Obituaries

A celebration of life service for Johnnie Edward Brasier, 79, Pomona, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 18, 2016 at Pomona Christian Church.

Mr. Brasier departed this world at 1:29 a.m., Friday, May 27, 2016 at his home.

He was born August 27, 1936, at Evening Shade, Missouri, to Bill and Pansy Crews Brasier.  John was united in marriage to Judith Ann Caton on December 31, 1961.  They were blessed with three sons, Joey, Rick and Jeff.  John was employed at Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative for thirty-three years in the service department and as a lineman.  He was always willing to help anyone.  John loved his wife and sons with all his heart.  Some of his greatest joys were traveling with his wife and teaching his sons hunting, fishing and auto mechanics; and watching them excel at basketball.  He was most proud of the caring husbands and fathers they became.  John grew up in Roby, Missouri and went to wheat harvest out west at the age of fifteen until his senior year when he graduated from Plato High School.  Following high school he served in the United States Marine Corps for four years and was honorably discharged in March of 1961.  He met his wife-to-be in Springfield through mutual friends, Bob Gastineau and Charlene Smith.  The two couples were joined in marriage in a double ring ceremony on December 31, 1961.  John became a Christian at age eleven and was baptized at Roby Christian Church.  The family attended Pomona Christian Church.

He will be missed by his family, numerous friends, extended family and countless others he touched through his work and life.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-four years, Judy; three sons, Joey and wife, Brenda, Rick and wife, Tracy and Jeff and wife, Dawn; four grandsons; two granddaughters; one great-grandson; one sister, Berna Dene Winfrey; and one brother, William “Bill” Brasier.

His parents precede him in death.

Interment will be in the Howell Memorial Park Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Pomona Christian Church Building Fund, 5040 CR 1390, Pomona, MO  65789 or may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Imogene Dold, 86, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, June 9, 2016 at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Dold passed away at 2:45 a.m., Sunday, June 5, 2016 at Ozarks Medical Center.

She was born February 15, 1930, at Gamaliel, Arkansas, to Earl Maynard and Edna Mae Crawford Maynard.  On August 7, 1954, she was married at West Plains, Missouri, to John “Bill” Dold, who preceded her in death on October 7, 2013.   She was a graduate of Harding College and taught 3^rd grade at Norfork and Reese schools, until becoming a full time farmwife; living and working alongside her husband and family on their dairy farm.  Mrs. Dold was a member of the Curry Street Church of Christ.

She is survived by three children, Denise Roberts, West Plains, Letitia Housley and husband, Steve, Montgomery, Alabama and Albert Dold, West Plains; five grandchildren, Blake Roberts, Billye Jean Williams and husband, Bruce, Brent Roberts and wife, Ranee, Beth Bass and husband, Adam and Brooks Housley and wife, Sarah; five great-grandchildren, Emma, Elle, Brenley, Hudson and Josey; sister-in-law, Marianna Hoover Hicks, West Plains; and her nieces and nephews, Paula Huddleston, Rick Hoover, Randy Hoover and Elizabeth Vesto.

Her parents, husband, one brother, J. B. Maynard and son-in-law, Ronald Roberts, precede her in death.

Visitation will be from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, at Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Gospel Hill Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Ozark Bible Camp and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Celebration of Life Services for Lois Martha Moore, 99, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at the First Baptist Church of West Plains.

Mrs. Moore passed away peacefully at 2:36 p.m., Saturday, June 4, 2016 at her home near West Plains.

