Obituary - Allison Hibbitts

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Allison LeAnn Hibbitts on December 12, 2025. Allison was born in Nevada, Missouri, on February 3rd, 1983, to Scott and Carion Rumans. Allison shared an especially close bond with her little sister, Amy, who was not only her sibling but her best friend.

Allison married her soulmate, Jared Hibbitts, on July 29th, 2011. In union, they shared five children who were the center of their world – Dani (Stetson), Alex (Michaela), Hailey (Emily), Jenna, and Jacob. Although Allison’s pride and joy were her children, she also had a special bond with her nephew, Dillinger, and niece, Charlie. She affectionately became known as “PP” to her nieces and nephews and many other young members of the family.  

Allison was the kind of mother whose love knew no limits, extending far beyond her own home to everyone fortunate enough to cross her path. She made it her goal to ensure that those around her were always cared for, comforted, and never alone.

Allison enjoyed life and loved many things, such as traveling, hiking, thrifting, and trying new hobbies. She had the best personality and imagination. She collected salt-and-pepper shakers, instruments most people wouldn't know how to play, and anything related to Bigfoot. She was always planning events to bring her family together. She loved taking care of those around her and making them happy. Her nurturing spirit created a sense of belonging wherever she went, and her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched with her compassion, strength, and unwavering love.

Allison is survived by her husband, Jared Hibbitts, of the home. She is also survived by her parents, Scott and Carion Rumans; her in-laws, Tom and Rhonda Hibbitts; her sister Amy Ballard (Eliot); her brother and sister in law, Brian and Tanna Appleby; her beautiful children, Dani Brown (Stetson), Alex Hibbitts (Michaela), Hailey Spencer (Emily), Jenna Hibbitts, and Jacob Hibbitts; her nieces and nephews Preston, Tucker, Sawyer, Dillinger, Emma, Charlie, Bailey, Skylar, and Luke along with several Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, and Friends who loved her dearly. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Elmo and Hedwig Pilcher, and Wayne and Leota Rumans, along with Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins.

Please join us in honoring and celebrating the life of Allison at Church of Christ, 13664 E.54 Highway, Nevada, MO at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, December 18, 2025. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December17, 2025 at Ferry Funeral home.  

Memorials are suggested to the family c/o Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

Obituary - Gloria Allen

Gloria Noell Allen, 78, of Raymore, Missouri, passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 13, 2025. The family will receive friends for the visitation from 11:00-12:30 Friday, December 19, 2025 at Dickey Funeral Home in Harrisonville, Missouri, with funeral and burial to follow. Burial will take place in the Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be contributed to the Veterans Community Project or Disabled Veterans of Foreign Wars and send in care to Dickey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 432, Harrisonville, Missouri 64701.

Gloria was born on December 4, 1947 to Betty Pulliam and George Noell. On March 13, 1965, she was united in marriage to Douglas Allen and from this union, two daughters were born; DeAnna Lynn and Cristina Jo. Gloria attended Harrisonville Elementary, Frances Willard Elementary of Kansas City, & Blue Springs Junior High before graduating from Grain Valley High School in 1965.

During her senior year of high school, Gloria enrolled at Aladdin Beauty College to pursue her dream of becoming a hairstylist. While attending beauty school, she had the opportunity to study abroad in Europe and, by the age of 18, proudly owned her first salon. Throughout her career, Gloria formed many lifelong friendships and worked alongside dear friends and her daughter, Cristina, at Hair Designers Ltd. The shop was sold in 2016, shortly before Gloria retired in 2017.

Gloria was a true curator of fun and festivities. She loved bringing family and friends together for laughter and good times. For 22 years, she and her family owned a lake house in the Ozarks, where the Indian Point community became more like family than neighbors. From late-night card games filled with laughter to the highly anticipated Labor Day parade, Gloria’s door was always open.

That same generous and welcoming spirit extended to her home in Raymore. Gloria adored her neighbors and delighted in hosting Bunco nights and having folks over on a Chiefs Sunday . She loved her pups Luchey and Lizzie, and was never short on stories and tales of how they kept her on her toes. She loved to sing, dance, and keep everyone entertained. A lifelong lover of music, she could often be found at BB’s Lawnside BBQ, soaking in the blues.

Gloria was a proud patriot who deeply loved her country and believed in serving others. She volunteered regularly at local voting booths, giving her time to support the democratic process. Gloria also donated her talents by cutting hair for the Homeless Veterans Program, ensuring dignity and care for those who had served. Along with her brother-in-law, Bill, she helped make history by purchasing the very first tiny home in the Veterans Village through the Veterans Community Project of Kansas City.

Gloria was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Douglas Allen; her infant daughter, DeAnna Lynn; her sisters, Judy and Skip; and her great-granddaughter, George Margaret Noell Devaney.

Pappaw must have taken one look at George Margaret and told Mammaw to hurry on home to meet her.

She is survived by her brother, Gene Noell; daughter, Cristina Jo Swanson and Billy Harmon; son-in-law Brad Swanson; her cherished grandchildren, Aidan and Ian Devaney, Delaney and Carson Eisenbeisz; brother and sister-in-law’s, Joe and Sharon Yoder, Jeanne Allen, Ron and Linda Mueller; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Obituary - Lee White

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Lee Thomas White, who left this world peacefully on Saturday, December 13, 2025, just days shy of his 61st birthday. As per his wishes, no services will be held at this time.

Lee was born on December 16, 1964, in Emporia, Kansas, to Frank "Leon" and Ocella White, who lovingly adopted him just six days after his birth. He grew up in El Dorado, KS, where his early love for storytelling and exploration quickly became evident, even in his school days. He was blessed with half-siblings, Tom Lincoln and Sheila Lincoln, who he'd see sometimes during his adventures on the West Coast.

