Vera Richards Farrow Evans was born in Summersville, MO on May 27, 1918 to Gurnsey and Lu Richards joining her sisters, Margaret Bell and Vivian Padgett, and brother, John, all of whom have preceded her in death. Vera departed this life June 23, 2009 at Mountain Home, AR.

She was united in marriage to Frank Farrow in June of 1940, and to this union three children were born, twins Linda and Lynn, and Jack. Following Frank’s death in 1980, she married Russell Evans in 1987. Gene Todd Swanson was her only grandchild and was the light of her life. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Howell and husband, Dan, of Mountain Home, AR; her son, Jack Farrow and wife, Sharon, of Cassville, MO; one grandson, Gene Swanson and wife, Kamie, and their children, Deegan and Steele of Springfield, MO; niece, Beverly Bell Harmon and family of Springfield, MO; nephew, Jay Padgett and family of West Plains, MO; and niece, Julia Padgett of Arizona.

Vera was a graduate of Summersville High School and attended college at Missouri State University, McKendree College and Southern Illinois University. Her degree in Music Education was achieved at McKendree, and her advanced certificate at SIU. These studies afforded her a teaching career that spanned in excess of fifty two years. One room schools were the beginning location of her classrooms. Wonderful stories came from these years at Riley, Oakside and Union Hill. She found it so amusing to look back and remember her age as younger than some of her students, cooking a pot of beans over a wood stove-the predecessor of a hot school lunch program and being taught how to walk a foot-log bridge to cross a creek. From a one room school teacher to a pioneer in Learning Disabilities, she was truly an educator. These professional careers were spent in Granite City, IL, Eminence and Summersville, MO.

Vera loved spending time with friends through various organizations, including the DAR, PTA, OES, and took an active position in each. Teaching continued to be a major part of her life in the form of Sunday School, and in Bible School.

Her happiest moments were spent laughing, telling funny stories, cooking for people she loved. Family, friends, students, neighbors-she was an unlimited energy to love and care for all she came in contact with.

Vera will be missed and remembered by many.

Funeral services were held Friday, June 26, 2009 at 10AM in the Duncan Funeral Chapel in Summersville with Brother Gordon Howell officiating. Interment was in Summersville City Cemetery under the direction of the Duncan Funeral Home of Summersville.

Jerry Lee Stilley, age 62, son of Raymond and Eleanor (Gourley) Stilley was born September 29, 1946 in Bado, Missouri. He passed away June 24, 2009 at Cox South Hospital, Springfield, MO.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Linda.

He is survived by his loving wife, Vivian of Houston; two daughters: Kristie Vincent of Willard, MO and Florice Pearce of Bado, MO; beloved son-in-laws, Bryan Vincent and Jack Pearce; two adored grandchildren, Jon and Kate Vincent; two brothers, Leroy and Lowell of Bucyrus, MO; five sisters: Janet Stilley of Springfield, MO, Kay Dillon of Houston, Ermal Wondergem of Greenville, Michigan, Brenda Kinserlow of Houston, and Debbie Stilley of Bucyrus, MO; and several nieces and nephews.

Jerry grew up in the White Rock Community west of Houston. He attended the White Rock School 1st-8th grade, then graduated from Houston High in 1964. He received a refrigeration certification from Graff Votech School, then voluntarily joined the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War in January, 1965 and was medically retired from service in March, 1966.

He married the love of his life, Vivian Elaine Smith, on August 16, 1975 and they made their life living and working in the Houston community. Side by side and hand in hand they loved working in the garden together, watching sunsets, and taking evening drives to look for deer.

Jerry loved all of his family and friends and cherished every moment he spent with them. He loved his time spent in the Donut Shop drinking coffee and "solving" the world’s problems with his multitude of friends. He never once met a stranger; he thought of everyone as a friend and everyone who knew him loved him back to the same degree. He never missed an opportunity to show his kindness or to go out of the way to make sure those around him felt special.

He will be so dearly missed, but the love he gave while here was so great that it shall never fade. May he garden in Heaven with beautiful sunrises and sunsets without pain, without suffering, and forever smiling, laughing, and loving in the way we know he will.

