Obituaries
Elizabeth Rose “Betty” Womack
Jan. 22, 1924April 29, 2015
Mrs. Elizabeth Rose “Betty” Womack, 91, of Southwest City, Mo., went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday evening, April 2 9, 2015, in the comfort of her home with her loving family by her side.
Betty entered this life on Jan. 22, 1924 in Nehawka, Neb., daughter of the late August and Amanda May ( Anderson) Meyer. She moved with her family to the Mill Creek area near Noel, Mo. at the age of eight years. Betty was united in marriage to Levi Thomas ( Buss) Womack, on June 16, 1941, and to this union three children were born, Tommy, Betty and Bonnie. Throughout her life she was a hardworking and devoted homemaker. She enjoyed spending time with her family, raising African violets, sewing, crocheting and caring for her cats and dog. Betty accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Southwest City, Mo.
She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Chester, William, Edward and Donald Meyer; three sisters, Laverne Kennison and Margorie and Sarah Meyer; two sons-inlaw, Don Boyett and Mike Hopkins; and a grandson, Kevin Boyett.
Betty is survived by her loving husband of 73 years, Levi Thomas “Buss” Womack, of the home; a son, Tommy Womack and wife, Virginia, of Southwest City, Mo.; two daughters, Betty Boyett, of Grove, Okla. and Bonnie Hopkins, of Joplin, Mo.; six grandchildren, Jim Womack and wife, Carmen, of Southwest City, Mo., David Womack and wife, Michele, also of Southwest City, Kathy Downing and husband, Wess, of Grove, Okla., Donnetta Kerr and husband, Todd, of Grove, Kelly Boyett and wife, Karla, of Grove and Jennifer Thrasher and husband, Brian, of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; several great- and greatgreat grandchildren; a sister, Norma Gideon; numerous nieces and nephews, as well as a host of other family and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Womack were held Saturday morning, May 2, 2015, at the First Baptist Church in Southwest City, Mo., with Bro. Rob Grimm officiating. Burial followed in the Southwest City Cemetery in Southwest City, Mo. Those honoring her life by serving as pallbearers were Jim Womack, David Womack, Kelly Boyett, Wess Downing and Todd Kerr. The family received friends on Friday evening in the Southwest City Chapel of the Ozark Funeral Homes. Memorials are being directed to the Southwest City First Baptist Church and contributions may be left at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Southwest City, Mo. John William Newell Nov. 29, 1942May, 1, 2015 Mr. John William Newell, 72, of Goodman, Mo., departed this life on Friday, May 1 , 2015, in the comfort of his home with his l oving family at his bedside.
Johnny Bill, known by his longtime friends, was born at home on the same street he grew up on in Goodman, Mo., on Nov. 29, 1942, born to the union of the late Dwight and Blanche (Lanning) Newell. He was lifelong resident of Goodman, Mo. and a 1961 graduate of Goodman High School. John was a jack of all trades. He built many of the area chicken houses in the mid 1960s. When the mobile home manufacturing started to develop in McDonald County, John worked for most of them i ncluding, Jane, Noel, Southwest City and Taylor Homes in Anderson. He was known for his dependability and work ethic. He worked at Sunbeam in Neosho for 12 years and most recently as a custodian with the East Newton School District. He was a constant face in the crowd, always attending his children’s sporting events and did the same thing for his grandchildren. John was so honored to be selected by his hometown to be the Grand Marshal of the 2014 Goodman Christmas Parade. John was a member of the Granby Christian Church, having been in attendance last Sunday.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Ralph and Jimmy Newell.
John is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Newell, of the home; a son, JoDe Newell and wife, Melinda, of Goodman, Mo.; a daughter, Twila Doss and husband, Jake, of Joplin, Mo.; a stepson, Charlie Brown and wife, Mechele, of Neosho, Mo.; four grandsons, Dallas Randen, Brett Pr i ce, Bruce Hembree and Brett Hembree; three granddaughters, Tori Newell and Skylar and Kaytin Brown; a great-granddaughter, Genesis Tascarella; one brother, Richard “Dick” Newell of Goodman, Mo.; several nieces and nephews, as well as a host of other family and friends.
Grave side funeral services for Mr. Newell were held Monday at the Howard Cemetery in Goodman, Mo., with Bro. John Mehrens officiating. Those honoring his life by serving as pallbearers were Brian Newell, Dallas Randen, Brett Price and David Brodie. The family received friends on Monday morning at the Goodman Chapel of the Ozark Funeral Homes.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through our website www.ozarkfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Goodman, Mo. Irene Hazel Riggs May 28, 1917May 2, 2015 Mrs. Irene Hazel Riggs, 97, of Bella Vista, Ark., formerly of Noel, Mo., departed this life on Saturday, May 2, 2015, at the Medicalodge Care Facility i n Neosho, Mo.
Irene entered this life on May 28, 1917, in Enid, Okla., one of two daughters born to the late George and Josephine ( Marlow) Day. She graduated from Mountain Grove High School in Mountain Grove, Mo., in the class of 1934. On Aug. 9, 1934, in Mountain Grove, she was united in marriage to Emmett T. Riggs and to this union two sons were born. They resided a few years in Missouri and Kansas, before moving to the Los Angeles, Calif. area in 1942. In 1961, she and Emmett moved their family to a farm in Noel, Mo. She was a devoted homemaker and wonderful caretaker throughout her life. She cared for her husband during his 11 year illness and also both of her parents as their health began to fail. She was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Noel, Mo., participating in many of church ministries.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Emmett Riggs on Jan. 10, 1975; and her sister, Zelda Chandler.
Irene is survived by her two sons, Robert Riggs and wife, Gerry, of Bella Vista, Ark. and Jim Riggs and wife, Arlinda, of Newtonia, Mo.; two granddaughters, Kimberly Mahurin and Jennifer Riggs; two great-granddaughters, Katelyn and Emelyn Mahurin, as well as a host of other family and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Riggs were held Wednesday, May 6, 2015, in the Noel Chapel of the Ozark Funeral Homes with Pastor Marilyn O’Brien officiating. Burial followed in the Noel Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www. ozarkfuneralhome. com. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Noel, Mo.