Lela F. (Tolle) Koca

Lela F. (Tolle) Koca, 85, San Angelo, TX, died July 7, 2010, at Shannon Hospital, San Angelo, TX. Lela was born Nov. 5, 1924, to Charles and Kate Tolle in El Dorado Springs.

She was married to Joe Koca right after World War II. They lived in Kansas City, Wichita, KS, and Alamogordo, NM. After her husband died, she moved to San Angelo, TX, to be closer to her children.

She was a master seamstress and homemaker. She loved to sew, knit, crochet and was the best mother-in-law a daughter-in-law could have.

Lela was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph J. Koca.

Survivors include: Boots, the cat of the family home; two sons, Martin Koca, and wife, Beth, and Jim Koca, and wife Lisa - all of San Angelo, TX; seven grandchildren: Quintin Koca, and wife, Sandy, and Joseph Koca, and wife, Star - Zebulon, NC, Benjamin Koca, and wife, Paula - San Angelo, TX, Lanna, and CB Bell - Providence Village, TX, and Kyle, Samuel and Jewel Koca - San Angelo, TX; and five great-grandchildren. Boots has been adopted by a loving family in Lubbock, TX.

Forwarding services were under the direction of Gutierrez Funeral Chapels in San Angelo, TX.

Graveside services began at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 10, at Virgil City Cemetery in rural El Dorado Springs. Rev. James Coleman officiated. Local arrangements under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home, El Dorado Springs.

Daisy G. 'Millie' Carter

Daisy G. “Millie” Carter, 79, of El Dorado Springs, passed away July 6, 2010, at Community Springs Healthcare Facility. She was born Oct. 2, 1930, to Jesse and Esther (Painter) McGlothlin in Logansport, IN.

Millie attended school in Springfield, IL. On Sept. 23, 1950, she married Wendell Carter in Springfield, IL. After they moved in 1965 to El Dorado Springs, Millie worked for the local Shirt Factory, Cedar County Memorial Hospital and Community Nursing Home.

She was a very faithful member of the Blue Ridge Church of God (Holiness). Millie was very active in the church, helping in any way she could. If the doors were open for service, she was always there as long as her health permitted. She often brought others to church with her.

Preceding her in death were: Her mother and father; her husband, Wendell; two brothers; and five sisters.

Millie is survived by: One son, Dave Register - Niantic, IL; one sister, Jessie Gilmore - Springfield, IL; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, her church family and many friends.

Services were held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 9, at Bland-Hackleman Chapel with Rev. James Coleman officiating. Interment followed in Love Cemetery under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were - Dean Coleman, George Cunningham, Robert Yockey, Brian Gibbs, Larry Englund and Doyle White.

Una Katherine (Gillmore) Cohu

Una Katherine Cohu, 91, Lamar, passed away Saturday, July 3, 2010, at Christian Health Care in Nevada where she had lived since suffering a debilitating stroke after surgery in 2000. She was a great example and always believed you can keep going long after you think you can’t. Una was born Dec. 31, 1918, at Neosho to Samuel and Minnie (Erskin) Gillmore. 

While raising her family, she told her children that each one was responsible for their own actions. She saw the best in everyone and faced new challenges with courage and humor, even more so during her 10 years of being unable to write, speak, walk or use of her right side. Her smile and great heart will be missed by many.

On April 16, 1937, at Neosho, she married Glen Roger Cohu and they had celebrated over 56 years of marriage before his death Jan. 24, 1994.

Una was devoted to the loving care of her family and others. While living in Washington state, Kansas City and Lamar areas, she was a home health provider. She enjoyed traveling and had traveled most of the United States. She had visited Germany, Switzerland and France.

Always active in her community, Una had been a volunteer for Chastains and Lakeview Nursing Home of Lamar. She also volunteered for American Red Cross Bloodmobile and Barton County Library story hour. She was a 1996 Volunteer Award Person by Yakow Smirnoff and Comrad Entertainment. Una was 1993 Fellowship of Christian Athletes award winner for oldest woman walker in the Lamar Fair. She was a member of Central Christian Center of Joplin where she previously assisted in children’s nursery and with the yearly Easter egg hunt.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two stillborn sons, Loyd and Roger Cohu; her parents; three sisters - Tressa Gillmore, Helen Staples and Hazel Ivie; a brother, Marion Gillmore; and a granddaughter, Heather Cohu.

