Obituaries

By NewsPress Now CAMERON, Mo. – William “Bill” Keith Hall, 87, resident of Cameron, Missouri, passed away peacefully Saturday, April 20, 2024, under the care of his family and Three Rivers Hospice, at Cameron Nursing Center in Cameron. Bill was born July 24, 1936, in Breckenridge, Missouri, the son of Ralph and Winifred (Newman) Hall.

By NewsPress Now LAMAR, Colo. – A memorial celebration for longtime Lamar resident Wayne Stiles will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at the Lamar Christian Church, with Ian Blacker and Pastor Ray Matteson Co-Officiating. Wayne was born on Jan. 4, 1940, at St. Joseph, to Ferris “Sonny” Q. and Florence

By NewsPress Now Robin Gene DeSpain, 62, of St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, April 18, 2024, at his home in St. Joseph. He was born Nov. 26, 1961, in Hutchison, Kansas, son of the late Nelda and Ronnie DeSpain. He graduated from Lafayette High School, and worked at Friskies for over 20 years. He enjoyed

By NewsPress Now MARYVILLE, Mo. – Mary Huff Coffelt, age 98, passed away on April 21, 2024, in Maryville, Missouri. Her parents were Floyd M. and Violet Jenson Huff. On March 9, 1946, she was united in marriage to Wesley D. Coffelt, of Ravenwood, Missouri, at the Methodist Church in Holton, Kansas. After a trip

By NewsPress Now Mary J. Young LEAWOOD, Kan. – Mary Jean Young of Leawood, Kansas, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away on April 17, 2024, at the age of 82. She was preceded in death by her son, Seth Andrew Young, and her parents, Mary Elizabeth (Doll) Urick and Eugene Hew Wallace. She is survived

By NewsPress Now Carmen Marie Palma, 90, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, April 21, 2024. She was born July 15, 1933, in St. Joseph, daughter of the late, Jose and Josefa (Garcia) Rivera. Carmen married Peter J. Palma on June 6, 1953, at Holy Rosary Church, in St. Joseph, and they shared 70 years

By NewsPress Now Keith Culley, 78, St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, April 21, 2024. He was born July 16, 1945, in Maysville, Missouri, to Leslie and Ada (House) Culley. He graduated from Maysville High School, then served his country in the U.S. Navy. After the service, a pretty little girl named Marcella caught Keith’s eye

By NewsPress Now Late Notices Phyllis J. Hart Phyllis June Hart, 82, of St. Joseph, passed away April 19, 2024. Graveside Services and Interment will be 2:30 p.m. Friday at Bellemont Cemetery, in Wathena, Kansas. Visitation 1 to 2 p.m. Friday at the Rupp Funeral Home. www.ruppfuneral.com. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.

By NewsPress Now Emmett A. Flora, a man of remarkable resilience and redemption, passed away on April 20, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of transformation, faith and perseverance. Born on Jan. 9, 1949, in St. Joseph, to Willie A. and Dorothy Cline Flora, Emmett grew up in Faucett, Missouri, amongst challenging circumstances facing more than

By NewsPress Now Laura Renee Buller, 62, of St. Joseph, passed away Friday, April 19, 2024, in a St. Joseph hospital. She was born Oct. 13, 1961, in St. Joseph, daughter of the late Peggy Colboch and Robert Buller. She graduated from Benton High School, class 1980, and worked at Easter Seals Midwest as a

By NewsPress Now WINDSOR, Mo. – Robert “Bob” Zimmerman, Aug. 15, 1941, to Apr. 17, 2024, son of George and Louise Zimmerman (both deceased), was a business owner, farmer, husband and father. Bob graduated from Windsor, Missouri, High School in 1959 and received a B.S. in Agriculture and a Minor in Business from the University

By NewsPress Now PLATTSBURG, Mo. – Jack Burks, 91 of Plattsburg, Missouri, died Sunday, April 21, 2024, at Oakridge Care Facility, in Plattsburg. Jack was born on Aug. 23, 1932, in Maryville, Missouri, to Russell Burks and Myrtle (Frazee) Burks. Jack was a graduate of Bethany High School. He attended college at Northwest Missouri State

By NewsPress Now TROY, Kan. – Paul Berton Whetstine, 68, of Troy, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at the Mosaic Life Care, St. Joseph. Paul was born on Feb. 21, 1956, in St. Joseph, to William B. and Doreene (Deatherage) Whetstine. He graduated from Troy High School in 1974. Paul was a heavy

By NewsPress Now CAMERON, Mo. – Vernon Lee Cox, age 96, a resident of Cameron, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at Missouri Veterans Home, Cameron. Vernon was born the son of Frank and Sadie (Berry) Cox on Feb. 20, 1928, in Chillicothe, Missouri. He was a graduate of Chillicothe High School. He

