Obituaries for Oct. 23-25 – St. Joseph Post Archive

LuVella Burnett
1921-2015

LuVella Burnett, 94, passed away, July 18, 2015 in Iowa.
She was born September 18, 1921.
Private Farewell Graveside Services & Inurnment, Memorial Park Cemetery. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Breanna Marie Colbert
1992-2015

Breanna Marie Colbert, 23, Atlanta, Georgia, formerly of St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Friday, October 16, 2015.
She was born September 9, 1992 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
She was a member of the Second Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
Breanna was preceded in death by her grandfather, Zachary Paden.
Survivors include mother, Ptolemy Colbert, Atlanta, Georgia; father, Savage Paden, St. Joseph, Missouri; daughter, Hayvonne Erianna Marie Coggins; paternal grandparents, Janice and Bradley Edmondson, St. Joseph, Missouri; maternal grandparents, Howard and Joyce Colbert, St. Joseph, Missouri; siblings, Katie Smith, Caimon Stillman, Nicholas Churchill, Isabella Paden, McKenly Colbert, Kortlyn Colbert and Niko Colbert; great-great-aunt, Mary Timms, Minneapolis, Minnesota; great-grandfather, Phillip Lyma; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Farewell Services 10:00 A.M. Saturday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Friday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to the funeral home to defray funeral expenses. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Dorothy E. Halbert
1922-2015

Dorothy E. Halbert, 93, Country Club Village, Missouri passed away Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at her home, with loving family and friends at her side.
She was born September 15, 1922 in Kansas City, Missouri.
She graduated from Paseo High School in 1938 and attended Temple University in Philadelphia. She had been the head of Secretarial Pool for Sears Roebuck and Head of Purchasing for TWA. In 1953, she and her husband Kenneth established Halbert Jewellers in Savannah, Missouri, expanding in 1972 to the St. Joseph area.
Dorothy was of the Methodist Faith and a previous member of Business and Professional Women’s Association. Dorothy and Kenneth were founding members of the Heartland Art Association, where Dorothy was treasurer for many years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Wiley and Elizabeth (Kolb) Smith; husband, Kenneth; one sister; two brothers; step-mother, Lillian (Kolb) Smith; and a nephew.
Survivors include daughter, Karen Halbert Read (Steve), Country Club Village, Missouri; two grandchildren, Tara Jayne Read, St. Joseph, Missouri and Dr. Scott C. Read, DVM, (Traci Jo), Platte City, Missouri; three great-grandchildren, Dylan Scott Read, Thayer Leo Read and Paisley Rowan Read, all of Platte City, Missouri; and two nephews.
Farewell Services 10:30 A.M. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Private Inurnment Whispering Pines Cremation Garden at St. Joseph Memorial Park. The family will gather with friends one hour prior to the service. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to the Second Harvest. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Richard Allen Keith
1963-2015

Richard Allen Keith 51, of St. Joseph, Missouri, passed away Friday October 23, 2015 at a Lincoln Nebraska Hospital. He was born December 18, 1963 in Horton, Kansas. He graduated from DeKalb High School clas of 1982 where he played football, and was in the high school band. He was a cook in several area restaurants and played the drums for a couple of local bands “Cover Boys”, and “Sick be Twisted”, He enjoyed playing the drums, and spending time outdoors fishing and cooking, and spending time with his family. Richard was preceded in death by his step-son, TJ Cox. He is survived by mother, Gloria Keith of the home, father, Joe (Murelene) Keith of King City, MO, daughter, Danielle Keith (Bill Deatherage), son, Aaron (Andrea) Keith, five step children: Doug (Stephanie) Beaver, Jennifer Beaver, Travis Beaver, Tyson Cox, and Jamie Cox. seven grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren, three brothers: Robert, Randy, and Russell Keith, half brother Joe Keith, all of St. Joseph, a sister Mary (Allen) Cobb of Gower, MO, two step-sisters, Cindy Parker and Kim Kay, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. A celebration of life will be from 5-7 PM Wednesday, with a an opportunity to share memories at 7:00 PM at the Rupp Funeral Home. He will be cremated under the direction of the Rupp Funeral Home. Memorials are requested to the Richard Keith Memorial fund in care of the Rupp Funeral Home. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com.

