West Plains

David Leland Smith was born on January 17, 1945, in West Plains, Missouri, and passed away on November 7, 2016, in West Plains, Missouri, at the age of 71.

He is survived by his son Jeff Smith and Jeff’s mother, Jackie Shelton of West Plains, Missouri; one sister, Janet Womack and husband, Jerry of West Plains, Missouri; two brothers, Dale Smith and wife, Carolyn of West Plains, Missouri, and Danny Smith and wife, Alice of West Plains, Missouri; three grandchildren, Shelby Smith, Karsyn Smith, and Sawyer Smith of West Plains, Missouri; niece, Frankie Harrill-Jones and husband, David of West Plains, Missouri; nephew, Scott Womack of West Plains, Missouri; niece, Angie Holloway and husband, Jason of West Plains, Missouri; nephew, Greg Smith and wife, Kim of Ozark, Missouri; niece, Melissa Wiehe and husband, Kurt of West Plains, Missouri; nephew, Stace Smith and wife, Mindy of West Plains, Missouri; nephew, Garach Smith and wife, Kristen of Columbia, Missouri; several great nieces and nephews; close family friends, Teresa McDaniel and son Ryan McDaniel of West Plains, Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Dave and Effie Roberson, paternal grandparents Horace Harrison “H.H.” and Myrtle Smith, parents Frank Leland and Lottie Marie Smith, and niece Carrie Womack.

David attended school in his early years at Howell Valley and graduated from West Plains High School in 1963. He worked 38 years for the Missouri Department of Agriculture as a Market News Reporter; reporting the local markets on the radio.

Helen L. Arnold, 94, West Plains, Missouri died October 19, 2016 at 3:35 a.m. in Brooke Haven Healthcare, West Plains.

Helen, the daughter of the late Mark L. Arnold and Tommie Lee Arnold, was born October 21, 1921 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Private services will be held at a later date. Local arrangements were under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains.

Funeral services for Milton Frank Geissinger, 91, Dora, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 15, 2016, at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Richard Martin officiating, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, West Plains.

He was born the son of the late Milton Ross Geissinger and Marie Josephine Fries Geissinger, on December 21, 1924 in Bellevue, Pennsylvania and died October 12, 2016 in West Plains, Missouri.

He was united in marriage to Jean Brown, who preceded him in death. He later was united in marriage February 14, 1969 in West Covina, California to Marcella Labrousse.

He is survived by his wife, Marcella Labrousse Geissinger, of the home, Dora, Missouri; four children, Linda Ann Geissinger, Redlands, California, Carol Ann Geissinger, Redlands, California, Nancy Christiansen and husband Gary, Beaumont, California, and Milton Russell Geissinger and wife, Jeannie, Dora, Missouri; three sisters, Ann Fader, state of California, Lenore Piper, Kingman, Arizona, and Lee Stanionis and husband Roger, state of California, and one brother Russell Geissinger and wife Annie, state of California; eight grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; one great great grandchild, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Darlene Marie Ralston, 84, West Plains, Missouri, will be 2:00pm Tuesday, October 4, 2016, at the Graveside, Cave Springs Cemetery, with the Brother Edward Casey officiating under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, West Plains.

She was born the daughter of the late Frank Davis and Fronia Bolton Davis, on September 5, 1932 in Alton, Missouri and died October 2, 2016 in West Plains, Missouri.

She was united in marriage August 14, 1948 in Alton, Missouri to Burton Ralston.

She is survived by two brothers, Phil Davis and wife Linda, West Plains, and Bob Davis, West Plains; one sister, Elsie Beck of West Plains, Missouri; one sister-in-law, Freida Davis, Alton, Missouri; special friends, Loretta Bradshaw and Nancy Fukasawa both of West Plains; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Buddy (Bud) Gene Mayberry, 81, Pomona, Missouri, will be held Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains, with Reverend Steve Fowler officiating, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, West Plains.

He was born the son of the late Herbert Mayberry and Carrie Bilyeu Mayberry, on September 22, 1935 in Mt. Vernon, Missouri and died October 1, 2016 in West Plains, Missouri.

He is survived by four children, Wayne (LeAnn) California, Missouri, Alesia (Steve) Billings, Montana, Anita (David) West Plains, Missouri, Shane (Anna) Willow Springs, Missouri; nine grandchildren, Heath (Vannessa) and Aaron of California, Missouri, Carrie, Zakariah, and Autumn of Billings, Montana, Mark (Ashley) Custer, Montana, and Dakota (Rachel), Ethan, and Samantha of Willow Springs; five great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

It is not the number of years you live, but the quality of them. Sue Ellen Moore, born September 12, 1920 was one of the fortunate women to claim both a long and rich life. She was born to Plato and Eva Caroll in Crowell, Texas where she was raised with her three siblings on the cotton farm. She was educated in Needmore, Texas until the eleventh grade when she met the love of her life Ernest R. Moore.

