Obituaries

By NewsPress Now ATCHISON, Kan. – Etola Fern Strong, 96, of Atchison, Kansas, died on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Atchison Medicalodge. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, at the Atchison United Methodist Church with Rev. Cyd Stein officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunset Memory Gardens

By NewsPress Now ATCHISON, Kan. – Raymond “Ray” Earl Pyles 80, of Atchison, Kansas, entered into heaven peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. He was born Sept. 20, 1943, in DeKalb, Missouri, son of Lora Belle and Ernest Pyles. He attended DeKalb, Missouri, High School. In 1973 he enlisted in the

By NewsPress Now Late Notices Terry J. Jordan Terrence J. “Terry” Jordan, 72, of St. Joseph, passed away Jan. 3, 2024. Visitation 5 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel. A Rosary will be recited following the visitation at 6:30 p.m. Memorial Prayer Service will follow the rosary at 7 p.m.

By NewsPress Now Late Notices As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.

By NewsPress Now SAVANNAH, Mo. – Connie F. George passed from this life on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, at her residence, surrounded by her loving family. She was born March 20, 1939, to the late William Newgent and Frances Cooper Steeby. She graduated from Graham High School. Connie will be remembered in the Savannah, Missouri,

By NewsPress Now Michael Henry Perman, 44, of King City, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, near Stanberry, Missouri. He was born Oct. 17, 1979, in St. Joseph, and graduated from Lafayette High School. He worked at Sealed Air and Altec Industries as a Machine Operator and Welder. He served in the United States

By NewsPress Now Virginia Walker, 94, of St. Joseph, passed away on Dec. 29, 2023, peacefully in a senior living facility. Virginia was born on July 5, 1929, to Loren and Audrey (Musick) Coleman, in Gentry, Missouri. She married Victor D. Walker and from this union they had two daughters, Connie and Vicki. Virginia worked

By NewsPress Now Late Notices Larry Butcher CAMDEN POINT, Mo. – Larry Butcher, 77, Camden Point, Missouri, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away Jan. 1, 2024. Visitation 3 to 4:30 p.m.. Saturday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Craig R. Graham Craig R. Graham, 72, St. Joseph, passed away Dec. 30, 2023. Farewell Services and Public

By NewsPress Now KING CITY, Mo. – Michael Henry Perman, 44, of King City, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, near Stanberry, Missouri. He was born Oct. 17, 1979, in St. Joseph, and graduated from Lafayette High School. He worked at Sealed Air and Altec Industries as a Machine Operator and Welder. He served

By NewsPress Now Deloris Jane Beck, 84, of St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in St. Joseph. She was born Aug. 18, 1939, in St. Joseph, daughter of the late Mary and Clarence “Pete” Hale. She graduated from Benton High School and retired from Armour and Company after 30 years of service. Deloris

By NewsPress Now LAMAR, Colo. – Services are pending for longtime Lamar, Colorado, resident, Wayne Stiles. Wayne was born on Jan. 4, 1940, in St. Joseph, to Ferris Q. and Florence I. (Hart) Stiles, and passed away on Dec. 17, 2023, at the University of Colorado hospital with his family by his side at the

By NewsPress Now Lorraine Meadows, 89, of St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, at a local health care facility. She was born March 8, 1934, in Martinsville, Missouri, daughter of Dorothy (Darby) and Sampson Baker. She graduated from New Hampton High School, class of 1951, and attended Platt Business College. She married Carl

By NewsPress Now EASTON, Mo. – Patricia Jo “Patty” Culver, 82, of Easton, Missouri, passed away Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born April 13, 1941, in St. Joseph, daughter of the late Josephine and Lyle Harvey. She graduated from Convent of the Sacred Heart and married

By NewsPress Now Susan “Sue” Kay Clark, 76, St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, after a brief illness. Sue was born on Oct. 10, 1947, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to William and Doris (Lastuvka) Turner. Her family moved to Seattle, Washington, when she was a child. She met the love of her life,

By NewsPress Now Barbara Ellen Swartz passed away peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in St. Joseph, at age 82. Native to St. Joseph, she was the daughter of Mary Elizabeth and Robert Hoffman. Barb graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart before marrying her late husband, Gary “Sam” Swartz, on Dec. 26, 1964.

