Funeral services for Flora Mae Luna, 95, Dora, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 5, 2023, at Ball Church of Christ, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mrs. Luna passed away at 4:25 p.m., Saturday, December 31, 2022, at Gainesville Health Care Center.
She was born April 28, 1927, at Spring Creek, Kansas, to Roy and Gladys Stone Thornton. She graduated from Dora High School with the Class of 1947. On November 27, 1948, she was married at Mountain Home, Arkansas, to Charles Clifton Luna, who preceded her in death on October 15, 2016. Mrs. Luna was a stay-at-home mother and housewife. She enjoyed spending time at home with her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids, making sure there was always candy on the table, soda in the fridge, and a soap opera on the t.v.
She is survived by five children, Bob Luna and wife, Pam, Terry Luna and wife, Amy, Mike Luna, Sharon Fox and husband, Kelvin, all of Dora, Missouri, and Kelly Luna and wife, Cherie, Zanoni, Missouri; seventeen grandchildren; thirty-eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son, Charles Luna, and two brothers, Clyde Thornton and Cecil Thornton.
Mrs. Luna will lie in state from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Visitation will be prior to the service, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Thursday, at Ball Church of Christ. Burial will be at Ball Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Ball Cemetry and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
Funeral services for Nell Catherine (Curtis) Peters, 91, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 4, 2023, with visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m., at First United Methodist Church of West Plains, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Rick Rutledge, pastor of First Christian Church in West Plains, will officiate.
Mrs. Peters passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at her residence, with her family by her side. Nell was currently living at Cedarhurst Assisted Living of West Plains.
Nell was born in Springfield, Missouri, on September 11, 1931, to parents C. Dan Curtis and Margaret Paynter Curtis. Camille, Nell’s only sibling, came along nine years later. She attended McDaniel Elementary School, Greenwood Lab School and graduated from Springfield Senior High School in 1949. She was a naturally social person and was involved in many clubs and activities, including cheerleading and dramatics. Nell then attended Drury College, studying toward a degree in elementary education. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority while at Drury. It was while at Drury that Nell met and fell in love with her future husband, James C. Peters, a star member of the college’s basketball team. The couple married on June 10, 1951. The birth of their children, Jim and Sherry, completed the family. As Jim pursued a career in education and coaching, he and Nell lived in several towns, including Halfway, Missouri and Mountain Home, Arkansas before settling in West Plains, their permanent home. Nell was the perfect coach’s wife, enthusiastically cheering from the sidelines and raising their two young children. Later, when Jim became a successful State Farm Insurance agent, she continued to support him in every way she could. She was active in the community and made many lifelong friends who were very dear to her. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in West Plains, Chapter CM of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and was always a strong supporter of her children’s schools. She was also an occasional substitute teacher in local elementary schools. Nell had an outgoing, colorful personality and an infectious laugh. She was an avid bridge player and was a wonderful cook; her homemade chocolate pies always brought top dollar at charitable fundraisers. Nell enjoyed time spent at the family’s cabin on the Norfork River at Dawt. In her later years, she especially enjoyed watching professional tennis and other sports on television and reading good books. She was lovingly assisted by her friend, Joyce Coppock, who was her helpful companion for 12 years.
Nell and Jim enjoyed 57 years together before his passing in 2008. She was also preceded in death by her parents and a granddaughter, Brittany Hogue.
She is survived by her sister, Camille Ricketts and husband, Bill of Springfield; son, Jim Peters and wife, Beth, of West Plains; daughter, Sherry Underwood of Springfield.; three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren whom she adored, Andrew Peters, wife Emily and daughters Ava Jane, Anna Beth and Mary Nell, of Cassville, Julie Peters Gower, husband Jeffrey and their children, Ella Grace and William Gower of Olathe, Kansas and Courtney Booher and husband Bryce, and Courtney’s children, Audrey and Hunter Jensen, all of Springfield.
Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jim and Nell Peters Endowed Scholarship with Missouri State University-West Plains and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
Funeral services for Arther Lee Terry, 79, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 6, 2023, in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mr. Terry passed away at 8:55 p.m., Thursday, December 29, 2022, at his home.
