Stories from Monday, January 19, 2015

An explosion Monday afternoon leveled a building behind the home of Eleanor Stephens, approximately three miles west of Monett on Farm Road 2001. Neighbors reported the explosion at 2:39 p.m. on Monday. Propane and acetylene tanks in the building continued to explode after firefighters arrived, sending a large plume of smoke into the air...

Wilbur Irvin Montgomery, 88, of Monett, entered into eternal rest Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Mo. He was born on March 14, 1926, in Claremore, Okla., the son of the late Boyd and Lillian (Sparrow) Montgomery. He was united in marriage on November 7, 1951, in Wichita, Kan., to Nora Stubbs, she survives...

Robert Darrell Burnley, 64, of Mt. Vernon, died at 11:25 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16, at his home. Graveside services, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, at Mt. Vernon City Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project in care of the funeral home...

Corinne McBride, 98, of Pierce City, died at 10:22 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 18, at the home of her daughter near Wentworth. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday Jan. 23, at Lakin Funeral Home, Pierce City. Burial will be at Pierce City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, at Lakin Funeral Home...

Bettye Lou Slater, 94 of Vernon, Texas, died Wednesday, Jan. 14, at Vernon, Texas. Services will be held at a later date at Oddfellow Cemetery in Monett. Arrangements are under the direction of Sullivan Funeral Home, Vernon, Texas.

EIGHTY YEARS AGO Jan. 18-24, 1935 The women who braved the weather to attend the final session of the Whitlock-Lines Free Cooking School on Jan. 18 were taught ways of making colored tea cakes and tea biscuits, pies and of course lightbread, which always turns out fluffy and brown for Mrs. Silvernail, national lecturer and demonstrator who spoke at the City Hall Auditorium. Mrs. Silvernail uses Aristos "Never-Fail" flour in all her recipes, which is sold at Whitlock-Lines...

Carl Woods, 58, of Monett, died at 9:37 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at Cox Monett Hospital. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Lakin Funeral Home, Pierce City. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until service time. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, north of Pierce City...

Georgia Fern Hollingsworth, 81, of Cassville, died at 8:55 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 15. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. Burial was at Corinth Cemetery, Cassville.

Edmund I. Seaman, 68, of Fairview, died at 7 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under direction of McQueen Funeral Home, Wheaton.

Edna "Maxine" Brattin, 84, of Wheaton, died at 3.55 pm. Friday, Jan. 16. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, at Wheaton Southern Baptist Church, under direction of McQueen Funeral Home, Wheaton. Burial will be in Muncie Chapel Cemetery, Wheaton...

Alfred Ashby, 88, of Pierce City, died at 7:40 a.m.Sunday, Jan. 18, at his home. Memorial services will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, at his home in Pierce City. Mr. Ashby has been cremated at his request under the direction of Lakin Funeral Home, Pierce City...

Michael Lynn "Mike" Utter, 64, of Cassville, died at 3:31 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16. A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at the home of Mike's son, Chris, at 10505 Maple Street, Butterfield. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville...