ST. JOSEPH – David Gene “Bunkie” DeSpain, Sr., 78, passed peacefully into Heaven on Thursday, January 16, 2014 surrounded by his family at home where he wanted to be.
David fell head over heels with Barbara Joanne (Slater) DeSpain, the love of his life and they shared 60 years together. She survives of the home. In April 1952 at the age of 17, David enlisted in the Marine Corp. and proudly served his country during the Korean War. During his military career he received the National Defense Medal, United States Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Expert Rifleman Medal, Expert Marksman Medal, and a prestigious Presidential Unit Citation. He was honorably discharged in April 1955.
David attended Northwest Missouri State University receiving degrees in business management and pre-law. David worked in the management profession until his retirement in 1988. He was a trouble shooter and innkeeper for the Holiday Inn Hotel chain for several years, was the first manager of the Bode Ice Arena, and the last manager for the Hotel Roubidoux. Upon his retirement, he opened the Collector’s Emporium which specialized in antiques and collectables with his son David Jr.
His hobbies included jewelry making, watching British mysteries, collecting stamps and coins, going to the casino, eating at Cracker Barrel, traveling, and holding hands with his wife. David loved the holidays and enjoyed having the responsibility of baking the pumpkin pies on Thanksgiving. He was teased about burning them and looked forward to it every year.
David loved his family and they were the most important thing to him. He made sure every day that they knew it. He had ways of making every family member feel special in their own individual way.
He would call his children and grandchildren on their birthdays to sing happy birthday and would do so in the worst out of tune singing voice he could. He never missed a birthday and even added some because he enjoyed it so much.
He enjoyed spending time with his family and highlighted that with adventures of hunting for the Keeblers and Goonie Rabbit with his grandchildren. David taught his family many life lessons one of which was to appreciate the importance of Pogiebait (junk food).
He was preceded in death by his parents, David Lewis and Reva Margaret (Sebille) DeSpain; two brothers, Alfred “Sonny” DeSpain and Richard “Dick” DeSpain; and son, Christopher Lee.
Survivors: wife; sons, David Gene Jr., Mark Scott, and Michael Charles (Leslie); daughters, Cynthia Susan Martin (Mike) and Elizabeth Anne White; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; great-great-granddaughter; his baby sister, Audrey Marie Colwell; several nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Virginia DeSpain; brother-in-laws, Richard Slater (Janet) and John Forest; and his buddy, Admiral, his pug.
Services: 1 p.m., Tuesday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory. Interment Helena Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory, where friends may call after 5 p.m. Monday. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to the Noyes Home. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com

TRENTON, Mo. – Kathryn (Kay) Louise Collins Watkins, 85, joined the Lord surrounded by her family January 18, 2014. Born to Arthur and Mildred Collins (Elliott) on the family farm east of Trenton, Missouri, she graduated from Trenton High School in 1946 and attended Fayette College in Fayette, Mo.
Kay married Louis (Lou) C. Watkins of Trenton on January 26, 1947. To this union were born seven children: Greg (Gayle), Hurst, Texas; David (Linda), Blaine, Minn.; Mark (Carol), Maryville; Linda Akins, Maryville; Lori Wymore (Mark), Liberty, Mo., Lisa Watkins, Maryville, Missouri; and Lanette Grubb (Jeff), St. Joseph.
After they married they moved to Maryville, where Louis graduated from Northwest Missouri State Teachers College. In 1948 they moved to Newton, Iowa, where Kay was the organist at the First Baptist Church. They moved to Maryville in 1957 where they opened Watkins True Value Hardware.
Kay’s love for the Lord led her to assume many active roles in her church. She was the local area president of the Women’s Missionary Union, leader of the Girls in Action, vacation Bible school leader, Sunday school teacher, pianist and organist, and organizer of the International Students Banquet. She also assumed the role of Den Mother for the local Cub Scouts. While doing all of these things she also supported Lou working in the hardware.
Kay always had an open heart and an open home to the family and the community, providing a constant Christ-like example to those around her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Richard Collins, and son-in-law Gary Kirtley.
She is survived by her husband Lou; seven children; 55 grandchildren; 65 great-grandchildren; and brother, Donald and his wife Dee.
Visitation is Tuesday, January 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, Maryville. Funeral Services are 1 p.m. Wednesday, January 22, also at the church. Burial is in the Rural Dale Cemetery, Trenton. In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations to the Building Fund at First Baptist Church, Maryville.