He was born September 17,1943, in New Madrid County, Missouri, to Dewey Terry and Violet Mae Burns Terry. On October 15, 1960, he was married at Morley, Missouri, to Darla Jane Miles, who preceded him in death on September 14, 2022. Arther enjoyed farming, gardening, woodworking and helping other people.
He is survived by five children, Michael Lee Terry, Brooksville, Florida, Deborah Jane Terry-Smith, Dora, Missouri, Elaine Terry Vaughan and husband, Don, West Plains, Pamela Kay Wheat, Dora, Missouri and Matthew Wayne Terry and wife, Brandi, Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina; seven grandchildren, Chris McKay Vaughan, Marcus Ryan English, Brittney Chantelle Terry, Lissa Corinne Siemers, Cameron Matthew Terry, Hannah Dawn Wainwright and Hunter James Lee Wheat; six great-grandchildren, Whitney McKay Vaughan, Robert Logan Siemers, Lorelai Destiny Vaughan, Lilith Rosella Mae English, Ethan Gray Billows and Serenity Rose Vaughan; and one brother, Kenneth Terry and wife, Josephine, Ocala, Florida.
His parents, wife and one daughter, Jennifer Dawn Terry, preceded him in death.
Visitation will be held from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m., Friday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in South Fork Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to South Fork Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
A celebration of Life service for Dorthy Irene Coble, 82, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2023 at First Baptist Church, West Plains, Missouri.
Mrs. Coble went to be with her Lord at 8:50 a.m., Saturday, December 17, 2022, at her home.
She was born July 26, 1940, at Thayer, Missouri, to Ernest Martin and Irene Lindsay Martin. On June 10, 1962, she was married at Thayer, Missouri, to Victor Coble. Dorthy was a loved and respected teacher for many years. She started her career in Springfield, Missouri in 1961 and taught in Montana, Washington, California and finished her teaching career at Richard’s school from 1991 through 2004. From there, Vic and Dorthy took off in their camper and went to many places in the United States and Canada, also traveling on their motorcycle and pitching a tent along their way. In their 60 year marriage, they traveled to all 50 states and Canada and Mexico. Dorthy loved the outdoors, fishing, camping, canoeing, gardening and her flowerbeds. She would always be the one to come away with a fish to eat for dinner at the campsite. Dorthy loved teaching Sunday school, working in the church library and helping in the food bank at First Baptist Church.
She is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Vic Coble, of the family home; one son, Doug Coble and wife, Susan, Cottonwood, California; one daughter, Cheryl Floyd and husband, J.R., Thayer, Missouri; four grandchildren, Garrett Coble, Redding, California, Rena Riemann and husband, Ben, Omaha, Nebraska, Jesse Morgan, West Plains, Missouri and Ben Dotson, Thayer, Missouri; and several nieces and nephews.
Her parents, (her mother only surviving six days after her birth), one sister, Janice Holman and one great-nephew, Shane Cameron, preceded her in death.
Burial was held at Thayer Cemetery, Thayer, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
A memorial service for Amel Augustus Allen, Jr., 79, Pomona, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 2, 2023 in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mr. Allen passed away at 9:23 a.m., Friday, December 23, 2022.
He was born October 5, 1943, at Birch Tree, Missouri, to Amel Augustus Allen, Sr. and Ester Irene Griffin Allen. He was united in marriage to Melva Pauline Austin, on December 16, 1971 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Junior graduated from Birch Tree High School in 1961. He ventured to Ontario, California where he worked for an appliance dealer as a delivery person. Later they sent him to school to learn appliance repair. Junior, Melva and their three children moved to Delta, Colorado where they eventually opened their own appliance sales/repair business, which they operated for approximately twenty-five years. Upon retirement, they moved back to Missouri, and settled in Pomona. It was not long until all the community realized he could repair anything from small appliances to large farm equipment. In a very short time, everyone that had a problem was told to call or take their things to “Junior”. Junior’s generosity, kindness and willingness to help people were truly a blessing to everyone that knew him. He wore many hats, and he was known to many friends as “Junior” and” Dad”, and “Grandpa ” to his family. It goes without saying, that there will be a void in the lives of everyone he ever came in contact with.