Lois Martha Chapin was born on December 23, 1916 in West Plains, Missouri to Oscar Norman Chapin and Mary Alice Morrison Chapin, the latter of whom arrived in Howell County on a covered wagon from Tennessee.  Lois grew up on the homestead farm her pioneer family established south of town. Her father died when she was 18 months old, so Lois was raised by her mother, who tilled the soil, selling eggs and farm produce for a living. Lois attended a one-room schoolhouse at the old Howell Valley School, one year of high school at Brandsville, and then finished at West Plains High School, where she played on the girls’ basketball team.  Later when SMSU (now MSU) opened in West Plains, she was part of the inaugural class and attended two years there.  She vividly recalled hearing the blast and seeing the glow from the 1928 Dance Hall Explosion in downtown West Plains. Lois rode horseback for transportation and horse raced with other children for enjoyment.  In the 1920s, when Lois was 11, an uncle gave the family a car. Since her mother could not drive, Lois became the family driver.  As a girl visiting relatives in Tulsa, she had a front-row spot at a parade for Charles Lindberg, who had just returned from his famous, trans-Atlantic flight. Lindberg smiled directly at her, inspiring her fascination with flying.  Occasionally when driving, Lois would glimpse an airplane over Howell County and follow it until it landed in a nearby field. She would pay the pilot a dollar to take her up for a spin.  During the Great Depression, Lois helped her mother garden and farm, selling and trading farm goods to keep food on the table.   After high school, at age 17, Lois moved to Springfield and worked at the Springfield Flying Service in the downtown airport. She began flying lessons (secretly, because her mother didn’t know), a very daring and rare hobby for a young woman in the early 1930s. She was the second woman to fly solo out of the Springfield airport.  She returned to West Plains and, along with another pilot from the area, petitioned the head of the local Chamber of Commerce to build an airport here. Her petition was rejected, but a seed had been planted. She later became a Captain in the volunteer Civil Air Patrol, helping law enforcement by scouting the terrain from above.  As a young woman in the mid- 1930s, Lois took a job with the Production Credit Association in West Plains, helping farmers obtain loans in a time when agriculture was southern Missouri’s largest economic resource. The office on West Main Street oversaw eight rural counties.  She also worked for the credit bureau offices in Crane and Gainesville.

Lois Chapin was married to the love of her life, Richard (Dick) Dewey Moore II, on November 6, 1943 in Corpus Christi, Texas.  A Marine fighter pilot, Dick flew off a carrier in the Pacific; Lois lived in Santa Barbara, California while she awaited his return from war.  After the war, the couple returned to West Plains and were approached by the FBI with an offer to become a team of private investigators.  Instead, Dick practiced law and Lois helped set up the office on the West Plains town square and worked there.  When Ozarks Medical Center was established in the 1960s, it had no volunteers; Lois took leadership of a local chapter of the American Red Cross “Gray Ladies,” a strong corps of women identified by their gray uniforms and white caps. Lois also worked as a “Gray Lady” herself, and this band of women became the core of the hospital’s volunteer base.  Lois set up a home health visitation service to the homebound through the American Red Cross, and she taught CPR and emergency resuscitation. She worked at the University of Missouri Extension Office in Howell County as a women’s representative. She volunteered support to military wives of the 1138th Missouri National Guard when their husbands deployed, and she organized a holiday banquet for veterans at the Armory for many years.   In the 1980s, Lois and her family opened and began managing a travel agency in West Plains.  This started her love for seeing the world, and she traveled in many countries.   Hers was a life beautifully lived, with great humility and love.  But her pride and joy was her family.

She is survived by her four children and fourteen grandchildren:  Rich Moore and wife Linda (West Plains), their three children: Bobbie Moore McLain and husband Andy, Brian Moore and wife Kim (all of West Plains), Eric Moore and wife Ping (Atlanta, Georgia).  Mike Moore and wife Mary (West Plains), their five children: Katie Moore Ashcroft and husband Jay (St. Louis), Jennifer Moore, Elizabeth Moore Woodring and husband Jeremiah (all of West Plains), Ashley Moore (San Francisco), Michael Moore (West Plains).  Patricia Elbrecht and husband Clyde (West Plains), their four children: Rachel Elbrecht Cobb and husband Sam, Nathanael Elbrecht, Martha Elbrecht Dennison and husband Stan (all of West Plains), Daniel Elbrecht (Dallas, Texas),  Kelly Moore and wife Alberta (Springfield, Missouri), their two children:  A.J. Moore and wife Amber (Kansas City, MO), Lauren Moore Zachery and husband Johnathan (Springfield, MO).

