Thayer

Ralph Mills

Ralph Harold Mills was born the son of Walter Thomas Mills and Bertha Mae Strain Mills on December 1, 1918 at Thayer, Missouri and departed this life March 23, 2011 in West Plains, Missouri at the age of 92 years.

He was united in marriage March 1, 1945 in Thayer, Missouri to Ailene Ridenhour.

He is survived by his wife, Ailene of the home in West Plains, Missouri; four children, Sandra Mills of West Plains, Missouri, Randolph Mills of Imperial, Missouri, Bradley Mills and wife, Janet of West Plains, Missouri and Rosemary Hendon and husband, Kenneth of West Plains, Missouri; three grandchildren, Joshua Mills of Granite City, Illinois, Adam Mills of West Plains, Missouri and Graham Mills of Springfield, Missouri; one great grandson, Tyler Mills; two sisters, Nola Willoughby of Bartlett, Texas and Hazel Baker of Tuscambia, Missouri; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Bertha Mills and two brothers, Frank and Glen Mills.

Mr. Mills was a Veteran of the United States Army, honorably serving his country during World War II and was privileged to enjoy the first Honor Flight out of Springfield, Missouri.

He was a Contractor, and well known for his concrete construction business. He attended China Union Church and will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, friend and neighbor. He will truly be missed by all.

Funeral service will be Sunday, March 28, 2011 at 2:00 PM in the Carter Funeral Home Chapel.  Visitation will be Saturday afternoon from 3:00 to 5:00 PM.  Burial will be in New Salem Cemetery, Couch, Missouri.

Dorothy Verdie Grooms was born at Couch, Missouri on April 19, 1922 to David Luther and Annie Frances Clark Blankenship and departed this life on March 21, 2011 at the age of 88 years and 11 months. She was at her daughter’s home in Thayer, Missouri with her closest family by her side.

Dorothy attended Norman School and loved to tell her children and grandchildren accounts of her walking through dust, rain and snow to attend school. She was not able to go on to high school so she attended the eighth grade the second time. It was in this community setting that she met and fell in love with the love of her life. On March 31, 1943 she was united in marriage to Albert Lawrence Grooms and to this union two daughters were born; Elda Mae and Anita Berniece.

Dorothy dedicated her life to being a wife, mother and homemaker. She loved working in her garden, nurturing her flowers and maintaining her yard and home in pristine condition. She enjoyed playing dominoes with her friends and took winning very seriously. All of her children and grandchildren have items that she had crocheted or quilted just for them. In her later days she was unable to do these things so she spent much of her time working jig-saw puzzles.

Dorothy was a member of the Thayer Free Will Baptist Church for over 50 years. She attended services faithfully until her health no longer permitted.

Dorothy considers her family to be her legacy. She is survived by her daughter, Elda Bragg Willauer of Thayer, Missouri, grandson Kelly Alan Bragg and great-grand-children Madison Joy and Ian Stewart of Kansas City, Missouri; daughter Anita Humphreys, her husband Powell of Thayer, Missouri, granddaughter Michelle Dawn Thomason, her husband Joe and great-grand-children, Graham Joe, Samantha Dawn, Joshua David and Anna Michelle Thomason of Weldon Spring, Missouri and by grandson Brent Powell Humphreys and his wife Erica of West Plains, Missouri. She also leaves behind a host of relatives, lifelong friends and her faithful long time companion, Muffin.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence; an infant son; her parents, Luther and Annie; brothers, George Blankenship, David (Dude) Blankenship and her sister, Opal Ingram.

Those who knew Dorothy, knew that she was a strong woman with a dedication to her faith in God. Her love for her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was apparent in everything she did. She will truly be missed.

Funeral services were Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 2:00 PM in the Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Thayer with Brother Greg Smith and Brother Richard Robinson officiating. Burial was in the Norman Cemetery.

Pressley Mitchell York was born the son of Homer Mitchell York and Grace Irene Pressley York on July 19, 1925 at Koshkonong, Missouri and departed this life March 21, 2011 in West Plains, Missouri at the age of 85 years.

He was united in marriage November 17, 1954 at Thayer, Missouri to Flossie Blankenship, who preceded him in death July 6, 2006.

He is survived by one son, Michael Scott York and wife, Stacie of West Plains, Missouri; two special grandchildren, Taylor and Hunter York of West Plains, Missouri; two sisters, Emma Jean Jeffries of St. Charles, Missouri and Sue Annette Taylor of Imperial, Missouri; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Grace York; his wife, Flossie York and two brothers, James Herbert York and Cleo Ray York.

Mr. York was a Veteran, proudly serving his country in the United States Army.

Mitch was employed by Boeing Aircraft as a machinist for twenty-eight years. His favorite pastime was playing the harmonica and he always enjoyed a good card game with family or friends.

He was of the Free Will Baptist faith, a devoted father, grandfather, brother and a friend to all. He will truly be missed by all.

Funeral service will be Friday, March 25, 2011 at 10:00 AM at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Thayer. Burial will be in the Norman Cemetery.

Rachel Lucille Joy was born the daughter of James and Mary McCoy on August 17, 1934 in St. Paul, Virginia and departed this life March 20, 2011 in West Plains, Missouri at the age of 76 years.

She was united in marriage April 13, 1957 at Aurora, Illinois to Marcel Joy.

