faye Ragan in the home of his maternal grandparents in Kansas City, Mo.

George grew up in Kansas City, Kansas on 61st Street & State Avenue, on one of the original eighty-five acres of land purchased by his great-grandparents in 1860 shortly after they immigrated from Ireland. His grandfather eventually inherited a portion of this land where his father was raised in the early 1900's. His mother for a short time lived on the same street when destiny took its course and brought George Francis & Edith together. They married in early 1926 and built a house on the family land where they raised their only child, George Lawrence "Larry". His childhood was filled with joyful memories with the many relatives who also lived on 61st Street.

He completed grades 1st-8th at Lindberg School, which only had two rooms and two teachers for roughly thirty students. He then attended Turner High School where he graduated from in 1944.

Upon his 18th birthday later that year he enlisted with the United States Merchant Marines and was on a train a few weeks later headed for San Pedro, Ca. By early 1945 his active duty began working in the engine room on tankers and troopships that made multiple trips throughout the Pacific during WWII until Victory Day. After the war ended, he continued his service primarily working on banana cruisers hauling produce from Central America to the U.S. through the Gulf of Mexico & Panama Canal. His most memorable tour was an unplanned trip around the world; five continents, three oceans, for six months out to sea. During a visit home in early 1947, a cute, blue-eyed, dark-haired waitress caught his attention making the decision easy to not further a career with the Coast Guard.

He married the love of his life, Eleanore Jeanne Robertson, on September 29th, 1948, in the living room of a family member's home in Kansas City, Kansas. The lyrics from their wedding song, "I Love You Truly" embodied exactly how George felt about his wife.

Work technically began in George's youth helping on the family farm, including delivering milk in glass bottles to customers' doorsteps from his father's dairy business, Fairview Dairy. Prior to and following his Merchant Marine days he worked for an asphalt company running equipment. He then took an interest in mechanics that led to several jobs working in the parts departments at Chevy and Mack Truck and also in the machine shop for Union Pacific. He ended his professional career at International Harvesters in Fairfax as the lead maintenance operator where he retired in 1981 after thirty years of service.

He and his wife were blessed with three children, daughter Judith in 1951, son Robert in 1952, & daughter Lea Ann in 1959. Both being only children were thrilled to have a full house but the responsibility to care for the elderly and ill family members throughout their first 25 years of marriage while raising their own proved to be a challenge. They diligently worked to provide the absolute best upbringing for their children and succeeded greatly in their roles as parents.

When time became their own, they moved to Sedona, Arizona where his wife evolved into a talented artist inspired by the beautiful scenery & culture. These were the best years of their lives that sadly was interrupted seven years later when Eleanore was diagnosed with stage 4 bone cancer. For four treacherous years George cared for his sweetheart until she lost her battle in 1993.

He then moved back to the Kansas City area and stayed busy helping his grown children & their spouses with various Mr. Fix-it projects and was a regular attendee to holidays and special occasions that celebrated each of his nine grandchildren. Every greeting and farewell included a hug and big smile, and usually a short but sweet joke accompanied with his signature laugh.

Life appeared to move on but the agony of losing his wife was still very much present in the years following. That is until he met Helen Harrison, at his regular breakfast spot in Clinton, Missouri. They married in 1998 and her daughter, Gayle, was then also unofficially adopted into the Ragan Family. In 2004 Helen passed away and the extension of her family remained a valuable part of George's life.

He was preceded in death by wives Eleanore (1993) and Helen (2004), and only son Robert (2017). He is survived by daughters Judy Carter & Lea Ann Graybill (Claude), Leila Ragan, and Gayle Johnson; ten grandchildren: Wendy Heddings, Carolyn Jones, Jamie Heddings, David Heddings, Stephanie Winkler, Matthew Ragan, Adam Ragan, Nicole Calia, Ashlee Loper, and Ben Johnson; twenty-five great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.

George was a remarkable man, always patient and kind, a pure-bred gentleman that they just don't make like that anymore. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him, especially the lucky ones who called him "Dad", "Grandpa", or "Great-Papa".

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 28, 2023 at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. Interment will be in the Blue Springs Cemetery, Blue Springs, Mo. The family suggests memorial contributions to the St. Luke’s Hospice House. These donations may be left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may left online at www.bradleyhadley.com.