James “Jimmy” Walter McDowell
1966-2017

James Walter “Jimmy” McDowell 51, of Saint Joseph, Missouri passed peacefully from this world Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at Mosaic Life Care Hospital. Jimmy was preceded in death by his father, Pawnie McDowell Sr., mother JoAnn McQueen, and step mother, Betty McDowell. He is survived by siblings, Pawnie Jr. (Patty) McDowell, Peggy (Lawrence) Frizell, Susan (Pete) Gentry, Penny (Homer) Zumwalt, and Carrie McQueen, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and family members. Per his request Jimmy has been cremated and no services will be held. The family wishes to thank all those who cared for Jimmy, he was loved by many. Cremation under the care and direction of the Rupp Funeral Home.

Kathy Ann Eylar
1946-2017

Kathy Ann Eylar 71, of Saint Joseph, Missouri passed away Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at Mosaic Life Care Hospital. She was born October 3, 1946 in St. Joseph, Missouri daughter of late Imogene & Robert Fitzgerald. She graduated from Benton High School in 1964. Kathy worked over 30 years at the Missouri Methodist Medical Center, Heartland Hospital, and Mosaic Life Care Hospital as a Secretary in the ER. She was a people person who enjoyed traveling, going to the boat, and she loved her dog – Stretch. She also looked forward to going to lunch with the 1964 Benton Girls Lunch Group. She is survived by son, David Eylar, and her adopted family, Bonnie (David) Coon, uncle Bobby Thomas, and several cousins. The family will receive friends from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm on Friday with a Celebration of Kathy Life to start at 3 pm at the Rupp Funeral Home. Chaplain Dan Medford officiating. She will be cremated under the care and direction of the Rupp Funeral Home. Memorials are requested to the Kathy Eylar Memorial Fund in care of Rupp Funeral Home.

Jerry Smith
1940-2017

Jerry Smith 77, of Warsaw, Missouri, formerly of St. Joseph, MO passed away Thursday, November 30, 2017 at a hospital in Columbia, MO. He was born September 3, 1940 in St. Joseph, MO. He graduated from Benton High School in 1959. He worked at Wire Rope for over 40 years. He enjoyed boating, riding 4 wheelers, fishing, shooting pool, riding his Harley’s, dancing, and showing horses. He was a member of the Steel Workers Union. Jerry was preceded in death by his mother, Ethel Marie Johnston, step father, Bill Johnston, 2 sons, Randall Ray Smith and Jerry A. Smith, and his first wife, Donna Gresham Smith. Survivors include, daughter, Carey McMillian of Saint Joseph, MO, fiance’, Mary Sharp, of the home, 4 grandchildren, Cody & Zakary McMillian, Ashley Smith, and Erica Morton, and 4 great grandsons.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Jerry has been cremated under the care of the Rupp Funeral Home.

Charles Eugene Anctil
1932-2017

Charles Eugene Anctil, 85, of Saint Joseph, Missouri, passed away Thursday, November 30, 2017 at the Kansas City Hospice House after a brief illness. He was born March 3, 1932 in Hollis, NH, son of the late Yvonne and Joseph Anctil. He graduated from Nashua Senior High School and The Junior College of Kansas City. He then served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War Era. Charles was a Horticulturist working at Bennett Garden Center, Ferbert’s Garden Center, Butners Old Mill Nursery, and presently Moffet Nursery and Garden Center. Charles has been an active Rosarian since 1958, spending his adult life growing, showing and educating generations about roses. He conducted many seminars for rose enthusiasts in the area, and appeared as a guest on local radio shows, as well as being a featured writer for the Kansas City Gardner. Charlie was a member of many Rose Societies: Clay County (Past President), Jackson County, Kansas City and Johnson County, Missouri to name a few. He juried shows in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska, as well as other states. Since 2010 he has been a Master Consulting Rosarian and Judge Emeritus. In 2016 the 86th Annual Rose Show in Kansas City was dedicated in his honor due to his lifetime commitment to all in Northwest Missouri. Charlie was a man whose heart was as big as the world and brought the gift of beauty through roses to everyone. He was a member of Sertoma, Barber Shop Quartet and the 1st Christian Church. Charles was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Jeane Anctil, and his parents. Survivors include, son, Paul (Paula) Anctil, Lenexa, KS, daughter, Charlotte Anctil, Shawnee, KS, grandson, Devin Anctil, brother, Albert (Babe) Anctil, Nashua, NH, and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 10-11 am Monday, December 4, at the 1st Christian Church, 927 Faraon St, St Joseph, MO 64501 , with funeral services to be conducted immediately after, at the church, Rev. Brian Kirk officiating. Interment is 1:30 pm Monday, White Chapel Cemetery, Gladstone, MO. Memorials are requested to the 1st Christian Church.

