Obituaries

Funeral services for Thelbert Franks, 93, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, September 26, 2016 at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Franks passed away at 7:14 p.m., Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at Brooke Haven Healthcare.

He was born October 3, 1922, at Franklin, Arkansas, to John Henry Franks and Hulda Marie Morgan Franks.  He graduated from West Plains High School and attended Iowa State College.  Mr. Franks was a veteran, having served with the United States Navy during World War II for three years.  He served twenty-one years with the Missouri National Guard.  On March 26, 1948, he was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Ada Kathleen Reid, who preceded him in death on July 28, 1989.  On October 27, 1991, he was married at Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, to Elizabeth “Betty” Marie Skinner.  Mr. Franks was an avid farmer, was a West Plains firefighter for ten years and retired as a construction inspector at Missouri Highway and Transportation after thirty-five years.  He was a member of the Veterans Honor Guard of West Plains and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1828 and American Legion Post 23.  Mr. Franks was a member of the First Church of God since young manhood.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Franks, of the family home; two children, Doyle Franks and wife, Kathy and Daniel Franks and wife, Cindy, all of West Plains; four grandchildren, Tara Riley and husband, Will, Caulfield, Missouri, Randa Hugg and husband, Josh, West Plains, Nathaniel Franks and wife, Ashley, Peace Valley, Missouri and Matthew Franks and wife, Kayla, West Plains; twelve great-grandchildren; fourteen step-grandchildren; one brother, Randall Franks and wife, Elaine, West Plains; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents, first wife, one infant daughter, two brothers, one infant brother, three sisters and two step-children, precede him in death.

Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Sunday, at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Oak Lawn Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the First Church of God Audio Visual Fund and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Graveside services were held Monday, September 19, 2016, for Doris Lee Groth, 86, West Plains, Missouri, at State Line Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Groth passed away at 1:26 p.m., Saturday, September 17, 2016, at Brooke Haven Healthcare.

She was born August 5, 1930, at Moko, Arkansas, to Robert Homer Willett and Eva Belle Anderson Willett.

Doris was married in 1962, at Chicago, Illinois, to John Groth, who precedes her in death.

She is survived by one brother, Bill “Pete” Anderson Willett and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents, husband and ten siblings precede her in death.

Graveside services for Fontella Lancaster, 83, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Lancaster passed away at 12:36 p.m., Saturday, September 17, 2016 at her home.

She was born April 13, 1933, at St. Joseph, Missouri, to Dewey Lunchford Russell and Birdie Smith Russell.  She was married September 21, 1949, to Rudolph Hambelton and to their union six children were born.  On February 26, 1977, she was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Merle Dean Lancaster, who preceded her in death on November 5, 1986.  She enjoyed quilting, embroidery and fishing.  Mrs. Lancaster was baptized at the age of seventeen into the Church of Christ at Dora, Missouri.  On September 12, 1982, she was baptized at the Southern Hills Baptist Church, West Plains, Missouri, by Pastor Thomas Farrier.

She is survived by five children, Broya Hambelton and wife, Diana, Shirley Jo Hicks, Victor Hambelton and wife, Anna, Fontella Cates and Terry Lee Hambelton; thirteen grandchildren; thirty-six great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lillian Gunter and Wilma Hall; and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents, husband, the father of her children, Rudolph Hambelton, one daughter, Wanda Sue Hensley, one grandson, Eric Hambelton, one great-grandson, Christopher Boyd and three brothers, Guy Russell, Glenn Russell and Don Ray Russell, precede her in death.

Mrs. Lancaster will lie in state from 4:00 until 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Pauline Ann Wilbanks, 88, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 20, 2016 in the Rose Chapel, Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Wilbanks passed away at 7:35 a.m., Saturday, September 17, 2016 at her home.

