Stories from Saturday, November 7, 2020

Leoda M. Brightwell, 92, of Jenkins, died Wednesday, Nov. 4. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at Clio Cemetery in Jenkins, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Pastor Jimmie Copley, 77, of Monett, died Thursday, Nov. 5, at Cox South Medical Center following complications from COVID-19. Services are pending at this time and will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett...

Margaret L. Eggers, 82, of Cassville, died Tuesday, Nov. 3. Funeral services were held Friday, Nov. 6, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial was at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cassville.

Wilma Epps, 66, of Washburn, died Monday, Nov. 2. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Kerry Stephen Green, 70, of Mt. Vernon, died at 6:25 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield. Visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, at First Christian Church in Mt. Vernon, with a memorial service to follow at 3 p.m. Burial will be held at a later date...

Mary Ellen LeFaivre, 95, of Cassville, died Monday, Nov. 2. Graveside services were held at 2: p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Shirley Luongo, 87, of Cassville, died Monday, Nov. 2. Private family services will be held. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Bob Matthews, 94, of Miller, died Monday, Nov. 2, at his home. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5, at Goss Cemetery. Family and friends may pay their respects from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5, at Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home in Miller...

Donna Coleen Phillips, 91, of Cassville, died Monday, Nov. 2. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at Horner Cemetery in Cassville. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Daniel Ralls, 54, of Exeter, died Monday, Nov. 2. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial will be at Bache Red Oak Cemetery in Bache, Okla., at a later date.

Richard Warren Rhea, 81, of Monett, died Thursday, Nov. 5. A private family funeral service is being held Saturday, Nov. 7. A public graveside service is being held on Saturday Nov. 7, at Stones Prairie Cemetery in Purdy at 1 p.m. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett...

Lonnie L. Woolard, 72, of Rocky Comfort, died at Monday, Nov. 2. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

On Tuesday, a shockwave was sent through the community as word of the passing of Monett Superintendent Russ Moreland began to spread. As tributes and fond memories were displayed on social media platforms, my thoughts turned to what poet Linda Ellis once opened her verse of The Dash with:...

For the ninth consecutive time and 10th time in school history, the Monett soccer team can call itself district champion. The Cubs overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit, scoring two goals in the the first four minutes of the second half to go on and claim a 3-2 win over Logan-Rogersville in the Class 2, District 4 title game Thursday in Aurora...

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Towers will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on Nov. 18. Ralph Wayne Towers and Florene Nadine Conway were united in marriage on Nov. 18, 1950, in Detroit, Mich. The couple have six children, Deanna (Joe) O’Hara, Keith (Carla) Towers, David Towers, Lynette (Dean) Crady, Dennis (Diana) Towers, and Danny Towers; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. ...

Bob and Linda Bartelsmeyer, of Monett, will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary on Nov. 22. Bob Bartelsmeyer and Linda Newman were united in marriage on Nov. 22, 1980, at First Baptist Church in Aurora. The couple have two children, Jon Bartelsmeyer and wife, Mellissa, of Marshfield, and Krista Cupp and husband, Cameron, of Bentonville, Ark., and four grandchildren, Luke and Evie Bartelsmeyer and Kanin and Isla Cupp...

Purdy High School Volleyball Coach Mica Propps and Purdy FBLA Co-Sponsors Kay Wright and Emily Brewer are pleased to announce the results of the district’s October 8, 2020 Pink Out fundraising activities, which included t-shirt and cake pop sales, the opportunity for students to wear hats to school for a $1 donation and a 50-50 raffle and serving contest at the evening’s volleyball game...

Christopher Smith of Monett, successfully completed four years of challenging academic, physical, and professional military training, graduating from the United States Naval Academy, May 22, with Bachelor of Science degrees in both Computer Science and Information Technology and a commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy. Christopher is a 2016 graduate of Monett High School...

Due to the increase in COVID-19 positive activity in the Monett area, the Hobbs-Anderson Legion Post 91 will not meet in November. The annual Christmas party has been canceled. These cancelations are in the interests of members, their families and the community...

Monett Assistant Superintendent of Public Works David Dunn was recognized as a finalist for Missouri LAGERS’ 2020 Local Government Hero Award.

Monett Firefighters, along with First State Bank of Purdy in Monett, joined forces to fight for a cure to breast cancer by selling T-shirts and collecting loose change in pink boots throughout the month of October.

A total of 52 donors recently participated at an American Red Cross blood drive, held at the First Christian Church of Monett. The event saw Teresa Beaty as a first-time donor. Those reaching donor milestones included Ruth Brubacker, two gallons; Mable Brubacker, three gallons; Mark Meyer, five gallons; Juli Wesolek, six gallons; Judy Kitchen, 13 gallons; Dale Gentry, 17 gallons; and Paul Renfro, 25 gallons...

Long-time county official and Mt. Vernon community leader Gary Emerson died on Thursday (Nov. 5). Emerson had been hospitalized with the COVID-19 (coronavirus) for several weeks. Emerson had been elected the Lawrence County recorder of deeds in 2018. He had previously served four terms as the county clerk, from 2004 to 2016...

Barry County voters made their voices heard at the polls on Tuesday, turning a red wave more into a red tsunami when it came to GOP support. In total, 15,744 out of 22,210 registered voters cast their ballots, a turnout of 70.89 percent. The figure actually did not follow the national trend of higher turnout, as in 2016, 14,830 out of the 20,445 registered voters cast ballot, equalling a 72.54 percent turnout...

Hearts remain heavy in Monett and across southwest Missouri this week as friends and colleagues mourn the loss of Russ Moreland, Monett school district superintendent who is remembered for his dedication to his work and as a great friend to many. A.J. Bahl, Monett Board of Education president, said describing Moreland’s strengths was tough because he had so many of them...

There’s no way to put into words how difficult it has been this week for the Monett and surrounding communities after the loss of Monett Superintendent Russ Moreland. The news came as a shock to everyone. It was unbelievable at first, and many, myself included, are still having trouble wrapping our heads around the tragic and untimely passing of a man so respected and loved by anyone who interacted with him...