Obituaries

Linda Louise Derry Vejar, 72, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2025, in St. Joseph. Born on Aug. 22, 1953, she was the daughter of the late Betty (Childers Faulk) and Lawrence Derry. Linda had a profound love for music, books, and cooking, embracing family traditions in the kitchen and creating meals that brought joy

James C. Whitmore 81, of St Joseph, passed away Saturday, July 26, 2025, in a St. Joseph health care center. He was born Oct. 9, 1943, in St. Joseph, son of the late Mary and Harry Whitmore. As a young man he joined the United States Marine Corp and served in Vietnam. He worked as

Dr. Donald “Doc” Emmett Sklenar M.D., 95, St. Joseph, passed away July 31, 2025. He was born July 27, 1930, in Hillsboro, Kansas, to Emmett and Mary (Rickley) Sklenar. Don spoke many times and was heavily influenced by the struggles faced by his family during the Great Depression. From a young age, he felt a

Scott Alan Poff, 53, St. Joseph, died Sunday, July 27, 2025. Born Oct. 11, 1971, Springfield, Missouri. Survivors include his father; two daughters; one son; two brothers; one sister; six grandchildren; and numerous friends and loved ones. Cremation under the care of the Rupp Funeral Home. Celebration of Life 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Central

HIGHLAND, Kan. – Charles Francis “Charlie” Hopp, passed peacefully into his heavenly home Friday, July 25, 2025. He met and fell in love with the love of his life, Maxine May Beaman. They were united in marriage on Sept. 27, 1949, and were blessed with 70 years of marriage. They lived nearly all of their

KING CITY, Mo. – Vivian Lucile Harris, 97, King City, Missouri, passed away Friday, July 25, 2025. She was born June 15, 1928, to John and Gladys (Pistole) Morris. Vivian attended Northwest, Missouri State Teachers College. She taught school before becoming a full-time wife and mother. On April 16, 1949, she married Gerald Harris. To

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – William “Bill” Slentz, 81, formerly of St. Joseph, and as of 2020 to present resided in Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on Friday, July 25, 2025. Bill was a graduate of Shawnee Mission East High School in 1962 and went on to continue his education and earn his bachelor’s degree of

Wanda June Stufflebean, 94, of St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Mosaic Life Care, in St. Joseph. She was born June 8, 1931, daughter of Byrda (Summers) and Byron Lamb. Wanda spent most of her youth in the Kansas City area and attended Northeast High School. On March 22, 1947, she married

Phyllis Mae Williams, 88, of St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in a St. Joseph hospital. She was born July 17, 1937, in Halls, Missouri, daughter of the late Grace and Aaron Reno. She graduated from Benton high school and worked as a mail sorter with the United States Post Office. She served

SAVANNAH, Mo. – Donald R. Barnett, 87, Savannah, Missouri, passed July 22, 2025, surrounded by family. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. Bullock Family Funeral Chapel. Mr. Barnett has been cremated under the direction of Bullock Family Funeral Chapel. For Mr. Barnett’s full obituary visit bullockffc.com. As published in the

Vickie Anne Chavez, 70, St. Joseph, went to her eternal home Sunday, July 27, 2025. She was born July 1, 1955, to Bill and Rowena Atkins. She married Chuck Chavez on May 9, 1980. She was preceded in death by her father, Bill Atkins. Vickie is survived by her husband, Chuck; mother, Rowena Atkins; her

BRANSON WEST, Mo. – Alberta (Biller) Cooper died peacefully in her home on July 24, 2025, in Branson West, Missouri, at the age of 80. She was born on Aug. 11, 1944, in St. Joseph, to Andrew and Wava Biller. She graduated from The Covenant of Sacred Hearts (LeBlond High School) and attended Co-Cathedral Parish.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Catherine Elliott, 98, passed away July 25, 2025, at home surrounded by her family. She was born on Feb. 8, 1927, in Polo, Missouri, to Edgar and Audrey (Hightower) Zeikle. She graduated from Polo High School in 1945. Catherine was a homemaker and one of the earliest female licensed insurance agents

Charles “Bill” Kibbe Jr., 64, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, July 20, 2025, in St. Joseph. He was born Nov. 18, 1960, in Mt. Ayr, Iowa, son of the late Dorothy and Charles Kibbe Sr. He worked at Carriage Square Health Care as a dishwasher for many years. Billy loved foreign movies and TV,

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Patricia Irene (Merrigan) Archer, 94, of Maryville, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Presbyterian Manor, in Lawrence, Kansas. Born Sept. 25, 1930, in Conception, Missouri, to Patrick and Irene (McLaughlin) Merrigan, Patricia graduated from Jefferson High School and married Donald Edward Archer in 1948. They farmed in the area

