Ronald E. King
1949-2016

Ronald E. King, 67, St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Friday, December 2, 2016
He married Diana King January 21, 1984, she precedes him in death.
Ronald played fast pitch softball. He loved his family and friends and knew no stranger. Ronald was an avid KC Chiefs fan.
Ronald was also preceded in death by his father, Paul E. King, Sr.; sister, Sherry Jo King.
Survivors include mother, Patricia Harper; daughter, Stacey Loyd (David); step-son’s, Austin Spalding (Sue Ann), Lathan Spalding (Nicole); brothers, Steven King, Paul E. King, Jr., Scott Harper (Julie); sisters, Trudy Dilley (Russell), Brenda Babb (Bill), Lisa Burdick (Tim), Karla King; granddaughter, Jessica Barker (Sean); and numerous nieces and nephews.
Farewell Services 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to funeral home to help defray funeral expenses. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Lonnie Merle Keith
1950-2016

Lonnie Merle Keith, 66, of Springfield, Missouri, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, December 3, 2016 in Springfield, MO. He was born June 9, 1950 in St. Joseph, MO, son of Anna Bell and Merle Keith. Lonnie moved to Springfield to be close to his family. He was a very special brother who had a very special place in his family’s hearts. He was preceded in death by father, Merle E Keith. Survivors include, mother, Anna Bell Keith of Nixa, MO, two sisters, Sandra (Steven) Ciulla of Marshfield, MO and Karen Guyer of Nixa, MO, brother, Gary (Carla) Keith of St. Joseph, MO. A special thanks to the caregivers over the years in St. Joseph and Springfield who took special care of Lonnie.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at Rupp Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday at the Rupp Funeral Home. The Interment will be at the Dearborn Cemetery.

Shirley Yurkovich
1950-2016

Shirley Jean Yurkovich, 66, of St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, December 3, 2016 surrounded by her family at home.
Shirley was born March 3, 1950 in Hamburg, Iowa to John and Mary Riley. She later moved to St. Joseph where she lived most of her life. On October 14, 1967, Shirley married Frank Yurkovich at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in St. Joseph. Shirley worked for Kovac’s Grocery Store, retiring in 2015. She was a member of St. James Catholic Church where she was a former member of the Entre Nous Society.
Preceding Shirley in death are her parents and a brother, Jerry Riley.
Survivors include her husband Frank Yurkovich, of the home; three children, Kenny (Dawn) Yurkovich, of Kansas City, MO, Rodney (Julie) Yurkovich, of Savannah, MO, and Melissa (Preston) Chaney, of St. Joseph; sister, Jane (Dave) Schober, of St. Joseph; nine grandchildren, Kenisha, Mitchell, Ryan, Taylor, Hollie, Makenzie, Mackensey, Steven and Kaylynn and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Service will be 12:00 noon Wednesday, at Clark-Sampson Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, at Clark-Sampson Funeral Home, where Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. Father Evan Harkins, Celebrant. Mrs. Yurkovich will be cremated following services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Online obituary and guestbook at www.clarksampson.com

Donna J. Simpson
1932-2016

Donna J. Simpson, 84, Troy, Kansas passed away Saturday, December 3, 2016 at Mosaic Life Care, St. Joseph, Missouri.
She was born April 19, 1932 in White Cloud, Kansas.
Donna married Allen Coolidge Simpson on November 27, 1949. He preceded her in death on April 15, 2009.
Mrs. Simpson attended Troy United Methodist Church and Risen Light Church. She enjoyed reading her bible and did so over 9 times.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, Bynal and Norma (Rader) Benson; daughter, Sally Gillenwater; sister, Ellen Torrez; and son-in-law Dean Cluck.
Survivors include her children, Jeannie (Gene) Makeeff, Judy Cluck, Tommy (Barb) Simpson, Susan (Richard) Reynolds, Terry (Mary) Simpson and Mark (Tammy) Simpson; 15 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; brothers, Sonny and Roy Benson; sisters, Mary Halstead, Dora Widman and Nancy Stearns; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Farewell Services 7:00 P.M. Friday, Community of Christ Church, Fanning, Kansas. The family will gather with friends one hour prior to the service at the Church. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to Fanning Cemetery Board. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Joyce Jean Nitz
1952-2016

Joyce J. Nitz, 64, Atchison, Kansas died Saturday, December 3, 2016 at her home following a lengthy illness.
Funeral services will be Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. in the chapel of Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Lancaster Cemetery, Lancaster, Kansas. Visitation with the family will be Saturday, December 10th from 12:30 until service time at the funeral home.
Joyce was born July 12, 1952 in Atchison, Kansas the daughter of Kenneth and Wanda Blair Green. She attended Martin East and Martin West Elementary Schools and Atchison High School.
She and Francis E. Nitz were united in marriage on August 22, 1970 at St. Benedict’s Church in Atchison, Kansas. Mr. Nitz preceded her in death on June 19, 1996.
Joyce was very active in Camp Fire Girls in Concordia. She served as vice president on the Camp Fire Girls Board. She participated in several day camps and over-night camp outs and was a leader. She enjoyed bowling and being on a league. While in Concordia she was also involved in TOPS and ABW. She became a Girl Scout Leader in Effingham and Atchison after leaving Concordia.
While living in Atchison she enjoyed her FCE Club and served as president. She enjoyed crocheting and swimming as a young girl she was on an Aquacades team.
Survivors include a son, Nolan Nitz, Fayetteville, Ark; two daughters, Suzanne Nitz, Atchison, KS; Hope Begnoche, Jamestown, KS; three brothers, Rick Green, Atchison, KS; John Green, Modesto, CA; Tom Boos, Grapevine, TX; four sisters, Dena Begesse, Muscotah, KS; Pam Green, Muscotah, KS; Dianne McMillan, Omaha, NE; Janis Boos, Omaha, NE; seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Nolan H. Starr, Sr.
1944-2016

Nolan H. Starr, Sr., 72, Wathena, Kanasas passed away Saturday, December 3, 2016.
He was born September 5, 1944 in Highland, Kansas to William and Katie (Pennel) Starr.
Nolan married Mary Elizabeth Watkins October 31, 1970, she survives the home.
He was a member of 1st Baptist Church in Elwood, Kansas and worked for Mead Products.
He was preceded in death by parents; daughter, Elizabeth Jackson; brothers, Robert, Ezra and Francis Starr; sisters, Mattie Starr, Shirley Young, and Sandra Broussard.
Additional survivors include sons, William Starr (Chrystal), Nolan Henry Starr, Jr.; grandchildren, Dareece, Casey, Dimitri, DeShon, Kira and Dylan; three great-grandchildren; sister, Louise Barksdale.
Farewell Services 1:00 P.M. Saturday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Inurnment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Friday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to funeral home to help defray funeral expenses. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.