St. Clair County Obits

"O"

O'BANION, Clarence S.
Clinton Daily Democrat
Clarence S. O'Banion, 77, Clinton, died Thursday, October 27, 1994, at Meadowbrook Manor in Clinton. He was born near Osceola and was a lifelong area resident. He is survived by his mother, Maggie O'Banion of Clinton; two brothers, John W. O'Banion of Osceola and Cleo O'Banion of Alba; one half-brother, Robert Greathouse of Osceola; three sisters, Mrs. Ruth Veach of Osceola, Mrs. Violet Lindsey of Osage Beach, and Mrs. Lucille Peek of Clinton. Funeral services were Monday, October 31, at the Sheldon-Goodrich Chapel in Osceola. Burial was in the Yeater Cemetery near Osceola.

O'BANION, James Jessie
Clinton Daily Democrat
James O'Banion, 62, Osceola, died Thursday, August 4, 1994, at the Sac-Osage Hospital in Osceola. He was born February 20, 1932, in Brighton to Jess Edgar and Maggie Cameron O'Banion. James was a longtime Osceola and Clinton resident. He was preceded in death by two children. He is survived by his mother, Maggie O'Banion of the home; three brothers, Clarence O'Banion and John O'Banion of Clinton, Cleo O'Banion of Jasper, and one half-brother, Bob Greathouse of Osceola; three sisters, Mrs. Ruth Veach of Osceola, Mrs. Lucille Peek of Clinton and Mrs. Violet Lindsey of Eldon; other relatives and friends. Funeral services were Monday, August 8, at the Sheldon-Goodrich Chapel, Osceola. Burial was in Yeater Cemetery.

OFFIELD, Donald Lee
St. Clair County Courier, August 1964
Don Offield, 28, Becomes Second Highway Victim - Donald Lee Offield, 28, Osceola automobile mechanic, became St. Clair county's second route 13 highway victim of 1964 last Friday night when the car in which he was riding with Deputy Sheriff Dick Elliott of Osceola rammed into the rear of a stopped truck. The crash killed Offield instantly and seriously injured Deputy Elliott. Tuesday, the condition of Elliott, 34, was reported as somewhat improved by doctors at St. John's hospital in Springfield, although he had been placed under intensive care again Sunday night. Offield was accompanying Elliott to Appleton City to pick up a prisoner apprehended there by Marshal Glen Davis for Miller county on a bad check charge, when the crash occurred about 7:30 p.m. on route B, the 13 detour, just round a curve west of the Hunt Limestone company. The highway patrol reported that the accident occurred when James Wayne Bertoncino, 19, of Girard, Kans., also travelling west, stopped his flatbed truck and got out to flag a car to get directions. Lights of an oncoming car kept Elliott from seeing the stopped truck, officers said, until too late to avoid the collision. It could not be determined whether the truck tail lights were on or not. The patrol reported they were inoperable following the crash. The 1959 Ford truck was owned by the Bowlus School Supply Co. of Girard, Kans. Bertoncino was found guilty in magistrate court on a charge of obstructing traffic and was fined $25 plus court costs. Funeral services were held in the Goodrich Chapel Monday afternoon, Aug. 24, with Rev. James Fulton and Rev. Howard McPeak officiating. Pallbearers were Dan Dewey, John Durbin, A.C. Woods, Harold Carroll, Buster Hannah and George Houston. Singing at the services were Richard Sunderwirth of Collins, David Sunderwirth of Osceola and Mrs. Gayle Ingle of Topeka, Kans. The songs were "Peace In The Valley" and "Beyond Tomorrow". Burial was made in the Osceola cemetery. Donald Lee Offield, the only son of Martin Louis Offield and Virginia Pyeatt Offield, was born in Osceola Sept. 16, 1935, and died Aug. 21 at the age of 28 years, 11 months and 26 days. Most of Mr. Offield's life was spent in Osceola. He was graduated from Osceola high school in 1953. He was married to Edna Dell Cutler, daughter of Lawrence and Genevieve Gross Cutler. He was a member of the Christian Church. Survivors are his wife; two sons, James Robert, eight years old, and Martin Lawrence, 22 months; his parents; uncles, aunts and cousins.