She was born April 21, 1928, at Tyron, Missouri, to Wesley and Edith Crain.  She received her education at Peace Valley School and on October 7, 1945, was married at Peace Valley, Missouri, to William Grant Wilbanks, who preceded her in death on August 19, 2004.  Mrs. Wilbanks was a homemaker and before her retirement, she worked at the Peace Valley School, Angelica, Springfield Garment Factory, Wilbanks Tire and Polly’s Dress Shop.  Miss Pauline was sweet and kind to everyone and loved her family, especially her grandkids.  She had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening.  Mrs. Wilbanks was a Christian and was a member of New Hope Baptist Church and most recently attended First Freewill Baptist Church.

She is survived by six children, Connie Dobbs and husband, Richard, West Plains, Missouri, Jeannie Hayes, Independence, Missouri, Bill Wilbanks and wife, Wanda, West Plains, Nancy Huddleston and husband, Lyndell, West Plains, Donnie Wilbanks and wife, Karen, Mountain View, Missouri and Donna Shannon and husband, John, Peace Valley, Missouri; eighteen grandchildren; thirty-one great-grandchildren; twelve great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents, husband, and four younger siblings, Clifton Crain, Gene Crain, Lodine Strader and Joy Gibson, precede her in death.

A special thanks to Karen Kimbrough, Jane Scaggs and Crystal Anderson for the loving support and help they gave to Miss Pauline.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Monday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be in the Antioch Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Gideon Bible Society, Children’s Miracle Network or West Plains Senior Center and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Rita Jane Turpin, 73, Willow Springs, Missouri, will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, September 17, 2016 at Willow Springs Church of Christ, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Turpin passed away at 11:18 p.m., Saturday, September 10, 2016 at Kansas City Hospice House.

She was born September 9, 1943, at Walnut, Kansas, to Lynn Martin Hixon, Sr. and Juanita Kathryn “Katy” Wadsack Hixon.  Mrs. Turpin was employed as a registrar and financial aid at Missouri State University, West Plains for twenty-seven years; retiring in August of 2008.  She was a member of the Church of Christ for over sixty years and was active in youth ministry and community programs.  She loved to travel and was devoted to the Lord’s work and to her family.

She is survived by one son, Lee Turpin and wife, Cindy, Belton, Missouri; one brother, Lynn Hixon, Jr. and wife, Rhonda, Independence, Missouri; nine nieces and nephews; twelve great-nieces and great-nephews; one aunt, Roberta Davis and husband, Warren, Fort Scott, Kansas; several cousins; and numerous church family and friends.

Her parents precede her in death.

Mrs. Turpin will lie in state from 5:00 until 9:00 p.m., Friday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Willow Springs City Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Rita Turpin Scholarship Fund at Missouri State University and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Ethel Mae Thompson-Tusher, 89, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 16, 2016 in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Tusher passed away at 7:10 a.m., Monday, September 12, 2016 at her home.

She was born December 8, 1926, at West Plains, Missouri, to Batey Collins and Nora Collins Pliler.  She was married in 1942 to George B. Thompson, who preceded her in death in 1980.  She was married in 1982 at West Plains, Missouri, to Frank Tusher, who preceded her in death May 7, 1984.  She enjoyed flowers, crocheting and quilting.  Mrs. Tusher was a member of the Church of Christ.

She is survived by three children, Jimmy Thompson and wife, Agnes, Thomas Thompson and Debra Crowder and husband, Homer; nine grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Patty Rowland, Barbara Davis and Dorothy Koelling and husband, Vic; one sister-in-law, Barbara Collins; and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents, husbands, two daughters, Nancy Thompson and Ella Hall, five brothers, J. D. Pliler, Joe Collins, Virgil Collins, Thurman Collins and Larry Pliler, precede her in death.

Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Howell Valley Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Howell Valley Cemetery and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Graveside services for Wallace D. Cardwell, 95, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 17, 2016 at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Cardwell passed away at 9:40 p.m., Saturday, September 10, 2016 at West Vue Nursing Center.

He was born February 13, 1921, at Englewood, Colorado, to Floyd Cardwell and Ida Higdon Cardwell.  In 1942, he married Gloria Hughey, the mother of his three children.  He married Nelda Williamson in 1973.  Mr. Cardwell was a veteran.  He worked as a supervisor at Lockheed Aircraft Company, teaching women to work on aircraft until 1944; he then enlisted in the United States Navy.  After the war ended he was in the Navy Reserve for four years.  After holding several civilian jobs, he enlisted in the United States Army in 1949 and served twenty years, retiring as a CW04 at Ft. Bliss, Texas.  Wallace went to work as mailroom supervisor at the University of Texas in El Paso.

He is survived by his wife, Nelda Cardwell; three children, Col. Barry Cardwell, Ret., and wife, Tammy, Janis Johnson and husband, George and Sharon Walker; seven grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; two step-children, Cynthia Fleming and husband, Bill and Steve Henry and wife, Cindra; nine step-grandchildren; one brother, Thurman Cardwell and wife, Ardy; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents, four brothers and one step-daughter, precede him in death.

Mr. Cardwell will lie in state from 5:00 until 9:00 p.m., Friday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.   The family will receive their friends after the service, at 2201 Bradford Circle, Pleasant Valley Retirement Village.   Memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans Honor Guard of West Plains and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Billy M. Collins, 75, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, September 12, 2016 in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Collins passed away at 4:43 a.m., Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at Mercy Hospital, Springfield, Missouri.

He was born November 26, 1940, in Howell County, Missouri, to Shelt and Katie Collins.  On February 10, 1962, he was married to Darlene Long.  Mr. Collins was a logger for many years and after his retirement, he enjoyed working on the farm and working in his dog kennel.  He also enjoyed spending time with family and friends and loved life to the fullest.  He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife, Darlene Collins, of the family home; three children, Teresa Pruitt and husband, Darren, West Plains, Missouri, Sandra Wake and husband, Marty, Peace Valley, Missouri and Stanley Collins and wife, Karen, West Plains, Missouri; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three sisters, Laverne Hightower, West Plains, Missouri, Lillian Shepard, Wabash, Indiana and Bernice Daughtery, Imperial, Missouri; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents, one grandchild, one great-grandchild, two sisters and one brother, precede him in death.

Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Sunday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Howell Memorial Park Cemetery.

Graveside services for Glenn Hand, 82, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, September 11, 2016 at Homeland Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Hand passed away at 5:55 a.m., Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at his home.

He was born June 2, 1934, at Hand, Arkansas, to Russell Wilson Hand and Bessie Maude Hicks Hand.  He graduated from Bakersfield High School with the Class of 1952 and on May 14, 1954, he was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Wilda Spears.  Mr. Hand was a veteran, having served in the United States Army.  He worked in the cutting department at the International Shoe Factory for forty-five years.  Mr. Hand enjoyed hunting and fishing.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Wilda Hand, of the family home; two children, Terry Hand and wife, Carolan, Nixa, Missouri and Tammy William and husband, Danny, Udall, Missouri; four grandchildren, Shalaina Wenger and husband, Luke, Sedina Wise and fiancée Tim, Russell Hand and Bart Hand, and fiancé, Lindsey; seven great-grandchildren; and one sister, Louise Harris, Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

His parents and one sister precede him in death.

Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Saturday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Homeland Cemetery and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Graveside services for Sue Graves, 98, Mountain Home, Arkansas and formerly of West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 3, 2016 at the Oak Lawn Cemetery, West Plains, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Graves died 3:40 p.m., Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Society, Mountain Home, Arkansas. She was born May 22, 1918 at West Plains, Missouri to Ros Robinson Reed and Gladys Nova Funkhouser Reed. On August 24, 1954, she was married at Hernando, Mississippi to Rex Casey Graves who preceded her in death on April 26, 2004. Mrs. Graves graduated from the West Plains High School with the Class of 1936 and attended the William Woods College and the University of Missouri at Columbia, Missouri. She had been the district supervisor for the Wal-Mart Jewelry Department, overseeing twenty-two stores. Sue, along with her husband, Rex, were very active in the area antique shows; her love of antiques led her to open Suzie’s Antiques. Also, she had a great love for rose gardening. Upon retirement, Sue and Rex enjoyed traveling in their RV. She was a member of both the First Presbyterian Church of West Plains and the First Christian Church of Gainesville, Missouri.