Asdrubal Tobar, foster son(San Antonio, TX);  Twenty-six great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, who loved her like a mother;  her longtime caregiver Melba Dilbeck and three other wonderful caregivers, Joyce Coppock, Elizabeth Bentz, and Debbie Ipock.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Richard (Dick) Moore, her sister, Louise Chapin, her brother, Rex Gideon Chapin and wife, Hazel, and her parents Oscar and Mary Alice Chapin.

Although Lois Moore lived a long life, she realized that this life is still very temporary. Her faith in Jesus Christ was her highest priority, and the family rejoices that their loved one will now spend eternity with Her Savior and the Lord of her life.   Memorial contributions may be made to Howell Valley Cemetery and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Funeral services for William Joseph “Bill” Kirchner, 77, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Kirchner passed away at 2:50 p.m., Thursday, June 2, 2016 at his home.

He was born September 14, 1938, at St. Patrick, Missouri, to John Nicholas Kirchner and Anna Marie Ellison Kirchner.  On November 26, 1960, he was married at St. Patrick, Missouri, to Janet Baugher.  Bill worked in his family business, farming, trucking and seed sales.  Mr. Kirchner lived in St. Patrick until his retirement in 2001 when he moved to West Plains, Missouri.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus for sixty years and was active on the local and state levels; after his God and family, it was his greatest love.  Mr. Kirchner was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Janet Kirchner of the family home; one daughter, Sherry Lox and husband, Mark, West Plains, Missouri; and one sister, Kathleen Uhlmeyer, Canton, Missouri.

Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Interment of cremains will be at a later date in St. Patrick, Missouri.  Memorial contributions may be made to Missouri Knights of Columbus vocations fund, St. Mary’s building fund or American Cancer Society and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Flay Mahan, 96, Pottersville, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Mahan passed away at 5:50 p.m., Friday, May 27, 2016 at NHC Healthcare.

He was born December 31, 1919, at Pontiac, Missouri, to Marion Henry Mahan and Emma Livesay Mahan.  He attended school through 8^th grade at Pontiac, Missouri and was raised on a farm on Little North Fork where his family farmed and raised cattle.  On September 23, 1948, he was married at Sturkie, Arkansas, to Grace Francis Eagleman, who preceded him in death on July 25, 2011.  He and his wife lived on the family farm near Bakersfield, Missouri, where they raised their family.  Mr. Mahan was a veteran, having served with the United States Army during World War II in Germany with the 6^th Calvary.  He was a member of the Church of Christ and attended the Prairie grove Church of Christ.

He is survived by five sons, Darrell Mahan and wife, Bonnie, Pottersville, Missouri, Glen Mahan and wife, Elizabeth, Derby, Kansas, Mike Mahan and wife, Debbie, Bakersfield, Missouri, Danny Mahan, Strafford, Missouri and Garold Mahan and wife, Susan, Macon, Missouri; thirteen grandchildren, Scott Mahan and wife, Katie, Kyle Mahan and wife, Elizabeth, Brian Mahan and wife, Sarah, Sarah Martello and husband, Ralph, Michael Mahan and wife, Tracy, Lisa Bean and husband, Bobby, Luke Mahan and wife, Erin, Joshua Mahan, Beth Edwards and husband, Rob, Brittney Mahan, Courtney Mahan, Sydney Mahan, Delaney Mahan; and sixteen great-grandchildren.

His parents, wife, one brother, Alvin Cecil Mahan, one great-grandson, Jaxon Mahan, one half-brother, Calvin Mahan, two half-sisters, Delia Herd and Josie Wray, precede him in death.

Visitation will be from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m., Monday, at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Free Union Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Free Union Cemetery and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

A Homecoming Celebration of Life for Raymond Willis Salisbury, 75, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at Victory Family Worship Center.

Mr. Salisbury passed away at 7:36 p.m., Thursday, May 26, 2016 at West Vue Nursing Center.