Gloria E. Brockhoff
1927-2017

Gloria Elaine Brockhoff, 90, passed away Saturday, December 2, 2017 at Maple Heights Nursing Home.

Gloria was born April 8, 1927 to Sylvester G. and Marie “Lena” Pratz Keller southeast of Hiawatha. She was a lifelong resident of Brown County.

Gloria attended kindergarten at Central Grade School before her family moved to the Belleview school district. Later they bought a farm in the White Hall community where she completed 8th grade. Gloria Graduated from Hiawatha High School.

Towards the end of WWII Gloria met the love of her life, Carl “Bill” Brockhoff of Hiawatha and they later married on June 1, 1947. They started out married life as residents of Hiawatha, but subsequently moved to the quaint community of Willis, KS, where they resided until 1968. They later moved to a small farm north of Willis where Gloria resided for nearly 50 years.

Gloria was preceded in death by her husband Carl on Feb 5, 2000 and by her two beloved brothers Arnold Keller and Lowell Keller.

After a brief stint at the Garment Factory in Horton, Gloria worked at both the Hiawatha and Willis phone offices. She later worked as a medication aide for nearly 20 years at both the Brown County Infirmary and the Oak Ridge Nursing Home.

Gloria is survived by three children: Karen Sechler and her husband Howard (Hiawatha, KS), Lynne Pinkerton and her husband Rus (Cincinnati, OH), and Ron Brockhoff and his wife Stacey (Manhattan, KS); five grandchildren: Cathy Simmons and her husband Gavin (Ames, IA), Wes Sechler (Wichita, KS), Holly Sutley and her husband Jasen (Lancaster, KS), Alex Pinkerton (Kirtland AFB, NM), and Kristy Pinkerton (Cincinnati, OH). She is also survived by five beloved great grandchildren. Gloria greatly cherished her family and made them a priority throughout her life. She will be greatly missed.

Gloria was active in the Willis Garden club and enjoyed crocheting, quilting, puzzles, games, and solitaire. She was also an active member of the Willis Christian Church and was saddened by the closure of the church earlier this year.

Visitation will be held Tuesday at 1:00pm followed by a funeral service at 2:00pm. Both the visitation and the funeral service will be held at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home. The funeral service will be officiated by Reverend Billy Watson. Gloria will be interred at Mount Hope Cemetery in Hiawatha, KS.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Brown County Veterans Honor Guard or Freedom Hospice, sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434.

Edward N. Barton
1934-2017

HOLTON – Edward N. Barton, 83, of Holton, died Saturday, December 2, 2017 at Medicalodges Jackson County in Holton.

He was born April 15, 1934 on a farm near Holton, the son of Bill and Helen Edwards Barton. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Ed was a member of the Holton Volunteer Fire Department and a special deputy for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.

He had worked for Riley Electric and Walter Bennett Plumbing in Holton, and later owned and operated Barton Electric. He worked for the City of Holton for eleven and a half years, and retired from the City of Horton after six years.

Ed married Dorothy (McGee) Gaston in 1978. She died April 22, 1996.

Survivors include a son, William H. Barton and wife Melissa, Omaha, NE; a brother, Robert Barton and wife Carol, Carbondale; two sisters, Janice Brenner, Leavenworth and Joyce DeVader, Holton, two grandchildren, Larissa and Averey and four great grandchildren.

Cremation is planned. Family and friends will meet for a short service at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 7th at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Holton, and then go in procession for burial with military honors to the Holton Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Jackson County Friends of Hospice or the Alzheimer’s Association, and may be sent in care of the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1034, Holton, 66436.