Survivors include - four children and their spouses - Tommie and Inez Cohu - Blue Springs, Roger and Eileen Cohu - Overland Park, KS, Patti and Leroy Ross - El Dorado Springs and Janet and Bob Sitton - Lamar; eight grandchildren and their spouses - Janell Sitton-Coats - Joplin, Rollin and Monica Cohu - Tijeras, NM, Kathy and Barry Witt - El Dorado Springs, Sheri and Mike Higgins - Odessa, Krista and Tommy Norrid - Springfield, Jennifer and Brandon Williams - Merriam, KS, Cami Cohu and Michael Cohu - both of Blue Springs; and nine great-grandchildren - Khloe’, Olivia and Cambria Witt - El Dorado Springs; Ian, Sean and Adriana Cohu - Tijeras, NM; Jackson Norrid - Springfield; Emma Williams - Merriam, KS, and Gracie Sitton-Coats - Joplin.

Services began at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, at Daniel Funeral Home, Lamar. The family received friends from 1 p.m. until service time Wednesday. Burial was in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Pittsburg, KS.

Casey Liman Bain

Casey Liman Bain, 25, Rockville, passed away Wednesday, June 30, 2010, in a car accident in St. Clair County. He was born Feb. 6, 1985, in Clinton to Jennifer Lynn Bain.

Casey grew up in Rockville and Rich Hill where attended Rich Hill High School.

He enjoyed being outside and playing video games. Casey enjoyed a pick-up game of basketball at the park and hanging out with his friends. One of Casey’s favorite pastimes was tormenting and teasing his younger sisters, Sarah and Karly.

As an adult, Casey worked at Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Appleton City. At the time of his death, he was employed at West MO Beef in Rockville.

Casey enjoyed going four wheeling and fishing with his uncles and cousins. He enjoyed being with his family and friends.

Casey is survived by his mother, Jennifer Bain, father, Bruce Base, and sister, Karly – all of Rich Hill, and sister, Sarah Hood – St. Edward, NE; brothers, Zack Base – Houston, MO, and Jade Ellis – Ft. Scott, KS; grandparents, Don and Anna Bain, Rockville; and grandmother, Alice Schmidt – Rich Hill; uncle, Gerard Bain, and wife, Tammy – Montrose; aunts - Gail (Bain) Breen, and husband, Blane; and Christeal (Bain) McClure, and husband, Buddy – Appleton City, and Almeta (Base) Goossen, and husband, Orlando – Rich Hill; uncles, Steve Base, and wife, Kelly – Excelsior Springs, and Loren Base, and wife, Teresa – Warsaw; an numerous cousins and second-cousins.

Graveside services and interment, under the direction of Heuser Funeral Home, Rich Hill, was Monday, July 5, in Rockville Cemetery with Brother Bill Perky and Matt Toppass officiating. Pallbearers were – Gerard Bain, Jeremy McClure, Joe Miller, Greg McClure, Damon Green and Jason Detienne. Honorary pallbearers were Daniel Bledsoe and John Foster.

Wayne Leroy Briggs

Wayne Leroy Briggs, 62, passed away June 28, 2010, at his home in El Dorado Springs. He was born June 15, 1948, in Clinton, the son of Uel Leroy Briggs and Ottalee Belle Woods Briggs.

Services will be held in the Church of Christ in El Dorado Springs beginning at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 1. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m.

Services will then begin at 2:30 p.m. in Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton. Family and friends will gather at the funeral home one hour before the service. Burial will be in Englewood Cemetery in Clinton.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; and infant sister, Judith Kay Briggs; and his stepmother, Dorothy L. Abernathy Briggs.

Survivors include - his stepbrother and wife, Bob and Sue Abernathy, and their family; his stepsister, Susan Elkins, and her family; and a host of uncles, aunts and cousins on both his father and mother’s sides of the family.