He was born February 22, 1941, at Abington, Pennsylvania, to Raymond Bryan Salisbury and Lillian Elizabeth Parsons Salisbury.  On October 14, 1961, he was married at Shrewsbury, New Jersey, to Lois Patterson.  Mr. Salisbury was a veteran, having served with the United States Army.  He was an Assembly of God Pastor, Music Minister, Master Builder, charter and school bus driver and voluntary chaplain at Ozarks Medical Center.  Mr. Salisbury was a loving husband and father; he loved his family.  He was a hard worker, always providing for his family and was always willing to help others.  He introduced himself as “Hi, I’m Ray, like a ray of sunshine”.  Mr. Salisbury had a love of music and enjoyed playing trombone and singing; he especially enjoyed times spent traveling and singing with his family.  He was a member of Victory Family Worship Center.

He is survived by his wife, Lois Salisbury, of the family home; three children, Nathan Ray Salisbury and wife, Dorothy, West Plains; Linda Salisbury, McKinney, Texas and Joanne Burnley and husband, James, Winchester, Kentucky; two sisters, Bethel Juillerat and Marie Alberti-Thomson and husband, Bill, all of Springfield, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews.

His parents, one son, Stephen Paul Salisbury, one grandson, Lam-Moriah, one brother, Donald and four sisters, Esther, Retha, Grace and Janice, precede him in death.

Memorial contributions may be made to West Plains Senior Center or Alzheimer’s Association and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Graveside services for Josephine “Jodie” Weeks, 89, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at Barnett Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Weeks passed away at 8:05 a.m., Friday, May 27, 2016 at Brooke Haven Healthcare.

She was born June 16, 1927, at West Plains, Missouri, to Robert Shrable and Allie Burroughs Shrable Galloway.  On December 30, 1950, she was married at Salem, Arkansas, to Warren Eugene Weeks, who preceded her in death on February 17, 2016.  Jodie was a homemaker and had worked at the International Shoe Factory, Discount Mart and alongside her husband at their business, Warren’s TV Sales and Repair.  She enjoyed knitting, crocheting and flowers.  Mrs. Weeks was a member of the First United Methodist Church.

She is survived by two children, Debbie Turnbow and husband, Danny, Mechanicsville, Virginia and Greg Weeks and wife, Cindy, West Plains, Missouri; five grandchildren, Jennifer Jennings and husband, Tony, Christy Turnbow and wife, Cherish, Michelle Jenkins and husband, Mike, Devin Cravens and husband, Ben and Cody Weeks and fiancée Beth Kittle; ten great-grandchildren, Lauren, Megan and Devin Jenkins, Hunter, River, Mason and Ellie Jennings, Callie Turnbow and Chace and Abe Cravens; one sister-in-law, Marian Weeks, Silver Springs, Florida; several nieces and nephews; and her Brooke Haven Family.

Her parents, husband, one great-granddaughter, Abbey Elizabeth Jenkins and one infant sister, precede her in death.

Mrs. Weeks will lie in state from 5:00 until 9:00 p.m., Monday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.   Memorial contributions may be made to Barnett Cemetery and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.robertsondrago.com.

Funeral services for Betty Lou Holland, 80, Willow Springs, Missouri, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Holland passed away at 3:45 p.m., Monday, May 23, 2016 at her home.

She was born July 9, 1935, at West Plains, Missouri, to Joe Pliler and Eliza Collins Pliler.  On January 3, 1955, she was married at Hurtado, Mississippi, to Ronald “Red” Holland.  Betty was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother; her family was her life.  She was also a caregiver to a very special sister-in-law, Noelle Holland.  Betty loved to cook, sew and fish with her husband.  She was a member of Pomona Christian Church.

She is survived by her husband of sixty-one years, Ronald “Red” Holland; three daughters, Teresa Smith and husband, Bruce, Rhonda Hinten and husband, Daniel and Sheila Joyce and husband, Bobbie; seven grandchildren, Jeremy Smith and wife, Brittany, Jessica Cunningham and husband, Jeff, Danielle Dale and husband, Clinton, Kara Curnutt and husband, Greg, Donnie Hinten and wife, Brittany, Brandon Joyce and wife, Toni and Tyler Joyce; twelve great-grandchildren; one sister, Sue Lambe and husband, Gary; and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents, one sister, Audrey McGuire, one brother, J. T. Pliler and one grandson, Bobbie Ryan Joyce, precede her in death.

