Obituaries

Nancy Maria Sheets, age 85, passed away March 11, 2026. She was born October 17, 1940 in Athens, Ohio to the late Clarence M. and Maragret Ashworth. She lived there until after graduation from Ohio university where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962.
Nancy moved to St. Louis, Missouri to work as a...

Charles Kenney, age 91, passed away on March 7, 2026 in Joplin, Missouri.
Charles was born on August 9, 1934 to the union of Claude and Mildred (Mahan) Kenney in Stella, Missouri. He was a graduate of Rocky Comfort High School in 1952. After graduation he served in the military for two years. After his service in...

Judy (Boylan) Burch went peacefully after a battle with cancer to be with our Lord, while at home in Carl Junction, MO, surrounded by family.

Judy was born in Chicago and spent her childhood in Gary, Indiana. After graduating from Indiana State University where she met her husband Sam, she spent over 40 years...

Janice Arlene Higgins Oldham (89), passed away on February 27, 2026 in Springfield, MO.

Janice was born February 27, 1937, in Oxnard, California; however, her parents, Glenn Curtis Higgins and Georgia Louise Wrenn Higgins, soon returned to Stockton, Missouri, where she spent her elementary and high school years....

Mark E. Rich, age 60, of Joplin, Missouri, passed away on February 25, 2026. He is deeply missed by all who loved him. Mark was born on December 10, 1965, in Wichita, Kansas, to Leroy and Judy (Miller) Rich. Throughout his life, Mark was known for his warmth, generosity, and steadfast support for his family and...

Francis Gregory Biss I went to his heavenly home on February 20, 2026, at the age of 92. He was born on June 8, 1933, to Margaret Craig, in Washington DC.
Francis enlisted in the US Army at the tender age of 17. While in the Army he earned his GED. He married Beverly Ann Ryno while stationed at Camp Crowder in...

Sharon Lee Durik, 84, of Joplin, Missouri, passed away on February 13, 2026, at Mercy Hospital, surrounded by family and friends.
Sharon was born on November 17, 1941, in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Leon and Mintie Gozia. On May 11, 1963, she married Michael G. Durik, with whom she shared a long and happy...

Anna Cooper passed away peacefully on February 13, 2026, in Joplin, MO, at the age of 96. Born on July 8, 1929, in Allentown, PA, to the late Emil and Maria Weber, Anna's life was a testament to the power of caring and dedication.
Anna's early years in Allentown were marked by a spirited intelligence and a...

Patricia Fay Johnson, 89, of Joplin, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Freeman West Hospital.

Patricia was born on April 18, 1936, in Joplin, Missouri, to the late Lawrence Brasher and Opal Tally. She graduated from Joplin High School in 1954 and soon began what would become a...

Linda Sue Duncan, a beacon of warmth and generosity, passed away peacefully on February 12, 2026, at the age of 79 at Cox Health in Branson, Missouri surrounded by her family Born on December 9, 1946, in Joplin, Missouri, to the late Jess L. Hartje and Viola P. Hildreth-Hartje, Linda's life was a testament to the...

Lovingly written by the family
George Sutherland Beckwith, 87, passed away January 15, 2026 in Joplin, Missouri, after a life defined by independence, precision, and a lifelong love of learning.
George was born in Mount Kisco, Westchester County, New York, on September 11, 1938, to Sutherland Alsop Beckwith,...

Hal Curtis Simpson, age 73 of Webb City, passed away at 9:58pm on February 8, 2026 with his loved ones by his side. He was born on August 16, 1952 in Webb City to Jack Curtis and Barbara Ann (Lanham) Simpson. Hal was a lifelong funeral director in the area, being raised from a young age to care for those...