Obituaries

James E. Aldrich

James Eugene Aldrich, 35, Oak Grove, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001, as the result of an automobile accident.

Mr. Aldrich was born Oct. 18, 1966, in Iola, Kan., the son of Leonard and Ruth (Scobee) Aldrich. He moved to Oak Grove in 1984, graduated from Oak Grove High School in 1985, then served in the U.S. Air Force. He was an automobile transport truck driver. He was preceded in death by his father.

His survivors include his mother and stepfather, Ruth and Vernon Kaufman, Oak Grove; his fianc, Holly Bunyard, Lee's Summit; three brothers, Joseph Aldrich, Kansas City, and Scott Kaufman and Stacey Kaufman, both of Oak Grove; his grandmother, Gladys Kaufman, Gridley, Kan.; two nieces, Alexa Rose Kaufman and Amber Aldrich; two nephews, Cameron Leigh Kaufman and Michael Aldrich; and close friends, Jack and Deloris Winemiller and Ben and Donna Winemiller.

Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Royer Funeral Home, Oak Grove. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Orville L. Barker

Orville Lee Barker, 70, Odessa, died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001, at Independence Regional Health Center.

Mr. Barker was born Feb. 21, 1931, in Odessa, the son of Lonnie and Alma I. (Rennecker) Barker. He married Nellie Marie McCain on July 21, 1970, in Odessa. He worked for Shippers Car Line in Kansas City for 30 years, retiring in 1992. He served in the Army during the Korean War and was a member of Odessa Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5675. He was a graduate of Odessa High School. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah Johnston Caswell, on Dec. 7, 1998, a sister, Alice Bandy, and three brothers, Lonnie C., Harold and Kenneth Barker.

His survivors include his wife, Nellie Marie Barker, of the home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Larry Dean and Bonita Barker, Odessa, and Mike and Joni Johnston, Oak Grove; a sister, Verna Parman Rayhill, Odessa; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services were today at the Ralph O. Jones Chapel, Odessa. Burial, with a military service by the Odessa Military Honors Team, was in Barker Cemetery, Odessa. The family suggests contributions to the Barker Cemetery Association.

Selvey N. Decker

Selvey N. Decker, 86, Sugar Creek, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001, at Ridge Crest Nursing Center, Warrensburg, Mo.

Mr. Decker was born Oct. 15, 1915, in Sugar Creek. He worked at Standard Oil (Amoco) in Sugar Creek before retiring as a foreman from the Mobay Chemical Corp. He was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II and received two Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars and the Asiatic-Pacific and Victory Medal. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1000 and the Disabled American Veterans and was a Methodist by faith. He was preceded in death by two brothers, William and Oliver Decker.

His survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Steven Lyle, and a grandson, Aleksey Lyle, all of Urich, Mo.

Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at the George C. Carson and Sons Independence Chapel. Burial will be in Mound Grove Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday at the chapel. The family suggests contributions to VFW Post 1000 or the DAV.

M. Gretta Elwell

Mary Gretta (Owen) Elwell, 96, died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001, at a hospital in Liberty.

Mrs. Elwell was born Nov. 2, 1905, in Calumet, Okla., the daughter of Bert A. and Bertha (Sanders) Owen. She attended school in Muskogee, Okla., and was a graduate of Oklahoma State University. She taught at the New York Educational School for the Blind in New York City, and also took classes in music and voice while in New York. On Jan. 1, 1934, she married Don Garfield Elwell in Calumet, and lived in Oklahoma until moving to Osborn, Mo., in 1950, where they farmed until 1965. She then moved to Maysville, Mo. She was a proofreader for the Community of Christ Braille Department and also transposed the Braille edition of the new Saints' hymnal for the church. She had been a member and director of music at the Maysville Community of Christ congregation for the past 28 years. She also took it upon herself to send "care packages" to the college students of the congregation. Until her last illness, she worked with several of the young people in the congregation teaching vocal music. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don Elwell, in 1985, her parents, three brothers, Clarence, William and Ammon Owen, and five sisters, Margie Critchfield, Erma Parker, Ardyce Crownover, Chela Coffman and Roberta Carpio.

Her survivors include her caregivers, Johnnie and Boni McKee and their children, Jared and Angel, all of Cameron, Mo.; and a niece, Linda Kay Willimon, Liberty.

Services were today at the Community of Christ in Maysville. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery, Osborn. Memorials in Mrs. Elwell's name may be made to Camp Quality, in care of Bram Funeral Home, P.O. Box 350, Maysville, Mo. 64469.

Lawrence E. Evans Sr.

Lawrence E. Evans Sr., 68, Independence, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001, at his home.

Mr. Evans was born Sept. 30, 1933, in Parnell, Mo., the son of Porter and Rhoda Evans. He was a terminal manager for Campbell 66 Express Trucking for many years. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Emily Jean Jacobsen, and a brother, Sgt. Major Porter A. Evans Jr.

His survivors include three sons and daughters-in-law, Lawrence E. Evans Jr. and Barbara, James A. and Dianne Evans and Charles Clay and Denise Evans, all of Independence; seven grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Bonnie Evans, Grant City, Mo.

Services will be 3 p.m. Thursday at the Speaks Suburban Chapel. Burial will be in Mound Grove Cemetery. Friends may call from 7 to 8:30 tonight at the chapel. The family suggests contributions to the Arthritis Foundation.

Jacki L. Fields

Jacki Lea Horner Fields, 45, Palatine, Ill., formerly of Independence, died Friday, Dec. 14, 2001.

Ms. Fields was born March 17, 1956, in Sugar Creek and was a graduate of Fort Osage High School. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert L. Horner.

Her survivors include a son, Brendan Fields, a daughter, Lillian Fields, and a grandson, Hunter; her mother, Carol Horner, Independence; a brother, John R. Horner, Mandan, N.D.; aunts, uncles, cousins; two nieces and one nephew.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the George C. Carson and Sons Independence Chapel. The family suggests contributions to any area hospice.

Margaret J. Johnson

Margaret J. Johnson, 69, Odessa, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001, at her home.

Mr. Johnson was born July 18, 1932, in Maysville, Mo., the daughter of Andrew and Julia A. (Farley) Salmond. On April 1, 1955, she married Robert S. Johnson, who preceded her in death in 1992. She worked for several companies in the Kansas City area as a secretary, clerk and retail jobs. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bates City.

Her survivors include a sister, Betty E. Blevins, Buckner; five nephews, James K. Salmond, Fairfax, Mo., Ronald A. and Ed Salmond, both of Tarkio, Mo., Larry A. Salmond, Mount Vernon, Mo., and Joe S. Kimbrough, Buckner; and 12 great-nieces and nephews.

Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at the church. Graveside services will be 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Home Cemetery, Tarkio. Friends may call after the funeral services at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home.

Juanita M. Lane

Juanita M. Lane, 87, Independence, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001, at Independence Regional Health Center.

Mrs. Lane was born Dec. 18, 1914, in Yell County, Ark. She had worked for H.L. Myer Optical.

Her survivors include a son, Gary "Ronnie" Lane, Independence; three grandchildren, Tracy McNally, and Shawn and Rusty Lane; two stepgrandchildren, William and Shaun Golden; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Services will be 3 p.m. Friday at the Park Lawn Funeral Home, Kansas City. Burial will be in Green Lawn Cemetery, Kansas City.

Lila A. Livingston

Lila A. Smith Livingston, 104, Manchester, N.H., died Friday, Dec. 28, 2001.

Mrs. Livingston had lived in Waverly for 10 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Livingston, in 1978.

Her survivors include a daughter, Patricia Mallory, Manchester; three grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a sister, Eunice Livingston, Independence.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Community of Christ, 36th and Burt streets, Omaha, Neb. A private burial will be held in Hillcrest Cemetery, Omaha. For more information, visit www.lambertfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Lambert Funeral Home, Manchester.

Barbara J. McNeely

Barbara Jean McNeely, 70, Raytown, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001.

She was born Aug. 27, 1931, in Atchison, Kan., where she spent her life until moving to the Kansas City area in 1992. She was preceded in death by her parents, Adolph and Mary (Barnes) Ehret, a brother, Clinton Ehret, and a sister, Carolyn Webb.

Her survivors include three daughters, Michelle Brown, Sandra Berney and Lisa Wenzel; a son, Steven Adams; a sister, Jacqueline Thornton; a brother, Aloph Ehret Jr.; five grandchildren; and numerous stepchildren and stepgrandchildren.

No services are planned. The family suggests contributions to the United Cerebral Palsy Association, in care of Charter Funerals, 10250 W. 63rd St., Merriam, Kan. 66203.

James Harry Merideth

James Harry Merideth, 90, Independence, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001, at the Independence Health Care Center.

Mr. Merideth was born Jan. 1, 1911, in Jonesboro, Ark., the son of James C. and Metta B. (Hynds) Merideth. He was a 1937 graduate of Arkansas State University and taught school and coached boys and girls basketball until 1941. He was employed by Pratt-Whitney and the Bendix Corp. from 1941 to 1959.

He also worked for the Spencer Chemical Co., Jensen Engineering, Sharp Construction Co., the Vendo Corp., Panhandle Eastern, Kevit and Meyers, Helmer and Medvid Arch and Litton Industries, retiring in 1975.

He was a member of McDonald's Masonic Lodge 324 in Independence and Rockwood Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Susie Marie (Newcomer) Merideth, his second wife, Sara Cathrine (Shanklin), Merideth, and a granddaughter, Amie Louise Merideth.

His survivors include a daughter, Terrilyn S. Merideth, Independence; a son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Sherry Merideth, Kansas City; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be 8 p.m. Thursday at the Hinton-Gibson Funeral Home, Raytown. Burial will be 11 a.m. Friday at Weathermon Cemetery, Guilford, Mo. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Children's Mercy Hospital.