Velma Lee Blake

May 14, 1933

Dec. 25, 2017

Velma Lee Blake, 84, of Southwest City, Mo., died Dec. 25, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Mo., after a recent decline in health. She was born May 14, 1933, in Knox City, Mo., to Lester Elsworth and Hazel (McCabe) Kessler.

She was raised in Knox County, where she attended Jeddo Country School and later Knox City School. On Nov. 10, 1950, she married Charles Eldon Blake. They resided in Danville, Ark., prior to moving their family to Southwest City in 1967. They were the original owners of the Malt Shop in Southwest City. She also operated a licensed daycare for a period of time. In 1985, she became the head cook at the Southwest City Grade School, retiring in 1995. She was a member of the Eastern Star and the Southwest City First Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 66 years, Eldon Blake; two great-granddaughters, Khloe Mae Anderson and Makenna Blake; and six siblings, Donald, Floyd, Lester, Gene and Violet Kessler and Willa Strange.

Survivors include four sons, Richard Blake (Donna), David Blake (Nyanna), and Steven and Daniel Blake, all of Southwest City; three daughters, Kathy Lee McKee (Jim), Mary Ann Golden, all of Southwest City, and Judy Kay Gow (Bud) of Noel, Mo.; 37 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; three brothers, Ralph Kessler, Harold Kessler and Charles Kessler; four sisters, Irene Powell, Betty Songer, Sue Wiskerchen and Linda Lay; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018, at the First Baptist Church in Southwest City, with Brother Rob Grimm officiating. Burial followed in the Southwest City Cemetery. The family received friends on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018, in the Southwest City Chapel of the Ozark Funeral Homes.

A memorial has been established and contributions may be left at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.ozarkfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements were under the personal care and direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Southwest City.

Felicia Ann Bunk-Bourg

Aug. 1, 1962

Dec. 27, 2017

Felicia Ann Bunk-Bourg, 55, of Noel, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017, at her residence after a sudden illness. She was born Aug. 1, 1962, in Rockford, Ill., to the late Walter and Mary (Nordstrom) Bunk.

She was raised in Rockford and was a 1980 graduate of Jefferson High School and furthered her education at Rock Valley College. She resided most of her life in the Rockford area before moving to Noel, in 2011. She was a homemaker and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, driving dune buggies, scrapbooking and was an avid animal lover.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a daughter, Danielle Price.

Survivors include her husband, Mitchell Bourg, of the home; four children, Paul Helser (Heather) of Rochelle, Ill., Christopher Messer of Rochelle, Krystal Bourg (Michael) of Anderson, Mo., and Tony Bennett of Kannapolis, N.C.; 11 grandchildren; a sister, Danielle Erskine of Noel; three brothers, Christopher Bunk (Diane) of Cherry Valley, Ill., Raymond Bunk III (Angee) of Tacoma, Wash., and Matthew Bunk (Candy)of Roscoe, Ill.; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other family and friends.

Visitation services were held 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018, in the Anderson Chapel of the Ozark Funeral Homes.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.ozarkfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements were under the personal care and direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson.

Wana Geneva Carman

Oct. 14, 1926

Dec. 31, 2017

Wana Geneva Carman, 91, of Neosho, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, at Medicalodge in Neosho, after months of declining health. She was born Oct. 14, 1926, to Lawrence Earl and Maude Pearl (Lipe) Divine.

She was raised on the banks of Buffalo Creek in the Owens Community west of Anderson, Mo. On June 11, 1947, in the Westlove School House just west of Goodman, Mo., she married Marvell Arthur Carman.

She was a hardworking and devoted homemaker and also worked for Sherry's Dress Shop and Pick & Save. They moved to Miami, Okla., in 1998 after retirement and served in countless area revivals, singing about their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

She returned home to Neosho in 2005 where she enjoyed playing the piano, organ and the accordion as well as reading and sewing projects. She attended worship services at the Banner Church of the Nazarene.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 58 years, Marvell Carman; three siblings, Grace Cummings, Hazel Medlin and Gene Divine.

Survivors include her three children, Terry Carman of Neosho, Connie Rogers (Ronnie) of Goodman, and Linda Carman of Joplin, Mo.; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother, George Divine; a brother-in-law, Leon Carman; a sister-in-law, Bessie Divine; several nieces and nephews; and several other family and friends.

Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, at the Banner Church of the Nazarene, with Pastor Dennis Bergen officiating. Burial will follow in the Banner Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Anderson Chapel of the Ozark Funeral Homes.

Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson. Memorials are being directed to the Banner Church Benevolent Fund c/o the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.ozarkfuneralhome.com.

James Francis Hickey

Aug. 3, 1948

Dec. 22, 2017

James Francis Hickey, 69, died on Friday, Dec. 22, 2017. He was born Aug. 3, 1948, in Cincinnatus, N.Y., to James and Anna Hickey. He grew up in Williamstown, N.Y.

He married Peggy Jane (Britton) Hickey and later moved to New Mexico before settling in the Southwest City, Mo., area. He was a lifelong hunter, trapper and fisherman.

He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Peggy.

Survivors include two sons, Rick Buske (Leanna) of Eucha, Okla., and Brian Buske (Jill) of Southwest City; a daughter, Debra Kier of Coldspring, Texas; three sisters, Erma Herron of Bayard, Iowa, Roxanne Fidler of Camden, N.Y., and Mary Hickey of Central Square, N.Y.; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Donna Faye Martin

Oct. 5, 1953

Dec. 26, 2017

Donna Faye (Greer) Martin, 64, of Noel, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, at her daughter's home in Granby, Mo. She was born on Oct. 5, 1953, in San Jose, Calif., to Edmond Isaac and Lorene Emma (Vinyard) Greer.

She married Robert Loyd Martin on May 25, 1973, at Butler Baptist Church in Grove, Okla. She enjoyed going to yard and estate sales and was an excellent cook. She cherished time spent with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Edmond Jr. Greer; and a sister, Betty Lou Greer.

Survivors include her husband, Bob Martin; a daughter, Bobbie Ann Gilliland of Granby; a brother, Freddie Greer of Jay, Okla.; two sisters, Claudia Ann Greer Clark of Tulsa, Okla., Linda Kay Greer Stokes of Mesa, Ariz.; three grandchildren, Tabitha Ann, Taylor and Trevor; and other family members and friends.

Funeral services were held Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, at the Butler Baptist Church in Jay with Brother Scott Leonard officiating. Burial followed in the Butler Cemetery in Grove. Visitation was held on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, at the Southwest City Chapel of the Ozark Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.ozarkfuneralhome.com.

Funeral services were under the personal care and direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Mo.

John Blain Motley

Dec. 19, 1959

Dec. 24, 2017

John Blaine Motley, 58, of Anderson, Mo., died Dec. 24, 2017, at his home. He was the only child born to John and Alyce Motley (Sarlls) on Dec. 19, 1959, in Tulsa, Okla. The family moved to Anderson in 1963.

He was preceded in death by his wife Karen and his parents.

Survivors include two daughters, Nicole LeGrand (Kevin) of Anderson, Amanda Todd (Billie) of Wichita, Kan.; three grandchildren, MacKenzie, Paxton and Brantley LeGrand; and a host of other family and friends.

Memorial services were held at Buffalo Creek Baptist Church at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, in Anderson.

Cremation arrangements were under the direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson.

Winnie Margaret Reed

July 10, 1933

Dec. 28, 2017

Winnie Margaret Reed, 84, died Dec. 28, 2017, in Neosho, Mo., following an illness. She was born July 10, 1933, in Goodman, Mo., and was a lifelong area resident.

She graduated from Goodman High School and worked as a CNA at Sale Memorial Hospital and then at Sunbeam for many years.

She enjoyed doing genealogy and was of the Morman Faith. She married Ray Testerman, who preceded her in death in 1985, and then married William E. Reed, who preceded her in death in 2002.

She is preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; two infant sisters, Jo Helen and Francis; and a granddaughter, Anna Vance.

Survivors include Terri L. Testerman of Neosho; Clinton D. Testerman of Anderson, Mo.; Helen K. Carr of Sarcoxie, Mo., and Alan W. Testerman of Diamond, Mo.; nine grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.

Her wishes were to be cremated, and a private family service will be held.

Online condolences may be posted at www.clarkfuneralhomes.com.

Services are under the direction of Clark Funeral Home, Neosho, Mo.