Stories from Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Ernest Lee "Ernie" Spiva, 61, of Exeter, passed away in his home on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015. He was born on July 24, 1954, son of Alva Lee and Jewell Dora (Norton) Spiva, in Bentonville, Ark. On June 25, 1983, he was united in marriage to Deborah Darity in Noel. He worked for the Vollenweider family for 28 years, and was currently working at Vollenweider Metal Works in Exeter. He was a member of the Mount Olive Church in Gravette, Ark...

Stephen R. "Steve" Soutee, age 68, of Fairview, Missouri, passed away Thursday, August 20, 2015, in Springfield, Missouri. He was born March 2, 1947, in Aurora, Missouri, the son of Oakley Dale and Betty Lou (Rickman) Soutee, who preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death was a brother, Knial Soutee...

Dennis Soetaert, 74, of Cassville, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield. He was born on Feb. 25, 1941, son of Henry and Cathryn (Natz) Soetaert, in Janesville, Wis. On March 19, 1966, he was united in marriage to Shirley Cotta in Las Vegas, Nev.; she preceded him in death. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years aboard the USS Yorktown...

Laveta, "Joreen" Skelton (Sanders), 86, passed away on Aug. 1, 2015, in Goodyear, Ariz. She was interred at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery in Mesa, Ariz., on Aug. 6. She was born to Fred and Hazel (Carr-Williams) on Sept. 21, 1928, in Cassville. She married Cecil Lewis Skelton on May 20, 1946, in Columbus, Kan. He preceded her in death...

Beulah Lenora Edmonds Sapp was born 1923 in Stella, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband William Erskin Sapp, her brother Bill Bible and son-in-law Thomas Schroeder. She is survived by son, Steven Erskin Sapp of Vacaville, Calif., her daughters, Carla Schroeder, of El Dorado Hills, Calif., Linda Speetzen and son-in-law Bob Speetzen, of Horseshoe Bay, Texas, and her brother, Jim Bible, of Vacaville, Calif...

Carolyn Marie (McNeill) Rolan, 73, of Rogers, Ark., passed away Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015, in Huguley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Burleson, Texas. She was born Dec. 29, 1941, in Neosho, the daughter of Price and Lorena (Wyatt) McNeill. She grew up in Rocky Comfort, where she received her education. At the age of 17 she married Bob Flaxbeard and to this union two children were born...

David Rhoads, 47, of Shell Knob, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015, at Cox South in Springfield. He was born on May 4, 1968, son of Jim and Sue (Thomas) Rhoads, in Kansas City. He worked in the construction business. Survivors include: his father, Jim Rhoads, of Shell Knob; and one sister, Janette Stansbury and her husband, Rick, of Cassville...

Doris Jane Privett, 73, of Granby, passed away Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Freeman West Hospital, Joplin. She was born Sept. 13, 1941, in Pierce City, the daughter of Clarence and Teeny (Stewart) Lemon who preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were two brothers, Charles and Marvin Lemon...

Richard "Chick" Pendergraft, 78 years of age, passed away after fighting a long courageous battle with cancer on August 21, 2015, in Cox Medical Center Springfield. He was born in Sedan, Kan., on Dec. 15, 1936, to Bruce and Grace (Millison) Pendergraft. He spent his life in service to his country and retired from the U.S. Marine Corps...

Gerald Lee Nelson, 73, of Exeter, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, at Bentonview Health and Rehabilitation in Monett. He was born on Jan. 30, 1942, in Prairie Grove, Ark., son of Vol and Norma (Faubus) Nelson. On May 23, 1960, he was united in marriage to Bonnie Gayle Shelton in Stillwell, Okla.; she preceded him in death. He owned and operated G & B Nelson Trucking, Inc. in Exeter. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Exeter...

Heather Keesler, 41, of Boonville, passed away Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Mercy Hospital, Joplin. She was born June 13, 1974, in Ogden, Utah, the daughter of William and Susan (Hunsaker) Keesler. On July 7, 2012, in St. Louis, she was united in marriage to Robert Walker, who survives...