Obituary - Robert James "Bobby" Shoemaker

Robert James "Bobby" Shoemaker, age 64, Prescott, Kansas passed away Sunday, January 12, 2025. He was born on July 18, 1960 in Kansas City, Kansas the son of James and Betty Brown Shoemaker. He was a member of the Teamsters Union Local #541 and worked for Max Rieke Construction. He later worked as an ASE Certified mechanic for Harley Davidson Motorcycles. Bobby was united in marriage to Connie Tuey on July 30, 1994. He was a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association. Bobby was an avid musician playing guitar, banjo and drums. He was preceded in death by his mother, Betty, and a sister, Jenell Cruz. Bobby is survived by his wife, Connie, son, Josiah Shoemaker, sister, Cindy Whitley(Jeff), and several nieces and nephews. 

A Memorial Service will be held 11 am Saturday, January 25, 2025 at the Mound City First Baptist Church. Visitation will be held from 10 am to service time at the Church. Memorial contributions are suggested to First Baptist Church Camp Scholarship Fund or Mission Fund. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.  

Obituary Henry Emmett Shumaker, Sr.

Henry Emmett Shumaker, Sr., 79, Nevada, MO passed from this life on Monday, January 13, 2025. Henry was born October 1, 1945 in Nevada to Harold L. Shumaker, Sr. and Virginia Lucille (Gowin) Shumaker. He was united in marriage to Polly Ruth Mills on July 14, 1963 in Nevada and she survives of the home.

Henry was raised in Nevada and graduated from Nevada High School Class of 1963. Following high school, he worked for a time at Urner Brothers Service Station, and Kellwood Tent Factory. He then began working at 3M Nevada where he was employed for 32 years until his retirement. Henry loved being outdoors, he enjoyed gardening, taking care of his cattle, and fishing, but he especially loved spending time with his family.

In addition to his wife Polly, he is survived by three children, Henry Shumaker, Jr., Karen Foster, and Brenda Shumaker, all of Nevada; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; three brothers, Harold Leon Shumaker, Jr. (Margaret), Ralph Shumaker, Sr. (Sandi), Nevada, and Raymond Shumaker (Brenda), Nevada; as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, May Hutchison; his uncle, Bob Gowin and his wife Pat; and a granddaughter, Michelle Elizabeth Downen.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 17, 2025 at Ferry Home in Nevada. The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested in his name to Vernon County Cancer Relief c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

Obituary - Lonnie Arnold Polk

Lonnie Arnold Polk, 82, Nevada, MO, passed away on Monday, January 13, 2025, at his home in Nevada. Lonnie was born December 11, 1942, in Nevada, MO to John C. and Verna Marie (Austin) Polk. At the age of 20, he married Maxine Gulliford on October 5, 1963, and became Dad to her four small children. From this union a daughter, Carrie, was born in 1967.

Lonnie graduated from Nevada High School in 1961 and worked for Nevada Daily Mail as a typesetter for 18 years. He and Maxine owned and operated “The Pawn Shop” for 25 years until his retirement in 2005. Lonnie, along with his family, also raised cattle and hogs. He was an avid duck hunter and was a longtime member of the Stultz Hunting Club. Lonnie enjoyed going to casinos and was known for his artistry. InHome Solutions provided uplifting and day brightening visits in the last days of his journey. He enjoyed every visit of his wonderful caregivers.

Survivors include his children, Terri Rowland (Dennis), Thornfield, MO, Cindy Brannan (Greg), Moundville, Randall Gulliford (Leslie), Moundville, Lorrie Divine (Dan), Moundville, and Carrie Dreyer (Jeff), Nevada; nine grandchildren, Eric Gulliford (Becca), Christopher Hewitt (Tracie), Adam Hewitt (Jenny), Sunshine Black (Terry), Timothy Rowland (Dee), Keith Gulliford (Keri), Lesley Gulliford, Emma Dykstra (Josh), and Beth Miller (Devin); nine great-grandchildren; a brother, Bill Polk (Maxine), Ft. Scott, KS; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Lonnie was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Maxine, in 2018.

Private family services will be held at a later date.

Obituary - Barbara Louise Hamlett-Smith

Barbara Louise Hamlett-Smith, 68, of Nevada, MO, passed away on January 11, 2025 due to a brief illness. She was born on December 29, 1956, in Nevada, Missouri, to Lewis William and Josephine Ruby (Lampke) Hamlett. Barbara was a lifelong resident of Nevada and graduated from Nevada High School in 1976. On August 13, 1982, Barbara was united in marriage to Henry Abner Smith in Miami, OK. Together, they shared nearly 40 years of love and companionship until Henry preceded her in death on September 10, 2021.

Barbara dedicated over 35 years of her life to the Nevada State Hospital. She was well-respected by her colleagues and loved by those who worked with her.

Barbara was a devoted mother to her daughter, Heather Gaither, of the home, and a proud mano to her two grandsons, Jordan Fritts and Shane Fritts. She also had the joy of being a doting great-mano to her four great-grandchildren: Ryder, Otis, Hudson, and Maverick. Spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, brought her immense happiness.

Barbara's hobbies reflected her love for beauty and nature. She loved fishing, a peaceful pastime that brought her joy. She also had a deep affection for collecting tribal figurines and unicorns.

Barbara was preceded in death by both of her parents, Lewis and Josephine Hamlett; her beloved husband, Henry Abner Smith; one sister, Bonnie Hamlett-Bourland; and five brothers, Faylon Griggs, Chester Dale New, Jerry New, Joe Wilkin, and Charles New. She was also preceded by her mother-in-law and father-in-law.

Barbara is survived by her daughter, Heather Gaither, of the home; two grandsons, Jordan Fritts and his wife Courtney, and Shane Fritts and his wife Amiya; four great-grandchildren, Ryder, Otis, Hudson, and Maverick; her sister, Brenda Masur and her husband Randy; her brother, Bruce Hamlett and Terri Starbuck; her sister, Betty Robbins and her husband Darryl; her sister, Lona Fritter Fraser and her husband JD; her brother, Carl New and his wife Mary; and one sister-in-law, Cheryl Griggs. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members who will miss her dearly.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada. Interment will follow at 12:30 p.m. at the National Cemetery in Fort Scott, KS. The family will receive friends from 10-11:00 prior to the service at the funeral home.

Barbara’s memory will live on in the hearts of those who loved her. Her family, friends, and all who knew her will remember her as a loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend.

Notice from the city of Montrose

Important notice to Montrose residents: Changes to our postal service have resulted in disruptions to water bill delivery, causing some residents to receive late or damaged bills. Water bills are due on the 15th of every month. 

If you haven't received your bill, please contact Charlotte at Montrose City Hall. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Obituary - Clifford D. Ginnings

Clifford D. Ginnings, 82, of Harrisonville, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at his home in Harrisonville. Funeral services will be 10:00am Saturday, January, 18, 2025, at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO. Interment in Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville. The family will receive friends 5:00-7:00pm Friday, January 17, at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville. A complete obituary will be posted when it becomes available.

Little Apple News

The Senior Class of Appleton City High School is holding a soup and chili lunch 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Sunday, January 29 at the AC Depot. Please come out and enjoy some lunch and support the class with fundraising for their senior trip. The menu includes your choice of chili, vegetable, chicken noodle, or potato soup, dessert and drink for $10.00. You can dine in or carryout.

AC PTO is collecting Food Fair receipts and Best Choice UPC labels January 17 (the date was postponed due to school weather closures). Food Fair receipts need to be from August, 2024 to the present. If they are older, they cannot be submitted. Please send them with students or place them in a plastic bag or envelope and drop them off in the Elementary School Office, St. Clair County State Bank with Janet Payton or Little Apples Learning Center by Friday, January 170. This on-going fundraiser raises a substantial amount of money for PTO to use for the children's classroom trips and teacher requests for supplies.
Golden Apples will meet at Forest Park building at 5:00 p.m. Thursday January 16, 2025. Golden Apples will be providing pizza. Please bring sides and desserts to go with pizza. Come for some pizza and enjoy a few games of bingo.
The Appleton City Board of Aldermen meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday January 21, 2025.
The Appleton City Alumni Association luncheon will be 11:30 a.m. May 24, 2025. If you are in a class that ends in 5 or 10 they have information to share with your class coordinator. For questions, contact acmolampkin@yahoo.com
The 7thannual Farm to Fork Summit and Expo, hosted by New Growth, will be held 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 7, 2025, at the Nevada Community Center in Nevada, Missouri. The event connects Midwest farmers, food producers, buyers, and advocates to strengthen the local food supply chain. Sessions will cover diverse topics from marketing to financing such as selling through regional food hubs to using AI for small businesses and participants will enjoy a locally sourced lunch. Tickets are $45 online ($50 at the door), with discounts available for beginning farmers with less than 10 years’ experience. For more information, visit newgrowthmo.org/farmtofork or email info@newgrowthmo.org.
Funds are needed for the backpack program. Trinity United Methodist Church in AC houses this project, which is funded by you, the community. They now are sending 37 packs of food home with school kids weekly. Donations may be made to: TUMC, with memo: Backpack. Thank You.
The Appleton City Ministerial Alliance meets throughout the year providing community services and opportunities for the area churches to gather together for worship. Additionally, the ACMA helps people through the region in a variety of ways. In 2023 the ACMA founded the Tony Reynolds Memorial Scholarship, a $1000 scholarship awarded locally to an area student pursuing continuing education post-high school. Some in the community have asked about the ability to make donations directly towards the scholarship fund that are not used in other ACMA endeavors. At any time, you may make donations towards the ACMA and they encourage you to do so. You may make donations at any of their community meetings, or feel free to contact one of the ministers serving in the ACMA for more information.
The Ellett Memorial Hospital Foundation was established in 2000 by a local couple to benefit and carry out the purposes of Ellett Memorial Hospital. The Foundation has played a major role in the Hospital’s recent renovation/expansion project. The Foundation is a 501c3 organization and plays an important role in ensuring the future of the Hospital by providing an avenue for individuals, groups and corporations to lend their financial support through tax-deductible contributions. The Ellett Memorial Hospital Foundation would like to extend an invitation to the community to assist with this project. They would like to welcome all current and past members of the community and service area to make a donation to the Ellett Memorial Hospital Foundation. Donations can be restricted or non-restricted for use as the donor identifies. Recognition will be given for all contributions. For further information, contact Julee Snyder, Ellett Memorial Hospital, 660-476-211.
“The Little Apple” was started by the A. C. Economic Development as way of informing residents of news and events sponsored by area businesses and organizations. Items of a clearly personal nature, such as birthdays, anniversaries, awards (not group sponsored), personal sales and the like are not accepted for publication. Items may be edited for accuracy, grammar or space restrictions. Please email articles for “The Little Apple” to dcp81@embarqmail.com by Tuesday evenings or bring them to Dr. Payton’s office to be included in that week’s edition. To receive "The Little Apple" free by e-mail, or to be removed from the email list, send your e-mail address to dcp81@embarqmail.comIf you have changed your email address, please send the current address, so the list can be updated.
Ellett Memorial Hospital Appleton City offers outpatient specialist services for January 2025. Call 660-476-2111 for appointments: Jan 15– Upper GI, Colonoscopy-Dr. Namin, Jan 16– Podiatry- Dr. Pace, Jan 22- Ortho-Dr. Gray, Jan 27 – Ophthalmology, Dr. Soni
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Jan 13-18 43rd Annual Appleton City Basketball Tournament continues
Jan 16 Golden Apples meeting 5:00 p.m.at Forest Park building
Jan 21 AC Board of Aldermen meeting 7:00 p.m. (Rescheduled)

Obituary - Brian David Benson

Brian David Benson, of Raymore, MO, passed away on January 8, 2025 at home. He was 65 years old. He departed life surrounded and supported by his loving wife, Lisa, as well as his children and extended family.

Faith was of the utmost importance to Brian. It guided him through his everyday walk in life and he never wavered from it during his courageous cancer journey. Brian knew heaven awaited him and that gave him true comfort. 

Services for Brian will be held on Monday, January 20, at Dickey Funeral Home in Harrisonville. Visitation is scheduled for 1-2 p.m., followed by the service at 2 p.m.

He was born in Anchorage, AK, and, throughout his life, also lived in Minneapolis, MN, Springfield, MO, and Columbia, MO, before finally moving to the Kansas City area. He graduated from Evangel College, where he played tennis. He also enjoyed playing softball. 

A longtime computer programmer, Brian was an accomplished IT Developer. He took great pride in and thoroughly enjoyed his computer career and how it provided for his family. He owned his business, HELP Software, for 25 years. Among his list of computer program clients were the United Nations, the Pentagon, IBM, FedEx, General Motors and Hewlett-Packard. 

Brian will most be missed for his sense of humor, his kind and gentle spirit and his enjoyment of music, movies and traveling. He relished many family vacations and special trips with Lisa, including seeing the Northern Lights. 

Brian is preceded in death by his mother, Ruth. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Lisa (Ibarra) Benson, his father, William, his sister Debbie O’Reilly (Patrick), his daughters Jennifer Gordon (Jason), Courtney Hatcher (Chad), and Lauren Franks (Ben), son Jacob Benson and grandchildren Haleigh, Isabella, Cohen, Addison, Sawyer, Reagan, Beckett and Kennedy.