For the past 24 years, Wayne was blessed to have the unwavering love and support of his surrogate family in El Dorado Springs who include – Andy, Freda and Franklin Gonzalez and family, and Wayne’s current caregivers, Joe and Veda Barger, and their children. Also missing Wayne are – Larry, Gary and Dale – of the home.

The family requests no flowers and suggest memorial contributions to the Wayne L. Briggs Memorial Scholarship fund in care of Hawthorne Bank, 1400 E. Ohio St., Clinton, MO 64735.

Arrangements by Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton.

Eunice Elizabeth Fox

Eunice Elizabeth Wood Richardson Fox, 88, departed this life to be with her heavenly Father on June 28, 2010. Eunice was born Aug. 8, 1921, to John and Myrtle Wood, the youngest of six children.

She was born and raised in the Coal Hill community where she attended school and church. She was a member of the RLDS Church.

Eunice married James A. Richardson on Sept. 5, 1937. To this union was born three daughters - Shirley Wilson, Sandra Steward and Donna Sullivan. Eunice later married her beloved husband, Ray Fox, on July 5, 1970. She was blessed with Ray’s five children - Alan, Gatha, Greg, Steve and Lisa.

Eunice worked several years in sewing factories and later in the Nevada State Hospital. She was pianist for the Coal Hill Church. She and Ray enjoyed country and gospel music, camping and being with their families. They also enjoyed traveling.
Eunice used her sewing skills by making quilts for her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed upholstering and refinishing furniture for the family.

Eunice was preceded in death by her parents, John and Myrtle Wood; her husband, Ray Fox; a daughter, Sandra Steward; brothers - George Wood, Wallace Wood, Lavern Wood and Loren Wood; a sister, Pauline Gerber; her son-in-law, Aaron Smith; grandson, Jesse Fox; and granddaughter-in-law, Darla Steward.

Survivors are daughters, Donna and Jerry Sullivan - Stockton, Shirley and Harold Wray – Wilson; son-in-law, Leon Steward - El Dorado Springs; step-children - Alan and Carolyn Fox – Quinlan, TX, Gatha Fox - Willard, Steve and Lori Fox - Morrisville, and Lisa Smith – Rogersville; two sister-in-laws, Viola Wood - El Dorado Springs, and Evelyn Wood – Odessa; grandchildren - Brian Sullivan and fiancee, Debbie Rockenhauser - Stockton, Brent and Mary Ann Sullivan - Joplin, Kim and Fred Harris - Neosho, Randall and Julie Wilson - North Kansas City, Chris and Melissa Wilson - Willard, Michael Steward, Brad and Melanie Steward, Scott and Stephanie Steward and Leigh Ann Morgan - all of El Dorado Springs, and Ray’s grandchildren - Jerome, Chad, Carol Lee, Josh, Cassie, Austin, Sisco, Claudia, Lena, Stevie, Erica and Garrett; and many great-grandchildren.

Services were held Thursday, July 1, at Brumback Funeral Home, Stockton.

Lester M. Weaver

Lester M. Weaver, 65, a retired farmer of rural El Dorado Springs, passed away Sunday, June 27, 2010, at home surrounded by family after a 10 year battle with cancer. Lester was born Feb. 13, 1945, in Wayne County, OH, to Monroe A. and Elizabeth (Schlabach) Weaver.

He was a member of Cedar Creek Mennonite Church.

Surviving are his mother, Elizabeth; his wife of 37 years, Elizabeth (Schlabach) Weaver; one daughter, Regina Gallette, and husband, Erik; three sons: Edward Weaver, and wife, Linda, Jason Weaver, and wife, Wanda, and Mark Weaver; eight grandchildren - Anthony, Emily and Erika Gallette, Seth, Avery and Lester Royal Weaver and Nathan and Brock Weaver.

Lester was preceded in death by his father and an infant sister.

Services began at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 30, at the El Dorado Springs Church of God (Holiness). Pastor Al Miller, Ken Schrock and Nevin Good officiated and the Springhill Youth Group provided music. Interment was in Tennessee Chapel Cemetery under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home in El Dorado Springs.

Pallbearers were - Danny Newman, Jeff Newman, Jay Martin, Darrel Byler, Dale Lehman and Weldon Headings.