Visitation will be from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Howell Memorial Park Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Compassus and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Kevin Mikel Martin, 28, West Plains, Missouri, passed away at 5:19 a.m., Sunday, May 22, 2016 at his home.

He was born February 7, 1988, at Lawton, Oklahoma, to Kenneth Terrill Martin and Diana Michelle (Medley) Younger.  Kevin graduated from Willow Springs High School with the Class of 2007 and on May 6, 2012, met his wife, Victoria “Tori” (Hicks) Martin.  He enjoyed fishing, camping and cooking and had a passion for artwork, tattoos, auto body painting and working on cars.  He loved spending time with his family and his dog, Roxy.

He is survived by his wife, Tori Martin; two daughters, Rylan and Addy, his parents, Kenneth Martin and Diana Younger; one brother, Terry Martin; paternal grandparents, Charles and Jennifer Martin; one nephew, Caleb Martin; his step-parents; numerous step-siblings and extended family; and many, many friends.

His maternal grandparents, Deneise Boyd and Joe Medley, precede him in death.

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

Melvin Charles Newman passed away May 17, 2016 in West Plains, Missouri at the age of eighty-eight years.

Melvin was born March 15, 1928 at Pottersville, Missouri.  He was the oldest son of C.C. Newman and Doris Mae Chesnut Newman, who preceded him in death.  His primary school was the one room school at Homeland Community.  Melvin graduated from West Plains High School in 1945 and joined the United States Navy.  He participated in the atomic bomb tests at Eniwetok Atoll in the Pacific.  He returned to West Plains and worked at the Vollmar Firestone Store, sold insurance and then sold veterinary pharmaceuticals for Wilke Laboratory.  He joined C.P. Baker in the tire business at Baker Tire Company as a part owner; later becoming sole owner.  Melvin grew the business under the Michelin franchise to sell and service highway and off road tires, over a multi-state area under the name of Radial Tire Sales.

C.P. Baker introduced Melvin to private flying at the Baker Airport. This became an avocation that he pursued and enjoyed throughout his life. He was one of the pilots who participated in a University of Chicago study of cloud seeding in the Midwest in the 1950’s.  He honed his skills and was qualified as a commercial,  single engine, multi engine and instrument pilot. He later became type rated in a Jet Commander.  He enjoyed many aviation adventures and enjoyed sharing these stories.  In his later years, he became an avid gardener.

Melvin married Jacquie Lu Hart (now deceased) and they had two children; Mark Newman (deceased) and Vicki Kimes Shaw.  He later was married to Dixie Kelsey, who preceded him in death.

Melvin is survived by his daughter, Vicki Kimes Shaw (Steve), daughter-in-law, Rita Roberts Newman; five grandchildren, Audrey Kimes Garard (Jonathan),  Christopher Newman (Tara), Susan Newman Foster (Brett), David Newman (Kristin), and Courtney Newman Gunter (David); eleven great-grandchildren, Ethan and Dane Garard, Sydney and Sloane Newman, Lily and Blake Foster, Cody and Ava Newman and Jackson, Noah and Hannah Gunter.  He is also survived by his sister, Maxine Reid (deceased brother-in-law, Joel) and a brother, Gale Newman (Janet); and a special friend, Shirley Kimbrough.  Melvin has three surviving first cousins, Joe Spears, Doyle Chesnut and Alvin Woods.

A Celebration of his Life will be held at a later date.   Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Tracy Marie Gentry, 45, Willow Springs, Missouri, passed away at 9:43 p.m., Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at NHC Healthcare.

She was born November 29, 1970, at West Plains, Missouri, to Terry Collins and Ruth White Madden.  Tracy loved animals, especially horses and was a barrel racer in her younger years.

