Obituaries

Dr. Donald Warren Donath (Ed.D.), 90, of Sedalia, passed away Friday evening, June 6, 2014, at his home.He was born November 30, 1923, in Sedalia, son of William and Bertha Frances Johnson Donath. On March 22, 1947, in Sedalia, he married Edith Yvonne Morgan, who survives of the home.Don attended Smith-Cotton High School and withdrew early to join the Army....

James Estill Cole, 87, of Sedalia, passed away Wednesday, June 4, 2014, at his home.He was born June 10, 1926, in La Monte, son of James S. and Wealthy M. Christy Cole. On December 18, 1962, in Miami, OK, he married Helen J. Parks, who died January 2, 1996.Mr. Cole was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving...

Virginia Louise Hughes, 93, of Marshall, passed away Thursday evening, May 29, 2014, at the Living Center in Marshall.She was born January 26, 1921, in Pilot Grove, daughter of Eddie Alonzo and Minnie Lee Davis Busker. On May 2, 1939, in Sedalia, she married Joseph Ray “Mike” Hughes, who preceded her in death on January 9, 2001.Mrs. Hughes worked as...

After a brave year-long fight with cancer, James Page passed away on May 27, 2014.He was born in Sedalia, Missouri on June 5, 1955.  After graduating from high school in Kansas City, he attended Oregon State University where he obtained a degree in forestry engineering.  He worked in forestry in Oregon and Montana.  From there, he moved to Alaska.  With...

Norma Jewell Tullis, 81, of Sedalia, passed away Sunday, May 18, 2014, at Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center.She was born May 19, 1932, in Chetopa, KS, daughter of Ralph Douglas and Goldie Gertrude Koons Middleton. On September 5, 1954, in McCune, KS, she married Melvin A. Tullis, who died July 12, 2001.She grew up in the Cherokee and Labette County,...

Donald Ray Binning Jr., 63, of Sedalia, passed away Wednesday, May 14, 2014, at Bothwell Regional Health Center.He was born December 11, 1950, in Olwein, IA, son of Donald Ralph Sr. and Emma Scovel Binning. On November 4, 1975, in Davenport, IA, he married Julie E. Monk, who survives of the home.Don enjoyed music and gardening. He was a Navy...

Louella Marie Goodson, 86, of Sedalia, passed away Monday, May 12, 2014, at Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center.She was born June 1, 1927, in Cole Camp, daughter of Ernest Delbert and Mary Gladys Kepler Bormann. On April 21, 1947, in Louisburg, KS, she married Walter Lee Goodson, who preceded her in death on February 27, 1977.Louella worked at Lamy’s, worked...

Roger Samuel Kropf, beloved husband of Mary Beth (Hostetler) Kropf, was born Feb. 5, 1966, to Eugene and Luella Kropf at Springfield, MO.God called Roger home on May 9, 2014, at the age of 48 years, 3 months, and 4 days, following a farm accident. He was working by himself, planting corn at a rented farm about 28 miles from...

Becky Ann Merk , 77, of Sedalia, passed away on May 11, 2014, in her home.She was born May 4, 1937, daughter of Kit King and Mamie Dorothy (Cranfield) Rumans who preceded her in death. She married Charles Albert Merk on June 6, 1954, in Florence, Missouri. She grew up on a farm in Morgan County and  has resided in...

Valerie Jean Schultz, 61, of Sedalia, passed away Friday, May 9, 2014, at Research Medical Center in Kansas City.She was born December 5, 1952, in Indio, CA, daughter of Oran Lyle and Helen Elizabeth Ruhnow White, who preceded her in death. On August 13, 1974, in Stover, she married Stanley Evan Schultz, who preceded her in death on August 6,...

Homer Grant “Dempsey” Ashbrook, 92, of Sedalia, passed away Friday, May 9, 2014.Dempsey was born in Sedalia on May 29, 1921, to James Homer Ashbrook and Emma Alice McElfresh Ashbrook.He leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Mildred Ashbrook. Also surviving is son, Larry (Sandy) Ashbrook, and daughters, Sharon Schultz and Mary Comer, Sedalia. Other  survivors include six grandchildren, 11...

James Allen Vinson, 78, of Sedalia, passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia.He was born February 14, 1936, in Sedalia, son of William Henry Sr. and Violet Thelma Paralee Collins Vinson. On April 25, 1970, in Sedalia, he married Linda L. McMullin, who survives of the home.Mr. Vinson enjoyed going to swap meets, trading...

Olen A. Howard, 88, of Sedalia, passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at The Arbors of Westport Estates in Marshall, MO.He was born June 25, 1925, in Knobby, MO, son of James A. and Emily Chancellor Howard. Mr. Howard was a 1943 graduate of Climax Springs High School. On November 14, 1948, in Sedalia, he married Virginia R. Shelley, who...

Lloyd Edward Purl, 84, of Sedalia, passed away Thursday, April 17, 2014, at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in Columbia.He was born June 21, 1929, in Sedalia, son of George and Elvie Moffett Purl. On April 18, 1981, in San Bernardino, CA, he married Darlene A. Corum, who survives of the home.Mr. Purl worked the Amoco station as...

Helen Pauline Lewis, 82, of Florence, passed away Thursday, April 17, 2014, at KU Medical Center.She was born October 3, 1931, in Sedalia, daughter of Elbert Harrison and Jannie Alice Jones Phillips. On September 30, 1950, at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Florence, she married Oliver William Lewis, who preceded her in death on October 23, 1985.Helen was a graduate...

Douglas Lee Evans, 53, of Sedalia, passed away Monday, April 7, 2014, at his home.He was born October 16, 1960, in Inglewood, CA, son of Betty Joann Evans and Edward Hall. On December 7, 2013, he married Pamela S. Miller.In addition to his wife, survivors include a daughter from a previous marriage, Holly Leann Evans; and four step-children, Pamela L....

Sunny Karen Morton, 78, of Sedalia, passed away Friday, April 4, 2014, at Bothwell Regional Health Center.She was born August 2, 1935, in Mangum, OK, daughter of A.H. and Iva Threadgill Tandy. On December 31, 1953, she was married to Joe James Morton, who died in 1995.Sunny’s life was centered around her family. She was a loving mother and grandmother....

Bonnie Jean Landreth, 86, of Otterville, passed away Thursday, April 3, 2014, at Fair View Nursing Home, surrounded by her family.She was born June 4, 1927, in California, MO, daughter of Earl Henry and Edith Lorine Speaker Gochenour. On May 18, 1946, in Sedalia, she married Lawrence Irvin Landreth, who preceded her in death on August 28, 2008.She retired from...

Richard Edward Gimple, 72, of Sedalia, passed away Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at his home.He was born September 3, 1941, in Sedalia, son of Carl William and Sarah Julia Reed Gimple. On May 20, 1962, in Sedalia, he married Wilma Edith Baslee, who preceded him in death on October 11, 2004.Mr. Gimple was an active member of Grace Baptist Church....

Elva Flora Cree, 76, of Sedalia, passed away Monday, March 31, 2014, at University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia.She was born August 30, 1937, in Edwards, MO, daughter of Percy and Mary Ellen Burns Wills. On June 4, 1960, in Miami, OK, she married Norman Burl Cree, who survives of the home.Mrs. Cree was the bookkeeper for the family business,...