Obituaries

John Willard "Rock" Porter, 79, of Joplin, Missouri, passed away on July 15, 2026, one day after his 79th birthday.

John was born on July 14, 1947, in Miami, Oklahoma, to Willard Porter and Ruby Clingenpeel Porter. He attended Baxter Springs High School with the Class of 1965, where he earned varsity letters in...

Lindell Jon Ford passed away Wednesday, July 15. He was born January 29, 1964 to Larry E. & Linda L. Ford. He leaves behind his longtime partner, Delbert Miller, his mother, Linda Kinney, his brothers, Dr. Lance Ford (Teresa), Dr. Tucker E. Ford (Stacie). and his sister, Leslie Quarton (William). He also leaves...

Claud E. Hutchings of Joplin, MO passed away on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

He was born on February 26, 1929 in Fairview, MO, son of Lester and Bessie Hutchings.

Claud graduated from Fairview High School in 1947. Claud was united in marriage to Mildred Oxendine on July 29, 1950 at the First Methodist Church of...

Margie Mae born to Harry and Sylvia Moore, of Kansas City Mo. She was preceeded in death by her husband, George Moore of California, Russell Moore (wife Margaret), Joplin. Surviving are two nieces, Kit-T Anderson, Arkansas and Marguerita Bates, Oklahoma and extended family members.

She married and moved to...

Merle W. Allen, 81 of Joplin, Missouri passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, he had been in failing health the past 3 months.

Merle was born January 8, 1945 in Sherman City, Kansas, son of the late Cleo E. and Bertha Mae Walker-Allen. He grew up in the rural areas of Sherman City and McCune, KS, and...

Doris Jean (Walbridge) Dalbom was born Sept. 12, 1933, in Batavia, New York. She grew up with two sisters, Catherine "Katy" and Virginia "Ginny", on a small farm in upstate New York where she developed her love of horses, plants, and everything to do with the outdoors. She started first grade at the age of 4 and...

Alexandria passed due to liver failure of her transplanted liver she received at the age of 9 months. Alex had a passion for skating and was mesmerizing as she floated like a butterfly over the rink and in contrast surpassed speed barriers racing down the ski hill. Alex was a free spirit with a funny wit and a huge...

Kerry Allen Lachman, resident of Wellston, passed away on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. He was 37 years old. Kerry was born on December 11, 1988 in Dallas, Texas to Jerry Lachman and Melissa Kingsbury.

Kerry had a heart of gold and loved fiercely. He was the kind of soul who would not hesitate to give you the shirt off...

Helen Hubbard passed away on June 6, 2026, in Carthage, Missouri, at the age of 106. She was born on January 8, 1920, in Carthage, Missouri, the daughter of the late W. Ellis and Jane M. (McDaniel) Wright, and lived a long life marked by devotion to family, service to her country, and a spirited love of life.

Helen...

Judith Day Chouteau, 77, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2026.

She is the daughter of Lt Col Charles H Day and Catherine Shaw Day. She was born on January 26, 1949, in Germany while her family lived over seas while her father served in the US Army. The family returned to the Joplin/Webb City area upon...

Nancy Jean Paul, 77, of Neosho, Missouri, formerly of Joplin, Missouri, passed away on April 18, 2026. She was born on April 1, 1949, in Rochester, Minnesota, to Kenneth Howard Freeman and Martha Kay Freeman.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Abe Paul; sisters, Janet Heying and Ann Arnold; her children,...

Reba Lynn Snavely, known lovingly to family and friends as Reba, passed away on May 29, 2026, in Joplin, Missouri. She was born on June 1, 1947, in Amoret, Missouri and lived a life marked by devotion, kindness, and a deep love for the people who surrounded her.
Reba was the beloved wife of Fred Snavely, her husband...

Ellen Wood
September 6, 1949 - May 27, 2026

Ellen Wood was a beautiful and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and nana. She is survived by her husband, Mike; her daughter, Karen; her granddaughters, Bethany, Megan, and Michelle; and her great-grandchildren, Isabella, Abigail, and Michael.

Ellen passed away from...

Dr. Harold "Bud" Eugene Clapp went to be with the Lord on Friday, April 24, 2026. He was born
on December 14, 1943, in Indiana.
Bud devoted his life to serving the Lord through ministry, teaching, and caring for others. He
faithfully served at Welch Christian Church in Welch, Oklahoma; Hebron Christian Church...

Frances Irene Jeans Knorpp Finley was the first child of the late Luther Jeans and Minnie Irene (Souder) Jeans. Born in Diamond, Missouri on December 11, 1935, and entered Heaven May 16, 2026.
Frances married the late Frank Knorpp in 1952 and to that union was born six children; Linda Steele (John), Pamela Finley...

Kenneth R Thomas was born October 19, 1946, in Van Nuys, CA. We are saddened by his passing on May 4, 2026. He was the fourth of five children born to Paul & Eva D Thomas.
Kenny's parents divorced when he was very young. He was very fond of his stepfather Marion "Shorty" Lewis.
Kenny went to grade school in Ft....

Mendon Ray born July 4th, 1937, in Lebanon, OK, died on March 7, 2026, in Joplin, MO at age 88 years. Mendon married Bertha Jo Wright on February 15, 1958. Mendon "Tom" precedes in death his wife Jo Ray. Daughter Deanna M. (Ray), and spouse Tim Brix, grandchildren Bailey and Caleb Brix and great grandchildren...

Carol Ann Collett Grinnell, a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-
grandmother, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on April 24,
2026, at the age of 79.
Carol was born on October 11, 1946, in Abilene, Texas to Gerald and Alice Collett. She
graduated from Wylie High School...

Susie (Houk) McDowell, 64, of Carthage, Missouri, passed peacefully in her sleep on May 1, 2026. She was born April 27, 1962, in Seneca, Missouri to Jimmie and Charlene (Kettner) Houk.

Susie and Claude McDowell married on March 2, 1997, eloping in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, after a two‑week courtship. A talented...

James Truman Volskay, 91, of Carthage, Missouri, passed away peacefully at home with his
loving family nearby. Truman was born on December 3, 1934, in Springfield, Missouri, to Otto
and Goldie (Bird) Volskay. After graduating from Central High School, he attended Southwest
Missouri State College and Graceland...

Gerald Leslie McCrary was born on August 22, 1936, in Neosho, MO, at the home of his parents, Roy Elmer and Rita Belle (Thomas) McCrary. He passed away on April 23, 2026 at his home in Neosho, Missouri, at the age of 89, from complications due to Parkinson's Disease.
Gerald grew up in Neosho Community, graduating...

Betty Lucille Duckworth, age 88, of Joplin, passed away on Friday, April 17, 2026, at her home.
Betty was born on September 12, 1937, in Hartford, TN to the late union of Walter and Gladys (Dorsey) Darter.
Betty married Donald Duckworth, Sr. in February of 1957 in Springfield, Missouri. To this union brought three...

Gary Wayne Scott, beloved son of Skip Scott and Betty Scott, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2026, at the age of 81.

Gary was raised on a dairy farm in Kansas, where he developed a love for the land and hunting. It also resulted in a serious dislike for fishing despite growing up near Shoal Creek and the Spring...

Beverly Elaine Moore was born on March 14,1946, and passed away on March 14, 2026, on her 80th birthday, surrounded by family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dewey and Ruth Horton; her siblings Linda Spencer and Kirk Horton; and her beloved husband, Greg Moore. She is survived by her daughter Lynette Cook...