OFFIELD, Virginia Opal Pyeatt
Clinton Daily Democrat , 16 July 2003
Virginia Offield, 90, Osceola, died Tuesday, July 15, 2003, at Big Spring Care Center, Humansville. Graveside services will be Friday, July 18, 3 p.m. at Osceola Cemetery.

OLINGER, Terry Lynne Maxwell
St. Clair County Courier, 19 May 2006
Terry Lynne Olinger, 49, Belton, passed away May 12, 2006, at Research Medical Center, Kansas City. Terry was born on July 31, 1956, to William D. and Billy Joe Wynes Maxwell in Kennett. She was a life long resident of Belton. Terry graduated from Belton High school in 1975. She worked at Main Street Deli and then was a certified nurse at Foxwood Springs. Terry married Fred on Nov. 7, 1994. She was devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was preceded in death by both parents. Survivors include her husband, Fred, of the home; son, Brian Davis, Collins; daughter, Carly and her husband, Garry Nichols, Collins; stepchildren, Rex Olinger, Belton, Diane and her husband, Marty Feuerborn, Belton, Jim and his wife, Colleen Olinger, Lenexa, Kan.; brother Willie and his wife, Jan Maxwell, Osceola; sisters, Linda Riggert, Kansas City and Brenda and her husband, Stan Burris, Osceola; 10 grandchildren, Dusty, and Colton Nichols, Joshua, Tara and Branden Olinger, Racheal, Kara, Lindsay, Melanie and Johnanna Feuerborn; and six nieces and nephews, Chris and Michelle Riggert, Manday and Amy Burris, Savanah and Mariah Maxwell. Services were Tuesday, May 16 at the Belton Christian Church, Belton. Interment was in the Belton Cemetery, Belton. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association.

OSBORN, Addie Marie Ryan
Submitted by Kaaren Bangert
Addie Marie Osborn was born July 23, 1900 in Osceola, MO (Born same day as her grandfather Osborn drowned.) She married James Luther Ryan who was born Aug. 16, 1897 in Nevada, MO. He preceeded her in death Jan. 6, 1972 in Medicine Lodge, KS. She died May 24, 1974 in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Age: 73 years, 10 months, 1 day. Funeral services were Monday, May 27 at 2:00 p.m. in the First Christian Church of Medicine Lodge. Rev. David Bradshaw, Officiated. Singer: John Clarke. Organist: Mrs. Lloyd Clarke. Pall Bearers: Don Dyke, Mike Packard, Bob Axline, Jack Peirson, John Gallaugher, Ronald Parks. Burial in Highland Cemetery, Medicine Lodge, KS. Survivors include a son, L. J. Ryan, Medicine Lodge; a brother, Glen Osborn, Levelland, TX; and two sisters Mrs. Frances Gallaugher, Medicine Lodge; and Mrs. David Bell, Levelland, TX. The Forsyth Funeral Home was in charge.

