Obituary - Ron “Big Ronnie” McKellips

Ron “Big Ronnie” McKellips, age 85 of Amsterdam, Missouri passed away Sunday, April 14, 2024 at home surrounded by family. A visitation will be held Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm at Amsterdam Baptist Church, Amsterdam, Missouri. 

Memorial services will be held 3:00 pm Saturday following the visitation, also at the Amsterdam Baptist Church. Services under the direction of Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel (816-657-4400). 

Memorial Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com

Ronald Marion McKellips I, was born on November 17, 1938 in David City, Nebraska the son of Troy McKellips and Leona Byrom McKellips.

He was a horse trader and livestock dealer for many years, and he loved the sound of an auctioneer. He drove a semitruck for many years as well, and hauled everything from cars to livestock. Ronnie was a cowboy to the heart. He rode bareback horses and bulls, and dogged steers. Even as a teenager he would perform in Wild West shows. Big Ronnie loved his family and friends, and was always the life of the party.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents Troy and Leona (Byrom) McKellips, an infant son Troy Mckellips, his wife of 25 years Evelyn McKellips, three brothers Vernon McKellips, Delbert McKellips, Bob McKellips, and one sister Freda (McKellips) Mitchell.

Survivors include son Ron (Little Ronnie) McKellips and wife Kelly, daughter LeaAnna (McKellips) Foster and husband Jack, son Rick McKellips and wife Sharon, daughter Sharron Tarwater, numerous grandkids and great grandkids, five brothers Buzz, Jerry, Macky, Dick, and David McKellips, four sisters Juanita (McKellips) Campbell, June (McKellips) Blevins, Judy (McKellips) Crawford, and Doris (McKellips) Warner, as well as his companion of 28 years Judy Johnston McKellips.

Third-Inning Burst Enough To Lead Stockton Past Butler Lady Bears Softball On Senior Night

Third-Inning Burst Enough To Lead Stockton Past Butler Lady Bears Softball On Senior Night...

The Stockton Lady Tigers scored eight runs in the third inning, which helpers them defeat the Butler Bears 15-5 on Wednesday.

Stockton got on the board in the top of the first inning after Ellie F singled, Gracie A tripled, Ellie P singled, Riley G singled, and Megan L singled, all scoring one run.

Junior Avery Eldred pitched four and one-third inning in relief for the Butler Bears. The right-handed pitcher gave up eight hits and four runs (two earned) while, striking out two and walking three. 

Freshman Kylee Dubray started in the circle for the Butler Bears. The righty surrendered nine hits and eleven runs (five earned) over two and two-thirds innings, striking out one and walking three. P started in the circle for Stockton. They gave up nine hits and five runs (three earned) over six and two-thirds innings, striking out six and walking none.

Senior Ella Buckner, Sophomore Taylor Hudson, and Senior Haven Humphrey each collected two hits for the Butler Bears. Hudson, Humphrey, and Senior Miranda Foster each drove in one run for the Bears. Stockton piled up 17 hits in the game. 

The four seniors where honored as it was senior night. Thank you for the dedication to the Lady Bears Softball Team Ella Buckner, Cloey Fritts, Miranda Foster and Haven Humphrey. 

Next up for the Butler Lady Bears is a game against the Buffalo Bison on Monday.

Obituary - Gwen Coquillette

Gwen Coquillette, 64, Sheldon, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, after battling cancer for the second time. Gwen was born on December 3, 1959, in Lamar, CO, to Wesley L. and Jean (Osban) Kirbey.

Gwen moved to Sheldon, MO in 1965 where she attended elementary school and met a life-time friend in Vicki (Raynor) Jadlot. Her family moved to El Dorado Springs, MO, in the summer of 1972 where Gwen attended 8th grade through graduation in 1977. She started working at Chicken Mary’s restaurant at age 13 and continued to work there throughout high school and for a semester of college at SMSU in Springfield.

Gwen continued to work at different jobs until starting Draughon Business College in 1979. After graduating on the dean’s list at Draughon, she moved to Springfield where she got a job at Central Mortgage Bancshares, Inc. in the Loan Servicing Department. Gwen continued working there until transferring to Citizen’s State Bank in Nevada in 1986.

On August 29, 1986, Gwen was united in marriage to Andrew Coquillette to which 4 boys were born; Andrew (Heather), El Dorado Springs, MO, Shane, Sheldon, MO, Joshua (Tricia), Nevada, MO, and Nicolaus (Kaley), Springfield, MO. They raised their children in Sheldon, MO.

Survivors include her mother, Jean, Sheldon, MO; husband, Andrew; her four sons; three grandsons and one granddaughter, Isaac, Andrew, and Jerod, all of El Dorado Springs, MO, and Jennifer, St Charles, MO. Gwen was preceded in death by her sister, Erma (Kirbey) Leonard; father, Wesley; brother, Gordon; and brother, Gerald.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Gwen’s memory to the Sheldon R-8 School District in c/o Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada. Gwen was blessed to work for Sheldon Schools for many years.

Obituary - Etta Jane Webb

Etta Jane Webb, 84, Nevada, MO, passed away on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada. Etta was born October 21, 1939, in Duncan, AZ, to William Von and Belva Mae (Garrett) McGuire. She was united in marriage to Eugene Webb on April 7, 1956, in Clovis, NM, and the couple celebrated 68 years together.

Etta was raised in Arizona and later Clovis, NM where she met her future husband in 1954. The couple lived in numerous states, including Illinois where they began raising their family. They came to Nevada in March of 1976. Etta and her daughter Donna went to RN school in Ft. Scott, KS where they graduated together. She worked at the Nevada City Hospital from 1976 – 1994 until her retirement. Following her retirement, she traveled with her husband Gene overseas, his work took them to Ireland, Australia, Indonesia, and numerous other places. Etta was active in the American Legion and VFW Women’s Auxiliary and volunteered for the Nevada Senior Center.

Survivors include her husband, Eugene, of the home; five children, Arnold Webb (Terri), Nevada, Kelly Webb (Jerry D. Moore), Harwood, Scott Webb (Janice), Nevada, Donna Dahmer (Don), Nevada, and Jeri Miller (Chip), Camdenton; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews also survive. Etta was preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 19, 2024, at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada. Interment will follow in Newton Burial Park, Nevada.

Those who wish may contribute in her memory to the Nevada Senior Center c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

Bates County Sheriff's Office warns of possible scam

The Bates County Sheriff's Office has been made aware of a scam in our area. The caller is portraying themselves to be a Deputy or Sergeant with the Bates County Sheriff's Office. This is a reminder that no one from the Sheriff's Office will call you and ask you for money or advise you of a warrant by phone. 

We will never ask for prepaid cards of any kind to take care of fines or warrants. We will not ask you to scan a code and pay us for any kind of testing or fines. 

If you receive a call from someone who identifies themselves as law enforcement but you are not sure they are legitimately law enforcement, please hang up and call the Sheriff's Office yourself at (660) 679-3232 to verify it was truly a Deputy trying to reach you. Please make your loved ones aware of these types of scams, especially older people or those without social media.

Obituary -Kris (Nold) Vincent

Kris (Nold) Vincent, age 61, earned her wings and safely arrived at her Heavenly Home on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Memorial service will be held at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel in Clinton, Missouri. There will be a visitation from 5:30-6:30 PM prior to the service. Memorial contributions can be made to the Henry County Recovery Court and may be left in care of the funeral home. As an aside, Kris loved bright colors. If you’re able to come to her Celebration of Life, please feel free to wear bright colors to reflect her bright personality. She is already missed terribly by those left behind, but there is great solace in knowing she is with her Jesus.

Kris was born on August 15, 1962, in Clinton, Missouri, to Charles F. and Sharon (Dulaban) Nold. She married Jim Vincent on October 10, 1981. Kris held various positions after graduation from high school and returned to school later in life to obtain a bachelor’s degree in photography from the University of Central Missouri. While she loved photography and had many different passions, one of her passions was helping others which she was able to do in her employment at the Victim/Witness Unit of the Henry County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. She dearly loved all those she worked with, clients and coworkers alike.

Kris’s number one passion was telling others about Jesus Christ. She was a member of Crossroads Church of the Nazarene in Deepwater, Missouri. Thanks to her faith in Christ, she was strong to the end and a Godly example to all, calling and praying for beloved friends and family just days before her passing.

Also among her passions was children and family. When it came to children, her love was incomparable. There was nothing she wouldn’t do with or for any of them. Children and teens seemed to always trust and have confidence in Kris. Should anyone need an ear, she always had an ear to lend. That was equally true for children, teens, and adults alike. She was never judgmental toward anyone and always willing to lend a hand in need. She was like glue in that she seemed to hold everything and everyone together. She loved family get-togethers and was always one of the biggest participants.

Preceding Kris in death is her father Charles F. Nold and her sister Beth (Nold) Martinez. She is survived by Jim Vincent, her husband of 42 years; son Joe Vincent (Sarah); daughter Angela Jefferson (Jamie Hutchison); mother Sharon Nold; sister Leanne Simmons (Kelley); and five grandchildren: Cole Vincent, William Vincent, Jesse Vincent, Laila Jefferson, and Daylen Jefferson. Kris is also survived by many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will miss her greatly.

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

Butler Bears Baseball team gets walk off win on senior night

Butler Bears Baseball team gets walk off win on senior night 

The Butler Bears took Tuesday’s game in dramatic fashion, with a 4-3 walk off victory against the Buffalo Bison. 

The game was tied at three in the bottom of the seventh when Senior Cameron Anderson was struck by a pitch in the head, driving in a run.

Senior Maddox Fennewald struck out 14 batters on the day. The righty also allowed six hits and three runs over six innings while walking none. The Bears got on the board in the first inning after a wild pitch scored one run.

The Butler Bears added to their early lead in the bottom of the second innings after Sophomore Brandon Hammett singled, and The Buffalo Bison committed an error, each scoring one run.

Junior Eli Cos earned the win for the Bears. The right-handed pitcher surrendered zero hits and zero runs over one inning, striking out one and walking one. 

Cox and Sophomore Jake Chandler each collected two hits for the Bears. Anderson and Hammett each drove in one runs for the Butler Bears. Chandler stole two bases. The Butler Bears ran wild on the base paths, amassing four stolen bases for the game.

The four seniors where honored tonight between games. Thank you for the dedication Maddox Fennewald, Cameron Anderson, Logan Brakeville and Jude Kershner. 

Next up for the Butler Bears is a trip to the Adrian Blackhawks on Wednesday.

Way to go Madison

Join us in welcoming Madison Wilson to the incoming freshmen team! Madison hails from Appleton City, MO and we couldn’t be more excited to add her passion and determination to this team!
Congratulations, Madison!