KANSAS

Betty Brock, of Hiawatha died February 14, 2010.  She was the mother of Jay Brock of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha who also handled the services.

  Kenneth Fischer, 67, of Belleview died on March 6, 2010.  He was the President of Tibbetts Bros. Inc., which has 10 funeral homes in north central Kansas and south central Nebraska.  He organized the first Death & Dying Class for High Schools in the State of Kansas in 1974.  He was a past president of the Kansas Funeral Directors Association.  Arrangements were held by Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home of Belleville, Kansas.  Funeral services were held in Republic, Kansas.

Elmer John Scotty Jorden, 93, Gainsville, Florida died on December 18, 2009.  He had owned a funeral home/furniture store in Centralia  until 1947.  In 1949 he and his wife purchased Catlett Funeral Home and operated it as the Jorden Funeral Home for 30 years.

Mary McVey Newcomer, of Mission Hills, died on February 17, 2010.  She was the mother of Ren Newcomer. Private funeral services were held.

Henry Hank Pohlman, 80, of Russell, died March 5, 2010.  He was a funeral director and former owner of Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, Russell, Kansas.  He was active in Pohlman Home Furnishing Company & Pohlman Funeral Service.  He served in the US Navy in Korea and graduated from St. Louis College of Mortuary Science after the service.  He purchased Russell Mortuary in 1966 and owned and operated it for nearly 40 years.  Arrangements were done by Polhman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell.

James D. Don Spencer, of Hill City, died May 4, 2010.  He was the owner of Spencer Chapel in Hill City from 1964-1996.  His arrangements were handled by Stinemetz Funeral Home in Hill City.

Hazel Stapleton, of Ft. Scott, died April 7, 2010.  She was the former owner of Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, who handled her arrangements.

Audrey Yorgensen, 82, of Manhattan, passed away March 23, 2010.  In 1970 with her husband William Bill Yorgensen they purchased an interest in the funeral home that became Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home. After Bills death in 1994 she remained a partner until 1999 when she sold her interest but remained active as an licensed assistant funeral director.  Arrangements were handled by Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home.

  MISSOURI

NEBRASKA

Donal H. Rhoad, 82, of Sargent, died December 29, 2009. He was owner of Rhoad Funeral Home in Sargent for 51 years since 1958.  He served in U.S. Army and was stationed in Korea.  He went to the Cincinnati Mortuary College in 1949.  He bought a funeral home in Norton, Kansas in 1952 and then in 1958  he bought the Spooner Funeral and furniture store  in Sargent.

OKLAHOMA

Arnold Power Moore, 92, of Bartlesville passed away on April 28.    He graduated from the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, IL in 1938.  He worked for McCallister Funeral Home and opened Moores Funeral Home.  He served in the U.S. Army during WWII.  Upon returning from service he moved the funeral home and renamed it The Arnold Moore Funeral Service. He also owned Arnold Moore-Barnsdall Funeral Home in Barnsdall and the Arnold Moore-Dewey Funeral Service in Dewey.  He co-owned Fitzgerald-Arnold Moore Ivy Chapel and the Fitzgerald-Southwood Colonial Chapel Funeral Homes in Tulsa and the Mobley-Dodson funeral Service in Sand Springs, OK. (See page 28 for more information).

TEXAS  

Manuel Crespo, Jr., of Pearland died March 23, 2010.  He is the father of Manuel Crespo, III and brother of Louis Crespo.  His service was handled by Niday Funeral Home of Houston.

William Robert Deuvall, of San Antonio, passed away on April 21, 2010.  He is the father of W.R. Bobby Deuvall with Mission Park Funeral Home.  The services were under the direction of Mission Park Funeral Chapels South in San Antonio.

Gertrude (Trudy) Dieringer died on April 1, 2010.  She was the mother of Robin Glaser of American DataSource, Inc, which is the previous trust administrator for the Texas Prepaid Funeral Fund.

Laura Downs of Marshall, passed away on March 1, 2010.  She is the mother of Keith A. Downs, the owner of Downs Funeral Home in Marshall.  Her services were under the direction of Downs Funeral Home.

Wilhelmina Billie Ruysenaars Edwards, 106, of Woodville, died on January 1, 2010.  She was a licensed funeral director and with her husband owned Oakley-Metcalf Funeral Home in Woodville.

Clay S. Flesher, of Van Alstyne, passed away on February 26, 2010.  He was owner of the Flesher Funeral Home in Van Alystyne .  They directed the funeral services.

Jacinto Hinojosa, of Edinburg, passed away on March 8, 2010.  He is the father-in-law of Johnny Garcia with Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home in Edinburg.  Arrangements were under the direction of Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home.

Dr. W. W. Leatherwood, of Brady, passed away on May 10, 2010.  He is the father of Martin Leatherwood of Leatherwood Memorial Chapels in Brady.  Arrangements were under the direction of Summerville Funeral Home in Salisbury, Missouri.

George A. Phinnell of Ennis, died on March 10, 2010.  He is the father of Debbie Keever, father-in-law of David Keever and grandfather of Matt Keever of J.E. Keever Mortuary in Ennis,.  Service arrangements were under the direction of J.E. Keever Mortuary.

Martha Nell (Logan) Sanches of Lufkin, passed away on March 20, 2010.  She is the mother of Terry Loving, the manager of Advantage Howard-Glendale Chapels in Houston, TX.  Gipson Funeral Home in Lufkin directed the services.

Lena Oleta Seay, of Arlington, died on April 2, 2010.  She is the grandmother of Stephen E. Seay, a director with the Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home in Lewisville, TX.  Arrangements were handled by the Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home in Lewisville.

Oliver Ollie J. Schaetter, of Fredericksburg, passed away on March 29, 2010.  He is the father of Bryon A. Schaetter of Schaetter Funeral Homes of Fredericksburg and Comfort.  Services were under the direction of Schaetter Funeral Home of Fredericksburg.

William Bill Shriver of Lubbock passed away on March 12, 2010.  He was with Aurora Casket Company.  His service arrangements were under the direction of Hamil Family Funeral Home.

Erman L. Smith, of Pittsburg, died on March 31, 2010.  He was a 60-year Funeral Director/Embalmer and former owner of Erman Smith Funeral Home in Pittsburg. Services were under the direction of Erman Smith Funeral Home.

George Thomas (Tommy) Steele, of Gilmer died on February 15, 2010.  He was a 50-year licensee and retired funeral director of Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer who handled the direction of the services.

Patsy Heartfield Wallace, of Belton, passed away on April 5, 2010.  She is the mother-in-law of Ron Loudin of Batesville Casket Co and grandmother of Brad Loudin of Batesville Casket Co. and former owner of Heartfield Funeral Home in Belton.  Heartfield Funeral Home directed her services. 

   Denotes Veteran of Military Service

If you know of  a fellow funeral service colleague that has died that we have not included, please send the information and picture if available (The Dead Beat, P.O. Box 145, Golden City, MO  64748) or fax it to us (417-537-4797) or E-Mail to Joanne@thedead-beat.com