He is survived by sons, Kris Allen and wife, Tracie, Pomona , Missouri and David Allen, Kansas City, Missouri; son-in-law, Meryl Gullings, West Plains, Missouri; siblings, Pat Thompson, Clever, Missouri, Iris and (Bill) Magers, Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, Leila Wilkerson (Jim French) Billings, Missouri and William Allen, Billings, Missouri; nine grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and one very important, special friend, Jo Ann.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Melva and one daughter, Bobbi Jo Gullings.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
A memorial service for William Michael (Fuzzy) Gamblin, 72, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mr. Gamblin passed away at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at his home.
He was born October 28, 1950, at Memphis, Tennessee, to Albert Gamblin and Jetti Chappell Gamblin. Fuzzy graduated from West Plains High School with the Class of 1970. He was a veteran, having served with the United States Navy. On July 9, 1975, he was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Anita Lung. Mr. Gamblin was of the Catholic faith.
He is survived by his wife, Anita Gamblin, of the family home; two sons, Gage Michael Gamblin and wife, Daley, Austin, Arkansas and Cort William Gamblin, Springfield, Missouri; one grandchild, Goldie Lynn; one brother, Kenneth Gamblin; and several nieces and nephews.
His parents and one brother and sister-in-law, Conrad Lee and Wilma Gamblin preceded him in death.
A private burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
Donald Duane Williams, 75, West Plains, Missouri, passed away at 9:03 p.m., Saturday, December 24, 2022, at his home.
He was born April 1, 1947, at Fairberry, Illinois, to Glen and Gladys Williams. Mr. Williams was a veteran, having served in the United States Army. Before his retirement, he worked at Howard Johnson’s Hospitality. He enjoyed fishing, camping, tinkering and working on cars. Mr. Williams was of the Methodist faith.
He is survived by two children, Wendy Carrell and husband, Mack, West Plains and Duane Williams, Springfield, Illinois; four grandchildren, Daniel Caplinger and wife, Tabitha, Kayce Caplinger, Jonathan Williams and Kaytlynn Williams; three great-grandchildren, Aubrea, Alaina and Mathew.
His parents, wife Pauletta and one sister, Sandy, preceded him in death.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
Graveside services for Gayla Rae Mitchell Langston, 69, Caulfield, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 30, 2022, at Fowler Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mrs. Langston passed away at 5:33 a.m., Thursday, December 22, 2022, at Autumn Oaks Caring Center in Mountain Grove, Missouri.
She was born February 11, 1953, at Dayton, Ohio, to James and Althea (Post) Faulkner. Gayla had a passion for cooking and owned her own restaurant. She was a member of the Church of Christ.
She is survived by her husband, Dennis Langston, of the family home; two children, Jim Kidwell, Stafford, Virginia, and Christy Flores (Jeo), Nokesville, Virginia; several grandchildren; three brothers, Tom Faulkner (Brenda), Nixa, Missouri, Raymond Faulkner, Springfield, Missouri, and Bill Faulkner, Mountain Home, Arkansas; and several nieces and nephews.
Her parents, one sister, Velma Christianson, and one brother, James Faulkner, preceded her in death.
Linda Jo Rhoads, 70, West Plains, Missouri, formerly of Thayer, Missouri, passed away at 7:25 p.m., Tuesday, December 10, 2022, at Brooke Haven Healthcare.
She was born June 5, 1952, at South Fork, Missouri, to Joseph Henry Rhoads and Luretta Cook Rhoads. Linda made jewelry and quilts and enjoyed crafting and making dog clothes.
She is survived by three sisters, Mary Ellen Rhoads Stewart and husband, Richard, Doylestown, Ohio, Sarah Elizabeth Rhoads Schmidt, Dupo, Illinois and Martha Ann Rhoads Hadley, Pottersville, Missouri; two brothers, Samuel Luther Rhoads, Caulfield, Missouri and William David Rhoads, St. Louis, Missouri; and several nieces and nephews.
Her parents, two brothers, Joseph Daniel and John Allen, three brothers-in-law, Nathan Jefferies, Walter Schmidt and Carl Hadley, and one sister-in-law, Judy Rhoads, preceded her in death.