Services were Monday June 29 at 10 AM in the Evans Funeral Home. Don Crockett officiated. Burial was in the White Rock Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Kidney Foundation. On-line condolences may be sent to www.evansfh.com

Willard DeArnold Rutledge was born on February 16, 1938 and passed from this world on June 26, 2009. Willard was born to Ralph Willard (Harry) and Artemissa Elsie (Holland) Rutledge and was part of a large hardworking family of three sons and five daughters. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, one infant sister, Lena Lucille, and his youngest son, Heath Aaron.

Willard was raised in Shannon County, Missouri, where he was saved at the age of 12 and graduated from Birch Tree High School in 1956. In 1959, he married the love of his life, Patricia Lynn Bullis Thomason. To this union were born three sons and one daughter.

He was trained and worked professionally as an electrician and later became a farmer/rancher with varied pursuits. Willard served in the United States Army Reserve for 33 years and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Aside from his professional and business pursuits, Willard was involved in many civic and community activities as well as church ministries. Willard was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Eminence, an active member of the Birch Tree High School Alumni Association, the emcee of a multitude of community events and observances, and a locally-renowned historian and genealogist. In work for the Lord, he was a member of Faith Baptist Church. He was a devout study of the Word of God, has served as a Sunday school teacher, personal evangelist, and all around servant. Willard also was active in the distribution of scripture through years of involvement with Gideon’s International.

Willard is survived by his wife, Pat; a son, Willard (and wife, Barbara) Rutledge and their children Devyn and Christian Heath; a daughter, Heather Sexton (and husband, Terry) and their children, Jamie (and husband, Jake) Stauffer, Kelli, Rachael, and Jarrett (Jett); a son, Chris (and wife, Cassie) and their children, Caleb, Joshua, and Jordan. His brothers: William Alvin Rutledge, and wife, Marilyn, of Birch Tree; brother, Glen Ozen Rutledge and wife, Ethel. His sisters: Edna A. Touhill of Van Buren; Reguina Luella Humphrey and husband, Don, of DeSoto, Mo; Nella Jane Sanchez and husband, Fred, of Covina, CA; and Kathleen Burks, and husband Jim, of Mtn. View.

Willard regularly voiced his hope and joy of being reunited with his loved ones and Jesus Christ who were awaiting him in heaven.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 30, 2009 in First Baptist Church, Mountain View with Dave McVicker, Tommy Boyd, and Steve Steelman officiating. Interment was in Oak Forest Cemetery, Birch Tree, Missouri under the direction of Yarber Mortuary, Mountain View, Missouri.

Memorials may be made to Gideons International or to the HEATH Rutledge Memorial Scholarship fund at Community Bank of Summersville.

Donald Lee Stewart, the son of Oscar Arthur Stewart and Bessie Ellen Day Stewart, was born December 5, 1932 at Hartshorn, Missouri and passed away Monday, June 22, 2009, making his age 76 years.

Don served in the United States Army from November 22, 1955 to November 19, 1957, then serving in the Army reserves until December 31, 1961. While in the Army he was an expert sharpshooter.

Don grew up in Hartshorn and worked in many places, in New Mexico on a oil rig, Fisher Body, Wagner Electric, and as an owner operator of a dump truck service. Don also drove over the road trucking, and was a member of the Teamsters Union. After his retirement, he moved back to Hartshorn and farmed on the family farm, where he enjoyed being with his grandchildren.

Preceding Don in death are his parents, Oscar and Bessie Stewart; his wife, Virginia; five brothers: James, Paul, Elmer, Everett, and Ervin; three sisters: Ethel, Velma and Virgie; one step son, Bill, and nephew, Carlos.

Don is survived by his children, Donald Stewart Jr. of Hartshorn, MO; Lisa Williams of Summersville, MO; step children: Dane Smith of Florissant, Ed Smith of Dittmer, MO, Fred Smith of Cabool, MO; Rick Smith of Wisconsin, Sue Terrill of Salem, MO, Cindy East of Houston, MO; six grandchildren: LaDonna Williams, KeeShaun Williams, Tracey Lee Stewart, Tessa Stewart, Montana Stewart and Ian Stewart; 17 step-grandchildren, two great grandchildren, Caden and Kylee, and numerous other step-great grandchildren and ex-daughter-in-law, Tracey. Don is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews and other family members.

Funeral services were held Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at Bradford Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gary Steelman officiating. Interment was in Antioch Cemetery with full military honors under the care of Bradford Funeral Home of Summersville.