All Obituaries

Janet Elizabeth Copeland, 75, passed away on January 8th, 2023.  Janet Elizabeth Fox was born on April 6th, 1947 to Tommy and Elizabeth (Manchester) Fox in Nevada, Missouri, the first of two daughters.  Tommy and Elizabeth moved their young family to Grandview, Missouri for better job opportunities.  They bought a house and raised their two girls there.  They lived there until Tommy’s death in 1999.   Janet and her sister, Nancy J went to Grandview public...

Alan Eugene Wheatley, 100, of Rich Hill, Mo., passed away on January 5, 2023, at his home.   Alan Eugene Wheatley was born on November 29, 1922, at home in Rich Hill, Mo., to Fred and Nell Wheatley, the fourth of nine children. Life was never dull on the family farm, and with siblings, friends, and cousins always around, adventure abounded. At the age of two, Alan tumbled from the loft of the family barn and landed head first in a bucket of eggs, breaking his fall and saving his...

Wayne Phillip Wheatley passed away on November 28, 2022 at Medicalodge Nursing Home in Butler, MO.  Wayne was born a twin on April 23, 1925, one of nine children to Fred and Nell Ayer Wheatley on the family farm. It is still up for discussion who was born first—but we think it was very close. Wayne attended Mission Branch and then Rich Hill High School, graduating in 1944.  The roller skating rink in Rich Hill was a popular place on Saturday nights with Wayne and Warren and...

Walter William Mellenbruch, age 80, was born June 7, 1942 to William Vernon and Syrelda Irene (Stoddard)Mellenbruch at their country home west of Rich Hill. He passed on to Heaven on November 25, 2022 at his own country home, not a mile from where he was born. Walt graduated from Rich Hill High School in 1960, and began dating “the girl next door,” Norma Lea Drysdale. Since red was his favorite color, she was a good choice with her bright red hair. He and Norma Lea weremarried in...

Janie Droz Nunn, age 74, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. Janie was born on October 5, 1948, in Rich Hill, MO to Glenn R. and Dorothy L. (Jennings) Droz. Janie grew up in Rich Hill, where she enjoyed an active school life, including band and cheerleading. She attended Central Missouri State University and University of Missouri Columbia, graduating in 1970. She later earned her master’s degree in Elementary Education. Janie taught elementary school for 30 years,...

Delores Janet Wheatley, 90, of Rich Hill, Mo., passed away on November 22, 2022.  Delores Janet (Zerkel) Wheatley was born August 27, 1932, in Humansville, Missouri, to Frank and Nina Zerkel. She was the pride and joy of her parents. Delores made the medical record books as the youngest survivor of an appendectomy surgery at just six months old.  Delores graduated from Humansville High School in 1950. Upon graduation, she went on to complete secretary school and would work in...

Stonie Lee Heckadon was born September 8, 1943 to LeRoy and Lucille (Laning) Heckadon.  He departed for his heavenly home on November 10, 2022.  Stonie was born in Rich Hill and graduated from Rich Hill High School in 1961.  Growing up, Stonie worked the family farm.  He then worked for People’s Grain in Rich Hill and Ideal Truck Lines in Kansas City.  He served in the National Guard Reserves.  On January 31, 1967, Stonie married Kathy Coonce.  This...

Theresa Foster went to be with the Lord on October, 13, 2022.  Theresa was born on February 28, 1956 to Ralph and Doris (Rushing) Robison.  She grew up in Mississippi and Arkansas.  She is survived by her husband, Eddie Foster of the home, Nevada, Missouri; four sons, Junior and Jennifer Ward of West Plains, Missouri; Tim Ward and Chasti of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Donald and Denise Ramage of Butler, Missouri; Johnny Ramage of Sedalia, Missouri; one step-son, Cody Thomas and...

William Raymond Ratty was born to this earth on July 21, 1952 and left us on September 30, 2002.  He grew up on the south end of Kansas City in the post-war Ruskin Heights neighborhood, site of the historic Ruskin tornado of 1957.    Bill married Debra Skoff in 1978.   He was stepfather to her son, Mark Woods.   Bill and Debra celebrated 44 years of marriage this past summer.  Bill made his living as a flooring contractor in and around Kansas...

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;...