Sue Ellen and Ernie raised two children, Gerald Moore of Junction City, Oregon and Sue Willard of West Plains, Missouri, while traveling from one job to the next ranging from Alaska to Cuba. After the children were raised, they settled for five years in Springhill, Tennessee where they were the superintendents of Springhill Children’s Home. She cherished this time with her husband, and the 175 children they served. She moved to Missouri in 1977, Ernie passing away only four years later.

The last forty years she has shared a driveway with her daughter Sue and her husband Dennis Willard in West Plains, Missouri and has watched her family grow with delight. Sue Ellen has five grand children: Charles Willard, Susan Manis, Amy DeMott, Chris Moore, and Bryan Moore, and seven great-grandchildren: Makay Manis, RJ Manis, Luke Willard, Claire Willard, Ella DeMott, Sam DeMott, and Willard DeMott.

Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren would find Sue Ellen baking legendary cookies, working on puzzles, watching old movies, or sitting in her chair crafting. She kept special letters in her Bible from her family far away, and an open door for her daughter, Sue, who was able to be there every day.

Sue Ellen would be proud to say the high point of her life was becoming a member of the Church of Christ at sixteen. She was a member of the Curry Street Church of Christ in West Plains. Her faith and her family were her priorities and will remain her legacy.

Graveside services for Sue Ellen will be held on Sunday, October 2, 2016 at 2:00 pm at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery, Howell County, Missouri.

Funeral services for Alvin E. Kraus, 79, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 24, 2016, at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains.

He was born the son of the late Melvin Kraus and Pearl Roeser Kraus, on June 22, 1937 in Milford, Kansas and died September 21, 2016 in West Plains, Missouri.
He was united in marriage September 28, 1957 in Osage City, Kansas to Sharon Hill.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Hill Kraus, of the home, West Plains, Missouri; one daughter, Deborah Stanislaus and husband Marinus, Olathe, Kansas; one son, Jimmy Kraus and wife Cindy, Pomona, Missouri; two brothers, Ray Kraus and wife Janet, Osage City, Kansas; Robert Kraus and wife Vicki, Harveyville, Kansas; two sisters, Lois DeWitt, Burlingame, Kansas and Sheryll Crumb and husband, Bruce, Burlingame, Kansas; six grandchildren, Jamie Clark, Tony Alejos (Melissa), Jessica Romans (Brandon), Alaina Romine, Josh Kraus (Krystal) and Jennifer Kraus (Eric), and six great grandchildren.

Erma Dean (Jones) Griffin of Lanton, Missouri passed away surrounded with family and friends by her side at Ozarks Medical Center, West Plains on September 8, 2016.

She was born November 24, 1933 in Omaha, Arkansas to Ralph and Georgia Mae Jones.

She was a retired business owner and homemaker. She never met a stranger and welcomed many into her home.

She is preceded in death by her parents; four brothers; two sisters, and two sons, and her late husband, Max Griffin.

Funeral services for Lucy Marie Spear, 91, West Plains, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, September 12, 2016, at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains.

She was born the daughter of the late Jesse McLain and Dora Lee VanAmburg McLain, on July 22, 1925 in Oak Ridge, Missouri and died September 6, 2016 in West Plains.

She was united in marriage July 7, 1946 in Pocahontas, Arkansas to Harrison L. Spear, who preceded her in death.

She is survived by three children, James H. Spear and wife Marsha, North Pole, Alaska, Ronda Dunmire and husband Wayne, North Apollo, Pennsylvania, and Linda Hill and husband Daniel, West Plains, Missouri; thirteen grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.

On May 29, 1927 MERLE GERALDINE OAKS was born in Imboden, Arkansas to Savanah Johnson and Leck Oaks.

She was married to Homer Kennard on April 2, 1945 and to this union one son was born.

Merle was preceded in death by her mother, father, husband and infant son. In addition as well as three brothers, Crockett Oaks, Lester Oaks and Lige Oaks; four sisters, Mary Sue James, Emma Oaks, Lucy Allison and Beedie Bush.

Merle attended school in West Plains, Missouri. She worked for the Schroeder Family for many years. She was also a volunteer for the Salvation Army. She was a member of the Church of Christ on Washington Avenue.

On Thursday, August 18, 2016, Merle went home to be with her family after a lengthy illness. “No more pain and suffering.”

She leaves to mourn her passing several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Carter Funeral Home Chapel.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2016 at Carter Funeral Home Chapel from 8:00 a.m. until time of service.

Burial will be at Sadie Brown Cemetery, Howell County, Missouri, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains.