Martin L. Cooper
March 28, 1959 – Dec. 5, 2021
Martin “Marty” Lee Cooper, 62, Harrisonville, died Dec. 21 at his home. Marty was born March 28, 1959, to Fred Cooper and Patricia Cooper in Neodesha, Kansas.
He married Susan Mercer on Dec. 31, 1977.
Marty spent most of his career as a commercial plasterer in the construction field.
Marty was an avid hunter, fisherman and trapper.
He was a member of the Cass County Elks Lodge, the National Rifle Association and the National and Missouri Trappers Association.
He spent most of his days “cruising” watching for deer, turkeys and everything in between in the hunting field. He taught his daughter, Sarah, how to hunt and trap, then later enjoyed spending time with both sons-in-law teaching them how to hunt and fish. Along with hunting, Marty was the neighborhood watch dog, looking out for everyone around him.
Marty was a true family man, spending the last 30 years raising his two daughters, Stephanie and Sarah. What Marty treasured most was spending time with his three grandchildren, Colton, Elliana and Lilly. Whether it was taking them to school, taking them to extracurricular activities or just playing around the house dancing to music letting his grandchildren listen to classic rock ‘n’ roll.
Martin Lee Cooper was preceded in death by father, Fred Cooper.
He is survived by his wife, Susan Cooper; his mother, Patricia Cooper; his daughters, Stephanie Hess and Tyler and Sarah Hochhalter and Zack; his grandchildren, Colton Hess, Elliana Hochhalter and Lilly Hochhalter; and his sister, Cindy Zimmerman.
A celebration of life will be at the family home from 2 to 7 p.m. Dec. 31. Please make donations to the American Lung Cancer Foundation.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Ernestine L. Hayden
Feb. 27, 1937 – Dec. 16, 2021
Ernestine Lula Hayden, Belton, was born Feb. 27, 1937, in Long Bottom, Ohio, the daughter of Harley and Wilda Smith. She died Dec. 16.
Ernestine was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.
She worked for many years as a visiting nurse.
Her love, passion and first priority were taking care of her family.
She enjoyed singing, dancing, playing the piano and guitar.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters and two brothers.
Ernestine is survived by her son, Jimmie Hayden, II, and wife, Sandy, Belton; her four daughters, Wendy Lees, Kansas City, Tina Bollinger and husband, Dave, Cleveland, Pamela Wood and husband, Chuck, and Nanette Everhart and husband, Danny, all of Belton; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandsons; and a sister, Vivian Laughlin, El Dorado Springs.
Funeral services were Dec. 22 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Jerry E. Miller
July 3, 1934 – Dec. 17, 2021
Jerry E. Miller, 87, Harrisonville, died Dec. 17 at the Pleasant Hill Health and Rehab Center, Pleasant Hill. Jerry was born July 3, 1934, in Archie, the son of Phillip “Weston” and Lucille Elizabeth (Wimsatt) Miller.
He was a lifelong Cass County resident and had lived in Archie and Peculiar before moving to Harrisonville.
Jerry joined the United States Navy in 1951 and served during the Korean War.
In 1955, after his discharge from the Navy, Jerry started work at Bendix in Kansas City. He worked for Bendix until his retirement.
Jerry married Bonnie Milam, Sept. 1, 1956, in Peculiar and shortly after they were married they made their home in Harrisonville.
Jerry was a 43-year member of Harrisonville VFW Post 4409, a 43-year member and past master (1985) of Cass Masonic Lodge No. 147 in Harrisonville, a member of Ararat Shrine in Kansas City, a past president of the Cass County Shrine Club and a member of the Cass County Shrine Club Wildcats motorcycle group.
Jerry was very mechanically inclined and could fix anything. In his younger days, he held his pilot’s license and owned his own airplane, giving his family many thrilling moments.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Vernon Miller.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 65 years, Bonnie; three daughters, Debbi and Phil Lehr, Brenda Marble and Dee Ann Miller, all of Harrisonville; eight grandchildren, Shayla and Mike McCurley, Dustin Lehr, Sawyer and Kim Mastin, Amber and George Quick, Jeron Milburn, Ali Milburn, Joseph and Brittany Miller and Mike Marble; 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-granddaughters.
A memorial service was Dec. 22 at the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Inurnment with military honors followed the memorial service at Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville. Contributions are suggested to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Gary L. Pittman
March 25, 1949 – Dec. 18, 2021
Gary L. Pittman, 72, Harrisonville, died Dec. 18 at his home in Harrisonville.