OSBORN, Charles Weir
St. Clair County Republican, 26 July 1900
Death By Drowning. Charles Osborn loses his life while crossing the Gallnipper. - Citizens of Osceola and many persons from the country who remained in town after the Republican Convention of last Monday, were shocked to learn, soon after 9:00 o'clock that evening, that Charley Osborn, a citizen of Lowry City, had been drowned in Gallnipper, about one mile north of Osceola. At 8:30 o'clock that evening, in company with Wm. Miller, who resides near Damascus, Mr. Osborn left Osceola in a buggy for home. When they reached Gallnipper, Osborn remarked that he would cross at the ford, instead of on the bridge, in order to water his horses. Remembering the heavy rainfall late that afternoon and fearing the stream could be past fording, Mr. Miller protested against attempting to cross at the ford, but, Osborn was driving and would not listen to Miller. The team was driven into the swollen stream and was ultimately swept down stream. Both men were fairly good swimmers and instead of going ashore, remained in the water, endeavoring to save the team and vehicle. After drifting down sixty or seventy yards below the ford, Miller told Osborn they'd better go ashore and abandon the horses, but Osborn continued trying to save his horses. Soon the latter, discovering his strength was fast failing, called to Miller to come to his assistance. He responded but before reaching him, Osborn went down. Miller endeavored to locate him when he would come to the surface. As the night was dark he could not do it. After remaining for some time for his companion to get out, and after calling him a number of times to learn if possibly, he had reached land, Miller returned to town and reported what had happened. As the night was very dark no one made an attempt to recover the body until Tuesday morning. Early that morning a large number of men went to the scene of the accident to recover the body. The stream had fallen and six men walked abreast down stream searching for it. After proceeding between a quarter and a half mile, one of them found it a short distance below the Frisco bridge on the above mentioned stream. One of them had a forked stick, which was hooked on one of the drowned man's ankles when the body was located. The water was three or four feet deep at that point. The corpse was brought to the surface and carried to the bank, where it remained until the arrival of the family of the deceased. It was decided an inquest should be held and the body was placed in a wagon and brought to town. The vehicle was driven to the court yard where W. C. Holsapple, acting coroner and a jury proceeded to investigate the manner in which death was brought about. There was of course but one witness present when the drowning occurred, namely Wm. Miller. His testimony, in effect, is set forth in the foregoing. Following is the verdict rendered by the coroner's jury: We, the jury, impaneled to deliberate upon the cause of death of Charles Osborn, find upon testimony of Wm. Miller, that his death resulted from accidental drowning in Gallnipper creek, near the bridge on Osceola and Lowry City road. R. L. Love, Frank Birdwell, R. Davis, R. S. Snuffer, H. Petry, and P. Brown composed the jury. The face of the deceased was badly bruised and skinned when removed from the water, the result, in all probability, of being struck by the struggling horses in trying to free themselves from the harness while deceased was endeavoring to assist them. One horse was drowned, but the other was found next morning after the accident, a short distance above where Osborn's body was found. It was still fast to the drowned animal and standing in the water. The vehicle was pretty badly demolished. The undertaker from Lowry was here at the inquest and took charge of the body. The remains were interred Wednesday afternoon at the Dunkard Pleasant Mound graveyard, a few miles northeast of Osceola. Deceased was probably fifty or fifty-five years of age and leaves a wife and several grown children. He was an old soldier and was a member of the Post at this place.

OSBORN, Harry A.
Clinton Daily Democrat, 30 July 2002
Harry A. Osborn, 87, Lowry City, died Saturday, July 27, 2002, at his brother-in-law's home in Clinton. He was born April 5, 1915, in the Short community, the only son of Jasper and Josie Osborn. He attended Short School through the eighth grade. He was married to Ila Wright March 10, 1935. They farmed before moving to Kansas City where he worked for Firestone Tire and Rubber and North American Aviation. They returned to the farm where they farmed and milked cows before going into the restaurant business in 1970, only to go back in the restaurant business in 1985, opening the Commercial Cafe, Osceola. They retired a second time in 1989. His parents, an infant daughter, an infant granddaughter and four sisters, Margaret Lillard, Jessie Ballard, Dorothy Wright and Helen Wright, preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Ila; his children, David Osborn and his wife Marjory, Lowry City, Marjorie Bunch and her husband Allen, Pleasant Hill, and Edna Jo Hinkle and her husband Randy, Lowry City; seven grandsons and one granddaughter, 16 great-grandchildren; one sister, Ethel Earhart, Pleasant Hill; one brother-in-law, Leo Wright, Lathrop; many nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Funeral services were Tuesday, July 30, at 10 a.m. at the Sheldon-Goodrich Funeral Home of Osceola. Burial was in the Lowry City Cemetery.

OSBORN, Ila Zella Wright
St. Clair County Courier, 6 July 2007
Ila Zella (Wright) Osborn, 91, Lowry City, Missouri passed away June 28, 2007. Ila was the daughter of Rev. Elmer and Edna (Foster) Wright. She was born July 21, 1915 in Lowry City. Ila married Harry Osborn on March 5, 1935 in Lowry City. Four children were born to this union. Harry and Ila farmed for a while before going to Kansas City. Ila worked at Lake City Munitions Plant and Harry worked at Firestone Tire and Rubber. They moved back to the farm where they farmed and milked cows until they went into the restaurant business in 1970, opening the Northside Cafe, in Osceola. They retired in 1979 only to go back into the restaurant business in 1985 opening the Commercial Cafe, in Osceola. They retired a second time in 1989. Ila loved to cook for her family and she made wonderful pies right up until she had a stroke about two years ago. She loved to have company and she always had a sparkle in her eye when anyone came to visit. If we didn't do what she thought we should you might even see a little snap in her eye. Ila was preceded in death by her husband, Harry on July 27, 2002, her parents, an infant daughter, an infant granddaughter and one brother, Edmond Wright.
Ila is survived by her children, David Osborn and wife, Marjory, of Lowry City, Marjorie Bunch and husband, Allen of Pleasant Hill, and Edna Jo Hinkle and husband, Randy, of Lowry City, seven grandsons and one granddaughter, 16 great grandchildren, three brothers, Melford Wright of Holden, Lorenzo Wright and wife, Marie of Clinton, and Jr. Wright of Lowry City, three sisters, Leta Baker of Lone Jack, Winnie Brack of Clinton, and Clarice Armsmeyer and husband, Harold of Lee's Summit, several nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Ila was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend and will be missed by many. Ila was a long time member of Concord Baptist Church. Services were held on July the second at 11 a.m. at the Sheldon-Goodrich Chapel. Rev. Jeff Ferguson officiated, and the music included "In The Garden", "Amazing Grace", and a solo by Gail Ingle. Casketbearers were her grandsons, and the interment took place at the Lowry City Cemetery.

OSBORN, Ila Zella Wright
Kansas City Star, 30 June 2007
Ila Z. Osborn, 91, Lowry City, MO., formerly KCMO, passed away June 28, 2007. Funeral Services be Monday, July 2, 2007 at 11AM Sheldon-Goodrich Chapel, Osceola with burial in Lowry City Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 10 to 11 AM Monday in the funeral home.

OSBORN, Jerry Dean
St. Clair County Courier, Friday, March 13, 2009
Jerry Dean Osborn was born on April 30, 1943 in Crocker, Missouri. The 10th child of Lonnie L. Osborn and Esther Margaret [McDowell] Osborn and passed away March 5, 2009 in Bolivar. In 1960 he joined the Navy and served two tours in Vietnam before being honorably discharged in 1968 at the rank of BM2. In 1963 he married he married his first grade sweetheart, Bonita Wyant. Jerry dedicated his life to the Lord as a young man. He served as pastor of the Sleeper Pentacostal Church in 1975. He also pastored the Eldridge Full Gospel Church in Eldridge before starting the Believers Full Gospel Church in Lebanon in 1983. In 1986 he became postmaster at Goodman. While there he pastored the Goodman Full Gospel Church for two years. In 1993 Jerry became postmaster at Osceola. Soon after getting settled he pastored the Church of the Brethren until starting the Believers Church in 1998. Jerry retired from the postoffice in 2006 and was elected Mayor of Osceola in 2007. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Don, Ralph and Leonard; his sister June,; sisters-in-law Betty and Wilma Dean; brother-in-law Jack West and his nephews Larry Osborn and Ricky West. He is survived by his wife Bonita; his sister Norma West of Sleeper; sisters-in-law Jean Osborn and Delpha Osborn of Kansas City and his brothers Ray Osborn and wife Wanda of Bolivar, Martin Osborn of Gifford, Illinois, Glen Osborn and wife Shirley of Pleasant Hill, Darrell Osborn and wife Sherryl of Nixa and Danny Osborn and wife Edith of Lebanon. He is also survived by a special niece and nephew, Lonnie Dean Osborn and Danette Osborn Carroll who blessed the lives of Jerry and Bonita by sharing their lives and family with them. He is also survived by several other nieces and nephews and a host of friends and relatves who he dearly loved. Jerry will be greatly missed by all that knew him. Services were Sunday, March 8 at 2 p.m. at Sheldon-Goodrich Chapel. Ministers were Osborn Family and Osceola Community. The music was "The Only Real Peace" and "Beulah Land". Final disposition is cremation, arrangements by Sheldon-Goodrich Funeral Home of Osceola.

OSBORN, Landin James
Sheldon-Goodrich Funeral Home, Osceola, Mo.
Landin James Osborn was born June 24, 2008 in Clinton, MO, to Audrey Louise Weibley and Josiah Eugene Osborn. He passed away July 30, 2008 in Osceola, Missouri. Landin was the highlight of anyone whose life he touched. He was the best baby anyone could ask for. He only cried if he wanted to be changed or was ready for a bottle. He had a very beautiful smile. He was a ladies man. All the girls wanted to take him home. When his mother put him down to make him a bottle he would get fussy. When she said "Landin, Landin, Landin" he would just look at her and smile. Landin would always make sure he was awake to see his daddy before he went to work. Then he would take a nap during the day just to be awake and be with his daddy. After Josiah got home Landin was daddy's boy until it was bedtime. He was preceded in death by his maternal great-grandfather, Walter Junior Kirk and maternal grandfather, Kenneth James Weibley, his paternal great grandparents, Lynn and Ella Slaybaugh, C. Eugene and Zella Mae Murphy, Harry and Ila Osborn and Francis and Mary Masten. Landin is survived by his parents, Josiah Osborn and Audrey Weibley, his paternal grandparents, Joey and Janet Osborn, his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Cheryl Weibley, his paternal great grandparents, Gene and Mary Lou Slaybaugh and David and Marjory Osborn, maternal great-grandmother, Sarah Kay Kirk, paternal uncles Jett and Jay Osborn, maternal aunts Tina Webb and Lori Lamb, maternal uncles Chad Lamb and Jessie Webb, numerous great-aunts, uncles and cousins. Graveside services were held Friday, August 1, 2008 at noon. Interment was in Landaker Cemetery, Lowry City, MO Arrangements by Sheldon-Godorich Funeral Home, Osceola.

OSBURN, Billie Bryce
Billie Bryce Osburn was born November 7, 1943 in Valentine, Nebraska, to Ervy and Gladys Brooklander Osburn. He passed away August 7, 1991 at the Tulsa Regional Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma following a heart attack. His parents lived near Sparks, Nebraska, where he was born. In 1945 they moved to a farm north of Crookston where he spent his childhood and attended rural school. In 1952 the family moved into Valentine where he finished his schooling and graduated from Valentine Rural High School in 1962. He married Mary Elizabeth Harper in Miami, Oklahoma, on December 28, 1979. They moved to Missouri in 1980 where Bill owned and operated a custom leather shop and worked at the feed store. Bill worked as a heavy machine operator for various construction companies. At the time of his death he was working for Clarkson Construction Co., in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He enjoyed working with leather and his horses. His greatest pleasure was going on trail rides with all his friends. He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church at Valentine, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his mother, Gladys, and a niece, LeAnn Burge. He is survived by his wife, Mary of the home; two sons, Danny Romans and his wife, Georgina, of Osceola, and Jacky Romans of St. Joseph; one daughter, Billie Joe Mills of Fountain, Colorado; one grandson, Bryce of Osceola; his father, Ervy L. Osburn, and his wife, Mildred, of El Dorado Springs; two brothers, Jim and his wife, Mary Belle, of Valentine, Nebraska and Merlin and his wife, Phyllis, of Center, Texas; one sister, Darlene Burge, and her husband, Bill of Valentine, Texas; eight nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends. Funeral services were Sunday, August 11, at 1 p.m. at the Sheldon-Goodrich Chapel in Osceola. Rev. Donald Harper officiated. Pallbearers were Joe Prike, Tommy Knight, Butch Masten, Jerry Roberts, Ron Cook, J. R. Landes, Kenneth Dempsey, Ted Sink. Burial was in Bear Creek Cemetery.

OSBURN, Elmer James
ElDorado Sun, Friday, April 2, 2010
Elmer Osburn, 83, Schell City, passed away Monday, March 29, 2010, at his home. Survivors include his wife, Paulette, of the home; two daughters, Diane Moore – El Dorado Springs and Paula Johnson – Schell City; one brother, Wade Osburn- Schell City; one sister, Ruth Woods – Fayetteville, AR; and four grandchildren. Services began at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 31, at the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home, Schell City with a visitation held from 2-3 p.m. at the funeral home just prior to the service. Burial was in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery, near Taberville.

OUDERKIRK, Forrest Charles
Clinton Daily Democrat, August 1998
Forrest C. Ouderkirk, 64, Osceola, died August 12, 1998, at his home in Osceola. He was born in Argentine, Kansas, and lived in the Kansas City area until moving to Osceola in 1993.  He was a member of Teamsters Local #995 and a Mason. He is survived by two sons, Charles Ouderkirk of Pennsylvania and James Ouderkirk, Kansas City; one daughter, Stephanie Wright, Kansas City, Kansas; two brothers, Harry Ouderkirk, Salem, Oregon, and Donald Ouderkirk, Wichita, Kansas; one sister, June Ann Rice of Richland, Washington; and six grandchildren.  Funeral services will be Saturday, August 15 at the Sheldon-Goodrich Chapel in Osceola. Burial will be in
Osceola Cemetery.

OUDERKIRK, Jeanette Eloise Norton
Clinton Daily Democrat, January 1997
Mrs. Jeanette E. Ouderkirk, 60, Osceola, died Thursday, January 2, 1997, at the Sac-Osage Hospital in Osceola at 1:30 p.m. She was born in Argentine, Kansas, and moved to Osceola to enjoy the retirement life.
She is survived by her husband F. C. of the home; three children, Charles and James Ouderkirk and Stephanie Wright, and six grandchildren; also her mother, Annabel Norton; two sisters, Nancy Davis and Bertha Hart; and two step-brothers. Funeral services were Monday, January 6, at the Sheldon-Goodrich Chapel, Osceola, with burial in Osceola Cemetery.

OVERSCHMIDT, Joseph David
Clinton Daily Democrat, 30 June 2003
Joseph David Overschmidt was born January 3, 1916, to David and Catherine (Hanneken) Overschmidt in Union. He entered his heavenly home June 8, 2003, at Sac-Osage Hospital in Osceola. Joe D’ was raised and spent most of his early years in Union until moving to Deepwater to live with his daughter. While in Union, he worked for Ford Motor Company for 35 years as a mechanic. He met his one true love, Lillian Brickmann, and married her December 29, 1940. They were divorced in the 1960s. They were blessed with one daughter, JoDean Overschmidt (Landes), born April 20, 1941. Joe D' loved working on cars, mowing lawns and going for car rides. His grandchildren described him as being the best driver's education teacher you could ask for. He often drove from Union to watch his grandchildren play basketball and loved to dance and eat barbecue. He had a real compassion for family and friends, always putting others before himself. He was a member of the Catholic Church in Union until moving to Deepwater where he attended Holy Rosary Church in Clinton, until retiring to Truman Lake Manor in Lowry City. During a hospital stay in April 2002, his daughter and grandson Bill led him to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Lorraine Louise Overschmidt, Lazetta Frances (Rose) Overschmidt Boulware and Marie Antonette Overschmidt Monzyk, and his one and only love, Lillian. He is survived by his daughter, JoDean Landes and her husband, Melvin, Deepwater; his sister, Louise Neola Overschmidt Hawkins of Kansas City; four grandchildren, Melvin (Rusty) Landes and his wife Wendy, Lee's summit, Rick Landes and his wife Becky, Aurora, Colorado, Michelle Landes Johnson and her husband John, Lowry City, Bill Landes and his wife Patricia, Lowry city; seven great-grandchildren, Rachel and Megan Landes, Angela Wilson, Amanda and JC Johnson, Matthew and Jennifer Landes; one great-great-grandchild, Jordan Wilson, and numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends and family. Funeral services were held at Vansant-Mills Chapel on Thursday, June 12, at 1 p.m. with Rev. Danny Fergerson officiating. Pallbearers were Bill Landes, Rusty Landes, Rick Landes, John Johnson, J. C. Johnson and Jim Yates. Burial was in the Teays Chapel Cemetery, Montrose, under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton.