By NewsPress Now Carol Briggs Unger was born in St. Joseph on Aug. 7, 1935, to Frieda Blum Briggs and William Briggs. She passed away Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. Carol attended grade school at St. Joseph Cathedral and graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart in St. Joseph in 1953. Carol married Donald James

By NewsPress Now Late Notices Dennis M. Barrett ONEIDA, Kan. Dennis Mark Barrett, 66, of Oneida, Kansas, formerly of the Fairview-Powhattan communities, died December 31, 2023. www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com Jason T. Guthery Jason T. Guthery, 39, St. Joseph, passed away Dec. 30, 2023. Celebration of Life at a later date. Arrangements under the direction of Meierhoffer Funeral

By NewsPress Now LAKEVIEW, Ark. – Elwin Arnold Spencer, 88, of Lakeview, Arkansas, passed away on Dec. 31, 2023, after a short illness. Elwin was known as “Bud” to all his friends and family. Bud passed away peacefully at the Care Manor nursing home, in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Bud was born in Wayne Township, Doniphan

By NewsPress Now Phyllis A. Zirkle, 86, St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023. She was born Oct. 7, 1937, to Stephen J. and Ruth A. (Davison) Starr, in St. Joseph. She graduated from Benton High School in 1955. While in high school, she competed in the Miss St. Joseph Pageant. Phyllis married Ronald

By NewsPress Now TROY, Kan. – Steven Schultz, 73, of Troy, Kansas, passed away Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, at his home. Steve was born on Dec. 24, 1950, in St. Joseph, to William “Bill” and Jo Ann (Grable) Schultz and raised up in Burr Oak. He graduated from Wathena High School in 1968, then graduated

By NewsPress Now Late Notices Hillis D. Bowen HIAWATHA, Kan. Hillis Duane Bowen, 95, of rural Hiawatha, Kansas, passed away Dec. 30, 2023. www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com Mario Chizelle Mario Chizelle, 57, passed Jan. 2, 2024. Service for Mr. Chizelle will be noon Jan. 13, Bullock Family Funeral Chapel. Karl Leaton OVERLAND PARK, Kan. Karl Leaton, 82, Overland

By NewsPress Now Connie Campbell, 79, of St. Joseph, passed away Dec. 27, 2023. She deeply believed in God, so we believe she is in heaven, driving a motorcycle next to her husband, with her favorite pets running alongside. Her parents and friends waving as she passes by, yelling “I finally made it and I

By NewsPress Now Edward Shepard, 83, St. Joseph, passed away Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. He was born May 23, 1940, in Clay County, Missouri, to Seba and Lillian (Stock) Shepard. Edward married Shirley Dee Parker on May 23, 1992. She survives of the home. He was a union carpenter for many years. Edward loved fishing,

By NewsPress Now GOWER, Mo. – Pamela Ann Galvan passed away Nov. 30, 2023, at her home in Gower, Missouri. Pamela was born on Aug. 16, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois, to Roy and Georgia McGarrah. She was the eldest of five daughters, Pamela, Nancy, Maureen, Susan, and Tina. Her father was in the military and

By NewsPress Now FREDERICKSBURG, Texas – Harvey Keran Thompson, 84, of Fredericksburg, Texas, passed from this life to be with his Lord on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. He was born July 25, 1939, in St. Joseph, the son of Harold and Nell (Forster) Thompson. He attended Central High School where he lettered in football and

By NewsPress Now Virgil P. Holland, 58, of St. Joseph, passed away Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, at his home. He was born May 31, 1965, in St. Joseph, son of Shirley and Virgil M. Holland Jr. He graduated from Lafayette High School, and worked at St. Joseph Packaging for 27 years, and then Nestle Purina

By NewsPress Now Late Notices As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.

By NewsPress Now KEARNEY, Mo. – Marilyn Ruth (Scott) Westlake was born Oct. 10, 1931, in Ridgeway, Missouri. She passed away Dec. 23, 2023, at age 92. She was married to Gerald Westlake for 68 years and had three children: Dianne, Rick and Lori. They had a farm near Hatfield, Missouri, and spent retirement in

By NewsPress Now WATHENA, Kan. – Dorothy A. Jermain, 83, of Wathena, Kansas, passed away Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, at the Wathena Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, in Wathena. Dorothy was born on March 1, 1940, in Clyde, Missouri, to Raymond Sr. and Gertrude (Lager) Derks. She was a member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church,