Rachel Lauren Chaney, 40, St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, July 19, 2025. She was born June 28, 1985, to Preston Chaney and Cathy Craig Bainter, in League City, Texas. She graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology. She was preceded in death by her father, Preston Chaney. Survivors

SAVANNAH, Mo. – Michael A. Jennings, 75, Savannah, Missouri, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away peacefully at home Monday, July 21, 2025. He was born April 28, 1950, in St. Joseph, to Donald and Mary (McVay) Jennings. He grew up in St. Joseph, where he started working as a young boy delivering the St. Joseph

MOUND CITY, Mo. – Bryce Lane Schoonover was born July 21, 1963, to James and Faire (Drewes) Schoonover, of Mound City, Missouri. On Aug. 2, 1986, he married the love of his life, Patricia Lynn Hunziger, of Oregon, Missouri. They became the parents of three beautiful daughters, whom he loved and cherished. He was a

Darlene West, 95, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, July 20, 2025, at Gower Convalescent Center. She was born May 28, 1930, in St. Joseph, daughter of Violet and Clarence Halpain. She graduated from Benton High School, class of 1948, and St. Joseph Junior College. She married Billy West on June 3, 1950. Darlene spent

SHOREWOOD, Ill. – Thomas R. Swoboda passed away peacefully at the age of 85 on July 18, 2025, with the love of his family by his side. He was born in St. Joseph on Sept. 10, 1939, the son of Ralph and Verna (Moore) Swoboda. At age 19, Tom began working as a stockboy at

COSBY, Mo. – Randy Scott Ellis, 64, of Cosby, Missouri, passed away July 18, 2025. He was born Sept. 25, 1960, in St. Joseph, son of Theodore and Janice (Sheffler) Ellis. Randy married Mary Gier on Oct. 5, 1985, and shared 40 years together raising a family and cherishing each other. She survives in the

Kurt Neff, 62, passed away in the early morning hours of July 17, 2025, after battling many hard fought health complications. Kurt was a Central High School graduate of the class of 1981. After High School, Kurt was employed by Vedco, where he put in nearly 30 years of service and built many bonds with

LAKE WORTH, Fla. – Pam Ella, 74, of Lake Worth, Florida, was born on Nov. 23, 1950, to Solomon and Alta Groom, in Albany, Missouri. Throughout her life, she enjoyed traveling, singing and visiting with family and friends. Pam never met a stranger. She passed peacefully from this world on July 15, 2025. Pam leaves

Arley Thomas Furgeson Sr., 72, of St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, July 10, 2025. Survivors include son, Arley Jr.; daughters, Shantell Wells, Alicia Miller, Michelle Boone; three brothers; five sisters; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, July 25, 2025, at the Rupp Funeral Home. Full

David Lee Busey, 64, of St. Joseph, passed away Friday, July 11, 2025, at his home in St. Joseph. He was born April 25, 1961, in St. Joseph, son of the late Virginia and Gail “Doc” Busey. He graduated from Central High School in 1979. David was an avid golfer, and even got a hole

Joan Phyllis Ruhnke Peek Peterson, 83, was born Aug. 25, 1941, to Harold and Hilda (Larsin) Ruhnke, in St. Joseph. She passed away on July 16, 2025. She attended Diamond School, a one room school in her first three grades. She moved to Highland, Kansas, and graduated in 1959 from Highland High School. She moved

PLATTE CITY, Mo. – Larry G. Duke, 82, Platte City, Missouri, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, July 15, 2025. He was born April 22, 1943, in St. Joseph, to Norman and Maxine (Boggess) Duke. Larry attended Lindbergh Elementary and Lafayette High School, where he played basketball. He then attended St. Joseph Junior College

George F. Hanway, 74, of St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at his home. He was born Dec. 12, 1950, in St. Joseph, son of Mary (Hart) and Charles Hanway. He graduated from Christian Brothers, class of 1969. On Aug. 7, 1976, George married Lola Furlong. He worked at Silgan Containers, retiring after

CAMERON, Mo. – Martin Schieber, 88, passed away at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cameron, Missouri, on July 13, 2025. Martin was born to Lawrence and Eleanor (Lager) Schieber on Aug. 11, 1936, on the family farm at Conception Junction, Missouri. He grew up in rural Conception Junction, and graduated from Jefferson High School in

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Margaret L. Grayson, 89, Kansas City, Missouri, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away Friday, July 11, 2025 at North Kansas City Hospital. She was born Jan. 12, 1936, in Highland, Kansas, to John and Ruby (Haskell) Pennel. Margaret married Donald E. Grayson on May 7, 1960. They shared 62 years of