Thayer

Thayer Funeral Home

Melanie Shae Anderson

Melanie Shae (Todd) Anderson, 48, of Mammoth Spring, AR, passed away Thursday, July 21, 2022, at Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home, AR.

Melanie was born January 6, 1974, in West Plains, MO to Freddie Thompson and Ronnie Todd.

Survivors include her parents; Freddie (Tab) Thompson of Mammoth Spring, AR, Ronnie Todd (Monica Cherry) of Salem, AR; her sons Austin Anderson (Anna Pond) of Bentonville, AR, Dakota (Mikenzie) Anderson of West Plains, MO, and Jacob Anderson of West Plains, MO; grandchildren Tyler, Dallas, Sawyer, and Carter Anderson; brother Brandon (Heather) Todd of Palmyra, MO, brother Samuel Noakes of Mammoth Spring, AR; niece Makayli Todd of Palmyra, MO, nephew Skyler Todd of Thayer MO, and nephews Remington and Cruz Todd of Palmyra, MO; and many other friends and family. She also leaves behind her beloved dog Cooper.

Melanie was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Fred and Wanda Davis, paternal grandparents Elmer and Fern Todd, and Uncles Rick Davis and Butch Davis.

Melanie was Christian by faith. She was baptized in the Church of Christ as a young adult.

Melanie was a 1993 graduate of Mammoth Spring High School. Professionally she worked as a certified nursing aide. She was a compassionate caregiver and valued her time providing care for others.

Melanie was a loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She was an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan. She loved her family dearly. Melanie loved music of all kinds and loved sharing her passion for music with others. She often thought fondly about the time she spent growing up at her grandparents. She was so proud of her children and grandchildren and shared their photos with all of her acquaintances. She enjoyed WWE wrestling. She loved sunflowers and roses. She was a great cook especially Mexican dish and banana pudding. She loved traveling to Palmyra to see her brother and his family. She thoroughly enjoyed fixing her hair and doing her make-up with her niece Makayli. She loved playing phase 10 and Skip-Bo. Melanie was the sweetest and kindest soul. She found joy in all things. She cherished her time with her mother whom she referred to as her best friend. There are so many wonderful qualities to share about Melanie as she showed compassion, generosity and trustworthiness to all whom she loved.

A funeral service celebrating her life will be held at 2:00 pm Monday July 25, 2022, at Carter Funeral Home in Thayer, Missouri. Pastor Erman Croney will officiate. Burial to follow at Riverside Cemetery, Mammoth Spring, Arkansas under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. Thayer Missouri.

In loving memory of Melanie, memorial contributions may be made to the family payable to Carter Funeral Home.

John Lee Sloan

Carter Funeral Home Thayer

John Lee Sloan was born September 13, 1931 near Koshkonong, Missouri, the son of Nicholas and Olive Jackson Sloan, and passed away at Shepherds View Residential Care on Thursday, July 21, 2022.

He received his education in a one room school near Koshkonong, Missouri.

John was married June 16, 1956, to Edith Louise Hunsperger who preceded him in death.

He was a veteran, proudly serving his country in the U.S. Army in Germany during the Korean War, attaining the rank of corporal. He was a member of AmVets and a life member of DAV.

John retired from Rainbird Sprinkler Systems in Peoria, Illinois and then moved back to his farm near Koshkonong, Missouri. Later he was co-owner of an antique store in Koshkonong, Missouri and also worked for the city of West Plains.

He enjoyed buying and selling antiques and collectibles. John was an excellent pool player and competed in pool tournaments when he was younger.

John was of the Protestant faith.

He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; one sister, Alma; and three brothers, Aubrey, James and Norman.

John is survived by several nieces and nephews; other relatives; and many friends. He is also survived by the wonderful staff at Shepherds View who became his family.

He will truly be missed by his family and friends.

Funeral services for John Lee Sloan, age 90, of Alton, Missouri, formerly of Koshkonong, Missouri, will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Thayer, Missouri.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to service time at Carter Funeral Home in Thayer, Missouri.

Interment will be on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in Wayside Cemetery in Koshkonong, Missouri with services under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer, Missouri.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wayside Cemetery and left at Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer, Missouri.

Norman Eugene Risner

Carter Funeral Home Thayer, West Plains

Norman Eugene Risner, 93, Myrtle, Missouri passed away at NHC Healthcare July 14, 2022.

He was born January 13, 1929, the son of the late Newt Risner and Ola Ary Risner.