She is survived by three children, Dyana Crawford, husband, Bobby, Mountain Home, Arkansas, Gayla Campbell, husband, Dal, Bucyrus, Missouri and Bodie Graves, wife, Sonya, Phoenix, Arizona; step son, Rexall Graves, wife, Nancy, Bonne Terre, Missouri; three grandchildren, Kimberly Kinney, Erika and Alexa
Graves; three great-grandchildren, Bailey, Hannah and Ella Kinney; one niece; and one nephew.

Her parents, husband, and one sister, Patricia Moore, precede her in death.

Visitation will be from 1:00 until 1:45 p.m., Saturday at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Home, Arkansas or the First Christian Church of Gainesville, Missouri and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Mary Ann Drumright, 52, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 3, 2016 in the Rose Chapel, Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Drumright died 8:23 a.m., Wednesday, August 31, 2016 in the Ozarks Medical Center. She was born October 7, 1963 at Jonesboro, Arkansas to Clarence David May and Violet Virginia Moore May. On September 7, 1978, she was married at Pottersville, Missouri to Donald Drumright. Mrs. Drumright had been employed at the International Shoe Company, West Vue Nursing Center and Invensys; she loved to cook, do canning and making crafts. She enjoyed helping others and was mother to many.

She is survived by her husband, Donald Drumright, of the family home; two children, Rebecca Chenard, husband, Normand, Kittery, Maine and Daniel Drumright, West Plains, Missouri; six grandchildren, Allie Barnes, Cole Johns, Kaylee Johns, Normand Chenard, Jr., Daniel Chenard and Jadon Chenard; her mother, Violet May, Pottersville, Missouri; three sisters, Donna May, West Plains, Missouri, Sherrie Fry, husband, Steven, Pottersville, Missouri and Sharon Reihm and significant other, Ken Brown, West Plains, Missouri; and several nieces and nephews.

Her father preceded her in death.

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until service time Saturday, September 3rd, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Graveside services for Robert Neal Coble, 33, Willow Springs, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, September 2, 2016 at the Dripping Springs Cemetery near West Plains under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Robert died at 7:35 a.m., Monday, August 29, 2016 at the University of Missouri Hospital, Columbia, Missouri.  He was born June 24, 1983 at Chickasha, Oklahoma to Gloria Ann Coble Hunter. Robert graduated from the Ozark Horizon State School in 2004; he enjoyed fishing, being out of doors, taking car rides and spending time with his family.

He is survived by his mother, Gloria Hunter, Willow Springs, Missouri; two sisters, Kelsi Hunter, partner, John Carter, Jr. and Rachel Hunter, all of Willow Springs, Missouri; step-brother, Preston Collins, Cabool, Missouri; one niece, Avery Carter; three nephews, Kelston Hunter, Lucas Collins and Joel Collins; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

His grandparents, Oren and Barbara Coble and his niece, Rylee Collins, precede him in death.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Family and left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Ronald Leslie Becker, 79, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Becker passed away at 1:56 p.m., Friday, August 26, 2016 at Ozarks Medical Center.

He was born September 5, 1936, at Princeton, Illinois, to Leslie Frederick Becker and Dorothy Jean Stoughton Becker.  On September 26, 1958, he was married at Compton, Illinois, to Carolyn Weiler.  Mr. Becker was a veteran, having served in the United States Army.  Before his retirement, he worked as a truck driver for over thirty years.  He enjoyed fishing, feeding birds and loved his family.  Mr. Becker was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, Carolyn Becker, of the family home; two children, Sherri Jolliff and husband, Rick and Leslie Becker and wife, Cecelia, all of West Plains; seven grandchildren, Sharese Becker, Kayla Cobb, Cassy Hanson, Kyle Jolliff, Katelyn Riley, Ron Becker and Sarah Crow; twelve great-grandchildren; two brothers, Fred Becker, St. Anne, Illinois and Bruce Becker, Arlington, Illinois; one sister, Shirley Schmidt, Princeton, Illinois; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, John Weiler, Robert Weiler, Mildred Barry and Linda Sullivan; and many nieces and nephews.

