Larry French
Dec. 12, 1938 – April 4, 2019
Larry French, 80, Harrisonville, died April 4 in Kansas City. A memorial visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. April 13, at the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville, with military and Elks services at 2 p.m. There will be a gathering immediately following the service at the Harrisonville Elks Lodge.
Larry was born Dec. 12, 1938, in Lexington, Nebraska, the son of Vernon and Irene (Wilson) French. He was a 1956 graduate of Lexington High School.
After high school, Larry joined the Air Force, serving from 1959 to 1966. A career turn then took him to banking, where he worked for Traders Bank and United Missouri Bank in Kansas City and Jefferson City.
He then moved to Rothville and became president of the Rothville Missouri Bank and later president of the Regional Missouri Bank in Marceline.
After retiring from banking, Larry enlisted in the Army National Guard. He was a Sgt. First Class, transferring to Harrisonville and was the first in charge of the Harrisonville Armory No. 1139th Military Policy Company from 1987 to 1996.
Larry married Judy Ann Bagby Dec. 14, 1974, in Jefferson City. He had lived in Marceline before moving to Harrisonville. He was a charter member of the Harrisonville Elks Lodge, the Harrisonville American Legion and the Eagles Lodge No. 726 in Marceline.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Judy, May 31, 2017.
He is survived by a son, Chris French, Kansas City; two daughters, Tammy Bissell, Gladstone, and Lisa Tomlinson (Scott), Chillicothe; three sisters, Judy Danner (Harry), Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Joan Teel (Marlyn), Lexington, Nebraska, and Jean Holbrook (George), Lexington, Neb.; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Stanley Vance Jones
April 9, 1949 – March 28, 2019
Stanley “Stan” Vance Jones died peacefully at KU Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, March 28 at the age of 69. A visitation was April 6 at Mullinax Funeral Home Drexel Chapel. His family is certain that Stan would appreciate contributions to the Coos Bay Habitat for Humanity in lieu of flowers. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com
Stan was born April 9, 1949, on the family farm in Miami County, Kansas. He moved to Drexel to begin the second grade and graduated from Drexel High School in 1967. He attended Pittsburg State University and Kansas State University, graduating with degrees in math and electrical engineering.
After completing his education, Stan moved to San Francisco, California, where he worked for several years.
During this time he and a fishing buddy would go up to the Oregon coast to fish and eventually Stan moved to Coos Bay, Oregan, where he lived and fished until he returned to Kansas in March 2019.
Stan lived simply, worked hard and always had a computer attached to him in some form or fashion. He worked in data management and website design for many years at Jurgens Fine Jewelry in Coos Bay. He also volunteered his computer skills working with the Coos Bay Habitat for Humanity.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Knoful and Lila Jones, formerly of Drexel.
Stan is survived by his sisters and their husbands, Nola and Bill Whitely of Ottawa, Kansas, and Chris and Bo Crowe of Overland Park, Kansas. He is also survived by his niece, Anne Thuro, and two nephews, Paul Whitely and Jamie Crowe.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Mullinax Funeral Home Drexel Chapel.
Lee Littrell
March 20, 1935 – March 27, 2019
Lee Littrell, 84, Drexel, died March 27 at Valley Baptist Medical Center, Har-lingen, Texas. Cremation, with memorial services April 6 at the Louisburg United Methodist Church, Louisburg, Kansas. Inurnment was in Louisburg Cemetery.
James William Lee Littrell, Jr., was born March 20, 1935, in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the son of James W.L., Sr., and Dorothy Gilpin Littrell. He grew up in Blue Mound, Kansas, where he attended grade school and graduated from High School.
Immediately after graduating in 1953, Lee enlisted in the United States Army. Upon discharge, he used his G.I. Bill to attend Fort Scott Community College and Pitt State University where he earned his degree in education.
June 21, 1959, Lee was married to Sherrill Hoover. To this union four children were born. Lee began his career in education at Joint Rural High School in Stark, Kansas.
In 1966, he began teaching and coaching at Louisburg High School in Louisburg, Kansas.
Before his retirement in 1996, Lee had coached just about every sport available at the school at the time. He was well known for coaching football, basketball, track and even golf. He had a love for sports and rarely missed a game. Lee will also be remembered for his 32-year career as a driver’s ed teacher.
Lee was a member of the Louisburg United Methodist Church and Peace Lodge No. 243 of Louisburg.
He enjoyed watching sports and working with his hands. He had a great talent for woodworking and through the years he completed many beautiful pieces. Lee was a “people” person and never met a stranger. He enjoyed talking to and meeting people. Lee also had a good sense of humor and he could be known to pull a few pranks or fool you with his kidding.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Kevin Littrell; a sister, Nelda; a brother, Charlie; and a brother-in-law, Laine Smethers.
He survived by his wife of 60 years, Sherry Littrell; daughter, Lisa Spradling (Brent); daughter, Karla Breuer (Brian); son, Kyle Littrell; grandchildren, Blake, Jason, Cody, Clara, Jacob and Ava. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Ayden, Ashlyn, Adelae, Jude, McKenna, Andrea and Suede.
Services were under the direction of Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel.
Bernadine Wellington
Aug. 10, 1953 – April 1, 2019
Bernadine Wellington, 65, Peculiar, died April 1 at her home. A memorial gathering was held April 8 at the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville, with inurnment in the Peculiar Cemetery.
Bernadine was born Aug. 10, 1953, in Ottawa, Illinois, the daughter of Bernabe and Virginia (Duncan) Rodriguez. She attended St. James Catholic Grade School in Kansas City and was a 1971 graduate of Westport High School.
Bernadine had lived in the Kansas City area since 1966 and moved to Peculiar in 2004. She worked in assembly for Harmar Mobility in Lake Winnebago.
Bernadine is survived by a son, David Fales, Kansas City; a daughter, Heidi Winfrey, Independence; a brother, Larry Rodriguez, Ottawa, Illinois; three sisters, Susan Marie (Chula) Rodriguez, Patricia Ann Rodriguez, both of Independence, and Carol Corona of Mesquite, Texas; three grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
She was a strong woman that gave us many forthcoming lessons in life. Set in her ways and a very smart woman, no one will deny. Every person that knew the real Berni, the pieces of her not everyone got to see, will always carry a piece of her that she left behind, truly unforgettable connections many can share as the days turn to nights or the nights to days. May her bluntness we gracefully learned to appreciate keep the heavens roaring until we reunite one by one.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.