January 2024

Matthew Alexander Thomas, age 55, of Mt. Vernon, passed away at 3:54 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. He was born July 19, 1968, in Long Beach, Calif., the son of the late James and Sylvia (Lyon) Thomas.

Carolyn Elizabeth (Bauer) Swartz, recently of Aurora, passed away Dec. 21, 2023, at the age of 87 in Tulsa, Okla., after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was born Dec. 14, 1936, in Versailles, to Alvin and Shirley (Washburn) Bauer.

Jennifer Rozann Meyer, age 58, of Mt. Vernon, went to be with Jesus on Dec. 23, 2023, after a short but hardfought battle with cancer. Jennifer was born July 11, 1965, in Poplar Bluff, the daughter of Robert and Betty (Canoy) Harr.

Mary Ellen Harrison, age 93, of Hot Springs, Ark. passed away Wednesday, Dec.

Jerald D. Ghan, age 80, of Marionville, went to be with the Lord early Monday morning on Dec. 25, 2023, with his wife Lorraine (Young) Ghan to whom he was married for 62 years, and family by his side. He was born May 6, 1943, in Springfield, the son of Roscoe and Elsie (Long) Ghan.

Jeffrey “Jeff” Daniel Norris, age 64, of Marionville, went on to be with the Lord on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, after his heart failed following a presumed heart attack. Jeff was born Sept. 26, 1959, in Monett, the son of Doyle and Janet (Rupert) Norris.

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Patrick Ferguson, age 77, of Pierce City, passed away at 12:03 a.m. on Friday, Dec.