Theresa J. Draper
Dec. 27, 1948 – Oct. 2, 2021
Theresa Joan Draper, 72, Lexington, formerly of Harrisonville, was born Dec. 27, 1948, in Morganfield, Kentucky, the daughter of Kenneth Williams and Margaret Mary (Leonard) Corcoran. She died Oct. 2 at Riverbend Heights Health and Rehabilitation, Lexington, at the age of 72 years, 9 months and 5 days.
Theresa was a homemaker. She will be remembered as loving, kind and always thoughtful of others. Her memories will carry us on.
We will never forget her wonderful smile and the love she gave to her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Theresa is survived by two daughters, Dani Burch, Greenwood, and Renee Wilcher, Kansas City; grandchildren, Ashley and Logan, Molly, David, Deim and Sean, Travis, Jay Allen and Tyler Anne; three sisters, Mary Corcoran, Kansas City, Colleen Wells, Roeland Park, Kansas, and Anne Oldum, Aurora, Colorado; other relatives and a host of friends.
Cremation. No services are scheduled.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 1700 W. Port, Kansas City, MO 64111 and may be sent in care of Dickey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 432, Harrisonville, MO 64701.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Arthur F. Gorsage
Oct. 27, 1952 – Oct. 4, 2021
Arthur “Frank” Franklin Gorsage, 68, Freeman, died Oct. 4 at Cass Regional Medical Center, Harrisonville. Frank was born Oct. 27, 1952, the son of Calvin and Josephine (Fangrow) Gorsage.
He graduated from Freeman High School. Frank worked primarily as a mechanic for Ford Tractor and then Starlight Trailers, but really was a jack of all trades, capable of fixing almost anything.
He married Mary Ann Sollis on June 2, 1990, in Archie. Frank loved the lake, whether that was sitting outside by the fire, listening to old country music with his cup of coffee or out on the water fishing or kayaking, the lake was a place he made memories with his family.
Family was one of his greatest joys as he loved playing horseshoes with his children and spending time with his grandchildren. You could find him tinkering around the house working on things at any given time as he was not the type to sit still.
He was a member of the Freeman Baptist Church. Frank will be dearly missed by all those who knew him.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Evelyn Green and Emma Chamness.
He is survived by his wife 31 years, Mary Ann; two sons, Josh and Janee Gorsage and Brandon and Heather Gorsage; two daughters, Rebecca and Dale McGaughey and Jennifer and Matt Thompson; 11 grandchildren, Aaron, Bailee, Cooper, Destinee, Xavier, Alicia, Damion, Kora, Karson, Tallen and Kalie; three brothers, Calvin and Dee Gorsage, Ron and Betty Jo Gorsage and Dan and Brenda Gorsage; two sisters, Arlene and James Welch and Carol and Don Davidson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were Oct. 11 at the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Burial was in the Freeman Cemetery, Freeman.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Theodore F. Long
Sept. 30, 1925 – Sept. 21, 2021
Theodore Franklin Long was born on Sept. 30, 1925, in Harrison, Arkansas, and died Sept. 21 in Harrisonville. Frank died surrounded by his family and the loving, watchful nurses of St. Croix Hospice.
Frank is survived by his beloved wife of 73 years, Milly Lou Long; four children, Denny and wife, Debbee, Long, Sue Nichols, Rich and wife, Anne Goddard, and John Long; a brother, John “Butch” and wife, Wendy Long; 13 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore H. Long and Vada Belle Tye Long; two sisters, Ellen Mae Markham and Anna Marie Williams; and his brother, Bobby Lee.
Frank was very proud, but humble, to be a veteran of World War II. He served with the 299th Combat Engineers. Frank landed on Normandy Beach on D Day with the first wave of Army Rangers and served throughout the European Theater.
Frank fought in the Battle of the Bulge, including Bastogne and Remagen. Frank earned a Purple Heart after he was wounded in battle. During his service, Frank had a brief, but significant encounter with Gen. George S. Patton which went on to become part of family lore. In 1950, Frank again answered the call to serve and was sent to Fort Lewis, Washington. Frank served his country with honor, distinction and pride.
Frank’s life truly began when he married the love of his life, Milly Bogar. After dating for three years, they were married June 10, 1948.
Frank started his first of many careers working for the Standard Oil Pipeline Company. He also served as state commander of the Colorado Rangers. This was a mounted horseback organization that helped police officers.
Frank’s love of children led him to be a juvenile probation officer with the Cass County Correction Center.
