West Plains

Jessie Leona Highfield passed away peacefully Feb. 23, 2016 at Barton County Memorial Hospital. She was a Christian woman in faith baptized in the cool waters of Warm Fork,  gone to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

She was born February 20, 1926 to Richard and Minnie Vaughn in Koshkonong, Missouri.

She was married to Ralph A. Highfield on September 6, 1947, where they owned and operated a dairy/farm operation. Having two children, Grandma liked to sew, cross stitch, and cook for you, but she really loved walking, covering most every street of Golden City, Missouri.

Jessie is survived by her daughter, Millie (Larry) Billington of Cherokee Kansas; grandchildren, Les (Linsey) Brazeal of Golden City, Missouri, Sigie (Mike) Crocket of Lamar, Missouri, Kimi Stephens of Desto, Kansas, Brandon (Jamie) Brummett of Golden City, Missouri, Clint Highfield of West Plains, Missouri, and Robin McMcormick of Kansas City; seventeen great grandchildren, Shayna, Cooper, Zac, Emily, Nic, Collin, Carter, Cora, Cami, Jessie Jo, Dawson, Mason, Chris, Madison, Cierra, Mackenzie, and Emily and eleven nieces and nephews.

Charles Henry Callaway, son of Charles J. Callaway and Josephine Harms Callaway, was born January 3, 1931 in West Plains, Missouri. Charles went to his heavenly home February 9, 2016 at the age of 85 years.

Charles graduated from West Plains High School in 1949 with honors. Upon graduation, he attended Rolla School of Mine where he graduated from in 1953. He began working for the United States Geological Survey in Rolla, Missouri and then transferred to Colorado, working primarily in the Denver area. He retired from the USGS in the mid 1980’s.

He was united in marriage with Lucille Phillips in 1951. From this marriage came three children; Elizabeth Ann Callaway Garcia, Charles Phillip Callaway, and John Boone Callaway.

In 1970, he married Marjorie McConnell Callaway, who proceeded him in death in 1989.

Charles Callaway and May Dean Parker Callaway were joined in matrimony on October 9, 1991 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

He is survived by his wife May Dean Callaway of the family home, West Plains, MO; Ann Callaway Garcia, husband Al, Lubbock, Texas; Phil Callaway, wife Karen, Philomath, Oregon; Marvin Parker, wife Vicki, West Plains, Missouri; Brenda Parker DeWitt, husband Calvin, Springfield, Missouri; Beverly Parker Gregory, husband Donnie, West Plains, Missouri; Melvin Parker, wife Kristy, Sparta, Missouri; 10 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; along with several nieces, nephews, and special friends.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents; one son, John Callaway; three sisters, Marie Callaway Schwegman, Charlotte Callaway Sukow, and Hazel Callaway Blakely; and one grandson, Daniel Callaway.

From a young age, he was a member of the United Methodist Church. He currently attended the Center of God Church.

The family will receive visitors Saturday, February 13th from 5-7:30 pm at Carter Funeral Home.

Graveside services will be held 2:00 pm, Sunday, February 14th at Oak Lawn Cemetery, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains.

Lue Mullins, daughter of the late Luther Halfacre and Media Alphon Halfacre, was born July 4, 1942 in St. Louis, Missouri and died at her home February 6, 2016 in Caulfield, Missouri.

She was united in marriage October 15, 2010 in West Plains, Missouri to Ron Mullins.

She is survived by her husband, Ron Mullins, of the home in Caulfield, Missouri; two children, Patricia Yvonne Bowers and husband Thomas, Caulfield, Missouri, and Robert Wayne Rosson and Alex Newton, Eureka Springs, Arkansas; one brother, Richard Halfacre and wife Linda, Tecumseh, Missouri; two sisters, Wanda Lee Hayes, Corning, Arkansas and Doris Jean Holifield, Caulfield, Missouri, and one grandson, Trevor William Messer, West Plains, Missouri.

Donald Chamernik, 69, and his loving wife Louise Alice (Gust) Chamernik, 72, of West Plains, Missouri were united in marriage on October 5, 1977 and after 38 short years, left this life together on January 29, 2016, following a tragic auto accident in the same city in which they lived.

Don was born on September 2, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois. He studied vocational arts in college where he picked up the drafting, framing, electrical, and plumbing skills he later used to build each house in which he and Lou lived.

He was a craftsman, biker, and good friend to any who would give him more than a couple minutes to bend their ear. He had a ready smile (and mischievous smirk) and was always willing to lend a helping hand to those who were lucky enough to know him. If he couldn’t be found tinkering or socializing you can bet he was with Lou on his Harley, looking for open road and a couple free cups of coffee.

