Florene Ashford
Feb. 8, 1938 – March 17, 2019
Florene Ashford, 81, Louisburg, Kansas, died March 17 at Louisburg Healthcare and Rehabilitation. Cremation, with private family memorial services to be held at a later date.
Florene Alberta Ashford was born Feb. 8, 1938, in St. Joseph, the daughter of Vernon and Hazel Shelton Lewis.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, LeRoy Ashford; a son, Kenneth Allen Owens; and a sister, Dorothy Patten.
She is survived by her son, Vernon Owens, Olathe, Kansas; a son, Robert Miller, Drexel; a daughter, Kathy Huckaby, Warrensburg; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Carol Franklin, Patricia Hartman, Verna Jean Engelken, Sharon Brooks, Marvina Wyman and Joe Lewis.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel.
Marsha Atchley
Aug. 20, 1958 – March 16, 2019
Marsha Lynn (Millard) Atchley was born Aug. 20, 1958, in Independence and died March 16, 2019, at her daughter’s home in Raymore, surrounded by the love of her family, at the age of 60 years, 6 months and 24 days.
She was the daughter of Albert Shumway and Delcie Bernice (Enloe) Millard.
Marsha attended Hickman Mills High School. She went on to obtain an Associate of Arts Degree from Longview College. She had been employed as an accounting clerk for several years before health issues forced her retirement.
March 22, 1975, Marsha was united in marriage to Eric Craig Atchley in Kansas City. They lived several places early in their marriage, including Kansas City, Grandview and Belton. In 1989 they moved to Lake Annette to make their home.
Marsha enjoyed painting with watercolors, writing poetry (and was a published author) and fishing. What brought the most joy to Marsha’s life, however, was her family. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Marsha dearly loved to “hang out” with her grandchildren, giving loving encouragement in their lives’ endeavors and taking pride in their accomplishments.
Marsha was preceded in death by her parents, Albert S. and Delcie Bernice Millard, and one brother, Dennis Millard.
She is survived by her husband, Eric Craig Atchley, of the home; a son, Eric Craig Atchley, Jr., and wife, Erica, Raytown; a daughter, Jessica Lynn Guzik and husband, Mark, Raymore; two brothers, Lewis (Loser) Millard and wife. Eva (Evil), Lake of the Ozarks, and Wayne Millard, Tucson, Arizona; cousins, Julie Clark and husband, Randy, and Cheryl Pettet and husband, Brad, all of Independence; nine grandchildren; a great-grandchild; other relatives and many friends.
Cremation has been accorded. A memorial service in loving memory of Marsha Lynn Atchley will be scheduled at a later date.
The family of Marsha L. Atchley suggests contributions in her memory to the World Wildlife Fund.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Wallace Funeral Home, Pleasant Hill.
Dixie Lee Baker
April 11, 1959 – March 19, 2019
Dixie Lee Baker, 59, Harrisonville, died March 19 at her home surrounded by her loving family. A memorial graveside service was March 22 at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Harrisonville.
Dixie was born April 11, 1959, in Butler, the daughter of Raymond and Betty (Davis) Christopher. A lifelong Cass County resident, she graduated from Harrisonville High School in 1977 and went on to raise her own family in the Archie area.
Oct. 20, 2005, Dixie married John Baker in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and was a bus driver for Durham School Services for the past 12 years. She was very special to the kids and their families that she served during the years. Dixie lived a fulfilling life as a loving mother and grandmother and was an amazing wife to her husband, John. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy and her kind spirit and zest for life will live on through them.
Dixie was preceded in death by her father, Raymond Christopher.
She is survived by the love of her life, her husband, John Baker, of the home; her mother, Betty Christopher, Archie; a son, Jesse Evans, Harrisonville; a daughter, Courtney Ford (Timothy), Archie; a brother, John William McDaniel, Harrisonville; a grandson, Hunter Evans; and four granddaughters, Alexandra Martin, Jayda Evans, Caylee Ford and Emma Ford. She also leaves behind many cherished family members and special friends.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Christopher Michael Dalton
April 26, 1968 – March 20, 2019
Christopher Michael Dalton, 50, Kansas City, died March 20 at Research Medical Center, Kansas City.
A memorial visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. p.m. March 30 at the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Christopher was born April 26, 1968, in Kansas City, a son of Jackie Joe and Nora C. (Fenning) Dalton. He was a 1986 graduate of Hickman Mills High School and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from The University of Missouri-Kansas City. He worked for Herff Jones in Edwardsville, Kansas, for 15 years as a photo proofreader/photo enhancer.
Christopher was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Nora Dalton; his brother, Joey Dalton; and a nephew, Little Jimmy Dalton.
He is survived by his sisters, Jane (Don) Hamerle and Kate (Doug) Cox; two brothers, Jimmy Dalton and Tom (Shirley) Dalton; a brother-in-law, Brian Garretson; a niece, Sarah (Andy) Schneider; a nephew, Jordan Dalton; a great-niece, Aubrey Schneider; and a great-nephew, Brock Schneider.