OVERTON, Violet Alexander
Nevada Herald-Tribune, Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Violet Alexander was born Dec. 8, 1927, in St. Clair County, Mo., near Tiffin, Mo., to Chester and Beulah (Hart) Alexander. They moved to the Walker area about 1930, and she spent her entire life in Vernon County until moving to Bolivar about 1994. She died Feb. 16, 2007, at St. John's hospital in Springfield, Mo.
Violet was a graduate of Walker High School in 1946. She attended college at Warrensburg, but after an illness she was forced to return home. She attended summer classes at Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar and became a teacher in the Vernon County schools, her first at Mobley from 1947-'48. She taught at Green Springs 1948-'49, and at Flat Rock from 1949-'53. Violet was the secretary at Schell City schools for several years, the clerk for the Nevada Baptist Association, and retired as payroll clerk at the Nevada Regional Medical Center.
On Feb. 11, 1950, she married Dale Overton. They farmed in the Schell City area. They had one daughter, Phyllis Ann. Phyllis and her husband, Bob Garrison, have two sons, Tyler and Shawn, who were the loves of her life. Violet was a member of the Schell City Baptist Church before moving to Nevada, after which they joined the First Baptist Church. At the time of her death she was a member of the Fair Play Baptist Church. Violet remained quietly active during her retirement years. She enjoyed freelance writing having written several articles for various publications. In addition to her article, Violet compiled a book recording the history of the Fair Play School District, where her daughter and son-in-law were teachers and her grandsons attended school. Violet was devoted to her family, especially her grandsons. She spent many enjoyable hours going to Tyler's auctions and watching Missouri University ballgames with Shawn. Even as her health declined she stayed determined to attend all the activities they were involved in. Violet is survived by her daughter, Phyllis and her husband, Bob Garrison; grandsons, Tyler and Shawn Garrison; one sister, Neoma Foreman, Walker; several nieces, nephews and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Chester and Beulah Alexander; her husband, Dave Overton; and her sister, Annie Haynes, who died one day before she did. Funeral services were at 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 18, at Sheldon Chapel, El Dorado Springs, with the Revs. John Nichols and David Stunkel officiating. Musical selections were "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow," "Amazing Grace," " One Day At A Time." Pallbearers were Chuck Foreman, David Foreman, Fred Allen Durnell, Chet Foreman, Eddie Haynes and Steve Whisler. Interment was in Green Lawn Cemetery, Schell City.

OWSLEY, Lou Sylvia Bybee
Lou Sylvia Bybee was born February 23, 1898 in Benton County, Mo. She was one of 13 children born to George and Delilah White Bybee. She passed away at the Sac-Osage Hospital in Osceola Mo., January 5, 1986. She was united in marriage to James E Owsley in Jordon, Mo., and to this union six daughters were born. They moved to the Blairstown community in 1940 where they were engaged in farming. Mr. Owsley passed away in 1946 and also one daughter, Eula, preceded in 1967. After the death of her husband Mrs. Owsley moved to Kansas City, Mo. where she worked as a dietary assistant in several hospitals. She moved back to Henry County in 1980 and made her home with her daughter, Pearl, where she was tenderly cared for.
She accepted Jesus as her savior when she was 16 years old. She united with the Bethel Campground Methodist Church in Edwards, Mo. She was a loving mother who cared for a daughter who was a multiple sclerosis victim for more than 20 years. Many recall her singing the great old hymns as she worked for her family. She leaves to mourn her passing one sister, Lillie Hickman and husband of Bayfield, Colo.; five daughters, Betty Owsley, Springfield, Mo.; Joyce Bradfield and husband Bill; Eva Dickenson and husband A. B. of Blairstown, Mo.; Oma Dickenson and husband Bob of Hermitage, Mo.; and Pearl Owsley of the home. Nine grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren also survive along with many nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held Friday February 7, 1986 at the Consalus Chapel in Clinton, Mo. The Rev Dan Bryan officiated. Music included "Going Down the Valley" and "The Last Mile of the Way". Eugene R. Consalus was soloist and Helen Shrout was at the organ. Pallbearers were grandsons. Burial was in Englewood cemetery.