West Plains

Lester C. Powell, 62, West Plains, Missouri died December 30, 2012 at 12:54 a.m. at Ozarks Medical Center, West Plains. Local arrangements under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains.

Loretta Fox Collins, daughter of Orville and Clella Ledbetter Fox was born May 19, 1928 near Crider, Missouri, and passed away December 28, 2012 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

When she was a child the family moved to Kansas where her father worked in the oil fields. Several years later they returned to Missouri where Mrs. Collins graduated from Dora High School as class valedictorian.

On May 16, 1948 she married Marvin Feral Collins, who preceded in death February 12, 2000.

Mrs. Collins served as the Siloam Springs Route mail carrier thirty four years. She was the first female carrier at the West Plains Post Office. She enjoyed her work and the many friends she made.

She was a life-long member of the Church of Christ and was baptized at the age of twelve in Hutchinson, Kansas. Her present membership being with the Central Church of Christ in West Plains.

She is survived by her daughter, Carol Goehring and husband, George, of Independence, Missouri, a son, Steve Collins and wife, Debbie, of Doniphan, Missouri; three grandchildren, Scott Goehring and special friend, Kaitlen Besse, of Independence, Missouri, Mallory Morris and husband, Justin, of Jackson, Tennessee, and Monica Brown and husband, John, of Savannah, Tennessee; one brother, Max Fox and wife, Anna, of West Plains.

The mention of her grandchildren’s names always brought a smile to her face. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who will be greatly missed.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 2, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains, with Pat Casey officiating. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday before the service.

Burial will be in Ledbetter Cemetery, Howell County, Missouri, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains.

Online condolences can be made at carterfuneralhomeinc.com.

Chuck Wichern, 69, West Plains, Missouri, died December 27, 2012 at Ozarks Medical Center, West Plains, Missouri.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains, Missouri.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Amyloidosis Foundation, and can be left at the funeral home.

Funeral services for Gerald Eldon Griffin, 84, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 29, 2012 at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc.

Mr. Griffin died Monday, December 24, 2012 at West Vue Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in West Plains, Missouri.

He was born the son of the late Harvey Veron Griffin and Fern Gosnell Griffin on October 31, 1928 in West Plains, Missouri.

He was united in marriage December 26, 1949 in Salem, Arkansas to Dorothy Mock, who preceded him in death May 29, 2009.

He is survived by four children, Steve Griffin, Sr. and wife, Heidi, West Plains, Missouri, Judy Barnes and husband, Ray, West Plains, Missouri, Jim Griffin, West Plains, Missouri, and Ed Griffin and wife, Brenda, West Plains, Missouri; six grandchildren, Brian Barnes and wife, Becky, West Plains, Missouri, Greg Barnes, West Plains, Missouri, Debra Stokes and husband, Alex, West Plains, Missouri, Emily Reed and husband, Joe, West Plains, Missouri, Amy Tharp and husband, Danny, West Plains, Missouri, and Steve Griffin, Jr. and wife, Erica, West Plains, and eighteen great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Bill M. Pruett, 78, West Plains, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 28, 2012 at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains, under the director of Carter Funeral Home, Inc.

Mr. Pruett died Saturday morning December 22, 2012 at West Vue Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, West Plains, Missouri.

He was born October 1, 1934 near West Plains, Missouri to John V. Pruett and Nannie Pruett.

On October 8, 1955 he was married to Greta Hopkins, daughter of Burk and Ilene Hopkins at New Liberty Baptist Church near West Plains, Missouri. To this union was born two sons, Keith Pruett and Paul Pruett.

He is survived by his wife, Greta Pruett of the family home; two sons, Keith Pruett and wife Pam, West Plains, Missouri, and Paul Pruett and wife, Rhonda, of Norman, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Annette Jones and husband, Quentin, Paige Wichern and husband, Jared, of West Plains, Missouri, Tyler Pruett, Petersham, Australia, and Marissa Leitenne, Dyersburg, Tennessee; four great grandchildren, Sunshine Jones and Autum Jones of West Plains, Missouri, Jade Andrew of Dyersburg, Tennessee, Emma Leitenne of Dyersburg, Tennessee; one brother, Lonnie Pruett of West Plains; six nieces and nephews and many cousins and great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Joanna Adams, and one granddaughter, Renee Jean Pruett.

