West Plains

Funeral services for Ross Callahan, 76, will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 8, 2014, at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains, with Randy Folks officiating, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains.

He was born the son of the late Alfred M. Callahan and Lottie Fox Callahan, on October 25, 1937 in Arditta, Missouri and died March 1, 2014 in West Plains, Missouri.

He was united in marriage July 21, 1961 in West Plains, Missouri to Ruby Crabtree.

He is survived by his wife, Ruby Callahan, of the home; four children, Guy Callahan, Trissi Callahan, Ragan Callahan, wife, Sarah, all of West Plains, and Torrey Callahan, Caulfield; one sister, Elsie Folks, Sallisaw, Oklahoma, and two grandchildren, Brodie and Abbey Callahan, West Plains and several nieces and nephews. He has a very special Army buddy who has stayed a longtime friend, Ron Ferrari, Coal City, Illinois.

Funeral services for Wanda Lee Moss, 78, Springfield, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 22, 2014, at the Elijah Church of Christ with Roy Neal Moss officiating, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains.

She was born the daughter of the late William Newton Romans and Ople Lane Romans, on March 5, 1935 in Elijah, Missouri and died February 18, 2014 in Springfield, Missouri.

She was united in marriage June 1, 1956 in Peoria, Illinois to Edwin L. Moss.

She is survived by her husband, Edwin L. Moss, of the home, Springfield, Missouri; four children, Roselind Renna Hamm, husband, Carl, Springfield, Missouri, Melita Dever, husband, Frank, Dallas, Texas, William Moss, wife, Kathy, Marshfield, Missouri, and Dale Moss, East Peoria, Illinois; one sister, Loretta Romans, Mountain Home, Arkansas; two half brothers, Dwayne Bales, wife, Debbie, Bakersfield, Missouri and Patrick Bales, Bakersfield, Missouri, and one half sister, Delene Bales, Springfield, Missouri; three grandchildren, Karen June Johnson, New Mexico, Joshua L. Moss, Springfield, Missouri, and Jason Scheinder, Dallas, Texas, and several nieces and nephews.

Marjorie Sonnenschein Allen crossed the threshold into eternal peace on February 14, 2014 in the company of her devoted family. Marge, as she came to be known, was born November 11, 1929, in Chicago, the daughter of Dr. Ervin L. and Josephine Sonnenschein. She grew up in Chicago but moved west as a teenager, first to Elko, NV and later to Phoenix, AZ. She graduated from Phoenix Union High School and attended Phoenix Junior College before transferring to the University of Arizona where, in 1951, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Secondary Education and Speech. At the University, Marge lived in Pima Hall, a cooperative dormitory where the girls shared the chores, prepared and served meals in a formal dining room and formed lifelong friendships. One of those friendships was with her roommate, Lou Anne Allen Kirby. On a simple blind date, Marge met Lou Anne’s brother Clinton and thus began a lifelong love story. Marge and Clinton were married on March 23, 1951, in Tucson. Early in their married life, they bought a farm in West Plains, which they kept for years and developed into their present-day ranch home.

Marge always supported and encouraged Clint’s lifelong passion for flying. The family moved from Tucson to Mineral Wells, TX, in the 1960s, where Clint became a helicopter pilot and mechanic, in addition to his skill as a fixed-wing pilot. His career later took them to Lafayette, LA and Fort Worth, TX, before they settled in West Plains.

Marge enjoyed the ranch and liked watching the birds flit in and out of the birdhouses on their back fence. She spent hours observing the peaceful view of the pasture behind the house, the ponds, the barns, and their cattle grazing in the distance. She welcomed the excitement of each newborn calf and the drama of the goats vying for top spot on their shelters.

In recent years, her life has centered around her friendships and activities as a member of the Missouri Pilot’s Association (MPA) Chapter 20 and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 1218, both of Willow Springs.

A creative spirit with a wry sense of humor, Marge authored a one-panel comic titled “Buzz Thunderbee.” Writing under the pen name Squawk, an aircraft term related to navigation, Marge’s “Buzz” provided aircraft safety tips and observations in the EAA newsletter for several years. Marge also authored several unpublished short stories, each with a surprising, humorous plot twist. Although she never bragged about her accomplishments, many amazing creations emerged from her sewing room, from the practical to the whimsical, including a doll named Mahidabelle. For a time, Marge worked at Hancock’s Fabrics, a job for which she was eminently well-suited because of her excellent sense of style, color and texture.

