Obituaries

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

Jerry Wayne Fish, 73, St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, July 12, 2025. He was born June 23, 1952, in Pattonsburg, Missouri, to Cloyd W. and Frances A. (Pugh) Fish. Jerry proudly served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps during Vietnam as an Air Traffic Controller, then later earned his bachelor’s degree in history and

SAVANNAH, Mo. – Karen Sue Bartlett, 80, of Savannah, Missouri, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at a Savannah health care facility. She was born Aug. 12, 1944, to Lyda “Merl” and Clifton “Paul” Crane. She graduated from South Harrison High School in 1962 and attended University of Missouri, Columbia,

Larry D Bottorff, 83, of St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, July 12, 2025, in St. Joseph. He was born Sept. 23, 1941, in Maysville, Missouri, son of Gertrude M. and Pliny E. Bottorff. He attended Union Star High School, and joined the Army in 1963 through 1969 and did a tour of duty in Vietnam

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -Edward Eugene Holmes, age 99, passed away on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the Veterans Home in Warrensburg, Missouri. He was born on April 7, 1926, at the family home near Belle Plaine, Kansas, the son of Stephen and Ella (nee Crabtree) Holmes. Edward was a World War II veteran, serving with distinction

Gregory Kline, 63, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025, in a Kansas City, Kansas, hospital. He was born Nov. 17, 1961, in St. Joseph. Survivors include wife Tammy; sons, Michael, Mitchell, and Matthew; a sister, Jennifer; and a brother, Randy. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, with

STOVER, Mo. – Randall Lee Snapp, born Aug. 22, 1950, passed away June 12, 2025. Randall is survived by his loving wife, Joyce Snap, and their children, Jared (Trista), Rhonda (Kevin) Wilson, Michael, Robert (Stephanie), Jonathan and Jaycie. A proud grandfather, he leaves behind William, Carson, Eleanor, Greyson, Shelbie (Jafet). A loving great-grandfather to their

FAUCETT, Mo. – Joseph “Joey” Lynn Allen Vaughn, 42, of Faucett, Missouri, passed away Friday, July 11, 2025, at his home in Faucet. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 20, 2025, at the Rupp Funeral Home. Memorials are requested to the Joseph Vaughn Memorial Fund in care of the

RUSHVILLE, Mo. – Bernard Wayne Bailey, age 68, of Rushville, Missouri, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2025, at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Bernard was born on April 12, 1957, the son of John Wayne Bailey and Patricia Louise (Brown) Bailey, in Lubbock, Texas. He married Mary Annette Thebo on Dec. 10, 1983,

ELWOOD, Kan. – Sondra J. Carter, 83, of Elwood, Kansas, passed away Friday, July 11, 2025, at the Belleview Care Center, in St. Joseph. Sondra was born on March 15, 1942, in St. Joseph, to Wilber and P. Ferne (Trotter) Simmons. Sondra graduated from Elwood High School in 1960. She was a member of the

Karin Lee (Larson) Mauzey, 62, St. Joseph, passed away on July 10, 2025, surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle with cancer during which her spirit never faltered. She was born on Jan. 20, 1963, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to Sandra (Metcalf) and the late Lehmen Arlie Larson. She graduated from Chippewa Falls High

Karen L. Organ, 85, St. Joseph, passed away Friday, July 11, 2025. Farewell Services and Public Livestream 10 a.m. Thursday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com. As published in