Arrangements are under the direction of Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Elberta Marie Gardner
July 15, 1929 – March 17, 2019
Elberta “Bert” Marie Gardner, 89, Archie, died March 17 at Crown Care Center, Harrisonville. Funeral services were March 21 at Abiding Love Baptist Church, Harrisonville, with burial in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Harrisonville. Memorial contributions may be made to Serenity Care Hospice.
Bert was born July 15, 1929, in Freeman, the daughter of Elbert Carr and Amanda Marie (Jones) Flanary. She attended the Bybee Rural School and Harrisonville High School. She was a lifelong Harrisonville resident.
Bert married Ralph Brown in 1945 and they had a daughter, Linda Darlene. Bert had worked as a seamstress during the 1940s at Bed Time Story Fashions in Harrisonville and in Belton for 18 years.
She married Arthur “Art” Lee Gardner on April 7, 1956.
Bert later worked as a cashier for Nyman’s Grocery Store for five years, and for Scavuzzo’s Grocery Store for 25 years, before retiring in 1991. She was a member of Abiding Love Baptist Church in Harrisonville.
Bert was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Jack Flanary, Pete Flanary and Elmer Flanary; two sisters, Dollie Pulliam and Hazel Middaugh; and her husband, Art, on Sept. 16, 1991.
She is survived by a daughter, Linda Davis (John), Archie; a brother, Bud Flanary (Kathy), Harrisonville; two sisters, Lois Knibb (Dean) and Shirley Henry (Larry), Harrisonville; two grandchildren, Kay Mawson (Rodney) and Paula Lethcho; three great-grandchildren, Callie Curtis (Nick), Markie Lethcho and Mackenzie Mawson; a great-great-grandson, Stetson Curtis; many nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Lura Christine Hines
July 5, 1944 – March 14, 2019
Lura Christine Hines, 74, Creighton, was born July 5, 1944, the daughter of Robert Parker and Edith Tuttle Parker in Raton, New Mexico. She died peacefully at home March 14.
Chris graduated from Laramie High School in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1962. She then attended the University of Wyoming for a year. May 25, 1963, she was married to Elmer Hines in Laramie. They lived in Foxpark, Wyoming, until April 1966 when they moved to Creighton.
Chris and Elmer became parents in November 1966 when Lura LeAnne was born. Their second daughter, Lisa Annette, was born in December 1969.
In 1976, Chris decided to return to college and enrolled at Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in May 1979 and her Master’s in Special Education in 1984.
She taught fifth grade all but two years of her 25 years at McEowen Elementary School in Harrisonville. After her retirement in 2004, she was a substitute teacher for the Sherwood Schools until 2014. Chris truly enjoyed her work as an educator. She made learning fun and instilled in her students the importance getting an education.
Chris was a social person and could strike up a conversation with anyone. She loved to read and shared that passion by giving books to and reading with the young people in her life.
Chris’s most cherished role was being Gram to her granddaughters. She treasured time spent with Jordan and Melaina and was so proud of them and their accomplishments.
Chris spent many years on the Creighton City Council, was an officer of the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery Association, a member of the Creighton Community of Care and the local Red Hats club. She had a firm faith in God and was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Creighton.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Lisa Salmon, March 1, 2013.
Chris is survived by her husband of 55 years, Elmer Hines: her daughter, LeAnne Salmon and husband, Terry, Creighton: two granddaughters, Jordan Lee Salmon, Overland Park, Kansas, and Melaina Christine Salmon, Creighton: a brother, Robert “Bob” Parker and wife, Shirley, Prosser, Washington: several nieces and nephews; and other relatives and many friends.
Cremation. A celebration of life service was held March 20 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Garden City.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Serenity Care Hospice or the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery Association.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Garden City.
Bobbie “Bob” Charles Kurtz
Dec. 27, 1930 March 18, 2019
Bobbie “Bob” Charles Kurtz, 88, Peculiar, died March 18 at Belton Regional Medical Center, Belton. Graveside services were March 22 at the Fairview Cemetery in Sweet Springs, under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville. Gifts in memory of Bob Kurtz may be made to Alzheimer’s Association or Cass Career Center FFA, Need-Based Scholarship for Agricultural Students or University of Missouri Promise and Opportunity Scholarship Fund for Agricultural Students.
Bobbie “Bob” was born Dec. 27, 1930, at home on a farm near Lamonte, the oldest of the two sons of Walter F. and Daisy B. (Watson) Kurtz. His mother intended to name him Bob, not Robert, but the physician attending made out the birth certificate “Bobbie.” Bob had red hair, brown eyes, and was 6’4” tall as an adult.
Bob attended a country one-room school and always felt his education was not as good as could be because of that. He graduated from Sweet Springs High School in 1948, where he excelled in basketball his senior year.
After high school, he worked on the family farm in rural Sweet Springs. He was drafted into the army in 1951 and after training was sent to Korea, serving with 7th Div., 31st Reg., Co. H. He returned home in August 1953. He was a member of VFW Post 7348 in Louisburg, Kansas.
In 1956, he married Agnes Anne Constance at Warsaw. He started working for Reno Construction as a truck driver. He was laid off for the winter and went to diesel school during the day and worked the night shift at the BOP (Buick Oldsmobile Pontiac) plant.
In spring he would return to work at Reno. They moved a lot in the early days of his Reno job, but settled in Belton when the oldest daughter started school. Bob was a member of Local 101, Operating Engineers and operated heavy equipment in Reno’s quarry at Stanley, Kansas, for the rest of his 40 years with the company.
They purchased a farm by his parents’ farm near Sweet Springs in 1963 and in 1969 they moved seven miles south of Belton onto 100 acres and farming became his hobby. He worked his job full-time and came home to take care of cattle and crops. He later added an adjoining 60 acres to the farm and had about half in grazing for cattle and half in corn and soybeans. In 1971, they built their home, doing most of the finish work themselves.
Bob was always designing and making things with iron, especially something he thought was too expensive to buy. He made any number of iron wagons and a cattle trailer, to name a few. He loved working with cattle and kept close records of each cow and the calves. He was constantly reading about farming techniques and, in later years, loved watching the farm channels on TV. For many years, he was an active member of the Cattlemen’s Association.
In 2012 some health problems left him unable to farm. The cattle were sold and the farming was done by a friend. Bob liked to ride around the farm on his Honda ATV and plan improvements. Just four days before his 60th wedding anniversary, Bob had a light stroke, leaving him weak on the left side, but with intensive therapy and care he gradually recovered back to near normal.
Bob and Agnes spent many enjoyable vacations traveling to Canada, Mexico, Alaska and eventually to all the states except Hawaii. Their first trips were with a tent, then a motor home, three truck campers and two Roadtrek RVs. He loved a long road trip.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Billy K. Kurtz.
He is survived by his wife Agnes; daughters, Lisa Weigel (Paul), Belton, Shelley Wall (Stan), Richmond, Texas, and Christy Kurtz, Peculiar; grandchildren Tyler Wall (Christa), Kyle Wall, Grace Wall and Danielle Speer; and six great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were under the direction of Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville,
Jean Phillips
Oct. 7, 1938 – March 13, 2019
Jean Phillips, 80, Archie, died March 13. Memorial services were March 23 at the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville. Contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church, Mound City, Kansas.
Jean was born Oct. 7, 1938, in Deepwater, a daughter of Winfred Russell and Edna Lois (Flanary) Cantrell.
She was a 1956 graduate of Archie High School and was lifelong resident of Archie. She married Gareld Lee Phillips on Nov. 7, 1959, at the Archie Baptist Church. She was co-owner and worked as a clerk, for more than 40 years, at W.R. Cantrell and Sons Sale Company in Archie. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Mound City, Kansas. Jean loved to bowl and golf.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gareld, Sept. 8, 2010; one brother, Russell; and one grandson, Brandon.
She is survived by two sons, Joe Phillips (Jenni), Raymore, and Paul Phillips, Kansas City; one daughter, Penny German, Archie; one brother, Larry Cantrell (Donene), Archie; three grandchildren, Samantha Mills (Chase), Nichole Bah (Hassan) and Katlin Phillips; and three great-grandchildren, Mason Mills, Aiden Mills and Luke Mills.
Arrangements were under the direction of Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Margaret Ann Seaton
Jan. 12, 1920 – March 18, 2019
Margaret Ann Seaton, 99, Pleasant Hill, was born Jan. 12, 1920, in Pleasant Hill, the daughter of Walter and Hilda (Fredrickson) Matthes. She died March 18 at Crown Care Center, Harrisonville, surrounded with love and family.
Jan. 5, 1944, she married Charley F. Seaton in Springfield. They spent the next 40 years devoted to each other, raising three daughters and dairy farming.
Margaret worked at the Pleasant Hill Bank and enjoyed many activities. She was past treasurer of the Pleasant Hill Lioness Club, past treasurer of the Pleasant Hill Senior Citizens and a long-time member of the Pleasant Hill Cemetery Board.
She loved spending time with family, gardening, cooking, playing cards and traveling. She was a faithful member of the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Charley, Dec. 1, 1984; a brother Walter Matthes, Jr.; and a sister, Elizabeth Hanicke.
She is survived by three daughters, Ann Tribble, Pleasant Hill, Nancy (and Paul) Spoon, Springfield, and Janet (and Bill) Ott, Houston, Texas; six grandchildren; a sister, Pauline Shull, Mesa, Arizona; a sister-in-law, Adabel Matthes, Harrisonville; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were March 23 at the Stanley-Dickey Funeral Home, Pleasant Hill, with interment in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Shiner’s Hospitals for Children in St. Louis and may be sent in care of the funeral home.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Stanley-Dickey Funeral Home, Pleasant Hill.