By NewsPress Now Daniel Joseph “Charlie” Pompa Jr., 52, St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, April 13, 2024. He was born Feb. 26, 1972, in Los Angeles, California, to Daniel J. Pompa Sr. and Billie Pauline (Walden) Pompa. His family moved to St. Joseph when Pompa was five years old, where he later excelled in track

By NewsPress Now Robert L. Pease, 88, St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday, April 17, 2024. He was born July 4, 1935, in Elwood, Kansas, to Herman and Etta (Taylor) Pease. Robert married Rose Ann Farrell on Jan. 6, 1955, in St. Joseph. She survives of the home. Robert proudly served his country in the Marine

By NewsPress Now Late Notices Robin DeSpain Robin DeSpain, 62, of St. Joseph, passed away April 18, 2024. Arrangements are pending at the Rupp Funeral Home. Carl Modlin Carl Modlin, 55, St. Joseph, passed away April 19, 2024. Arrangements are pending at the Rupp Funeral Home. Laura Buller Laura Buller, 62, St. Joseph, passed away

By NewsPress Now Linda Joyce Merritt, 62, St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, April 18, 2024. She was born May 1, 1961, in St. Joseph. Linda was an aide for Saxton’s and Diversicare for many years, where she loved the residents like family. She loved spending time with her loved ones. She was preceded in death

By NewsPress Now Paul Berton Whetstine, 68, of Troy, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at the Mosaic Life Care, St. Joseph. Paul was born on Feb. 21, 1956, in St. Joseph, to William B. and Doreene (Deatherage) Whetstine. He graduated from Troy High School in 1974. Paul was a heavy equipment operator. He

By NewsPress Now Late Notices Anthony J. Baca Anthony Justin Baca, 26, St. Joseph, passed away April 17, 2024. Arrangements pending Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Jeffrey A. Letchworth Jeffrey Allen Letchworth passed away April 10, 2024. Celebration of Life 2 p.m. April 20 at Huffman United Methodist Church, St. Joseph. Visitation, 1 to 2

By NewsPress Now Susan F. (Gartland) Fortune, 58, St. Joseph, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. She was born May 29, 1965, in St. Joseph, to James and Rosalie (Huffman) Gartland Susan was loving, kind, compassionate, giving, and hardworking all her life. She was articulate, loved to paint and was

By NewsPress Now Terry Lynn Gromowski, 55, of St Joseph, passed away Sunday, April 14, 2024, at Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. She was born July 17, 1968, in St. Joseph, daughter of Norine and Joseph Gromowski. Terry attended Helen Davis School. In Terry’s younger years, she was active with the Special Olympics. She

By NewsPress Now Linda Dale, 69 of St. Joseph, passed away on April 16, 2024. Linda was born on Feb. 21, 1955, in Macon, Missouri, to the late Frank and Martha Deaton Mason. Linda graduated from South Shelby High School in 1973 and went to college to earn an art degree from Manchester College. It

By NewsPress Now Late Notices Robert L. Pease Robert L. Pease, 88, St. Joseph, passed away April 17, 2024. Farewell Services and Public Livestream 10 a.m. April 27, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation one hour prior to the service. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.

By NewsPress Now Billy Barber, 75, St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at his home after a bout with cancer. He was born on Oct. 24, 1948, to William Sr. and Carolyn R. (Lipira) Barber, in St. Joseph. He was of Catholic faith and a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving

By NewsPress Now Donna Mae Reynolds, 83, St. Joseph, passed away peacefully, at a local nursing home, on April 17, 2024. Donna was born in Steele City, Nebraska, on June 14, 1940, Flag Day, to Wilbert and Myrtle (Graham) Applegarth. The family moved to Savannah, Missouri, where she attended school, became the basketball queen (in

By NewsPress Now STEWARTSVILLE, Mo. – Ronald Jewel Bailey, 65, Stewartsville, Missouri, passed away at home on Friday, April 12, 2024. He was born on May 2, 1958, in Leavenworth, Kansas, to Marion Bailey and Betty Goodlett (Walter Trivett Jr), and raised by Margaret and Jasper Goodlett. He was married to Viola Henry on March

By NewsPress Now Jamie Lynn Rathert, 41, of St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in a Lees Summitt, Missouri, hospital. She was born Oct. 11, 1982, in St. Joseph, daughter of the late Debbie Bennett and Jimmy Fattig. She attended Benton High School and was a homemaker. Jamie was preceded in death by

By NewsPress Now BRANSON, Mo. – Lois Holmes Smith went to be with the Lord on April 12, 2024, with her family by her side at Branson, Missouri. Lois was born Aug. 25, 1936, the youngest daughter of Velma (Williams) and Victor Holmes in Albany, Missouri. She attended the University of Omaha and Missouri Western

By NewsPress Now MARYVILLE, Mo. – Darlene Sue Ware-Brant, 73, Maryville, Missouri, born Aug. 3, 1950, passed away April 14, 2024. She was the daughter of the late Elvin and the late Mary Ellen Shelton-Ware. Three siblings preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Sue Brant, Maryville, and six siblings. Natural