His parents, one daughter, Shelli Jolliff, one sister, Ruth Ann Zweep and brother-in-law, Doug Schmidt, precede him in death.

Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Jolliff Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Graveside services for Laneda Lou Anderson, 72, Warrensburg, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at Oak Lawn Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Laneda passed away at 4:50 p.m., Thursday, August 25, 2016 at Johnson County Care Center, Warrensburg, Missouri.

She was born October 18, 1943, at West Plains, Missouri, to Doin Roy Anderson and Wilma Lee Sanders Anderson.  Laneda was disabled from birth.  Her family’s prayer is that one day people with disabilities such as their sister be accepted for who they are, not what they are.

She is survived by her sisters, Sharon Kay Stovall and husband, Norm, Terre DuLac, Missouri and Lana Courtney and friend, Eddie Lohman, Enid, Oklahoma; her brother, Jim Anderson, and wife, Nancy, Springfield, Missouri; brother-in-law, Dick Burden, West Plains, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews.

Her parents and one sister, Angeeta L. Burden precedes her in death.

Funeral services for Dr. Robert Julius Wiehe, 86, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 12:00 Noon, Monday, August 29, 2016 at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Dr. Wiehe passed away Thursday, August 25, 2016 at his home.

He was born June 22, 1930, at St. Charles, Missouri, to Delphine Meyer Rauch and was adopted by Erwin Wiehe at age nine.  Dr. Wiehe was a veteran, having served with the United States Army.  On November 8, 1952, he was married at Solothurn, Switzerland, to Ursula Tholl.   Dr. Wiehe was a leader in the Chiropractic profession.  He pioneered the field of Chiropractic diagnosis and treatment of chronic internal metabolic disease.  In 2007 Dr. Wiehe was recognized as a founding father of the D.A.B.C.I.  Program (Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Internists). Additionally, Dr. Wiehe led his profession in the giving of lectures and seminars.  His expertise covered office procedure and practice management as well as internal disease.  He gave leadership to many Chiropractic organizations and was awarded the honor of Chiropractor of the Year at the 74th annual convention of the Missouri State Chiropractic Association.   Dr. Wiehe always loved teaching and writing manuals over a wide range of topics.  He was a Gideon, an I.F.R. Pilot, trumpet player, avid fisherman and enjoyed seminar speaking and scuba diving.  Dr. Wiehe was a Christian.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Ursula Wiehe, of the family home; three children, Marilyn Mitchell, San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Kenneth Wiehe and wife, Gail, Paris, Illinois and Kurt Wiehe and wife, Melissa, West Plains, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Daniel Wiehe and wife, Rebecca, Katelyn Wiehe, Matthew Mitchell, Micaela Wiehe, Madison Wiehe, Nathan Wiehe, Natalie Wiehe and Melia Wiehe

His parents and one granddaughter, Natalie Mitchell precede him in death.

Dr. Wiehe will lie in state from 5:00 until 9:00 p.m., Sunday, at Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Howell Memorial Park Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Bethlehem Christian Academy and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Graveside services for Conrad L. Cozort, 84, West Plains, Missouri, were held Friday, August 26, 2016 at Woodlawn Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Cozort passed away at 4:45 p.m., Monday, August 22, 2016 at Brooke Haven Healthcare.

