Obituaries

William “Bill” Ray Vance, 77, of Cassville, passed away Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. He was born in Mexico, Mo., on Nov. 28, 1941, the son of Robert F and Charity Eileen (Giles) Vance. On Oct. 21, 1960, in Laddonia, he was united in marriage to Veldia “Dene” Cowin, who survives...

Rodney L. Pender-graft, 58, of Washburn, passed away Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, at his home. He was born in Washburn, on Dec. 15, 1959, the son of Junior and Verbal (Dalton) Pendergraft, who preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death was one sister, Wanda Delores Williams...

Willa Lucille Orrell, 84, of Tunas, passed away on Dec. 1, 2018. She graduated from Tunas High School in 1951, and at the age of 17, went to Kansas City to work at Farmers Insurance. She later transferred to Colorado Springs, Colo., where she met and married Glenn Orrell, of Bolivar, on March 2, 1954; He preceded her in death...

Johnny Lee Farmer, 55, of Cassville, passed away in his home Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. Johnny was born Feb.16, 1963, in Harrison, Ark., to the parents of Jackie Lee Farmer and Connie Marie (Hargis) Farmer. They both preceded him in death. He grew up in the Oak Grove, Ark., area where he received his education graduating from high school in Green Forest, Ark., in 1981...

Jerry L. Daniel, 75, of Purdy, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, following a brief battle with cancer. He was born on March 12, 1943. in Barry County, son of the late Oral Lee Daniel and Marzell Lucille (Stockton) Daniel. Jerry graduated from Purdy High School with the class of 1960. Throughout his life, he was a banker, auctioneer, and farmer. He served in the Missouri National Guard...

Henry Luther Blankenship, 71, of Aurora, passed away Friday, Dec. 14, 2018, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield. He was born in Jenkins, on June 1, 1947, the son of Duane and Ollie Blankenship. On Aug. 1, 1964, he was united in marriage to Sharon Bright, who survives...

Rethal Mae (Zinn) Williams, 87, of McDowell passed away Dec. 6, 2018, at Oak Pointe in Monett. She was born in Leann, on Aug. 21, 1931, to Faye (Larkin) Zinn and Howard P. Zinn. On Sept. 18, 1949, in Eureka Springs Ark., she was united in marriage to Ralph D. Williams...

Verlea Louise Thomas, 77, of Exeter, passed away at her home on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. She was born April 5, 1941, in Elkhart, Kan., daughter of Edward “Cotton” and Elnora Nicodemus. On June 4, 1958, she was united in marriage to Carl “Nub” Thomas at Cross Hollows near Cassville. He survivors...

Glen K. Heston, 84, of Purdy, passed away Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, at Lacoba Nursing, Inc., in Monett. He was born to Glen E. and Ruby (Manis) Heston on March 8, 1934, in St. Marys, Kan. He was united in marriage to Shirley Ray of Denison, Kan., on May 6, 1956. ...

Norma “Blanche” Hadlow, 86, of Cassville, passed away Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, at Ozarks Methodist Manor in Marionville. She was born in Cato, on June 11, 1932, the daughter of Joe Ray and Paralee (Doty) Ray. On Oct. 15, 1949, she was united in marriage to Gaylord Hadlow, who preceded her in death on May 15, 2011. Also preceding her in death were her parents; four brothers, Lavern, Alvin, Ira and Loya and two sisters, Irene Bailey and Lottie Griffith...

J.C. (Blackie) Arnold, 84, passed away Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, at Barry County Health and Rehab, Cassville. He was born May 12, 1934, the son of John and Flossie (Morgan) Arnold. He married Barbara (Laney) Arnold on Sept. 3, 1955. To this union they had four children: Donald Arnold, Patricia (Buffy) Arnold, Pamela Pendergraft and Jon Arnold. ...

Janie Ann Martin, 79, of Cassville, passed away Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. She was born Sept. 28, 1939, in Spring, Texas, the daughter of William F. Hoffman, Sr. and Annie Frieda (Geodecke) Hoffman. On June 4, 1965, she was united in marriage to Curtis Martin, who survives...

Everet James “Jim” Edens, 87, of Washburn, passed away Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Ark. He was born Oct. 23, 1931, in Washburn, the son of Manford L. and Freida B. (Campbell) Edens. On Oct. 14, 1950, he married Betty Imogene “Jean” Henry...

Walter Leslie Cornman, 76, of Jenkins, passed away Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, at his home. He was born in Jenkins, on April 20, 1942, the son of Horatio and Mildred (Tunnell) Cornman. On Dec. 29, 1964, he was united in marriage to Vicki Jones; She survives...

Robert Grant Bennett, 76, of Cape Fair, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018, at Roaring River Health and Rehabilitation in Cassville. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sept. 1, 1942, the son of Harold Doss and Peggy Joyce (Abshire) Bennett. On Sept. 29, 1962, he was united in marriage to Evelyn Foote Mitchell and to this union two children were born...

Donald O. Bates, 66, of Purdy, passed away Monday, Nov. 26, 2018, at Mercy Hospital in Rogers, Ark. He was born in Osceola, Ark., on May 28, 1952, the son of John A. and Eiffie (Smith) Bates. On Dec. 25, 1980, he was united in marriage to Victoria Elaine Boxley, who survives...

Rylee Abigail Stevens-Adams, 14, of Seligman, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018, at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, Ark. She was born May 12, 2004, in Fayetteville, Ark., the daughter of John Stevens and Tabitha Nichols. Preceding her in death were her grandmother, Trudy Armsteadt; great grandparents and a nephew, Ryan Adams...

Mamie Floriene Brock, 99, of Springfield, formerly of Cassville, passed away on Nov. 22, 2018, at Springfield Rehab and Health Care Center. She was born in Fairview, to Peter and Laura (Moss) Joel, on Oct. 2, 1919. She graduated from Wheaton High School. She married Noel Brock in Rogers, Ark., on Sept. 25, 1951...

Carolyn R. Reed, 72, of Fayetteville, Ark., passed away Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, at Willard Walker Hospice Home in Fayetteville, Ark. She was born Feb. 14, 1946, in Tulsa, Okla., the daughter of Alfred Charles Bailey and Ellen Katherine (Teehee) Bass. She was united in marriage to Dennis E. Riggle, Sr., and later Ralph Reed. They both preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were her parents, two brothers, and a grandson...

James “Rusty” Reed, 83, of Exeter, passed away at his home surrounded by his family on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018. He was born on Oct. 17, 1935, in Cassville, son of Arley and Cora (Hilburn) Reed. On Feb. 16, 1956, he was united in marriage to Susie Ellen Wills; she preceded him in death on July 24, 2015. He was a lifelong resident of Barry County where he was very active in many roles. He served as Exeter’s Mayor for seven terms and served as president for the Exeter Lions Club...

Robert D. Sims, age 83, of Centennial, Colorado, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on November 20, 2018. He was born in Cassville, Missouri, on September 1, 1935, the son of Matt and Opal Sims. He is survived by his loving wife, Janice of the home; one son, Jeff Sims of Denver, Colorado; two nephews, James Bryant and Joel Bryant and his wife Kristi, all of Cassville, Missouri; two nieces, Mary Kathryn and Kaylyn Bryant; one nephew, Jared Bryant; and a host of other relatives and friends.. ...

Junior W. Wilson, 70 of Exeter, passed away Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, at his home. He was born May 27, 1948, in Crane, the son of Enoch W. and Ruby (Salkill) Wilson. He was united in marriage to Nora Wilks and to this union five children were born. Survivors include: two sons, Hank Wilson and Luke Wilson and his wife Cindy all of Cassville; two daughters, Dottie Burnside of Exeter, and Jeana Scott and her husband Greg of Cassville; one brother, Wilburn Wilson of Aurora; two sisters, Wanda Batson of Aurora, and Kay Williams of Crane; 14 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.. ...

Larry Dale Holloway, 72 of Purdy, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield. He was born May 2, 1946, in Barry County, the son of Walter and Vesta (Terry) Holloway. On Dec. 2, 1966, he was united in marriage to Peggy Harrison and to this union two children were born. Nov.13, 1980, he was united in marriage to Lisa Soria and to this union one child was born...

Ruth Marie Henbest, 91, of Cassville, passed away Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, at Oak Pointe of Monett. She was born April 28, 1927, in Sterlington, N.Y., the daughter of Frank Dunning and Edith (Anderson) Seely. On Nov. 25, 1948, in Wichita, Kan., she was united in marriage to John Henry Henbest, who preceded her in death on Oct. 9, 2008. Also preceding her in death were her parents; three sisters, Norma Simpson, Betty Snider and Doris Ray; and two brothers, Frank and David Seely...

Lela Mae “Lee” Mathis Fancher, 89, passed away on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at the Circle of Life Hospice Home in Bentonville, Arkansas. She was born on July 11, 1929 in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, to Tom and Helen Belt Mathis. She graduated from Eureka Springs High School in 1947 and married the love of her life, Jim Fancher, the next year. ...

Phillip Ray Buntin, 72, of Shell Knob, chose to leave this life Nov. 17, 2018. He was born Oct. 11, 1946, to Leland Russell and Jean (Williams) Buntin. He taught art and sculpture at Garden City High, Kan., supervising students on numerous trips to Santa Fe and Taos, N.M. He illustrated books for Kansas Historical Society. Garden City Zoo and Finney County Museum benefited from his artistic contributions. He was a Vietnam veteran, serving in a medical unit...