Obituaries

Shirley Jean Estes, 98, St. Joseph, passed away Sept. 9, 2025. She was born Sept. 21, 1926, in St. Joseph, to Joseph H. and Lena C. (Martin) Arnold. She married the love of her life, Vaughn D. Estes, on Dec. 3, 1948. Their love was an example to all who knew them until Vaughn’s passing

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Cathy Beth Fitzsimmons, Ormond Beach, Florida, passed away Aug. 5, 2025. She was born Nov. 30, 1949, in St. Joseph to LeRoy and Terri Hausman. Cathy loved the outdoors, especially hiking and riding her motorcycle. She was an avid tennis player and enjoyed playing golf. A memorial service will be held

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Velma “Loretta” Ford, 93, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. She was born on Aug. 24, 1932, in St. Joseph, the daughter of the late Cloyetta and Roy Shipley. She was preceded in death by husband, Raymond; parents; and a sister, Virginia McElroy. Survivors include four daughters,

EASTON, Mo. – Alton “Bud” Wood, 88, Easton, Missouri, passed away Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. Farewell Services and Public Livestream 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Online guest book

Vickie C. Lewis, 64, St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. She was born March 27, 1961 to Cecil R. and Marjorie L. (Harmon) Lundy in St. Joseph. In 1979, she achieved becoming the first female commander in the ROTC program at Lafayette High School. Her commitment to service was highlighted by her recognition

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Carlos E. Moya, MD., age 87, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was born in Quipile, Cundinamarca, Colombia, a son of Juan de Jesus and María Silva. In 1965, Carlos graduated from Universidad Nacional de Colombia with a degree in Medicine. He performed his rural year service

Norma E. Pinkus, 93, St. Joseph, died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. in St. Joseph. She born June 14, 1932, Baltimore, Maryland. Survivors include daughter, Linda Guardado (Frank Evans); son, John H. Pinkus Jr., (Vickie Tingler); several grandchildren. Visitation 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday. Celebration of life with a public livestream starting at 11 a.m. Tuesday

Donnie “Don” Carl Teem, 87, St. Joseph, passed away Sunday evening, Sept. 7, 2025, at his home. Born Nov. 18, 1937, in St. Joseph, to Carl and Lucille Teem and elder brother to Dennis Teem. Following graduating from Central High School, he served in the United States Army. He worked life long as a truck

Marilyn F. (Pedriali) Gerhardt, 92, St. Joseph, passed away Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. She was born July 29, 1933, in Brockton, Massachusetts, to Augusto A. and Mary L. (Martin) Pedriali. In an era when few women donned the uniform, Marilyn answered the call of duty by serving in the United States Marine Corps from Sept.

GLADSTONE, Mo. – Mary Regina “Jeana” (Bliley) Amos, Gladstone, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. She was born Dec. 8, 1953, to the late Edmund J. and Doris J. (Wisniewski) Bliley, in St. Joseph. Jeana married the love of her life, Robert “Bob” E. Amos in April of 1972. That union was blessed

WATHENA, Kan. – Debbie Jo Gillispie 69, of Wathena, Kansas went to be with the Lord on Monday, Sept. 1, 2025 in St. Joseph. She was born April 11, 1956 in St. Joseph. Debbie was preceded in death by husband, Michael; mother, Betty Jo Blanton; brother, Richard Blanton. Survivors include her father, Floyd “Gus” Blanton

FAUCETT, Mo. – Everett Wheeler, 80, of Faucett, Missouri passed away Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025 at his home. He was born Oct. 11, 1944 in St. Joseph, son of Sarah and Everett Wheeler. He graduated from Faucett High School, class of 1963. He married Linda DeVaney on Nov. 7, 1970 in Savannah, Missouri. Everett retired

RUSHVILLE, Mo. – Kenneth “Wayne” Goodlet, 82, of Rushville, Missouri, died on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home with Rev. Andy Campbell officiating. Burial will follow in the Sugar

CONCEPTION JCT., Mo. – Betty Jean Spire, 74, of Conception Jct., Missouri, and formerly of Clyde, Missouri, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, at Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. Betty was born on June 7, 1951, to Ruby Graham, in Osceola, Iowa, and was raised by her grandparents, Arno and Helen (Burk)

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Betty Ellen Castle, on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. She was born on Aug. 20, 1942, in St Joseph, to Ernest Ransom and Bessie Mae (Turner) Castle. As a lifelong resident of St Joseph, Betty cultivated a life rich in love and laughter. A loving

Herman Eugene “Gene” Flora, 81, of St. Joseph, passed away Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in a St. Joseph health care center. He was born April 7, 1944, son of the late Louise (Lassiter) and Herman Flora. He worked as a farm worker with his parents for many years. He enjoyed jig saw puzzles, working in

Ruth Ann McMichael, 69, St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. She was born April 15, 1956, to Ernest and Evadine (Marriott) Adams, in Norborne, Missouri. Ruth married Tony Lee McMichael on Aug. 29, 2016. In her professional journey, Ruth’s ethic was exemplified through the years she spent at Montgomery Wards. She later ventured

PARKVILLE, Mo. – Toby Earl Miller, 67, Parkville, Missouri, passed away on Aug. 13, 2025, surrounded by his loving family after battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Toby was born in Cameron, Missouri, on March 5, 1958, to Earl and Patricia (Morgan) Miller. He was raised in Hamilton, Missouri. After graduating from Penney High School, Toby studied

Robert “Bob” Patton passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 26, 2025, surrounded by his family. Bob was a loving father and grandfather. He was blessed to share 57 wonderful years with his late wife, Helen, and the last eight cherished years with partner, Loretta McCray. Bob loved woodworking, golf, traveling and spending time with family and

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Mrs. Juanita Louise Dietle, age 94, of Jefferson City, Missouri, passed away Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at Capital Region Medical Center. Friends and family will be received from 4 until 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, at Freeman Mortuary. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025,

Barbara Ann Lima, 67, St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. She was born Aug. 1, 1958, in St. Joseph, to William and Emogene (Pickeral) Snyder. Farewell Services and Public Livestream 10 a.m. Friday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday,

Richard Paul Nurski Sr., 87, of St. Joseph, passed away, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, at Mosaic Life Care, in St. Joseph. He was born April 9, 1938, in St. Joseph. On Jan. 21, 1959, he married the love of his life, Erma Hoffman. He retired from the Stockyards of St. Joseph, after 35 years. He

HOLTON, Kan. – Patricia “Pat” Weber, 82, formerly of Wathena, Kansas, passed away Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, in Holton, Kansas. Pat was born on Feb. 14, 1943, in Troy, Kansas, to Kemper and Violet Irene (Edson) Sharp. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Wathena, and for the past 10 years she

SAVANNAH, Mo. – Linda P. Hankins, 72, of Savannah, Missouri, passed away on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. Born on March 30, 1953, in Searcy, Arkansas, she was the daughter of Jessie and Erma Dean (Johnson) Campbell. Linda married Ron Hankins on Sept. 10, 2011. Celebration of Life 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, at

Joyce Eileen Helsel, 89, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, at Mosaic Life Care, in St. Joseph. She was born Feb. 8, 1936, in Hastings, Nebraska, daughter of Gertrude and Carl Hlavaty. She graduated from high school in Hastings. She married Roger “Bud” Helsel on Oct. 1, 1954. Joyce retired from Methodist

On August 24, 2025, JoAnn Churchill O’Callaghan faithfully walked into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We can only imagine the celebration there was in Heaven as she was finally reunited with her husband of 67 years, Robert “Bob” O’Callaghan. JoAnn was born on Aug. 3, 1936, to Della and Richard Churchill

On Oct. 25, 1930, in their farm home near Cosby, Missouri, the late Edward and Edna (Bunse) Heinz were blessed with the birth of Maurine. She grew up on her family farm and learned the value of hard work. She shared her home with her late younger brother, Mervyn Heinz. For eight years she walked

Charles O. Nicholson III OMAHA, Neb. – We are saddened to announce the passing of Charles “Nick” Nicholson, 73. He passed away on Aug. 6, 2025, at home in Omaha, Nebraska. Nick is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mardi Nicholson; daughters, Erynn Butzke and Erica Nicholson; a son, Charles Nicholson IV; and six

Mary J. Brewer, 66, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at her home, surrounded by family. She was born Sept. 30, 1958, in St. Joseph, daughter of Mary and Frederick Penland. Mary attended Rosendale High School. On April 28, 2006, she married John Brewer. She worked as a CNA at LaVerna Heights

Debora Ann Carter, 64, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at the Oregon Care Center from complications from kidney failure. She was born May 11, 1961, in St. Joseph, daughter of Shirley (Bouge) and James Sharp. She was a 1979 graduate of DeKalb, Missouri, High School, and attended Missouri Western State College.