Obituaries

Tasa Sata Tosima, of Guam and five sisters, Masa Tosima of Guam, Niefot Tosima of Noel, Mo., Stania Tosima of Noel, Mo., Niana Tosima of Butterfield, Mo. and Ruthann Tosima of Guam.

Betty Lee Pepper, 91, of Boynton Beach, Fla. passed away Thursday, February 6, 2025, under hospice care in Boynton Beach, Florida.

Don Lee Donald II, 75 of Cassville, Mo. passed away Friday, February 7, 2025 at Cox Monett Hospital in Monett, Mo.

Carleen Holly Butterworth, 55, of Cassville, Mo. passed away on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

Pete Griffin, 97, of Neosho, Mo. passed away Monday, February 3, 2025 at Mercy Hospital Joplin in Joplin, Mo.

Vicky Diana (Lankford) McGuire, age 74, of Monett, gained her angel wings Friday, February 7, 2025, at 1:30 P.M. while in Barnes Jewish Hospital surrounded by family.

Sharon “Sue” Hughes, age 81, of Neosho, Missouri, passed away Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville, Arkansas. Sue, daughter of Alvin and Goldie (Massey) Moore, was born on October 15, 1943, in Columbus, Ohio. Sue married the love of her life, James C. Hughes on October 25, 1959, in Columbus, Ohio.

Gwen “Gennie” Scroggins, age 94, of Washburn, Missouri, was called by God to help him watch over the farmers, ranchers’ cattle, and all of the children in the world, on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Roaring River Health & Rehab in Cassville, Missouri. Gwen, daughter of John and Evalena (Reynolds) Brissey, was born in her paternal grandmother’s home in Tucumcari, New Mexico, on October 10, 1930. The Brissey family resided in Quay Valley and later moved to Tucumcari. During her teen years she belonged to the Horse Square Dancing Club. They performed at the Texas Governor’s Ball. In size she was the smallest, but her heart was extremely large. Following graduation from Tucumcari High School she attended Draughn Business School in Lubbock, Texas, which formed her career in bookkeeping. She first started at Worley Mills Feed Lots in Tucumcari. Following her move to this area in 1962, she worked as a bookkeeper at Southwest IV School District in Washburn and retired from the Purdy III School District. She often said she would work for free if she could work with her great friend, LouAnna Dodson. Gwen’s skills were reflected in her recordkeeping on the farm.

Janice “Lee” Smiley, 80, of Shell Knob, Mo. passed away Sunday, February 2, 2025, at St.