She is survived by her husband, Marcel Joy of the home in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas; two sons, Peter Joy and wife, Teri of Montgomery, Illinois and Tim Joy and wife, Janet of Aurora, Illinois; one daughter, Jennifer Joy of Thayer, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Daniel and Nicholas Joy of Aurora, Illinois, Hannah Joy of North Aurora, Illinois, Sean Joy of Montgomery, Illinois and Steven, Cheyenne, and Gabriel Joy of Thayer, Missouri; one brother, Lacie McCoy and wife, Maggie of Montgomery, Illinois; one sister, Betty Hartness of Aurora, Illinois; nieces, nephews other relatives and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two grandchildren, Hailey and Samuel; three brothers, Chester, Floyd and James McCoy and two sisters, Katie Berger and Maggie McCoy.

Rachel loved to be outdoors, watching the wildlife or tending to her vegetable and flower gardens. She enjoyed crafts and the coffee at McDonald’s but her favorite pastime was yard sales and was known as the “Yard Sale Queen”.

She was a dedicated homemaker, a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and will truly be missed by her family, friends and all who knew and loved her.

Memorial services were Friday, March 25, 2011 at 11:00 AM in the First Assembly of God Church in Thayer, Missouri with Pastor Abel Perez officiating. Burial was in the Thayer Cemetery with local arrangements by Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made in her memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Betty Sue James was born the daughter of Arthur Watkins and Marjolane Browning Watkins on September 20, 1945 in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas and departed this life March 20, 2011 in Thayer, Missouri at the age of 65 years.

She was united in marriage in 1971 at Pocahontas, Arkansas to William James, who preceded her in death January 8, 2007.

She is survived by four children, John Cochran and wife, Cheryl of Thayer, Missouri, Louann Cure and husband, Robert of Galena, Kansas, Edith James of Flint, Michigan and William Cochran and wife, Debra of Koshkonong, Missouri; eighteen grandchildren; two great grandchildren; one sister, Norma Blake of Springfield, Missouri; several nieces, nephews, good neighbors and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Marjolane Watkins; her husband, William James; one son, James Michael Cochran and one grandson, Clint Cochran.

Betty was a Christian lady, a dedicated homemaker and was deeply devoted to her family. She will truly be missed by her family, friends and the neighborhood in which she lived.

Graveside services will be Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 2:00 PM in the Koshkonong Cemetery with Brother Johnnie Holesapple, Jr. officiating. The body will lie in state at the funeral home until time of service. Burial will be in the Koshkonong Cemetery with services under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc.

Marian Lee Kirchwehm was born the daughter of Ray R. Davis and Mary Irene Bergman on June 18, 1929 in St. Louis, Missouri and departed this life March 15, 2011 at her home in Thayer, Missouri at the age of 81 years.

She is survived by one niece, Debbie Smith and husband, Jim of Bunker, Missouri; one great nephew, Robbie Davis and wife, Erika of Park Hills, Missouri; two great nieces, Alicia Belk and husband, Hank of Bunker, Missouri and April Ritter and husband, Ryan of Bunker, Missouri; three great great nieces and one great great nephew and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Mary Davis; two brothers, Lloyd Davis and Byron Davis and one nephew, Robert Davis.

Marian enjoyed working in her gardens, growing vegetables and beautiful flowers but the joy of her life was the love and companionship of her cats.

She was a devoted homemaker, dear aunt, a caring neighbor and a friend to all. She will truly be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Graveside services will be Friday, March 18, 2011 at 2:00 PM at the Thayer Cemetery.

Pauline Smith was born the daughter of John A. Drye and Gertrude Meeks Drye on July 23, 1929 in Thayer, Missouri and departed this life March 13, 2011 in Quincy, Illinois at the age of 81 years.

She was united in marriage June 3, 1950 in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas to Rodney Smith, who preceded her in death February 1, 1984.

She is survived by two daughters, Pamela Fisher of St. Louis, Missouri and Michelle Hagerbaumer and husband, Mark of Quincy, Illinois; eight grand children, Stacie Mason, Barbara Adair and husband, Andy, Teresa Ingram and husband, Kyle and Jessica Fisher, all of St. Louis, Missouri; Logan, Lexus, Kamryn and Karli Hagerbaumer, all of Quincy, Illinois; seven great grandchildren, Taylor, Ali, Hayley, Noah, Landon, Addison and Avery; one brother, Bill Drye and wife, Hazel of Thayer, Missouri; several nieces, nephews and many dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Gertrude Drye; her husband, Rodney Smith; two brothers, Fred and John Drye and three sisters, Rosemarie Rust, Mary Russell and Vida Jo Smith.

Pauline enjoyed children and retired after twenty seven years of service as a substitute teacher with the Quincy Public School System in Quincy, Illinois.

She was an active member of the First Southern Baptist Church in Quincy, Illinois for forty-six years and a member of the WMU.

She was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister and a friend to all. She will truly be missed by those who knew and loved her.

Doris Louise Gladin was born the daughter of Perry Norman and Anna Hayes Norman on January 17, 1927 in Couch, Missouri and departed this life March 11, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 84 years.

She was united in marriage for 41 years to Roy Dillon Gladin who preceded her in death.

She is survived by her nieces, Fern Hecox of Miami, Florida, Betty Norman of St. Louis, Missouri and Norma Norman of Ash Flat, Arkansas; a nephew, Roscoe Cantrell of Monroe, Louisiana; great nieces and nephews; great-great nieces and nephews; a great-great-great niece and many dear friends.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Perry and Anna Norman; her sisters, Mallie Cantrell and Bernice Davis; one brother, H. Elgan Norman; three nephews, R.P. Norman, Gordon M. Norman and Don E. Norman and one great nephew, Don E. Norman Jr.

She graduated from Couch High School and received her Bachelor Degree in Education from Missouri State University. She was a teacher and retired from the Thayer Public Schools after 35 years.

She was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Thayer for many years. Her hobbies included traveling and playing golf.