The family will hold a private graveside service. Arrangements under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Graveside services for Harry Leroy Appel, 90, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 29, 2022, at Gospel Hill Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mr. Appel passed away at 9:25 p.m., Sunday, December 25, 2022, at West Vue Nursing Center.
He was born March 1, 1932, in Ellis County, Oklahoma, to Emanuel Appel and Martha Renner Appel. Harry attended school in Bishop and Shattuck, Oklahoma. On December 23, 1950, he was married to Carole Litchfield in Higgins, Texas. Harry joined the United States Navy as a young man. He served on the USS Bon Homme Richard, USS Coral Sea, USS St. Paul and the USS Tortuga. Ships on which he served were deployed to Korea twice during the Korean War and four times to Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He also trained recruits at San Diego Naval Base and Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois. Mr. Appel retired after 20 years of service, having reached the rank of Lieutenant. Harry was very proud of the years he spent in the Navy. After retirement, Harry and Carole moved to a farm near Marshall, Arkansas. Together they raised cattle for 40 years and planted huge gardens. Harry also read electric meters and programmed voting machines for Searcy County. In 2013, they moved to West Plains to be close to their daughter and family. Harry enjoyed woodworking and created many pieces of furniture for family and friends.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Carole; daughter, Linda Hobbs and husband, Danny, West Plains; daughter-in-law, Laverne Appel Weems, Springdale, Arkansas; four grandchildren, Bethany (James) Kunz, Jason (Andrea) Appel, Brianne Hobbs and Travis (Ashley) Appel; nine great-grandchildren, Griffin, Garrett, Maya, Conner, Owen, Reece, Evan, Jacob and Avie; his siblings, Margaret Baker, Canyon, Texas, Ruth Sutherland, Choctaw, Oklahoma, Darlene (Ron) Stricker, Phoenix, Arizona and Larry (Judy) Appel, Dumas, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.
His parents, one son, Tom Appel and one brother, Jim Appel, preceded him in death.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
Funeral services for Florene Varue (Peachie) Roberson Moore, 91, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 31, 2022, in the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mrs. Moore passed away at 7:45 a.m., Saturday, December 24, 2022, at her home.
She was born December 15, 1931, at Babylon, Long Island, New York, to Clifford Eugene and Ethel Robbinna (Crammond) Smith. Peachie’s family moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, when she was a child, and then settled in Hocomo, Missouri, when she was twelve years old. She attended elementary school at Egypt Grove and graduated from Bakersfield High School with the Class of 1950. Her first job was at Richard’s Brothers in West Plains. She married her high school sweetheart, Dwayne Roberson, in 1951, and they moved to LaSalle Peru, Illinois, where they lived for sixteen years, before moving back to Hocomo in 1967. Peachie cooked at South Fork Elementary school for many years, and was known and loved by the staff and students there. She later cooked at Fairview Elementary, and finished her career at West Plains Elementary. She made many life-long friends during those working years. Peachie was loved by everyone that knew her. She loved to sing and played the piano her entire life. She had a beautiful alto voice, and knew every song in the Heavenly Highway’s Hymnal. As a young adult, she and her husband, Dwayne, sang together in the Roberson Family Quartet. Peachie was a faithful supporter of Hammond Mill Bible Camp. She was one of the first campers when the camp was founded in the early 1940s. She worked tirelessly planning and cooking at the camp for over 40 years. In her later years, Peachie stayed busy in her home, taking care of her husband, and she remains the Phase 10 Champion, even after being challenged many times by her grandchildren. She loved working word puzzles, and never missed Wheel of Fortune. She also loved to travel, and loved going to Branson to see the shows. Peachie was a member of Faith Chapel Freewill Baptist church for over thirty years, and loved playing piano and singing with her church family. At the time of her death, she was attending Calvary General Baptist Church with her husband Jay, as it was close to her home, and she loved the small congregation there. Whether you called her Mom, Grandma Peachie, Aunt Peachie, or Sister Peachie, please know that she loved you all. We will miss her, but we rejoice to know that she is singing with the angels now, and all her troubles on this earth are no more.
She is survived by four children, Randall Roberson, Danny Roberson (Rita), Kenny Roberson (Kim), and Kay Sharbono (LeRoy); nine grandchildren, Jason Roberson, Trevor Roberson, Jenna Cousins, Dana Gifford, Matthew Roberson, Grayson Strodtman, Levi Strodtman, Chelsea Ebner, and Garrett Strodtman; several great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews; one sister, Z. Kay Birckelbaw; and her husband, Jay Moore.
Her parents, husband, Dwayne Lee Roberson, one granddaughter, Serena Gail, and siblings, Duane, James, Darrell, Hardy, Alyne, and Zola, preceded her in death.
Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be at Amy Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hammond Bible Camp and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
Graveside services for Carol Joyce Barnett, 78, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 30, 2022, at State Line Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mrs. Barnett passed away at 7:15 a.m., Thursday, December 22, 2022, at her home.
She was born October 13, 1944, at Woodlake, California, to Myrtle and Anna Mae (Duvall) Milam. On October 6, 1984, she was married at Crossville, Tennessee, to Ron Barnett. Mrs. Barnett was a meat cutter and co-owner of Barnett’s Meat Processing and Market. She enjoyed traveling, hunting, and fishing. She was a member of the Assembly of God.
She is survived by her husband, Ron, of the family home; two children, Alison Shannon and husband, David, West Plains, Missouri, and Sherry Campbell, West Plains, Missouri; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, and one on the way; and one niece, Dianne Shahan.
Her parents, one son, Bill Coates, one sister, and two nieces preceded her in death.
Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Funeral services for Loeta May Watson, 85, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, December 29, 2022, in the Rose Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mrs. Watson passed away at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at her home.
She was born January 19, 1937, at Barnsdall, Oklahoma, to Walter L. and Thelma Bartley Mayfield. Loeta graduated from West Plains High School with the Class of 1955, and later graduated from a Bible college in Nebraska. On October 6, 1961, she was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Virgil (Ray) Watson, who preceded her in death on September 19, 1992. Mrs. Watson worked at the West Plains Credit Bureau for ten years and at West Plains Bank and Trust for thirty-seven years. She was a member of First Church of God in West Plains, Missouri.
She is survived by two children, Steven R. Watson and spouse, Ronda, and Janet Watson and spouse, Howard Stoddard; two grandchildren, Brandon Watson and spouse, Nicole, and Stephanie Watson; one brother, Norman Mayfield and spouse, Evelyn; two brothers-in-law, Leroy Trantham, and Gene Watson and wife, Della; two sisters-in-law, Oneta Stevens and Nadene Young; and several nieces and nephews
Her parents, husband, and younger sister, Geneva Trantham, preceded her in death.
Visitation will be held prior to the service, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Thursday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
Glenda Irene Fite, 82, West Plains, Missouri, formerly of Thayer, Missouri, passed away at 12:17 p.m., Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at Ozarks Medical Center.
She was born May 23, 1940, at Quincy, Illinois, to Ralph Kramberg and Bessie Roberta Winget Kramberg. Glenda graduated from Central High School, Camp Point, Illinois, with the Class of 1958. She was a veteran, having served with the United States Army. On November 4, 1960, she was married at Fort Sam Houston Texas, to Victor Fite, Jr., who preceded her in death on December 5, 2000. Mrs. Fite was a member of the Jehovah’s Witness and enjoyed doing church work.
She is survived by two sons, Victor Fite III and wife, Diana, Mesa, Arizona and Walter Fite and wife, Rosemary, Batesville, Arkansas; one grandson, David Fite and wife, Amy; one great-granddaughter, Azura Fite; one brother, Richard Kramberg and wife, Marilyn, Clayton, Illinois; one sister, Sharon Earp, Dayton, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.
Her parents and husband preceded her in death.
Arrangements under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Please join the family in celebrating the life of Alice Deyonne Sparks, 66, West Plains, Missouri, at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at Pottersville Baptist Church, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Deyonne passed away peacefully at 6:40 p.m., Monday, December 19, 2022, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri due to complications from recent strokes.
She was born June 21, 1956, in Denver, Colorado, to Jim and Alice. Deyonne loved giving gifts to people as she said that was her love language; she also enjoyed sewing, attending church services and watching her grandchildren. She was a devout Christian who loved to share God’s words through her giving, generosity, volunteering and kindness.
She is survived by her one daughter, Amber Russell and husband, Cory; one son, Daniel Sparks and wife, Sarah; her pride and joy, her grandkids, Koby Sparks, Katherine Sparks, Morgan Russell, Kooper Sparks, Caleb Russell and Kenley Russell; her mother, Alice Levesque and husband, Bob; her father, Jim Morgan and wife, Jan; two sisters, Glenda Shaw and husband, Jim and Kay Cowan and husband, Mark; several nieces, nephews and cousins; her living kidney donor; and a multitude of friends. All of these people she loved and touched deeply.
Visitation will be held prior to the service from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, at Pottersville Baptist Church. Burial will be in the Pine Hill Cemetery, Jonesboro, Arkansas at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, December 29, 2022. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity that Deyonne was very passionate about, the National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org) and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
Funeral services for Jason Alan Orr, 43, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 23, 2022 at the First United Methodist Church, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mr. Orr passed away at 12:46 p.m., Sunday, December 18, 2022, at his home.
He was born August 20, 1979, at West Plains, Missouri, to Ray Ginder and Karen Kroening Ginder. On July 12, 2005, he was married at Montego Bay, Jamaica, to Tara McDaniel. Jason loved big. To know him was to love him. There is nothing he loved more than his family. He loved watching his girls play sports and loved the moments that he got to coach them. He also loved spending time in nature hunting and fishing with his girls. After working for nearly 25 years at Wal-Mart, Jason knew he wanted to make a difference in children’s lives and be there for his girls. Jason went back to school to get his teaching degree and spent the last two years teaching and coaching for the Glenwood school district. He was a big part of First United Methodist church and loved to serve and volunteer.
He is survived by his wife, Tara Orr, of the family home; two daughters, Ella Claire Orr and Molly Kate Orr, both of the family home; his parents, Ray and Karen Ginder; brother-in-law, Jeff McDaniel and wife, Brittany; grandmother-in-law, Flo McDaniel; niece, Emmy McDaniel; nephew, Hudson McDaniel; special friend, Garrett Warren; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
His grandparents, Franklin Kroening, Carl and Wilma Lang, Leon and Alberta Orr and Pat and Eunice Ginder, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Rick and Bonnie McDaniel, grandfather-in-law, E. J. McDaniel, and cousin, Ryan McDaniel, preceded him in death.
Visitation services will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Thursday in the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Howell Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Molly and Ella Orr Account at West Plains Bank & Trust Co. and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
Graveside services for Deborah Kay Stiner, 67, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 23, 2022 at Howell Valley Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mrs. Stiner passed away at 6:45 p.m., Saturday, December 17, 2022, at her home.
She was born September 4, 1955, in the State of Nebraska, to Howard Kay Warner and Patricia Ann Mikesell Warner. Mrs. Stiner had worked as a CNA. She enjoyed riding horses, crossword puzzles and working cattle with her husband, Donnie. Debbie loved her family.
She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Donnie Stiner; two children, Donnie Stiner, Jr. and Tonya Stiner; two sisters, Carol Marcak and husband, Bennie and Lynn Warner; and several nieces and nephews.
Her parents, mother-in-law and father-in-law, John and Bonnie Stiner; four brothers-in-law, Ronnie, Bo, Jessie and Billy Stiner and one sister-in-law, Maggie Stiner, preceded her in death.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
Funeral services for Marcos Christopher, 63, Moody, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 22, 2022, in the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mr. Christopher passed away at 5:45 a.m., Friday, December 16, 2022, at his home.
He was born August 30, 1959, in Monterrey, Mexico, to Harold and Victoria (Romo) Christopher. He attended North Winneshiek High School, in rural Decorah, IA. On August 5, 1987, he married Heather Webster-Craft in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. To this union, seven children were born. Marcos and Heather were divorced in 2015. On June 29, 2020, he married Carolyn J. Dunton in Gainesville, Missouri. Mr. Christopher had a gift for training dogs and horses which took him to many places around the country. He enjoyed leather working and crafted several saddles and tack, and was intrigued by metalworking, creating useful pieces to use on the farm. He was passionate about playing and listening to music. Mr. Christopher was of the Christian faith.