Debra Ann Bridges (Debbie to all who knew her) joined her Savior on Feb. 4, having lived a beautiful and giving life. Her love of the Lord inspired her to serve her family, community and church with energy and selflessness. She loved life and loved to help her family and all around her enjoy each moment to the fullest.

Debbie married her high school sweetheart, Kelly, in 1970 and spent the next 43 years living the life of a Virtuous Woman (Proverbs 31;10-31). She spent the majority of their marriage as a homemaker where she created an inviting atmosphere of warmth and love for her family and guests. She used hospitality, mostly through her delicious cooking, to minister to those around her. She was a very loving and devoted wife to Kelly and an amazing mother to her two children, Amee and Rory.

Her hands were always busy. She loved to work in her garden, care for all of her many animals on the farm, and she enjoyed creating through countless arts and crafts and projects on her sewing machine. Most of these projects, were for her many nieces and nephew that she adored, her children, and most recently her four grandchildren that she would do anything for, Ethan and Anna, Aven and Paxton.

Above all, her favorite thing to do on Earth, was give praise to our Heavenly Father through singing. She loved singing in the church choir, with her two sisters, Sandy and Pam, on long walks in the woods, or just simply humming praise songs while cooking in the kitchen. She reminded all who knew her that every moment is an opportunity to give God praise, through song or a thoughtful deed. She is survived by her husband, Kelly; her children, Amee Minge and husband, Justin, West Plains, and their two children, Ethan and Anna, Rory Bridges and wife, Lexi, Nixa, and their two children, Aven and Paxton. She is also survived by her two sisters, Sandy Collins and Pam Wolfe.

Allen Henry Eagleman was born on January 17, 1917 in Leota, Missouri to Ed and Ella Eagleman. Allen went to be with the Lord on February 7, 2014.

Allen met and married the love of his life, Violet Roberts on December 17, 1936, who preceded him in death February 12, 2012.

Allen grew up in Missouri with 11 brothers and sisters. He learned farming and construction from his father. Allen and Violet moved to the San Joaquin valley in California in 1947 where Allen used his farming and construction skills. He moved his family to Redding, CA in 1956 where he received his Contractor’s license and built many homes and commercial projects in the Redding area.

He loved all outdoor activities such as growing a big garden, caring for his fruit trees, fishing, hunting, water skiing, learning to skateboard with Mike and Leslie, and playing in the lake. He was very active in the Church of Christ and served as an elder for 48 years. He and Violet worked many hours at Sierra Bible Camp. He was the pot washer for the kitchen crew and did all odd jobs as needed.

He loved all nine of his grandchildren and spent lots of time with them. He taught them many skills, and always had time for the children’s interests.

Allen is survived by his children, Allen Kenneth Eagleman (Vi) of Bellevue, Washington, daughters Leta Cox (Gary) of Redding and Linda McKinnon (Walt) of Rancho Cordova, CA. He is survived by 9 grandchildern, 10 great grand children, 8 great-great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and friends. He is also survived by brothers, John Eagleman of Leota, Mo and Joe Eagleman of Lawrence, Kansas and sisters, Reba Siglar of Moody, Mo, Lu Harper of Ocala, Florida, and Wilma Boyd of Odessa, Mo.

Frances Voss-Purciarele, 76, West Plains, Missouri, died February 8, 2014.

She was born the daughter of the late John Paoli and Ann Hautala Paoli, on November 30, 1937 in Montreal, Wisconsin.

She is survived by three children, Dennis Antrim, West Plains, Donna Smith and husband, Anthony, West Plains, and Debbie Ipock and husband, Roy, West Plains; grandchild, Whitney Stein, West Plains, and three other grandchildren, and several great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

She was employed with Sheridan and Sheridan Tax Services for over twenty years.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Ronald McDonald House in Springfield, Missouri.

Private burial will be held at a later time.

Arrangments were under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains.

Celebration of Life Services for Debbie Bridges will be held at 1:00 p.m.,  Saturday, February 15, 2014 at the First Baptist Church, West Plains.

Family visitation will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 14, 2014, at the First Baptist Church, South Campus Building, West Plains.

