All Obituaries

Mary Francis (Keener) Jennings was born on March 26, 1930 in Rich Hill, Missouri, the daughter of John Christopher Keener and Carrie Elizabeth Fredrick.  Mary was united in marriage to Carl E. Jennings on January 27, 1947.  Mom and Dad met at the Rich Hill Skating Rink on December 31, 1946.  To this union, four children were born. She worked for Marion Lab for several years as a clerk. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Carl Jennings who passed on June 1, 2015;...

Margaret Lawrence died peacefully on September 17, 2022. She was born on a farm near Rich Hill, Missouri to her loving parents, Joseph & Minnie Bell. Margaret attended Rich Hill R-IV and moved to Kansas City to work after graduation. She worked for several years for Old American Insurance Company where she became the first woman computer programmer. She later joined Commerce Bank as a programmer, then manager. She met her husband, Jim, at Commerce and eventually retired from there as a...

Mary Kathryn Rutherford Murray Mary Kathryn Rutherford Murray passed away Saturday, August 27, 2022. She was 95 years old. Kathryn was born May 8, 1927, to Hugh L. and Mary (Goodwin) Rutherford in Stotesbury, Missouri. She graduated from Stotesbury High School. She married Tom Murray on December 18, 1943. To this union they had three sons Thomas Jay, James, and Michael. Kathryn was a housewife and enjoyed raising chickens and calves. She loved gardening and fishing. She worked at Western...

  Steven Shane Cowan was born July 4 1973, to Steve and Linda Cowan of Appanoose County, Iowa.  Steve was joined in marriage to Nikki April 18, 2019. They resided in Appleton City, Missouri.  Together with their children they created their own family. They shared a love of fishing, mushroom hunting , he loved his animals and riding motorcycles. Loved to listen to music and tinkered with cars as a handyman.  Steve departed this life on August 21, 2022  He is survived...

Amanda Lee (Loyd) McCoy was born in Nevada, Missouri on April 20, 1978, to Lonnie Stephen Loyd and Lois Eileen (Foster) Loyd. She passed away at Research Hospital on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, with her children and family members by her side.  When Amanda was born, she entered the world with a heart problem that required surgery, but even as a tiny baby (4 lb.), she showed the world that she was a fighter and wouldn’t be held back by anything.  She was a feisty spirit with a...

Elsie Elaine (VanLue) Trammell, age 81, was born on November 27, 1940 in Hartland, Illinois to Benjamin Harvey and Alma Ruth (Schultz) VanLue.  She passed away Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at home with her family by her side.   Growing up, mom lived in a lot of places, and I mean A LOT of places.   Grandpa was always wanting to move or try a different place.  Mom said it wasn’t unusual to change schools 3 or 4 times in a year.  When she and dad got married,...

Thelma Louise Davidson Smith, 83, of Rich Hill, MO passed away unexpectedly on July 25, 2022 at her home.  Thelma was a fun-loving mom, grandma, and great-grandma.  She loved to laugh, dance, and just loved her life.  She loved going to bingo and spending time with her family.  She is survived by her sister, Donna Robinson of Rich Hill; sister-in-law, Carol Breshears; her daughters: Kathy & Rick Marquez of Port Hueneme, California, Connie & Gary Boyles of Rich...

Leana Marie Droz Wheeler, Age 94 of Fort Scott, KS, passed away July 8, 2022, at 6:30pm a peaceful death with her children at her side the day before.  Leana was known as Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Aunt, Cousin, Friend, Leana Banana and the Virgin Mary.  Leana was born December 15, 1927, to parents Ralph and Anna Droz at the family home in Bates County, MO.  Leana completed her elementary, Jr. High and High School education at Rich Hill, MO.  After High School she...

Glenda S. McElroy was born January 8, 1936, In Butler, Missouri to Glen W. Rapps and Cecile Deems Rapps.  She died Thursday, June 30, 2022 at Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler, Missouri.  Glenda grew up on a farm east of Rich Hill and attended school at Mission Branch, before moving closer to Rich Hill and graduating from Rich Hill High School in 1954.  On January 29, 1955, she was united in marriage to Jerry W. McElroy.  To this union two daughters were...

Margaret M. Fugate, age 92, of Rich Hill, Missouri, passed away Sunday, June 26, 2022 at Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada, Missouri.  She was born June 24, 1930 in Appleton City, Missouri, the daughter of Ed and Alma (Kennedy) Foster.  Margaret was united in marriage to Leon Fugate; to this union, two daughters were born.  Leon preceded her in death and she later married Alvin Fugate, who also preceded her in death.  She was preceded in death by her daughter, Judy...