Area Obituaries

Kenneth Lavern Jones, age 105, of Shelbina, MO, passed away Thursday, July 2, 2026 at the Baptist Homes of Shelbina Senior Center in Shelbina, MO. Kenneth was born May 6, 1921 in rural Bethel, MO, the son of Arthur Burk and Maggie (McCue) Jones.  He was united in marriage to Frances Margaret “Marge” Magruder on…

Christina Lucille Fifer, 75, of Shelbina, MO passed away on Friday, June 26, 2026 at the University of Missouri Hospital. Christina was born on November 18, 1950 in Sioux City, IA, the daughter of Lionel Clyde Bertrand and Mayzene Mary Miller. Survivors include 5 children, Audra Lanpher (Allen) of Monroe City, James Howell II  of…

Mary Lou Bichsel, 92, of Leonard, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at Baptist Homes of Shelbina. Born Mary Lou Crow on May 26, 1934, in Greenup, Illinois, she was the daughter of Margaret Florence Baumgartner and David Henry Crow. She graduated from Leonard High School in 1952 and began her working life…

David Lee Wise, age 67, of Charlotte, NC passed away Thursday, April 23, 2026 at Autumn Care of Drexel in Drexel, North Carolina. David was born September 28, 1958 in Hannibal, MO the son of William Arnett and Betty L. Brown Wise. He is survived by his mother; Betty Wise, two brothers; Mark Wise (Valerie)…

Latrelle Ray Walker, age 86, of Clarence, MO passed away on Friday, April 10, 2026 at the University Hospital in Columbia, MO. Latrelle was born on February 24, 1940, in Anabel, Missouri, the son of Lee Owen and Juanita Ruth Hill Walker.  He was united in marriage to Matilda Jane Russell, and later married Caroyln…

Janis Elmore Morrison, age 89, of Bethel, MO passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at Baptist Homes of Shelbina in Shelbina, MO. Janis was born on October 2, 1936 in Bethel, MO, the daughter of Grover and Fannie (Latimer) Smoot.  She was united in marriage to James Vernon Morrison on April 2, 1954 in…

Patricia (Patsy) Ann Mettes, age 83, of Shelbyville, Missouri, passed away peacefully on April 10, 2026. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, her greatest joy was caring for and being with her family. Patsy is now joyfully reunited in Heaven with her beloved husband, Jim, and loving daughter, Penny. Patsy was born March 2,…

Eugene “Geno” Kenneth Broeckling, 78, of Shelbina, Missouri, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 12:20 p.m. Geno was born on June 17, 1947, in St. Charles, Missouri, the son of Augusta and Bernard Broeckling. On December 7, 1973, he married Deborah Brewer. Together, they shared 52 years of marriage…

Margaret Darlene Baldwin, age 86, of Holliday, Mo., passed away at the Baptist Homes Nursing Home of Shelbina on Saturday, February 21, 2026. Darlene was born on January 13, 1940, the daughter of Russell and Ethel (Schnitzer) Waite. She was united in marriage to Cloyce Baldwin on June 16, 1957. They are now reunited in…

  John Wesley Bode, 78, of Edina, Missouri, passed away Monday Evening, February 9, 2026, at the La Belle Manor Care Center in La Belle, Missouri, surrounded by family and friends.   John was born February 28, 1947, in Quincy, Illinois, the son of George Glenn and Orinda Jen Hatcher Bode.   He attended Shelbina…