Charlotte M. Adkins
April 5, 1942 – Feb. 18, 2021
Charlotte Marie (Kackmeister) Adkins was born April 5, 1942, the daughter of Walter and Mina Kackmeister and was raised near Mission in Todd County, South Dakota. She died Feb. 18, 2021.
Charlotte attended high school in Mission, where she worked as a secretary after graduation.
In the summer of 1962, Charlotte married Jim Adkins and moved to Cass County. In her initial years of marriage, she devoted time to her children, also working as a playground supervisor and real estate agent.
Charlotte spent many years as a bookkeeper and office manager in the propane business. She enjoyed working outdoors and spent countless hours landscaping and beautifying her home and garden.
Charlotte is survived by her husband, Jim Adkins; her four children, Sherri Beasley and Dale, Jim Adkins and Jenny, Todd Adkins and Amy Heath and Jay, eight grandchildren; and a greatgrandchild.
Cremation. A private family celebration of life service will be held at a later date.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Mary L. Delavan
Oct. 26, 1942 – Feb. 14, 2021
Mary Delavan, 78, Creighton, died Feb. 14 at St. Luke’s East Hospital, Lee’s Summit. Mary L’Norah Delavan was born Oct. 26, 1942, in Glenwood, Iowa, the daughter of Darwin Edward and Lillian Norah Allbee Delavan.
She grew up in Glenwood and graduated from Glenwood Senior High School.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, J.T. Coates; and great-grandchild, Avery Hope Vendelvelde.
She is survived by her life partner, Tammy Zeiler; brother, Phil Delavan and wife, Mary Jane; daughter, Susan Moeckli and husband, Ed; daughter, Lesa Vendevelde and husband, Ken; son, John Whitehead and wife, Michelle; daughter, Becky McCoy and husband, John; 20 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; three nieces; and by extended family members and friends.
Cremation, with memorial services to be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of choice.
Arangements were under the direction of the Mullinax Funeral Chapel, Butler.
Charles E. French
Aug. 31, 1941 – Feb. 14, 2021
Charles Eugene “Gene” French, 79, Peculiar, died Feb. 14 at St. Joseph Medical Center. Gene was born Aug. 31, 1941, in Burbank, California, the son of Edwin and Doris French.
Gene graduated from Raytown High School in 1959. He married his high school sweetheart, Memoree Still, in 1961. This year would have been their 60th wedding anniversary.
Gene was a plumber by trade and owned his own business, Mr. Plumber and Professional Plumbing Services, until he retired.
He was a youth counselor for many years at Blue Ridge Baptist Temple in Kansas City and was then a member of First Baptist Church of Peculiar.
Gene was an avid racing fan and raced a red No. 44 Sprint car, winning a championship. He loved building and working on his race car and making things for other racers. He loved Sprint Cars, NASCAR, football and baseball.
Mostly he loved spending time with his family. He loved going to the river, fishing and boat rides.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Doris French; a sister, Linda Erickson; an uncle, Gene French; and a great-grandson, Kolby Fay.
He is survived by his wife, Memoree French; daughter, Kelee and Curtis Limbach; son, Kurt and Stephanie French; five grandchildren, Frank and Cheryl Limbach, Kacee and Justin Fay, Clinton and Jessica Limbach, Cyle and Raven Limbach, Emilee and Zach Klippert and a foster granddaughter, Sherry Goad; 10 great-grandchildren, Ashlee, Clayton and Carter Limbach; Rylan, Lillee and Sydnee Fay; Landon and Delainee Limbach; and Journee and Lincoln Limbach; a sister, Shirley and Wayne Haub; and many nephews and nieces.
Our lives are changed forever because he is not here, but we are grateful knowing he is with our Savior and we will be together again someday.
The family will have a private celebration of life at a later date. Memorial donations can be made to the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home – Country Haven.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Billy J. Morgan, Sr.
Aug. 20, 1949 – Feb. 5, 2021
Billy James Morgan, Sr., Harrisonville, was born Aug. 20, 1949, in Yuba City, California, the son of Elmer Alvin and Opal Bea (Plummer) Morgan. He died Feb. 5 at his home in Harrisonville surrounded by love and family at the age of 71 years, 5 months and 16 days.