Lee pursued a career in journalism, showing a tenacity and passion that began with his reporting for the El Dorado Times at the young age of 16. After obtaining his Associate's degree in journalism from Butler Community College and a Bachelor's degree in General Studies from Emporia State University, Lee took bold strides in his career. He became a beloved news reporter for KFDI radio in Wichita as one of their "Ranch Hands", covering crucial events, including the devastating F-5 tornado in Andover in April 1991. His 28-hour marathon of reporting during that disaster showcased his unwavering commitment to journalism and the community he served. Lee's boss, Dave Clymer, told Lee that he was one of only two journalists he knew who were natural born writers, which always stuck with Lee through his career.

On February 2, 1996, at Laverne's Wedding Chapel in Miami, Oklahoma, Lee married his soulmate, Sherri Shelton. Together, they embarked on numerous adventures across the country, from the beautiful landscapes of Oregon, to the Bay area of California, to the vibrant atmosphere of Las Vegas. Lee's keen sense of exploration led him to discover iconic sites, such as Janis Joplin's home, which he would proudly document with photographs to share with Sherri.

A passionate hiker, Lee found joy and serenity in nature, often recounting humorous tales from his outdoor escapades-most notably, his amusing encounter with a rattlesnake. His love for the great outdoors was matched only by his fascination with history, a subject he held dear to his heart.

In 2015, Lee and Sherri returned to Missouri to be near family due to his wife's diagnosis with multiple sclerosis. As time went on, his mobility began to decrease and it prompted him to cultivate a stronger engagement with politics online so he could remain in the reporting field. He ran a Facebook page dedicated to news and events in Butler County, KS, amassing over 13,000 followers between 2018 and 2022, demonstrating his enduring connection to the community.

Lee's greatest love was undoubtedly his wife, Sherri, for whom he cared deeply, especially after her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis. His selflessness and dedication were the cornerstones of their partnership, showcasing a profound bond that weathered life's challenges with grace and love.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Sherri; his sister-in-law, Vicki (Ernie) Sheldrake; his nephew, Alex (Tori) Sheldrake; his niece, Kaitlin Sheldrake; his great-nieces: Maggie and Everleigh Sheldrake and Adeline on the way; as well as, his extended family, Jose Hernandez and Maria Carmona, and their children, whom were like adopted children to Lee and Sherri: Jacob Hernandez, Jazmine (Angel Garcia) Hernandez, and Vianca Hernandez.

Obituary - Raymond Kimminau

Raymond Kimminau, 88 of Adrian, Missouri passed away on December 13, 2025, at the Baptist Homes of Adrian surrounded by his family. A visitation will be held from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm Friday, December 19, 2025 at Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). Funeral Mass will be held 1:00 pm Saturday, December 20, 2025 at St. Peter Catholic Church, 10044 S.W. 90th. Street, Willowdale, KS 67159. Burial will follow in St. Peter Cemetery, Willowdale, KS. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Cemetery Fund of St. Peter, 8035 SW 160th Ave. Nashville, KS 67112 or the Adrian Rural Fire Department. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

A complete obituary is pending at this time.

Obituary - Glen Harlan Hill

Glen Harlan Hill, 92 of Drexel, Missouri passed away Saturday, December 13, 2025 at Foxwood Springs in Raymore, Missouri. A visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am Friday, December 19, 2025 at Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel (816-657-4400). Funeral services will follow at 11:00 am Friday, also at the Drexel Chapel. Burial will take place in Sharon Cemetery, Drexel, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to Sharon Cemetery, Drexel VFW, or the Drexel Public School Foundation. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

A complete obituary is pending at this time.

Pleasanton awarded grant for fire department equipment

 

Phone outage at Bates County admin offices

Currently there is a phone outage at the Bates County administration building and the Bates County Courthouse. While the reason for the outage is unknown, work is being done to get things back to normal as soon as possible.

Updates will be provided accordingly.

State Farm Athlete of the Week

 Area schools have kicked off their winter sports season over the past few weeks and we are excited to announce our first State Farm and C & S Graphics athlete of the week, from Butler, senior, Preston Mallatt. Preston wrestles at the 138 lb weight class for the Butler Varsity wrestling team and was nominated by Head coach Zack Wicks. Coach Wicks stated Preston dominated at the Ray Stockdale Invitation bringing home first place going 3-0 with 2 technical falls and one pin. He stated “Preston is a great leader on the team and excels in his role as a captain, always helping others on the team when needed and pushing his teammates to get better each day.” We asked Preston what motivates him during a match and he stated “mainly I don’t want to lose. You have worked hard and prepped and prepared so much you don’t want to come away with a loss. You have to want it more than the other person.” We asked what he feels like it takes to become a state champion in wrestling and he stated “you have to be able to handle your emotions well if you lose, and you have to mentally prepare for the match before you go out there. It takes a lot of mental toughness.” We asked him who is someone who influenced him as a wrestler and he stated “my sister, Makayla, she faced a lot of challenges when she wrestled and she still showed up, wrestled, and competed even when she didn’t have to.” Preston said he started wrestling when he was a 7th grader. Damian Alkire kind of encouraged him to try it, and he liked the idea of an individual sport, where it’s all on you, win or lose. He has set a goal this year of returning to the state wrestling tournament and hopefully competing and winning state. It was a pleasure speaking with Preston and we wish him the best of luck this season!

Pictured below left to right: a copy of Preston’s custom graphic made by C & S Graphics (below) and on the right Kellie Davidson, State Farm; Preston Mallatt, son of Michael and Michelle Mallatt; Cody Morris, C & S Graphics