She is survived by two children, Keely Cook, West Plains and Tehya Wilson, Flippin, Arkansas; one grandchild, Harlie Cook; her father, Terry Collins, Willow Springs, Missouri; step-father, Zip Madden, Willow Springs, Missouri; one brother, Zippy Madden, Willow Springs, Missouri; two sisters, Megan Collins-Lan and husband, John and Heather Collins, all of West Plains, Missouri; and her grandmother, Loeta White.

Her mother precedes her in death.

Arrangements under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

A memorial service for Dulcina O. “Cina” Dix, 84, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, May 23 at First United Methodist Church, West Plains, Missouri.

Mrs. Dix passed away at 6:00 a.m., Sunday, May 8, 2016 at her home.

She was born June 24, 1931, at Corning, Arkansas, to Fred Wilson Kimball and Orphia Dulcina Mason Kimball.  On April 8, 1950, she was married at St. Louis, Missouri, to Richard Narvel Dix, who preceded her in death on January 18, 2008.  She graduated from Corning High School with the Class of 1948 and furthered her education at Draughon Business College and Depaul School of Nursing.  Mrs. Dix worked as a nurse for thirty years in St. Louis, Missouri, Albuquerque, New Mexico and West Plains, Missouri.  Mrs. Dix was a member of First United Methodist Church, West Plains.

She is survived by two grandchildren, John Dix, Springfield, Missouri and Kari Hilyer and husband, Joel, Tallahassee, Florida; two great-grandsons, Caffey and Garrett Hilyer; three sisters, Modena Chovanec, Whiting, Indiana, Shirley Cordes and husband, Glen, St. Louis, Missouri and Sandra Morello, St. Louis, Missouri; one brother, Stewart Kimball, Farmington, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; and many special friends.

Her parents, husband, two daughters, Patricia Schenks and Debra Dix, three brothers, Fred, Doug and Ron Kimball, one cousin, Gene Stout and two nephews, Kent Kimball and Steven Morello, precede her in death.

Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church for “Christ’s Kitchen” or to the West Plains Public Library and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Leah Naomi Harper, 76, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, May16, 2016 in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Harper passed away at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 12, 2016 at Ozarks Medical Center.

She was born October 15, 1939, at Lake City, Arkansas, to Orphus Justene “OJ” Richardson and Linnol Richardson.  In 1956, at the age of seventeen, Leah married the love of her life, Loyd Alan Harper, who preceded her in death on March 11, 2002.  Leah was a Godly woman and was kind to everyone; she had a great faith that she loved to share with others.  She was a friendly soul with a smile that could light up a room.  She loved spending time with her family, especially her seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren and enjoyed sharing stories that could take you back in time.

She is survived by her three loving daughters and their families, Naomi Ruth Pierce and friend, Steven Helm and her children, Joshua and wife, Brooke, Jonathan and wife, Ginny and Daria; Mary Jo Lamb and husband, Dr. Randy Lamb and their children, Reuben and Levi; and Sherry Lois Harper-McAfee and her children, Desirea Legler and husand, Eric and Danae Haile; two brothers, David Richardson and wife, Pat and Paul Richardson and wife, Susan; and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents and husband precede her in death.

Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., Sunday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Howell Memorial Park Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Tuberous Sclerosis Association, and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Pauline Viola Culton, 83, Bedford, Texas, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 14, 2016 in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Culton passed away at 8:59 p.m., Monday, May 9, 2016, at Parkwood Healthcare, Bedford, Texas.