Frank and Milly’s life together was a series of adventures. They lived in 43 homes and went full-time RV’ing for four years while volunteering for church projects across the country.
Their imagination was limitless and the world was their canvas. Frank and Milly returned to live in Harrisonville many times and were always very involved with their church. Frank was an elder and chairman of the board at First Christian Church of Freeman.
Frank was an avid golfer, but Frank’s biggest love and greatest pride was his wife Milly, his children and grandchildren. He never missed a moment sharing his love with each of them. To his family and many friends, he will always be remembered as the one and only “Pa.”
Through Pa’s almost 96 years, he was a blessing. Pa served people. People of all ages were attracted to him. People that knew Pa always felt, heard, understood and loved. Pa was a candle on its stand, giving light to every life he touched.
A celebration of life was Sept. 30 at the First Christian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to St. Croix Hospice.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Funeral Services of Independence.
James E. Graef
May 1, 1948 – Sept. 24, 2021
James “Jim” Elton Graef, Blairstown, was born May 1, 1948, the son of James Lee and Lelia (Boyles) Graef. He died Sept. 24 at St. Luke’s South Hospital, Overland Park, Kansas, at the age of 73 years, 4 months and 23 days.
Sept. 17, 1965, Jim married Perry Raye Jenkins in Urich, where they were lifelong members of the Urich Christian Church.
Jim worked and retired from KCPL after 30 years. He was a member of the Urich Lion’s Club for 34 years and also served on the Urich Cemetery Board, PSW No. 4 Water District and the Bogard Road Board. Jim was very involved with his community.
After Jim retired, he and his beloved wife, Perry, traveled seeing many beautiful sites until her death in 2018.
He loved his family and considered most of his friends as family too. Jim loved to cook, entertain and take care of people. Jim spent the rest of his retirement fishing and camping at Truman Lake.
Jim is survived by his son, Timothy R. and Sarabeth Graef, and a daughter, Terri L. and Zack Vandervort, all of Blairstown; 10 grandchildren, Samantha and Dan Ertel, Dylan and Rachel Graef, Tabitha and Trenton Tosh, Vanessa and Jake Burnworth, Ethan and Brianna Kedigh, Kennady Kedigh, Sydney Graef, Kayla, Kelsey and Dustin Vandervort; six great-grandchildren, Reaghan, Axel, Mason, Treson, Charlee Raye and Stella; a sister, Janice and Ron Hutcherson; and an uncle, Bill Boyles; other relatives and many friends.
Jim will be missed by all who loved him.
Cremation. A celebration of life gathering will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Urich Lions Club, 307 Main St., Urich.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Urich Lions Club.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Dallas D. Ross
Jan. 22, 1938 – Sept. 30, 2021
Dallas Donald Ross, 83, Butler, died Sept. 30 at his home in Butler. He was born Jan. 22, 1938, the son of John Henson and Ivy Luby Tyler Ross in Paris, Tennessee.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, John Ross, Jamie Ross and Lee Ross; and two sisters, Virginia Perrin and Daryl Conoley.
Dallas is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jo Ann Ross, Butler; a daughter, Jo-Ellen “Jodi” Roberts, Hartville; a son, John Alan Ross, Butler; a sister, Betty Berry and husband, Bo, Oak Grove; a brother-in-law, Don Perrin, Independence; four grandchildren, Kyrstin, JoLynn, Dallas and Denver; and two great-grandchildren, Alissa Jo and Aubrey Rayne.
Cremation. Memorial services were Oct. 9 at the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler. Inurnment will be at the family farm at a later date.
Contributions are suggested to the Adrian Restoration Branch.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler.
Clyde F. Tarter
Aug. 3, 1938 – Oct. 6, 2021
Clyde Frederick Tarter, 83, Butler, died Oct. 6 at Butler Center, Butler. He was born Aug. 3, 1938, the son of Cortes Alvy Tarter, Sr., and Loara Lucille Porter Tarter in Kansas City.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, James, Cortes and Bill Tarter; and a sister, Julia Nighswonger.
Clyde is survived by a special nephew, David Tarter and wife, Debbie, Butler; a niece, Meg Ross and husband, Jason, College Station, Texas; three sisters, Opal Hinton, Dorothy Doss and Joan Clapper; numerous other nephews and nieces; and great-nephews and great-nieces.
Graveside services were Oct. 9 at Mt. Washington Cemetery, Independence.
Contributions are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler.