He is survived by two sons, Mark Risner, Myrtle, Missouri and Kent and Cindy Risner, Caulfield, Missouri; granddaughters, Sadee Risner and significant other, Dylan Rankin, Myrtle, Missouri, Calee Risner, West Plains, Missouri, and Emilee Coleman and her husband Tristan and daughters, Lexcee and Harlee, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He attended Giteau School up to the fourth grade. He graduated with the class of 1946 from Couch High School, Couch, Missouri. He attended the University of Missouri with the class of 1950 with a B.S. Degree in Agriculture. He taught veterans at Thayer, Missouri until he was drafted in Summer of 1951. His basic training was at Camp Chafee, Arkansas. In the fall of 1951 he was shipped to the Korean front lines in July of 1952, Signal Corp. He was discharged in 1953. In 1956 he received his Master’s Degree from MU. He was hired in July 1956 as the area agronomist for MU Extension Service where he worked for twenty-eight years.

Norman was very involved in his sons youth baseball from little league to American Legion and touched many young men’s lives.

He had a tremendous love of the outdoors; working, hunting and fishing with his family.

No two young men ever had a better dad than Norman. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 23, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, Thayer, Missouri.

Visitation will be held Friday, July 22, 2022 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains, Missouri.

Burial will be at Arytown Cemetery, Oregon County, Missouri, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains, Missouri.

Michael Lynn Woods

Carter Funeral Home Thayer

Michael Lynn Woods, age 58, of Houston, Texas passed away on Wednesday, March 23, 2022

He was preceded in death by his father, Johnny O. Woods; and his maternal and paternal grandparents.

Michael is survived by his wife, Leslie Moskal Woods; four children, Justin, Chassity (Carlos) Valle, Chelsea Woods (Erik Perez), and John Michael Woods; six grandchildren, Jayden, Abigail, Avalon, Cecilia, Erik, Jr., and Gianna; his parents, Linda and Garry Martin; one half-brother, John D. Woods; two sisters, Tonya (Curt) Hargrove and Kim (Kelly) Smith; one brother, Garry P. Martin; aunts and uncles; nieces and nephews; cousins; other relatives; and many friends. He loved each one dearly.

He was a commercial construction project superintendent and project manager for the last 25 years. Michael was always building something, even as a little boy.

Michael will truly be missed by his family and friends.

Memorial services for Michael Lynn Woods will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Thayer, Missouri.

Interment will be on Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Thayer Cemetery in Thayer, Missouri with services under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer, Missouri.

Paula Kay Hatfield

Carter Funeral Home Thayer

Paula Kay Hatfield was born on March 22, 1953, in Thayer, Missouri, the daughter of Johnnie Smith and Marjorie Hefner Smith, and passed away on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, at Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home, Arkansas at the age of 69.

She was united in marriage on August 3, 1996, in Koshkonong, Missouri to William Curtis Hatfield.

Paula is survived by her husband, William Hatfield; one daughter, Stacie Rae Huffman; one step-son, Jacob Donavan Hatfield; three sisters, Dianne Sharp, Peggy Earls and Katherine Ollar; three grandchildren, Tanner Huffman, Kelsie Landreth and Jacob Donavan Hatfield, Jr.; and two great grandchildren, Eleanor Landreth and Bentley Huffman; other relatives; and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Johnnie and Marjorie Smith; one daughter, Crystal Dawn Butler; and one son, Leslie Wayne Butler.

Paula was a hairdresser for over 40 years. She enjoyed camping and floating. She also loved traveling with her family. She was good at crocheting. However, most of all, she loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Paula will truly be missed by her family and friends.

Funeral services for Paula Hatfield will be held on Friday, July 15, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Thayer, Missouri.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 14, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Carter Funeral Home in Thayer, Missouri.

Interment will be on Friday, July 15, 2022, in Shiloh Grand Gulf Cemetery in Thayer, Missouri with services under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer, Missouri.

