Obituaries
Barbara Harber July 10, 1922 Feb. 10, 2017
Barbara Harber, 94, of Neosho, Mo., passed away on Friday,
Feb. 10, 2017, at Freeman Neosho Hospital in Neosho.
She began her journey on July 10, 1922, in Tulsa, Okla., born to Charles and Olive Burton.
On Aug. 18, 1951, she was united in marriage to Paul Harber and together they shared 57 years of marriage, before his passing on June 18, 2009.
She worked as a stewardess for American Airlines, was a homemaker and did charitable work. Her major accomplishment was lobbying for the universally required use of the heel test for newborns to detect a variety of genetic conditions. She enjoyed playing bridge and volunteer work.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Paul Harber.
She is survived by her children, Cynthia Harber, Betsy Harber and Richard Harber; and a host of family and friends who will dearly miss her.
Memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at the Anderson Chapel of the Ozark Funeral Homes with Pastor Marilyn O’Brien officiating.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through www.ozarkfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson.
Billie Don Hughes Jan. 5, 1935 March 11, 2017
Billie Don Hughes, 82, of Goodman, Mo., passed away on Saturday, March 11,
2017, at his residence with his loving family by his side. He began his journey on Jan. 5, 1935, in Marshall County, Okla., born to the late Paul Jackson and Mattie Fay Hughes.
On July 19, 1972, he was united in marriage to Cheryl D. Morell in Anchorage, Alaska, and together they shared 38 years of marriage before her passing on Oct. 13, 2010.
He proudly served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War and was honorably discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant in 1962. He continued his service to this country as a civil servant thought the CAA/FAA until his retirement in 1989. He really enjoyed time with his family, hunting, fishing and traveling. He was a member of the Splitlog Baptist Church in Goodman, Mo.
He was preceded in death by his parents; children, Timmy Hughes, Karen Hughes and Herbert Heath III; two sisters; and one brother.
He is survived by his children, Carl Hughes of Parsons, Kan., Linda Hicks of Pennsylvania, Vicky Heath of Homer, Alaska, Paul Jackson Hughes II of Springdale, Ark., and Cherylynn Hughes and Billy Don Hughes of Goodman; siblings, Albert Hughes of Salt Lake City, Utah, Julia Doshier of Kingston, Okla., Glenda Carson of Parsons, Jean Cook of Columbus, Kan., and John Hughes of Durant, Okla.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his dear friends, George Flint and Mary Kirby; and a host of family and friends who will dearly miss him.
Memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 16, 2017, at the Splitlog Baptist Church in Goodman with Brother Shan Cobb officiating.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through www.ozarkfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson.
James Ragen Pendergraft July 1, 1931 March 8, 2017
James Ragen Pendergraft, 85, of Southwest City, Mo., passed away on March 8, 2017, in Joplin, Mo. He was born on July 1, 1931, in Rocky Ford, Colo. He was the son of Lemmie Earl and Vyra Geneva Pendergraft.
He was the 1950 class president, graduating from high school in Madras, Ore. After graduation, he worked with his father and brother on one of the largest farm operations in Montrose/Delta, Colo. He would work in the off-season in the oil fields and road construction. He proudly served in the United States Army from 1953-1956 as a paratrooper, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant.
He returned home and started working construction to finance college. He graduated from Northeast Oklahoma A&M in Miami, Okla., with an associate’s degree. While at NEO, he was the vice president of the student body and was selected the outstanding student in the School of Agriculture. He then transferred to Oklahoma State University where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy with a Business minor. While at OSU, he was very involved with the Agronomy department, where he held several offices.
After college, he owned and operated a construction company, where he contracted building earthen dams and clearing rights-of-way. In 1964, he was employed by the State of Oklahoma as a social worker for Delaware County. He was later the Director of the Delaware County Community Action Agency. In the early 1970s, he served as the community resource specialist, serving four counties. In 1978, he obtained his real estate license and sold resort properties in both Oklahoma and Arkansas. In 1980, he returned to his love of construction, and was the Foreman for H.C. Price Construction Company and worked on the Alaskan Pipeline. He was also the Coordinator for the Housing Authority for Cherokee Nation. He and his brother, Ron, coordinated the Annual Round Springs Park Blue Grass Festivals for several years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Geneva Pendergraft; sister Judy E. Hutchison; brother, Ronald S. Pendergraft; and infant brother, Lemmie David Pendergraft.
He leaves behind his wife, Judith Lee Pendergraft, of the home; son, James W. Pendergraft; grandson, James E. Pendergraft; sister, Sue Mikkelsen and husband Lou; five nieces, Marcia Myers, Susan Vanasse, Cynthia Giuffria, Anna Wright and Genita Frazier; and five nephews, Les Mikkelsen, James Mikkelsen, James E. Pendergraft, David W. Patton and Lee Jay Larmon.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. March 18, 2017, at Mose Ridge Cemetery in Topsy, Okla.
Family and friends can leave online condolences by viewing James’ Book of Memories at www.honoringmemories.com.
Services are under the direction of Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home in Jay, Okla.