Lou was born on June 7, 1943 in Waukegan, Illinois, and graduated from Waukegan High School. She was a creative young woman who loved sewing, pottery and crafts of all types. Though she enjoyed her many hobbies throughout life she went on to hone her sewing skills to make fantastic quilts, which she loved to gift to friends and family.

She loved life and often surrounded herself with it in the form of her gardens and the many animals she so cherished. Her caring and compassionate nature was apparent in her need to nurture, whether it was her sons and daughter or her dogs and goats.

They are survived by three children, Jodi Hodges and husband, Shane of Raymore, Missouri, Aaron and Adam Chamernik of Springfield, Missouri; two grandchildren, Trae and Maci Hodges of Raymore, Missouri; brother and sister-in-law, Gerald and Beverly Gust of Waukegan, Illinois; one niece and several nephews.
They were preceded in death by Donald’s parents, Peter and Emilie Chamernik; Louise’s parents, Alex and Tillie Gust; one son, Kipper Boswell; and Louise’s sister and brother-in-law, Virginia (Gust) and Charles Payson and nephew, Tim Payson.

Funeral services for Charles W. Barnett, 46, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, February 5, 2016, at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains with Reverends Frank Rogers and Anthony Woods officiating, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, West Plains.

He was born the son of Charles D. Barnett and Mary Etta Morrison Barnett, on May 31, 1969 in West Plains, Missouri and died February 1, 2016 in West Plains, Missouri.

He is survived by his parents Charles D. Barnett and Mary Etta Morrison Barnett; one sister, Mary Beth Wheeler and husband Ronny, Mountain View, Missouri; one brother, David Barnett and wife Pattie, Centerville, Indiana; one nephew, Thad Wheeler, and two nieces, Lynsey Isaacs and Rana Kluge.

Funeral services for Donald P Johnson, 70, West Plains, Missouri, will held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, February 8, 2016, at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains with Reverend David Ball officiating.

He was born the son of the late James Johnson and Bertha Coble Johnson, on February 8, 1945 in West Plains, Missouri and died February 3, 2016 in West Plains.

He was united in marriage October 31, 1970 in Arkansas to Janet Lawson.

He is survived by his wife, Janet Lawson Johnson, of the home, West Plains; two sons, Lenny Johnson, West Plains and David Johnson, Pomona, Missouri; two grandchildren, Dakota Johnson and Jon Kaase both of West Plains.

Donald and Louise Alice Chamernik passed away January 29, 2016 in West Plains, Missouri.

John Louis Martin, II, son of John Martin and the late Elizabeth Ann Bilyeu Martin, was born April 17, 1965 in Kansas City, Kansas and died January 27, 2016 at his home at the age of 50 years.

He was married to Carolyn Meisenheimer June 25, 1996 in Yellville, Arkansas.

He is survived by his wife of the home, West Plains, Missouri; his father, John (Sue) Martin; one son, Conner Martin, Tyler, Texas; four sisters, Rhonda Leslie, Las Vegas, Nevada; Janice Short, Marble Falls, Texas; Donna (David) Lyons, San Antonio, Texas, and Becky (Jim) Renaud, Frisco, Texas, and a host of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother and one brother, Stephen Louis Martin.

John went to Rockwall, Texas Middle School, and graduated high school with the class of 1983 at Rockwall, Texas.

Hazel Marie Hawkins, 86, West Plains, Missouri died January 5, 2016 at 1:57 p.m. in West Vue Nursing Center, West Plains.

Funeral services for Hazel Hawkins will be held Friday, January 8, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 7, 2016 from

Virginia Ann “Annie” Thompson was born October 1, 1959 in Jackson County, Missouri to Virginia Marie Thompson. She died December 29, 2015 after a brief stay at NHC. She was raised in and around Brandsville, Missouri and attended the State School in West Plains, Missouri.

She is survived by her step-father, Roger Campbell, West Plains, Aunt Tiny Bledsoe, state of Illinois, and many friends
Annie had been a faithful and dedicated employee of Ozark Sheltered Industries in Pomona for over thirty years. She had a strong work ethic and only recently resigned when her health declined.

Annie had moved into Wiley Boarding Home in 1981 and became a resident with Newtons in 1991, as Mike and Sheila acquired the facility. She then moved into the new Lamplight Village in 1997 with Newtons and was a very beloved lady with a multitude of friends who will miss her. She was active in Special Olympics and wore her hard earned medals with pride. She had many friends through work and her participation for many years in Special Olympics.

Attending church was very important to Annie and she was an active and loved member for many years at First Baptist Church. She also was welcomed and loved at Faith Assembly and the First Methodist Church.

Annie lacked the ability to speak but she was quite adept at communicating, and had a keen ability to get her point across. She never met a stranger and gave absolutely the best hugs to the many many people important to her.