Peggy Ann Risner

Carter Funeral Home Thayer

Peggy was born on December 12, 1946, in Little Rock, Arkansas and passed from this life on July 5, 2022, at the age of 75. She was raised at Southern Christian Home in Morrilton, Arkansas and graduated from Morrilton High School in 1964. She attended Harding College for one semester in the fall of 1964. On January 30, 1965, she married Lester Risner of St. Louis, Missouri. They celebrated their 57^th anniversary in January 2022. She is mother of two daughters; Cheryl Risner Howard of Collierville, Tennessee, married to Daren Howard, and Melinda Risner Tyler of Brentwood Tennessee, married to William Tyler. She is also survived by six grandchildren; Arianne Tyler Mallender & husband Jamie of Spring Hill, Tennessee; Alexis Tyler Smith & husband Matthew of Somerset, Kentucky. Also, Wilson Howard of Los Angeles, California, Luke Howard of Nashville, Tennessee, Ethan Howard of Memphis, Tennessee and Emma Howard of Collierville, Tennessee. Peggy loved those grandkids more than life itself.

After a few years of marriage and two children, Peggy said “I’m going to become a nurse so I can go to school with my kids.” She got her Nursing degree from Arkansas State University and literally went to school with her daughters. If their school didn’t hire her, she would simply volunteer and eventually, they would hire her. This happened in 3 different schools.

Peggy’s friends had many ways to describe Peggy. My Facebook page has dozens of comments such as Kind Sweet Spirit – The Sweetest lady – wonderful lady – the definition of perseverance – So quiet, strong, and loving – Sweet gentle soul. Everyone who knew her loved her!

Peggy loved children and taught hundreds in Sunday Schools over the roughly 50 years that she taught. She leaves behind a wonderful legacy; An estimated 1,000 children learned about Jesus in her classes. Her family members are all better because of her wonderful influence in their lives.

The family suggests a donation to Southern Christian Home in memory of Peggy.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 16, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Carter Funeral Home in Thayer, Missouri.

Interment will be on July 16, 2022, at Thayer Cemetery in Thayer, Missouri with services under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer, Missouri.

Bill C. Lawson

Carter Funeral Home Thayer

Bill Lawson, 79 years of age, passed on Sunday, July 3, 2022, at Fulton County Hospital in Salem, Arkansas.

Bill was born June 10, 1943, in Sedgwick, Arkansas to the late Cody and Edith Lawson. Bill was the second of six children. His sister, Margaret Turner, preceded him in death.

Bill was a retired over the road truck driver. He enjoyed traveling and seeing new places. His favorite places were Mammoth Spring, Arkansas and the Tetons in Wyoming. He always had a smile on his face and was always laughing.

Bill married Patsy Moore-McClure on December 14, 2019. They shared 2 ½ wonderful years together enjoying life.

Bill is survived by his wife, Patsy McClure-Lawson; three children, Debbie Kinder, Dwight Lawson, and Billy Lawson; one brother, Jerry “Slick” Lawson and wife Judy; one sister, Margie Van Wambeke and husband Dick; one step-son, Loyd McClure and wife Lorie; 5 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and a host of great friends.

Bill will truly be missed by his family and many friends.

Funeral services for Bill C. Lawson will be held on Friday, July 8, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Thayer, Missouri with Brother Chris Yarbrough officiating.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 7, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Carter Funeral Home in Thayer, Missouri.

Interment will be on Friday, July 8, 2022, in Wiles Cemetery in Ash Flat, Arkansas with services under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer, Missouri.

Melvin Barton

Carter Funeral Home Thayer

Melvin Dean Barton 89 of West Plains, Missouri, passed from this life on Friday July 1, 2022. He was born October 25, 1932, in Alton Missouri to Elgan and Bonnie (Sanders) Barton.

Melvin was united in marriage to Lois Waggoner on July 10, 1952. They were married for 70 wonderful years, had three children during their time together.

Melvin is survived by his loving wife, Lois of the home; three children, Dan (Kay) of Nixa Missouri, Dennis (Sandy) of Alton, Missouri, Melba (Randy) Johnson of West Plains, Missouri; five grandchildren, Broc, Blaz (Julie), Brandon (Chelse) , Brooke, Brianna; two great grandchildren, Kolby, Karly; three brothers, Gordan (Donna) of Mountain Home, Arkansas, Carlos (Marietta) of Marthasville, Missouri, Curtis (Linda) of Springfield, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Carolee of Thayer Missouri, Nadine of Alton, Missouri and many nieces and nephews.

Melvin is proceeded in death by his father, mother; two brothers, Willard and Millard; sister, Fern Forrester; two brothers-in-law, Wayne Forrester and Bois Waggoner; father-in-law, Herman Waggoner; mother-in-law, Alta Waggoner.

Melvin was a veteran of the Korean War. He served as a Sunday School Superintendent for Lula Full Gospel Church for many years. He was a butcher for 25 years, he farmed with his loving wife, Lois for 45 years. He owned his own local Feed and Farm Supply store for 20 years. He was a Christian for all his life.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Thayer, Missouri with Ray Andrews JR officiating.

Interment will be on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, in Cave Springs Cemetery, Alton Missouri.

Evelyn Sue Vaughn

Carter Funeral Home Thayer

Beautiful, energetic, witty, endearing, brutally honest, fashion forward, fierce, strong, loving, kind.

Evelyn “Sue” Hightower Vaughn 81 of Mammoth Spring Arkansas, passed from this life on Monday June 27, 2022 at home. She was born on December 16, 1940, in Kittle (Sharp County) Arkansas to Hubert and Isaphene (Tharp) Hightower. She was a long-standing member of the Mammoth Spring First Baptist Church.

Sue married Charles Vaughn on June 10,1978 in Koshkonong Missouri. At this time, she gained a son, Davin, along with bonus stepchildren, Tracy and Dawnisa. She was a loving wife, daughter, Mother, sister, aunt, and friend to many, but most importantly, the best NeNe and Grandma a kid could dream of. She had boundless energy, and nothing was off limits at her house. These children were her pride and joy and in turn adored her.

Sue loved cooking, porch sitting, visiting with family and neighbors, drinking coffee, quilting, growing flowers and had spent countless hours volunteering at Church and in the community on various projects. She touched many lives with her friendship, kindness, and humor.

Sue leaves to mourn her passing husband Charles; stepson Davin (Gail) Vaughn, Tracy (Kristie) Langston, Dawnisa (Joe) York; six grandchildren, Lauren and Kelly Vaughn, Brooks Langston, Amber and Lane Reynolds, Casey (Kimber) York; one sister, Wanda Gill; three nephews, Taylor Malone, Larry, and Nathan Gill; six special nieces, Theresa (Eddie) Lancaster, Isaphene Pierce, Crystal (Mathis) Smith, Kinley, and Emma Smith, Tasabath (John) Taylor Malone; and a host of other family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hubert and Isaphene Hightower; one brother-in-law, Darrell Gill; and one cherished niece, Charlotte Williams.

Sue will truly be missed by her family and many friends.

Funeral services for Sue Vaughn will be held on Friday, July 1, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas with Brother Charles Morgan officiating.

Interment will be on Friday, July 1, 2022, in Wiles Cemetery in Ash Flat, Arkansas with services under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the youth programs at the Mammoth Spring First Baptist Church in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas.

Barbara Maxine Allen

Carter Funeral Home Thayer

Barbara Maxine Allen was born January 25, 1933, at Stoney Point community near Thayer, Missouri, the daughter of Ivory Foy Childers and Edna Viola (Winn) Childers. She departed this life on June 23, 2022, at Shady Oaks in Thayer, Missouri. She was 89 years and 5 months old.

She graduated from Koshkonong High School in 1945 and from LPN school in 1983. She retired after 15 years from Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

In California she met and married Loyd Allen on January 21, 1952. They lived in California until moving back to Arkansas in 1965. To this union 3 children were born: Donald Edward, Gary Eugene and Susan Allen.

Many of her activities were focused on her church where she was a member for many years. She served as a Sunday School teacher, director of correspondence outreach, hospitality committee and Keen-Agers group.

Barbara’s hobbies include gardening, crocheting, singing, bird watching and being grandma to her fur babies.

She was very patriotic and was active in the DAV Auxiliary where she served as Commander for some time. She also volunteered at the VA Hospital for bingo games and other patient activities.

Barbara had a mischievous sense of humor and invoked laughter from those around her with jokes and pranks.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan Allen; one brother, Ronnie (Kay) Childers; two sisters-in-law, Sylvia Childers and Annebelle Allen; several nieces, nephews and cousins; other relatives; and many friends.

Barbara was preceded in death by her sons, Donald and Gary; one sister, Ruby Sloan, one brother, J.D. Childers; her parents, Ivory and Edna Childers; special aunts Elsie Evans and Eva Harper; and many other relatives.

She will truly be missed by her family and many friends.

Graveside services for Barbara Maxine Allen will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2022, at 3:30 p.m. at Sutton Cemetery in Pocahontas, Arkansas with Clay Risner officiating.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, June 25, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer, Missouri.

Interment will be on Saturday, June 25, 2022, in Sutton Cemetery in Pocahontas, Arkansas with services under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer, Missouri.