She was born September 2, 1932, at Omaha, Nebraska, to Carl Richards and Pauline Margaret Whistler Richards.  She grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. A devoted student, Pauline took as many advanced classes as she could in high school and participated in sports and school clubs. She graduated from Manual High School with the Class of 1949.  Pauline married J.L. Robinson in 1953 and had three children with him; Cheryl Ann, Linda Sue and James Love Robinson, III. After divorcing him in 1958 and while working at Wayne Towel and Linen Supply, she met and married Garry Wayne Henderson in 1961. They had two children together; Teresa Kay and Jacqueline Marie.  She and Garry divorced in 1987. Pauline reconnected with an old love, Dorman L. Culton, “Cully.”  They were married in 1987 and remained married until Cully’s death on December 29, 2014.  In addition to working at Wayne Towel and Linen Supply, Pauline worked at the Telephone Company and Ralston Purina.   As a single mom, she took in laundry and ironing. While taking accounting classes, she worked in the school cafeterias for the Kansas City School District and soldered computer parts at home for a small company. She was head of Payroll for Russell Stover’s Candies, until 1989 when she moved with Cully to a farm near Pomona, Missouri to raise cattle. She did taxes for H&R Block in Kansas City and in West Plains, Missouri.

Pauline loved taking care of babies. She got tremendous joy from her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Hosting week long summer stays for her granddaughters, Tiffany and Kristin, that included Fireworks on the 4th of July, antique shopping in Hardy, Arkansas and picking green beans, tomatoes and squash in the garden. Anyone who visited Pauline and Cully remembers barbeques and swimming at the North Fork of the White River. She cooked many family meals on Sunday afternoons. Dinner at 4:00 meant dinner at 4:00. You couldn’t know Mom for long without knowing that if she thought she was right, she would “stick to her guns” no matter what.   Her advice consistently leaned heavily toward self-reliance and pragmatism. “Always have enough money with you to get yourself home on a date,” comes to mind.  She was an avid reader and firmly believed in sing the library.  Pauline was a friend to the vulnerable; bringing vegetables from the garden to the assisted living apartments in West Plains, purchasing groceries on a list for a neighbor on a fixed income.  Groceries, whose prices never rose during the inflation of the 70’s.   Her family remembers her for great fried chicken, a talent for saving money, her love of the TV game show Jeopardy and The Andy Griffith Show. Her favorite flower was the carnation and her favorite actor was John Wayne.

She is survived by four children, Jackie Henderson, Teresa Mitchell-Horder, Cheryl Ann Finke and Linda Sue Vannattan; four step-children, LaDonna Kersten, Mark Culton, Charles Culton and Amy Christopher; eleven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Her parents, husband and one son, James L. Robinson, III, precede her in death.

Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be in the New Hope Cemetery.  Donations may be made to the American Stroke Foundation and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Cathy Rae Duke, 48, Caulfield, Missouri, passed away at 7:38 p.m., Friday, May 6, 2016 at Ozarks Medical Center.

She was born September 24, 1967, at West Plains, Missouri, to Blake Hoopes and Sharon Johnston Hoopes.  On September 2, 2005, she was married at Salem, Arkansas to Earl Duke.  She loved animals and enjoyed playing croquet.  Mrs. Duke attended South Fork Church.

She is survived by her husband, Earl Duke; step-son, Cameron Duke; her mother, Sharon Wells; mother-in-law, Ivory Duke; grandmother, Sally Hoopes; one brother, Joby Hoopes and wife, Kimberly; one sister, Heather Ogden and husband, Colby; aunt, Cathy Downen; nieces and nephews, Shavahn Boyle, Tiffany Hale, Keegan Hoopes and Evin Wake; great-aunts and great-uncle, Mary Ann Barks, Anna Mae Shannon and Steve Johnson; and one great-niece and two nephews.

Her father, maternal grandparents, Cecil and Freda Johnston; paternal grandfather, George A. Hoopes, uncle, Joe Johnston, father-in-law, Marlin Duke, Sr. and brother-in-law, Marlin Duke, Jr., precede her in death.

Arrangements under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Graveside services for Marcella Louise Day, 68, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 7, 2016 at Oak Lawn Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Day passed away at 1:56 a.m., Monday, May 2, 2016 at Peppi’s House, Tucson, Arizona.

She was born December 16, 1947, at West Plains, Missouri, to Victor Eugene “Gene” Bragg and Mary Louise Abney Bragg.  She enjoyed her yard, fishing, camping and playing golf.  Mrs. Day loved the outdoors.  Family was important to her; she loved spending time with all of her family.

She is survived by two children, Danielle Gerken and husband, Michael and Misty Hartley and husband, Chris; six grandchildren, Morgan, Taylor, Lindsey, Cosi, Marlowe and Colton; four great-grandchildren and one on the way; two brothers, Victor Bragg, Jr. and Samuel Bragg; one sister, Debra Collins and husband, Gaylen; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.

Her parents precede her in death.

Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Friday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Graveside services for Bruce Wayde Ledford, 54, Clarksville, Tennessee, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Ledford passed away at 2:29 a.m., Tuesday, April 26, 2016 in Clarksville, Tennessee.

He was born August 2, 1961, at Pomona, California, to James H. Ledford and Edith Tuck Ledford.  He enjoyed being around children and was happy when he was outdoors, fishing and hunting.  He also enjoyed operating heavy equipment.

He is survived by his father, James Ledford and wife, Barbara, Viola, Arkansas; his mother, Edith Shields, Eugene, Oregon; one son, Ethan Ledford, West Plains, Missouri; three brothers, Ted Ledford, Viola, Arkansas, Bryan Ledford and wife, Amy, Caulfield, Missouri and Adam Ledford and wife, Ashley, Viola, Arkansas; two sisters, Elizabeth Johnson and husband, David, Carnation, Washington and Linda Marshall and husband, Jeff, Clarksville, Tennessee; several nieces and nephews; and two special great-nephews, Zander and Javon.

Funeral services for Robert Lawrence Jones, 77, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 29, 2016 in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Jones passed away at 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at his home.

He was born August 7, 1938, at Pisgah, Iowa, to Raphael Oren Jones and Ethel Mae Hicks Jones.  On December 5, 1971, he was married in the State of California, to Martha Baughman.  Mr. Jones was a retired veteran, having served with the United States Army, United States Air Force, Army National Guard, United States Navy and was a Seabee.  He was a life time member and had served as Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion Post and Disabled American Veterans.  Being a member of the American Legion Post he enjoyed cooking many breakfasts and working at the Heart of the Ozarks Fair for many years.  He loved reading Louis L’amour books; having read several books many times and had a large collection.  Mr. Jones was a member of the Brandsville Church of God.

He is survived by his wife, Martha Jones; three children, Max Jones and wife, Vicki, James Ginn and wife, Julie and Gloyd Ginn; seven grandchildren, Alan Jones and wife, Kim, Alesha Jones, Kyle Ginn and wife, Crystal, Oren Ginn and wife, Breanna, Alisha Mattingly and husband, Ian, Jessica Woodard and husband, Brandon and Anita Kimbell; eleven great-grandchildren and one on the way; one brother, David Jones; two sisters, Anna McDonald and husband, Michael and Mary Wenzler; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents, one son, Kenneth Ginn and one brother, Richard Jones, precede him in death.

Mr. Jones will lie in state from 5:00 until 9:00 p.m., Thursday at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Visitation will be prior to the service from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m., Friday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Union Hill Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Shaw Cancer Treatment Center and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Waneta Magee McCracken, 92, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, April 25, 2016 at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. McCracken passed away at 7:18 a.m., Friday, April 22, 2016 at Ozarks Medical Center.

She was born April 8, 1924, at West Plains, Missouri, to Robert Magee and Della Fuller Magee Lile.  On July 3, 1941, she was married at Hardy, Arkansas, to Ralph Leon McCracken, who preceded her in death on March 4, 2003.  Mrs. McCracken had worked as a clerk at Cole’s Dress Shop and along with her husband was owner/operator of McCracken RV Sales.  She attended First Christian Church, Pomona, Missouri.

She is survived by one daughter, Karen Mitts Denney and husband, Donald, Koshkonong, Missouri; two grandchildren, Leon Mitts and Melissa Wright; two great-grandsons, Dustin Wright and wife, Carol and Jesse Wright and wife, Miranda; four great-great-grandchildren, Braxtin, River, Bayler and Breanna; and several nieces, nephews and other special family members.

Her parents, husband and three brothers precede her in death.

Visitation will be from 5:00 until 6:00 p.m., Sunday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.