He attended Egypt Grove School and graduated in 1950 from Bakersfield High School where he was valedictorian of his class and an active member of the FFA.

Memorial visitation services for Judy Tharp, 59, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains.

She was united in marriage August 30, 1982 in West Plains, Missouri to Jack Tharp.

She is survived by her husband, Jack Tharp, West Plains, Missouri; one brother, David Welch and wife, Debbie, West Plains, and one sister, Nancy Watson and husband, Weslynn, West Plains, Missouri; three nephews, Koby, Kelley and Sean Welch, and one niece, Audrie Welch, all of West Plains, Missouri.

She is preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Patsy Ann Welch.

She was employed at the International Shoe Factory for twenty-seven years, until they closed it down. She was a member of the West Plains Senior High class of 1971. In their early years, Judy and Jack loved to ride motorcycles and do lots of sightseeing. In her later years, she loved to paint and do woodcarvings. She was a devoted wife, loving sister and aunt, and will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family to help defray funeral expenses, and can be left at the funeral home.

Funeral services for Ruth Maxine Francis, 86, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains, with Reverend Jerry Heath officiating.

She was born the daughter of the late Otto Felix Schneider and Maxine Ferguson Schneider, on February 21, 1926 in West Plains, Missouri and died December 14, 2012 in Springfield, Missouri.

She was united in marriage to the late Floyd Otto Francis on September 3, 1943 in West Plains, Missouri.

Of this marriage, four children were born, Patricia Ann Whiteside and husband, Dean, West Plains, Missouri, Jerry Lee Francis, Sr. and wife, Holly, Rockmart, Georgia, Michael Floyd Francis, West Plains, Missouri, and Ricky Eugene Francis, Marshfield, Missouri. In addition she had twelve grandchildren, several great grandchildren and numerous great great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Iva Paul McKinney, 71, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 14, 2012, at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Stephen Mark McKinney officiating, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains.

He was born the son of the late Iva Edward McKinney and Effie Lorene Lamb McKinney, on December 11, 1941 in Elk, New Mexico and died December 11, 2012 in West Plains, Missouri.

He was united in marriage July 7, 1962 in Salem, Arkansas to Wanda Davis.

He is survived by his wife, Wanda Davis McKinney, of the home, West Plains, Missouri; three children, Joseph Daniel McKinney and wife, Jodie Lynn, Timothy Matthew McKinney, and Stephen Mark McKinney and wife, Rogia Annette; five grandchildren, Daniel McKinney and wife, Crystal, Korrie McKinney, Bethany Yarbrough and husband, Dale, Mariah McKinney, and Travis McKinney, and one great grandchild, Zade Cypret.

Funeral services for Vivian Fay Weisbrod, 94, West Plains, Missouri, will be held Wednesday, December 5th, 2012 at 2:00 p.m, at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains, with Brother Keith Weisbrod officiating under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains.

She was born the daughter of the late Marvin Kelley and Gertrude Fay Kelley, on May 27, 1918 in Russell, Pennsylvania and died December 1, 2012 in West Plains, Missouri.

She was united in marriage June 19, 1935 in Ellery Center, New York to Orvie D. Weisbrod, who preceded her in death December 20, 1988.

She is survived by four children, Phillip G. Weisbrod and wife, Leona, Solo, Missouri, LaVonne Head, Hardy, Arkansas, Ben D. Weisbrod, wife, Ebbie, West Plains, and Edward C. Weisbrod and wife, Rita, West Plains; fourteen grandchildren; twenty-five great grandchildren, and fourteen great great grandchildren.

Ann Woods Garrett, born June 18, 1942 in Kansas City, Missouri, died peacefully in her home November 27, 2012 at the age of 70.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Benton and Vera Mae Summers, a brother, Benton Summers Jr. and her nephew, Michael Benton Collins.

She is survived by her sister, Jane Collins of West Plains, her niece, Sarah Jane Howerton and husband Scott of McCall, ID, a great-niece, Molly Beth Collins and a great-nephew, Bryant Dean Collins, both of West Plains and several cousins.

Ann grew up in Camarillo, CA and graduated from Adolfo Camarillo High School in 1960. She attended Stephens College in Columbia, MO and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA where she received her degree in elementary education in 1964.

Ann taught elementary school for 37 years in California, Nevada, Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri. She ended her career in 2002 after nearly twenty years of teaching third grade at South Fork Elementary School in West Plains.