Rudy John Mejia, Jr.
1950-2015

Rudy John Mejia, Jr., 65, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma formerly of St. Joseph, Missouri left this world as we know it Thursday, October 22, 2015 surrounded by his children.
He was born March 30, 1950 to Rudy J., Sr. and Henrietta Mejia in St. Joseph, Missouri.
He graduated from the only high school in town, Lafayette, in 1968 where he was a four-sport letterman in football, basketball, track, and baseball. He was also president of his Jr. and Sr. class. After high school, he attended St. Joseph Jr. College and Missouri Western State College.
Rudy grew up in the North End and was a member at Marvin McMurry Methodist Church.
His early employment was at Sears where he was an automotive manager. He later moved to Oklahoma where he became a fixture with several major car dealerships in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City areas as a finance manager.
During the last fifteen years he spent time between Oklahoma City and St. Joseph, where he was employed at Anderson Ford and as a supervisor for St. Joe Frontier Casino. Being in St. Joseph allowed him to renew old acquaintances with friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Gerald Matthew Mejia; and sister-in-law, Gwynnie Mejia.
Survivors include daughter, Erica Pradler (Martin), Los Angeles, CA; sons, Rudy Mejia III (Julie Watt), and Colton Mejia, Oklahoma City, OK; brothers, David Mejia, (Marti Nurski), St. Joseph, MO, Stanley Mejia (Barb), Broken Arrow, OK, and Mark Mejia (Patti), Kansas City, MO; sister Luanne Myers (David), St. Joseph, MO; seven grandchildren that he cherished; and several nieces and nephews that always had a good laugh with “Uncle Rudy”; and the mother’s of his children, Lynn Foster and Margie Mejia. BRING YOUR BEST RUDY STORY!
Farewell Services 7:00 P.M. Friday, October 30, 2015, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. The family will gather with friends 5:30 to 7:00 P.M. Friday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Larry J. Newlon
1946-2015

Larry J. Newlon, 69, Maryville, Missouri passed away Friday, October 23, 2015 under hospice care in Maryville, Missouri.
He was born October 6, 1946 in Maryville, Missouri.
He served in the United States Army. During his life we worked for CFI trucking and D&B Agro Systems. Larry was a devoted grandfather and avid Chiefs fan. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing and golf.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Ira and Helen (Ray) Newlon; two sisters, Roberta Aley and Dorothy Henggler; and two nephews, Bradie Lee Clements and Malaki Mildward.
Survivors include daughter, Camela Waters (Brian), Red Wing, Minnesota; two grandchildren, Sydney and Travis Waters; siblings, Maurice Newlon (Vicki), Iris Ditamore and Bob Newlon; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will have a Celebration of Life, Tuesday, October 27, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at the American Legion in Maryville, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to SSM Hospice.
Natural Farewell under the direction of Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Dorothy E. Halbert
1922-2015

Jill Ellen Burchett
1962-2015

Jill Ellen Burchett 52, of St. Joseph, Missouri, passed away Saturday, October 24, 2015 at Mosaic Life Care hospital in Saint Joseph, MO. She was born December 25, 1962 in Dekalb, MO, daughter of Orvena and Harry Steele. She graduated from DeKalb High School and married Robert “Bob” Burchett on September 4, 1983. She worked at Dairy Queen and was a homemaker. She enjoyed flowers, sewing blankets for new babies & families, she was very friendly with a smile always on her face, and was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend and will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Jill was a member of DeKalb Christian Church. Preceding her in death is her father, Harry Steele. Survivors include, mother, Orvena Steele of Dekalb, MO, husband, Bob Burchett, of the home, two sons, Brody (Lauren) Burchett of Saint Joseph, MO, son, Dalton Burchett of the home, grandson, Asher Burchett, three brothers, Joel (Cindy) Steele od DeKalb, John (Michelle) Steele of Rushville, MO, and Jeff (Shannon) Steele of Lee’s Summit, MO, a sister, Joanie (Carroll) Lance of Rushville, MO.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 AM Tuesday at the Rupp Chapel, with Rev. James Barnett officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Monday at the Rupp Funeral Home. The Interment will be at the Westlawn Cemetery . Memorials are requested to the Jill Burchett Memorial Fund in care of Rupp Funeral Home. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com.

Maurice Lee Johnson
1936-2015

Maurice Lee Johnson, 78, of St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Friday, October 23, 2015 at Mosaic Life Care in Saint Joseph, MO. He was born December 1, 1936 in Watson, MO, son of Bonnie (Hays) and Virgil Johnson. He attended schools in Watson, Rockport, Tarkio, Maryville, and St. Joseph graduating from Central High School in 1954, then attended Northwest Missouri State University for 3 years. He served in the Air National Guard, while managing his business of Johnson Seed Service. He enjoyed bowling, hunting, fishing and boating, and he was a member of St. Joseph Yacht Club. He was very active Mason, and he was a member of the King Hill Chapter #55 Eastern Star, Charity Zeredatha Lodge #189, Scottish Rite Valley of St. Joseph, York Rite, 43 year Member of the Moila Shrine Temple, Past President & Treasurer of the Moila Wrecking Crew, Past Treasurer of the Moila Misfits, member of the Moila Legion of Honor, Moila Country Club, and the Royal Order of Jesters. He was also a member of the Huffman Memorial United Methodist Church. Maurice was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Marlene J. Wilson and Sue Fenley, and his faithful companion dog, Bart. Survivors include, wife, Karen Johnson of home, son, David Johnson of St Joseph, MO, daughter, Shawnee (Bill) Walton of St Joseph, MO, sister, Jerre (Michael) Robertson of Platte City, MO, grandchildren; Chris Johnson, Lecee (Clay) Bricker, David (Kara) Johnson, and Senturie Heath, great-grandsons, Dawson and Kolton, two aunts, Betty Johnson of Fairfax, MO, and Eva Johnson of Mound City, MO, as well as numerous nieces, nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 am on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at Rupp Funeral Home with Rev. James Barnett officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday at the Rupp Funeral Home. The Interment will be at the Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials are requested to the St. Joseph Animal Shelter. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com.