Gary was born March 25, 1949, in Kansas City, the son of Vernon B. and Mina (Staley) Pittman.
He attended East High School and Paseo High School in Kansas City.
He married Wanda Elliott on May 17, 1969, in Kansas City.
He then enlisted in the United States Marines and served during the Vietnam War.
Gary had lived in Raymore for 13 years and Peculiar for 10 years before moving to Harrisonville 12 years ago.
He was an owner operator at Atlas Van Lines trucking company for more than 35 years before retiring in 2008. Gary loved to travel, go to the races, fish, ride his Harley-Davidson and spend time with his grandchildren.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Mina; his stepmother, Sonia Anderson; his brothers, Vernon, Jr., Roy and Ronnie Pittman; and his first son, Gary Lee Pittman, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Wanda, of the home; and sons: Troy Pittman, Archie, and Tony Pittman, Peculiar; a sister, Angie Alyea, Peculiar; a brother, Ralph Pittman; grandchildren, Rebecca, Darian, Walker, Alex, Shelby, Remington and Chase; two great-grandchildren, Kyle Paige and Baby Girl Sanders due to be born in February 2022.
A celebration of life service was Dec. 27 at the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Emmett F. Smith, Jr.
April 14, 1937 – Dec. 22, 2021
Emmett Forest “Frosty” Smith, Jr., 84, Peculiar, died Dec. 22 at Cass Regional Medical Center, Harrisonville. Emmett was born April 14, 1937, the son of Emmett Smith and Rebecca (Berryhill) Smith in Saint Joseph.
He graduated from Center High School in Kansas City, with the class of 1955.
After high school, he worked for Bennett Construction, Hensel Phelps Construction and then Butler Steel Buildings as the head of national accounts.
He then relocated to the Denver, Colorado, area from 1972 to 1990, where he owned Echo Construction. He returned to Peculiar in 1990, where he owned Forest Scott Industries and then built and owned Peculiar Park Place RV Park in 2000.
Emmett married Abigail Ferrari, June 17, 1999. Emmett was a member of Cass County Masonic Lodge No. 147 in Harrisonville.
Emmett was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ronald Lee Smith and Knute Rockne Smith; and a child, Anthony Vincent Ferrari.
He is survived by his wife, Abigail Ferrari; his children, Steven Douglas Smith, Spartanburg, South Carolina, Tanya Renee Sirna, Pleasant Hill, Jeffrey Scott Smith, Independence, Todd Brant Smith, Greer, South Carolina, Christopher Forest Smith, Lee’s Summit, and Matthew Wade Ferrari, Belton; 18 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were, Dec. 28 at the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Interment followed in the Wills Cemetery. Peculiar.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
David L. Probst
July 2, 1945 – Dec. 15, 2021
The Rev. David Lee Probst, 76, Butler, died Dec. 15 at his home in Butler. He was born July 2, 1945, the son of Laurence Ralston and Mary Ida Buckey Probst in Columbus, Ohio.
David grew up in Aquila, Arizona, and lived in Nickerson and Sterling, Kansas, before moving to Butler in 2010.
He served in the United States Army in Vietnam. David was a mail carrier by occupation for 31 years and worked at the Sterling Post Office as a letter carrier.
He attended Swaggert Bible College, preached for 13 years and then became an evangelist. David was a member of the Full Gospel Churches International and belonged to the Freedom Tabernacle Church in Osceola.
He most recently worked as a manager for Walmart in Butler.
David enjoyed the outdoors and hunting and fishing. He felt he was called to be an evangelist, was a great preacher and loved to give his testimony. He was forever indebted and bonded to his service dog, Tulip, who was very protective of him.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.
David is survived by his wife, Cheryl Probst, Butler; 10 children, Shayne Froelich and Heather, Manitoba, Canada; David Lee Probst, Vail, Colorado; Jason Probst, Hutchison, Kansas; David Lawrence Probst and Ashely, Espanola, New Mexico; Crystal Murray and David, Corydon, Indiana; Candice Nelson and Steve, Kingman, Arizona; Amber Michalak and Jamie, Nevada, Texas; David Grubb and Rachel and Jeremy Grubb and Katie, all of Butler; and Janie Green, Calhoun; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life memorial service with military honors will be at 10 a.m.
Jan. 15 at the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler. There will be no visitation. Contributions are suggested to the Freedom Tabernacle in Osceola.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler.