He is survived by his seven children; Andrew Christopher and one granddaughter, Autumn Mae Christopher, Olive Branch, Mississippi; Ethan Christopher, Moody, Missouri; Ania, Caleb, Joseph, Ellie, and Emily Christopher, all of Pottersville, Missouri; the children’s mother, Heather Christopher Uchtman, Pottersville, Missouri; and his wife Carolyn J. Christopher of Caulfield, Missouri; two brothers, Timon Christopher (Laurie), Decorah, Iowa; and Noe Christopher, Stevensville, Montana; three sisters, Eunice Christopher (Steve Hamilton), Decorah, Iowa, Elizabeth Feuerhelm (Brian), Lansing, Iowa, and Esther Christopher Kuhn, Decorah, Iowa; along with many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be at South Fork Cemetery. A meal for family and friends will follow at the Moody Community Center in Moody, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to the Christopher family and left or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
A Celebration of Life for Betty Louise Hartle, 89, Richland, Missouri, will be held in the Spring of 2023, and will be under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mrs. Hartle passed away at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, December 15, 2022, at Richland Care Center in Richland, Missouri.
She was born April 15, 1933, at Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, to Troy and Mattie Mae (Hayes) Whiteside. She graduated from West Plains High School with the Class of 1951. On April 24, 1954, she was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Ransom Bettis Hartle, who preceded her in death July 23, 2009. Mrs. Hartle enjoyed needlework, refinishing furniture, reading, knitting, and crocheting. She was of the Baptist faith.
She is survived by one daughter, Geniece Warren and husband, Bruce, Richland, Missouri; two grandchildren, Barton Warren and wife, Meagan, Richland, Missouri, and Lillie DeHart and husband, Jake, Wichita, Kansas; five great-grandchildren, Violet Warren, Elaine Warren, Ransom Warren, Warren DeHart, and Maisy DeHart; three brothers, Dean Whiteside and wife, Pat, James Marland Whiteside and wife, Mary Anna, and Richard Whiteside and wife, Donna; two sisters, Fern Tackitt and husband, Bob, and Elaine Durham and husband, Tilman; and several nieces and nephews.
Her parents, husband, and one sister, Carolyn McLain, preceded her in death.
A private burial will be held at Oak Lawn Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to West Plains Animal Shelter and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
William Monroe Moncrief, 82, West Plains, Missouri, passed away at 12:01 a.m., Thursday, December 15, 2022, at his home.
He was born May 6, 1940, at Wauchula, Florida, to P.A. Moncrief and Essie Irene Shappard Moncrief. He was united in marriage to Brenda Busbey on June 9, 2001 in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. For many years, Monroe managed a Publix in Florida before moving to Missouri in the 1980’s and was a truck driver for several years. In the late 1980’s he bought land in White Church, Missouri and raised cattle. For the past 20 years, Monroe drove medical transportation before retiring in 2020 from Ready Transportation. He enjoyed hunting and fishing in his younger days and loved a good crossword puzzle. He was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather and enjoyed his family more than anything. Monroe will be greatly missed by the many lives he touched.
He is survived by his wife of over 21 years, Brenda Moncrief; two daughters, Reina McCullough and husband, Ronnie, Gainesville, Missouri and Retha Rickman and husband, William, West Plains, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Dakota and Leighann McCullough, State of Tennessee, Gage and Peyton McCullough, Gainesville, Missouri and Kenyon, Kendra and Favre Kiger, West Plains; special friends, Will Berry and Sherri Crowley, both of West Plains and Carolyn McCullough, Gainesville, Missouri; and family fur baby, Dottie.
His parents, one brother, Shorty Moncrief, one sister, Irene Atchley, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Bessie and Willie Busbey, brother-in-law, Calvin Busbey and grandmother-in-law, Cubby Reid, preceded him in death.
Arrangements under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
