Area Obituaries

George Kenneth Fowler Sr., age 77 of Kirksville, MO passed away on Monday, March 17, 2025 at the University Hospital and Clinics in Columbia, MO.  George was born on June 23, 1947, in Rome, Georgia the son of George Frank and Dora Ann (Schenk) Fowler.  He spent his early years in California. He faithfully served…

Norma Maxine (Clark) Purdy, 94, of Harris, Missouri, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family members on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe, Missouri.  Norma was born on May 22, 1930, near Half Rock, Missouri to Loyd Clark and Gussie (Curtis) Clark. She was Baptized in June of 1946 at Half Rock…

Dr. Edwin Leon Smith (83) passed away Sunday, January 19, 2025 in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.  He was born and raised on a farm south of Green City, Missouri to Clarence and Marjorie Smith. He attended the Pleasantville one room schoolhouse in Mystic and graduated from Green City High School in 1958.  Edwin was married to…

Betty Sue Bennett, 80, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Friday, January 24, 2025 at the Schuyler County Nursing Home.  Betty Sue was born February 8, 1944 in Winigan, Missouri to Wesley Ellis and Isabelle (Young) Ware.  Survivors include: three sons, Greg (Sheila) Leaton of West Virginia, Douglas Smith of Kirksville, and Jerry (Michealene) Smith of…

Norma E. Downing Ayers, 92, passed away Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at the Sullivan County Memorial Hospital in Milan, Missouri.  She was born in Gascoyne, North Dakota on a farm homesteaded by her grandparents on September 18, 1932. Norma was the only child of Chester L. and Lula Lloyd Downing. When she was three, her…

Eleanor Sue Peeler  4/23/1936 ~ 1/21/2025  Eleanor Peeler was born April 23, 1936, and raised on the family farm in Clay County, Missouri, (the current site of Worlds of Fun). She was the youngest of 3 brothers and 3 sisters.  She married James D. Peeler in 1955 and remained together until her death on January…

Charlotte Devon Ray, 87, of Windsor, Missouri, formerly of rural Stover, MO, died Saturday, January 11, 2025 at her home in Windsor.  Charlotte was born February 2, 1937, in Pollock MO, the daughter of James Clifford Alexander and Olive LaRue Salsberry.  On June 10, 1955, Charlotte married James Elmer Ray in Kansas City, MO, and…

Dora Julia Fowler Tate, 95, of Purdin, MO, passed away on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at the Life Care Center in Brookfield, MO, surrounded by her family.  Dora was born on August 6, 1929, to M.L. and Ruby (Timmons) Fowler. Her birth was a memorable one, as her father, in the midst of a rainstorm,…

Bernard Leo Yardley passed away on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 in Liberty Missouri.  Bernard was born on September 16, 1930 in Milan Missouri. He graduated from Milan High School in Milan, Missouri. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1948 and served for four years honorable.  Bernard married Ruth Jacques and they were married for…

Ronald Keith Faulkner, 85, of Harris, Missouri, passed over into heaven on Sunday, January 19, 2025 in Princeton, Missouri. Ronald, known also as Ron or Ronnie, was born on December 3, 1939 to Alberta (Johnson) Faulkner and Samuel Eldridge Faulkner. He attended a country school in Harris before attending and graduating from Princeton High School…