ST. JOSEPH – Donna Jean Dennis, 56, passed away Saturday, January 18, 2014 in Saint Joseph, at a St. Joseph Hospital. She was born November 27, 1957 in St. Joseph, daughter of Betty Ann and Fred Dennis Sr.
She graduated from Lafayette High School and was working at Hillshire Farms (formerly Sara Lee). She enjoyed taking care of people, and was a Christian. Donna was preceded in death by her parents; a great nephew, Ethan Swett; a great niece, Baylee Martin; and two brother-in-laws, Ronnie Parton, and Earl Vandgrift.
Survivors include, two brothers, Fred Dennis Jr. and wife Cindy of Rosendale, Mo., and David W. Dennis of St. Joseph; five sisters, Virginia Grippando and husband David, Phyllis Wood, and husband Robert all of St. Joseph; Eva May Wood and husband Frank, Neva Kay Vandgrift all of Clarksdale; and Kathy Edwards and husband Tommie of St. Joseph; close friends, Bill and Maureen Reid of St. Joseph; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m., on Tuesday with a funeral service to be conducted at 7 p.m., on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at Rupp Funeral Home. The Inurnment will be at the Ashland Cemetery Friday. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com

ST. JOSEPH – Regina Joan Erickson, 76, passed away Sunday, January 19, 2014 in a St. Joseph health care center. She was born March 11, 1937 in St. Joseph, daughter of Musetta and John Erickson. She was a member of St. James Catholic Church. Regina was preceded in death by her parents, and a sister, Rose Gosney.
Survivors include four nieces, Cindy Clements of Barnard, Mo., Annie Gosney of St. Joseph, Debbie Sullivan of Liberty, Mo., and Terri Joyce of Union, Mo.; and a nephew, John Joyce of Washington, Mo.
Graveside Memorial service and inurnment will be held at a later date. Miss Erickson has been cremated under the direction of the Rupp Funeral Home. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com

Frances Beatrice Hart, 85, Maryville, Missouri, died Saturday, January 18,
2014, at St Francis Hospital.
Fran was born April 12, 1928, in Bedison, Mo., to Jesse and Gladys Reynolds Lame. She was a graduate of Grant City High School and earned her teaching certificate at Northwest Missouri State Teachers College. Before marriage she taught school and after marriage worked as an LPN.
Fran married Leon Hart February 10, 1947, in Troy, Kan. She was a member of the Laura Street Baptist Church in Maryville.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Leon Hart; daughter, Elaine Glotfelty; and son, Alan Hart.
She is survived by her daughter, Susan Vore; grandson, Kelly Vore both of Maryville; and four great-grandchildren Derrick, Shelby, Dylan and Dawson Vore.
Funeral Services will be 1:30 p.m., Thursday, January 23, 2014, at Price Funeral Home, Maryville, with burial in Prairie Chapel Cemetery, Denver, Mo. There will be no formal visitation. Memorials may be made to Laura Street Baptist Church or the American Cancer Society. www.pricefuneralhomemaryville.com

ST. JOSEPH – Harold L. Jones, 78, died Saturday, January 18, 2014 at Heartland Regional Medical Center.
He was born February 23, 1935 to Ethel Eugenia Ball in Osceola, Mo. He graduated from Savannah High School in 1953 and worked at the Missouri State Hospital as an engineer, where he later retired.
Harold married Susan Lewis on September 6, 1963. She survives of the home. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, VFW Post 1668 and Knights of Columbus. He had a passion for all seasons of sports, and never missed a game or practice for his children and grandchildren.
Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his mother; and sister, Capitola Giseburt.
Additional Survivors: daughter, Lisa Jones, St. Joseph; son, LTC David Jones (Becky), St. Joseph; grandchildren, Alexander Giffin (Elizabeth), Amelia Scalise, Brycen Jones, Noah, Samuel, Alli and Sarah Jones; great-grandson, Landon Giffin; brothers, Floyd (Pat) Jones, Norman (Marilyn) Jones and Bill (Vicki) Jones; sister, Mary (Dean) Rethemeyer; and an abundance of nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial: 1 p.m., Wednesday, St. Patrick Catholic Church. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. Parish Rosary 6 p.m. Tuesday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will receive friends 6:30 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

SAVANNAH, Mo. – Darline Hendricks, 90, was born on July 27, 1923, to Henry and Josie Jackson Sweigert in Rosendale, Mo.
Darline graduated from Rosendale High School in 1941 and married Kenneth Lee Hendricks in that same year. They were married for 50 years before his passing in 1992. Darline and Kenneth were engaged in farming before moving to Mound City, Mo., in 1959. In 1961, Darline became a cashier at the local grocery store in Mound City where she worked for 28 years. She was a member of the First Christian Church and the Order of the Eastern Star.
As an avid reader, Darline was a regular at the city library. She enjoyed quilting, crocheting, and spending time with her family. She was a loving mother and grandmother who had a playful nature that made them all smile. “Mimi” will be dearly missed and fondly remembered.
Darline was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a brother, Floyd Sweigert; son-in-law, Gary Rowlett; and great-grandson, Robert Fierros.
Survivors include four children, Larry (Gwen) Hendricks, Easton, Mo.; Darla Rowlett, Savannah; Joella Mehrhof, Emporia, Kan.; and Joyce Clark, St. Joseph; six grandchildren, Clifton (Angie) Rowlette, Clark (Heather) Rowlette, St. Joseph; Christina (Ted) Fierros, Savannah; Lori Hendricks, Michelle (Mike) Ritter, and Josie Clark, all of St. Joseph; 12 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and two step-sisters, Luella Gallinger, Kearney, Mo., and Joy Ozretich, Streeter, Ill.
Services: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Pettijohn and Crawford Family Funeral Service. Interment Mount Hope Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mound City Nutrition Site. Online guest book and obituary at www.pettijohncrawford.com.