Local
Obituaries
Milda L. Thomasson
Milda L. Thomasson, 80, of Maryland Heights, Missouri died May 10, 2003 in Pacific, Missouri.
She was born June 26, 1922 in Fredericktown, the daughter of Vester and Olive Huggins.
On April 20, 1946 she married Richard Thomasson of Fredericktown.
Mrs. Thomasson was preceded in death by her husband; son, James Richard Thomasson and brother, Raymond Huggins.
Surviving her are son, Wayne Thomasson of Maryland Heights; two daughters, Carol Argurieo of Arlington, Texas and Kathy Rhodes of Robertsville, Missouri; two brothers, Truman “Bud” Huggins of Fredericktown and Bob Huggins of Arkansas; three sisters, Norma Wagganer of St. Louis, June Childress of Madison, Wisconsin and Margaret “Tootie” Houston of Ohio.
Mrs. Thomasson had five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
She was a member of the First Christian Church in Fredericktown.
Services were held May 13, 2003 at Follis and Sons Chapel with Pastor Richard Reed officiating. Burial was at the Christian Cemetery.
Ruby (Barrett) Wolk
Ruby R. (Barrett) Alexander Wolk, 84, of Festus died May 9, 2003 at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Crystal City, Missouri.
She was born July 25, 1918 at Buckhorn, Missouri the daughter of Charles and Annie (Farquhar) Barrett.
Mrs. Wolk was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Ethel Allen, and Gladys Goodwin; and brother Benton Barrett.
She is survived by her spouse, Lytell Wolk of Festus, sister, Lottie Pylant of St. Louis; step-sons, John Wolk of Jefferson City, Missouri and Jay Wolk of Great Falls, Montana; one step-grandson and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Mrs. Wolk was known to Marquand area family and friends as Ruby (Barrett) Alexander Wolk.
She was a retired hosiery representative for Stix, Baer and Fuller stores in St. Louis.
Mrs. Wolk was a member of the First Baptist Church of Festus-Crystal City.
Services were held May 12, 2003 at First Baptist Church of Festus-Crystal City with Dr. Richard Adams, retired pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial was at Barrett Cemetery in Buckhorn, Missouri.
Nola Sanora Aslinger
Nola S. Aslinger, 98, of Patton, Missouri died May 12, 2003 at her daughter’s home, Bonnie Smith of Jackson, Missouri.
She was born August 24, 1904 in Marquand a daughter of William Ferdinand and Cynthia Ann (Barker) Tinnin.
She married Lester Earl Aslinger on November 3, 1928.
Mrs. Aslinger was preceded in death by her husband; twin sister, Lola Shrum; infant daughter Emma Louise Aslinger; brother, Archie Tinnin; four other sisters, infant Linnia Tinnin, Bertha Harper, a second set of twins, Mella Pogue and Stella Shrum; two half-sisters, Flora Doggett and Matilda Jane Smith; and a son-in-law.
Mrs. Aslinger is survived by one son, Howard Aslinger of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Bonnie Smith of Jackson and Anna Mungle of Patton.
She had 11 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, five step great-grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
Mrs. Aslinger was a member of the Methodist Faith and attended Union Light Church in Marquand.
Services were held May 15, 2003 at Wilson Funeral Home in Fredericktown with Reverend Kevin Roberts officiating. Interment was at Union Light Church Cemetery in Marquand.
Pallbearers were Keith Stanley, Allen and Curtis Smith, John Clippard and Brett Mungle.
Gertrue Womble
Gertrue Womble, 82, of Fredericktown died May 12, 2003 at Stockhoff Nursing Home in Fredericktown.
She was born October 30, 1920 in Ellsinore the daughter of Lee and Dena (Schafer) Rains.
She married Fritz Whitmer on September 20, 1939 who preceded her in death. She later married Ed Womble who also preceded her in death. Mrs. Womble was also preceded in death by her sister Betty Magill.
Surviving Mrs. Womble are two sons, Fritz Whitmer of Wappapello and Chester Whitmer of Marquand; one sister, Charlene Davis of Patton.
She had six grandchildren, five great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
Mrs. Womble was a homemaker and enjoyed crocheting. She was a member of the Franklin Street Church of Christ in Fredericktown.
Services were held Wednesday, May 14, 2003 at Wilson Funeral Home in Fredericktown with Reverend Jim Fargo officiating. Interment was at Harmony Cemetery in Ellsinore, Missouri.
Pallbearers were Jerry, Jim and Fritz Whitmer Jr., Kyle Hewitt, Larry Brunk and Sam Reams.
Delmar Welker
Delmar Welker, 63, of Fredericktown died May 6, 2003 at home.
He was born August 31, 1939 in Silver Lake, Missouri the son of Harry and Thelma (Keelin) Welker.
Mr. Welker was preceded in death by his parents.
He married Rita (Graham) Welker of Fredericktown on October 29, 1960 at Fredericktown.
Surviving Mr. Welker are his wife; son Daniel Welker of Elsberry, Missouri; daughter, Rebecca Tucker of Fredericktown; two brothers, Donald Welker of St. Charles, Missouri and Hildon Ross of Perryville, Missouri; one sister, Verna Aqueda of San Diego, California.
Mr. Welker had two grandchildren.
He was a member of the Meadows Heights Baptist Church in Fredericktown and of the Baptist Faith.
Mr. Welker enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and cooking.
Services were held May 10, 2003 at Follis and Sons Funeral Home in Fredericktown.
Burial was at White Water Christian Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Glen Tucker, Don Francis, George Looney, Stan Rohan, Ken Humphrey and Randall Huffman.
Reverend Willie Schanda
Reverend Willie, 89, of Forsyth, Missouri died January 22, 2003 in Skaggs Community Health Center in Branson.
He was born September 20, 1913 in Cascade the son of Anton and Annie Schanda. In November of 1938 he was united in marriage to Mattie Smothers. Mrs. Smothers preceded him in death. He latered married Evelyn Haskell.
Reverend Schanda was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Mattie; and three brothers, Frank, August and Albert.
Survivors include his wife of ten years, Evelyn; five sons, Reverend Royce Schanda of Paragould, Arkansas, Dr. Ed Schanda of Forsyth, Dr. Hammons Schanda of Kennett, Eugene Schanda of St. Peters and Ken Schanda of Bolivar; One daughter, June Brown of Malden. He had 15 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Reverend Schanda pastored several General Baptist churches in Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri. He served as interim minister at New Vision General Baptist Church in Taneyville and also at Branson General Baptist Church, where he was named Pastor Emeritus.
Reverend Schanda and Mattie served 10 years as house parents in children’s homes. He and his wife Evelyn did ministries for nursing homes.
Services were held January 25, 2003 at White River Association building. Burial was at Ozarks Memorial Park Cemetery in Branson, Missouri.
Arrangements made under the direction of Whelchel Funeral Chapel in Forsyth, Missouri.
Margaret Helen Deneke
Margaret Helen Deneke, 85, of Columbia, formerly of Fredericktown, died April 17, 2003 at West Village Manor in Columbia.
She was born March 22, 1918 in Fredericktown a daughter of Samuel F. and Ella (Johnson) Deneke.
Margaret Deneke was preceded in death by her brother Samuel Deneke.
She is survived by one brother, Robert Deneke of Columbia.
She was an architectural draftswoman until her retirement in 1989. Margaret Deneke learned her trade at the firm of Deneke and Deneke. She also worked for Murphy, Downey, Wofford and Richman in St. Louis.
Margaret Deneke was a member of Fairview United Methodist Church.
A graveside service will be held May 24, 2003 at 1:00 p.m. at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Fredericktown.
Arrangements made under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home in Fredericktown.
Dorothy Huffman
Dorothy Huffman, 72, of Fredericktown died May 16, 2003 at Madison Medical Center in Fredericktown.
She was born June 21, 1930 in Patterson, Missouri a daughter of George T. and Carrie (Sutton) Barker.
She married John H. Huffman on April 13, 1968 in Kent, Washington.
Mrs. Huffman was preceded in death by her husband; two brothers, Raymond Hadley and Luther Eugene Barker.
She is survived by five brothers, Thomas Barker of Dittmer, Cleatus Barker of South St. Louis, Alfred Barker of Riverside, California, Claybert Barker of Greenville and Dibby Barker of Fredericktown; two sisters, Thelma Bennett and Juanita Huffman both of Fredericktown.
Mrs. Huffman was retired from Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington. She collected dolls and enjoyed crocheting. Mrs. Huffman was of the Baptist Faith.
Services were held May 19, 2003 at Wilson Funeral Home in Fredericktown with Reverend Shirley Royer and Reverend Tim Reed officiating.
Interment was at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis on May 20, 2003
Arthur W. McKinnis
Arthur W. McKinnis, 84, of Fredericktown died May 13, 2003 at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.
He was born June 1, 1918 in Fredericktown the son of Wade H. and Minnie M. (Johnson) McKinnis.
He married Edith Pickert of Fredericktown on September 17, 1942 at Fredericktown.
Mr. McKinnis was preceded in death by his parents; wife; five sisters; and four brothers.
Surviving Mr. McKinnis are three daughters, Rebecca McLean of Cape Girardeau, Patricia Mock of Toledo, Illinois and Theresa Jordon of Dalton, Georgia; brother, Bob McKinnis of Fredericktown; and sister, Dorothy Brotherton of Farmington, Missouri.
Mr. McKinnis had six grand children, two step-grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
He was a member of the First Christian Church in Fredericktown and of the Christian (Disciples of Christ) Faith.
Mr. McKinnis enjoyed baseball.
Services were held May 17, 2003 at the First Christian Church with Pastor Richard Reed officiating.
Burial was at St. Michaels Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Joe McLean, Jason McLean, Jonathon McLean, Brian Holder, Mathew Holder and Josh McMechan.
Arrangements made under the direction of Follis and Sons Funeral Home in Fredericktown.
Thelma Ione Clark
Thelma Ione Clark, 86, of St. Louis, formerly of the Fredericktown area, died May 16, 2003 at Manor Grove Home.
She was born April 17, 1917 at Crossroads, Missouri the daughter of the late Albert and Maggie (Tucker) Buckingham-White.
She married Charles Alvin Clark in 1963.
Mrs. Clark was preceded in death by her husband; four sisters, Ethyl Govro, Donna Bobbish, Pearl Smith and Florence Revelle.
Mrs. Clark is survived by four children, Judith LaBruyere and Dennis Edward Green of Kansas City, Sandra Kyle of St. Louis, Elizabeth Schilling of Columbia, South Carolina; and brother Howard White of Arizona.
She had seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Mrs. Clark graduated from Mine LaMotte High School and hitchhiked to California during the Great Depression. She was an avid reader and loved learning. For a few years, she was Post-Mistress of the Mine LaMotte Post Office along with her mother, Maggie White. She was an honorable and hard working person who will be missed.
Services were held May 19, 2003 at Cozean Memorial Chapel in Farmington. Burial was at the Christian Cemetery in Fredericktown.
Wendy Bieser
Wendy Bieser, 50, of Farmington died May 18, 2003 at her home.
She was born August 16, 1952 in St. Louis, the daughter of Dorothy Marie (Clem) and Jack G. Ingram.
Mrs. Bieser was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Gary Ingram.
She is survived by her husband, Ronald Joseph Bieser; two sons, Jerry of Farmington and Ronny of Bloomsdale; two daughters, Connie Essmyer and Cindy Vaughn both of Farmington; brother, Larry Ingram of Farmington; four sisters Jacqueline Johnson of Farmington, Patricia Moore of Farmington, Judy Johnson of Fredericktown and Christy Ingram of Belgrade.
Mrs. Bieser is also survived by nine grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Mrs. Bieser attended Calvary Temple in Fredericktown and worked at Trimfoot Company for many years. She enjoyed gardening, growing flowers, horseback riding, camping and riding her ATV.
Services were held May 20, 2003 at Cozean Memorial Chapel in Farmington.
Margaret Rose Smothers
Margaret Rose (Smith) Smothers, 37, of Fredericktown, Missouri, formerly Granite City, Illinois, died May 14, 2003 at Fredericktown.
She was born March 11, 1966 in Granite City, Illinois the daughter of Joseph LeRoy and Patricia Smith.
Mrs. Smothers was preceded in death by her husband Steven D. Smothers in 1987.
Surviving her are her parents; three daughters, Kristina, Kourtney and Kassandra all of Fredericktown; brother, Joseph F. Smith of Madison County, Illinois; and two sisters, Anita Hollis and Mary Dixon both of Madison County, Illinois.
She had three nieces and three nephews and long time partner Richard Mousette of Fredericktown.
Mrs. Smothers was a home health provider.
Services were held May 17, 2003 at Follis and Sons Funeral Chapel with reverend Robert Graham officiating. Burial was at Sebastian Cemetery in Fredericktown.
Karan Jean King
Karan Jean King, 54, of Rolla, Missouri died May 16, 2003 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
She was born August 9, 1948 in Niangua, Missouri, the daughter of John J. Nease Jr. and Mary Lovella Murphy.
Karan King was preceded in death by her father, and brother Larry.
Surviving her are her mother; one son, David S. King of Fredericktown; two daughters, Sandra Jean Jordon of Jackson, Missouri and Trish Lynn Hewlett of Scott City, Missouri; one sister, Carol yn Ann Nease of Luebbering, Missouri.
She had 10 grandchildren and enjoyed collecting figurines of cows and victorian shoes.
Services were held May 18, 2003 at Follis and Sons Funeral Chapel with Reverend David Skaggs officiating. She was cremated.