He was born January 23, 1932, at Wiseman, Arkansas, to Walter Curtis Cozort and Margaret Gwen Southard Cozort.  Mr. Cozort was a veteran, having served with the Missouri National Guard for thirty-seven years; he was also a fifty year member of the Masonic Lodge at Thayer, Missouri.  On July 4, 1953, he was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Blanche Ruth Case.  Mr. Cozort retired after thirty-eight years working as a construction inspector for Missouri Transportation and Highway Department.  He loved hunting and fishing and enjoyed farming and gardening.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Blanche Cozort, of the family home; three children, Charlotte Gore and husband, Wayne, West Plains, Karen walker and husband, Danny, Tecumseh, Missouri and Dennis Cozort, West Plains; eight grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; five brothers, Herbert Cozort and wife, Wilma, Nixa, Missouri, Curtis Cozort and wife, Anita, West Plains, Norris Cozort and wife, Ivene, West Plains, Johnny Cozort, West Plains and Kirby Cozort and wife, Penny, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; one sister, Rose Ann Bales and husband, Buddy, West Plains; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents and one daughter, Brenda Taylor precede him in death.

Memorial contributions may be made to the OMC Foundation

A memorial service for Norma Joyce Click, 87, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, August 27, 2016 at the First Christian Church, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Click passed away at 10:05 a.m., Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at Ozarks Medical Center, after a short illness.

She was born December 18, 1928, at Worth, Missouri, to Edward Joseph Lattimer and Beryl Eunice Carnes Lattimer.  Joyce attended grade school and high school through her sophomore year in Worth, Missouri.  At that time she moved with her parents to the State of Washington and attended high school during her junior year there while her parents worked in the shipyards during World War II.  She returned to Worth for her senior year and graduated from the Grant City High School with the Class of 1946.  Joyce moved to the Pomona, Missouri area after graduation to join her parents who had returned from Washington and relocated to Pomona.  She met her future husband there and was married to Chester Lee Click of Pomona, Missouri on September 14, 1946 at Gainesville, Missouri.  They would have been celebrating their 70^th wedding anniversary this year.  Chester and Joyce have lived all of their married life in the West Plains area.  Joyce was an exceptional seamstress and enjoyed sewing and being a stay at home mom for her sons until 1960, at which time she started working at Richards Brothers as an assistant bookkeeper until retiring in 1985.  In retirement she enjoyed traveling the United States and spending time with her family.  Mrs. Click was a member of the First Christian Church of West Plains since 1952, during that time she was a member of and treasurer of the Women’s Guild for several years and chaired the funeral luncheon committee for several years.  Joyce was a loving wife, mother, special mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.  She will be missed, but knowing that she is no longer in pain or suffering, provides comfort to her family and friends.

She is survived by her husband of seventy years, Chester Click; two sons, James Click and wife, Linda Lasswell Click, Bloomington, Illinois and Randall Click and wife, Shirley Williams Click, Monett, Missouri; four granddaughters, Wendy Lucke and companion, Michael Barnes, New Orleans, Louisiana, Sarah Bollman and husband, Matthew, East Peoria, Illinois, Stephanie Carlson and husband, Greg, Olathe, Kansas and Angela Click, Bloomington, Illinois; six great-grandchildren, Sierra, Kaitlyn, Taylor, Tyler, Madelyn and Eloise; one great-great-grandchild, Aaliyah; and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents, five brothers, Justin, Neil, Forrest, Dean and Wallace and two sisters, Geraldine and Carmetta, precede her in death.

Interment will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 27, 2016, at Mackey Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church Women’s Guild and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home

A memorial service for Dr. Paul Alan Kiger, DVM, 87, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 27, 2016 at First Baptist Church.

Dr. Kiger passed away peacefully at 5:10 p.m., Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at West Vue Nursing Center.

He was born March 25, 1929 in Maryville, Tennessee to John & Helen (Kimball) Kiger. Following high school, Paul attended the University of Tennessee where he ran cross country. In May of 1950, Paul joined the Navy, where achieved the rank of Lieutenant as a pilot during the Korean Conflict, serving until December of 1954. He later continued his education at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas where he earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree in 1959.

While stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas with the Navy, Paul met Shirley Gracelyn Clayton. The two were married on July 7, 1951. Together they raised six children. Paul worked as veterinarian in private practice from 1959 until 1977 and as a food safety inspector with the USDA from 1977 until he retired in 1991.

Paul was a member of the American Legion, Lions Club, the Optimist Club and Boy Scouts of America, including serving as Scout Master for Troop 238 in Adrian, MO from 1972 until 1977. He served his church, First Baptist Church of West Plains, in various capacities. Most notably, he was instrumental in operating the First Baptist Church Food Pantry for many years. He also volunteered at Ozarks Medical Center and the OMC Thrift Store.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, John Herbert and Helen (Kimball) Kiger, his wife, Shirley Gracelyn (Clayton) Kiger, one grandson, Craig Alan Kiger and one great-grandson, Aiden Gabriel Lawrence.

He is survived by six children, James Alan Kiger and wife, Vicki, John Clayton Kiger, Jeffrey Lee Kiger and wife, Maryann, Joel Chandler Kiger, Jeremy Charles Kiger and Janet Stevenson and husband, Mitch; eleven grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; one sister, Sara Jo Wilson and husband, Carl; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the First Baptist Church Food Pantry, the American Cancer Society or Water For Life, and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be held at a later date at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Beeville, Texas.

Funeral services for Lucy Tackitt, 94, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, August 22, 2016 at Elijah Church of Christ, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Tackitt passed away at 8:37 p.m., Thursday, August 18, 2016 at West Vue Nursing Center.

She was born August 10, 1922, at Lavaca, Arkansas, to Elbert Lee Steele and Mary Kate Smith Steele.  On October 8, 1941, she was married at Las Vegas, Nevada, to James Lester Tackitt, who preceded her in death on March 27, 2004.  She enjoyed gardening and going to church.  Mrs. Tackitt was a member of the Church of Christ and attended Elijah Church of Christ.

She is survived by five children, Kenneth Gene Tackitt and wife, Bonnie, Charles Glenn Tackitt, Judy Christine Hixon, Janice Ruth Hayes and Carl Lynn Tackitt; twelve grandchildren, Sandy Geddes and husband, Steve, Brian Tackitt, and wife, Loretta, David Tackitt, Dale Tackitt and wife, Erin, Chris Tackitt, Belinda Halford and husband, Gary, Wendell Hixon, Christy Meeks and husband, Matt, Angela Trin Wilson and husband, Steve, Gayla Sue Owens and husband, Bruce, Michael James Tackitt and Steven Lynn Tackitt; nineteen great-grandchildren; three sisters, Mary Martin, Barbara Farrell and Virginia Wiseman and husband, Ted; and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents, husband, one son, Charles Glenn Tackitt, three daughters, Sherry Leigh Tackitt, Linda Kay Tackitt and Lucille Tackitt, one granddaughter, Melannie Renee Tackitt, two great-grandsons, Eli Grant and Douglas Fine, six brothers and four sisters, precede her in death.

Visitation will be from 7:00 until 8:00 p.m., Sunday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Elijah Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Elijah Cemetery and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Graveside services for Wilma Lea Russell, 85, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 22, 2016 at Howell Valley Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Russell passed away at 8:25 a.m., Thursday, August 18, 2016 at her home.

She was born July 30, 1931, at Alton, Missouri, to Blanche Davis.  On August 15, 1958, she was married at Gladstone, Missouri, to Robert Hugh Russell, who preceded her in death February 12, 2015.  Mrs. Russell was a homemaker, had worked at Sears Roebuck and sold real estate for ten years.

She is survived by two sons, Stephen Russell, West Plains and Robert Russell, State of California; former daughter-in-law, Barbara Russell, Raytown, Missouri; two grandsons, Craig and Scott Russell; two sisters, Linda Davis, West Plains, and Helen Pingleton, Garden, Kansas; and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents and husband precede her in death.