Funeral services for Lorraine Wells, 85, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 25, 2014, at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel with Brian Schick officiating under the direction of Carter Funeral Home Inc., West Plains.

She was born the daughter of the late Carl G. Campbell and Ruth Vincent Campbell, on April 5, 1928 in Monrovia, California and died January 14, 2014 in St. Louis, Missouri.

She was united in marriage July 11, 1943 in Pasadena, California to Donald Ray Wells, who preceded her in death September 1, 2013.

She is survived by three children, Michael Wells, Bloomington, California, Ruth Anne Wells-Rieger, West Plains, Missouri, and Jonathan Lee Wells, Stratford, Oklahoma; nine grandchildren, Donna, Kathy, Sean, Lacey, Travis, Tracey, Austin, Dwayne, and Amy; sixteen great grandchildren, Marina, Alisha, Shawny, Shane, April, Bridget, Jessi, Leslie, Cody, Justin, Joey, Benjamin, Kaleb, and six great great grandchildren, Bladen, Edward, Zanina, Autumn, Blaine, and Lily; four siblings, George Turner, Pasadena, California, Eileen Blacksher, West Plains, Missouri, Lola Stowe, Norfork, Virginia, and Stanley Naze, Europe; one sister-in-law, Patricia Turner, Chico, California.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one brother, David Turner and two great grandchildren, Benjamin and Christian.

She was a member of the North West Plains Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 24, 2014 from 7-8 p.m. in the Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains.

Jesse Mack Skaggs, son of the late Henry and Birdella Haslett Skaggs, was born October 10, 1917 in Sturkie, Arkansas, and died December 20, 2013 at Brookehaven Healthcare in West Plains, Missouri.

He was united in marriage February 23, 1968 in Fulton County, Arkansas, to Opal Harmon who preceded him in death in 1984.

Mr. Skaggs was the first draftee from Howell County, serving in the United States Army during World War II. He was a successful farmer and timber manager, and was well-liked by his neighbors. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals and Arkansas Razorbacks fan.

He is survived by two sisters, Gracie Stephens, husband Clark, West Plains, Lola Satterfield, Seattle, Washington. One sister-in-law, Lyla Skaggs, Marysville, Washington. One step-daughter-in-law, June Harmon, Amarillo, Texas. Jess is also survived by many nieces and nephews, step-grandchildren and many friends and neighbors. He also leaves a special nephew, Jeremy, and his family, Haley and Easton Mack Skaggs, as well as a good friend, Jim Vincent.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, step-son, step-granddaughter, one sister, Lois Maguffee, 6 brothers, Clifford Skaggs, Orville Skaggs, Benny Skaggs, Calvin Skaggs, Hubert Skaggs and Lloyd Skaggs.

Graveside services will be held 2:00 pm Sunday, December 22, 2013, at State Line Cemetery with the Brother Charles Allen officiating under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, West Plains.

Melvin Wayne “Frosty” Frost, Sr., retired Police Officer and City Superintendent, died Saturday, December 14, 2013 at the family home.

He was born on November 8, 1947 to parents, Edward and Mildred (Jones) Frost in Willow Springs, Missouri.

He was married September 7, 1972 in West Plains, Missouri to Barbara Eickhoff.

Melvin is survived by his wife, Barbara (Eickhoff) Frost of the family home; four children, Mechelle and husband Dale Rhodes, Melvin Jr. and wife Tammy Frost, Stephen and wife Gabriella Frost, and Bobbi and husband Bobby Smith; twelve grandchildren: Kalon, Jessica, Jonathan, Justin, Samantha, Mariah, Amanda, Wayne, Levi, baby, Falcon and Cassie; five great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and cousins, and many friends.

Melvin “Frosty” as he was known to most, enjoyed camping, fishing, working on cars, and a “good trade”. After twenty years of being the Chief of Police and City Superintendent, he retired to the Birch Tree area to live life in the slow lane.

His family is grateful to the Oregon County Fire and Rescue, Rover First Responders, Oregon County First Responders, Oregon County Ambulance Crew, and Oregon County Sheriff’s Department for their prompt response, professionalism and service.

Graveside services will be held Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at Lone Star Cemetery, Mountain Grove, Missouri, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains.

Visitation will be held at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains, on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 from 6 to 8 p.m.