Billy was employed as a machinist for BTM in Belton until his retirement in 2020.
He was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War. Billy enjoyed everything music, from playing the drums to singing.
He enjoyed being with his children and grandchildren.
He had lived in Adrian before moving to Harrisonville.
Billy was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Billy J. “Butch” Morgan, Jr.
Billy is survived by a son, James M. Morgan, Garden City; a daughter, Jamie Yoder and David, Harrisonville; five grandchildren, Keeli, Tristen, Tayler, Kalli and Tanner; a sister, Sue McClellan, Adrian; other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services were Feb. 10 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Burial with military services was in the Clearfork Cemetery, Garden City.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
N. Louise Musick
July 27, 1936 – Feb. 18, 2021
Louise Musick, 84, Drexel, died Feb. 18 at her home in Drexel. Nina Louise Musick was born July 27, 1936, in Miami, Oklahoma, the daughter of Lloyd and Clara Johnston Hoffman.
Louise was the eighth of 10 children born in her family.
She grew up in Seneca, Oklahoma, and graduated from Seneca High School in 1954.
Sept. 7, 1957, she married Myron E. Musick. To this union two sons were born, Douglas and Gregory.
They raised their family in Drexel, where Louise was very active in the community. She served on the election board for many years, was a member of the Drexel Chapter of Eastern Star joining June 14, 1962, and later a member of the Bayard Chapter after their merger. Louise was presented her 50-year member pin June 14, 2012.
She was a member of the West Line Christian Church and the Lisle Home Club.
Louise was preceded in death by her parents and siblings.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Myron E. Musick; sons, Douglas Musick and wife, Kristie, and Gregory Musick and wife, Charlene; grandchildren, Shelbi Musick, Ashley Kasper and husband, Teddy, and Amy Faulkner and husband, Brian; great-grandchildren, Caleb, Houston, Brooks, Emory, Oaklee and Sloan; along with a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members and dear friends.
Funeral services were Feb. 24 at the Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel.
Burial was in the Glenwild Cemetery, Cleveland. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bayard Chapter of Eastern Star.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel.
John D. Pruitt
June 2, 1943 – Feb. 13, 2021
John Douglas Pruitt, 77, Harrisonville, died Feb. 13 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City. John was born June 2, 1943, in McAlester, Oklahoma, the son of Wilburn Argus and Lois Agnes (Robertson) Pruitt.
He grew up in Oklahoma and married Glenda B. Bray Sept. 17, 1965, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. John and Glenda moved to Kansas City in 1966 and to Harrisonville in 1979.
John held a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Hospital Administration. He worked at the University of Kansas Medical Center for seven years and then worked at Truman Medical Center, Lakewood, for 30 years before retiring in 2003.
John was an ordained minister and in 1994, he and Glenda helped start and were charter members of the Harrisonville church of Christ.
John found enjoyment in many activities, playing and coaching athletics, hunting, gardening and acquiring collectibles, just to name a few.
John cherished his relationships as a husband, father, grandfather, brother and son. He invested time and was genuinely interested in the lives of his family and friends, both near and far. Above all else, his fulfillment in life was found in worshiping God and spreading the good news of the Gospel.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Charles Pruitt; and a sister, Jo Jameson.
John is survived by his wife, Glenda Pruitt, Harrisonville; a daughter, Anita Bowers and Greg, Joplin; three sons, Doug Pruitt and Cheri, Adrian, Will Pruitt and Valerie, Springfield, and Jason Pruitt and Elizabeth, Paola, Kansas; a brother, Don Pruitt and Dianne, Rogers, Arkansas; and 10 grandchildren, Ethan Burkett, Grant Burkett, Connor Pruitt, Camryn Pruitt, Hutton Pruitt, Jenna Pruitt, Barrett Pruitt, Isabella Pruitt, Archer Pruitt and Emma Faith Pruitt.
A private family burial was in Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the American Kidney Foundation at: http://www.kidney.org/donation . Please select ‘given in honor or in memory of a loved one’ and include John’s name.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Wanetta I. Decker
Feb. 14, 1950 – Feb. 15, 2021
Wanetta Irene Decker, 71, Moundridge, Kansas, formerly of Rich Hill, died Feb. 15 at Moundridge Manor in Moundridge. She was born Feb. 14, 1950, the daughter of Elmer Laverin and Donna Mae Koehn Decker in Newton, Kansas.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Wanetta is survived by a brother, Leon Decker and wife, Sue, Butler; a sister, Marlene Koehn and husband, Frank, Rich Hill; nephews, nieces, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.
Funeral services were Feb. 20 at Bethany Mennonite Church, Rich Hill. Burial was in Bethany Mennonite Cemetery, Rich Hill.
Contributions are suggested to Moundridge Manor.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler.
Virginia A. Gattenby
July 9, 1928 – Feb. 9, 2021
Virginia Arlene Bohl Gattenby was born July 9, 1928, in Lincoln, Kansas, the daughter of John Bohl and Zeta Hillen Bohl. She grew up with her beloved brother, Norman.
Aug. 10, 1946, she married Robert Lemuel Gattenby. They had five boys, John, Richard, Gerry, Gary and Jeff.
They lived in Kansas City, then Raytown and finally Harrisonville where they got their farm they loved.
Bob and Virginia found much joy in square dancing and were quite talented at it. They shared their love for it with Jeff and some of their grandchildren. On the weekends they often participated in competitions. Anytime you would venture into the basement, her petticoats and his dress clothes were always visible.
They enjoyed having family over for their famous homemade ice cream and pizza parties.
Virginia enjoyed various craft projects including needlework, quilt making, crocheting, baking, going to garage sales with her grandchildren and living on their farm.
When you were around Virginia, there was never a dull moment. You could never get anything past her and she always made sure everyone knew she was on top of things.
She died Feb. 9 at Medicalodge in Butler.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her sons, John and Richard; and many other family and friends.
Virginia is survived by her brother, Norman and Anne; sons. Gerry and Nancy, Gary and Debi, Jeff and Julie; and the daughter she never had, Kathie; nine grandchildren, including Steven who had a special bond with her and Grandpa, promising Grandpa he would take care of her to the end; nieces and nephews; and more great-grandchildren than she could keep track of; and many friends she made over the years.
Her vibrant life, unforgettable laugh and smile will be missed by us here on Earth, but we are comforted knowing that we will join her in our eternal heavenly home one day.
Our family would like to thank all the wonderful people who helped in her care at Adrian Manor, Medicalodge of Butler and Saint Croix Hospice, formerly Twin Lakes Hospice, especially Jamie. Your care and love for her is beyond appreciated.
Pallbearers were Gerry Gattenby, Steven Gattenby, Brandon Gattenby, Alexander Squier, Gary Gattenby and Garrett Gattenby and also an honorary pallbearer, Jeff Gattenby. Graveside services were Feb. 20.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Park Lawn Funeral Home, Kansas City.
Marcia L. McMurphy
May 5, 1959 – Feb. 16, 2021
Marcia McMurphy, 61, Rich Hill, died Feb. 16 at St. Joseph Medical Center, Kansas City. Marcia Lee Taylor McMurphy was born May 5, 1959, the daughter of Walter and Virginia Taylor.
She graduated from Butler High School with the class of 1977. She was a very active student while in school. Her yearbooks say she was in band for four years playing flute; two years in choir; and sang and played piano. For three years she was in flag corps and stage band and two years in pep band.
Marcia found the Lord as her savior many years ago and has spent her time ever since serving him and living her life with Him shining through her. She was active in the First Baptist youth group, youth choir and was the pianist.
She loved music and to travel. She enjoyed fishing, game nights and just being with her family. Her greatest accomplishment was being a loving mother to her three children and cheering them all on as a Butler Bear Mom and being grandma to her seven precious grandchildren.
She is survived by her son, Taylor McMurphy and his wife, Gina, along with his children, Lilah, James and Korrina;, her daughter, Jennifer McMurphy and her, children, Bradley and Brayden; her daughter, Ashley McMurphy and her children, Kenyon and Rayah; her brother, Bryan Taylor; and many extended family members and friends.
Funeral services were Feb. 23 at the Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler. Burial was in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler.
Memorial contributions may be made to the McMurphy family.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler.