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A Celebration of Life for Dacus Paul Bowles, 38, Odessa, Missouri, formerly of West Plains, will be held from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m., Saturday, October 21, 2023, at Dawt Mill, Tecumseh, Missouri.   

Dacus was born in Hershey, Pennsylvania where we lived in the shadow of the hospital on Med Center grounds.  He was a highly prized first son to Judy and Richard and an automatic plaything and companion for curious active gentle older sister Jolene.  From Hershey the family of four migrated to West Plains, Missouri where they were in due course joined by two more roly-poly baby boys and the family entered what to Dacus was a fine ole time.  The Kidpowers were complete.  They had each other, the outdoors, friends, trampolines, stock tank pools, blob pools, rivers, cliffs, good schools and zip lines.  More than once looking back Dacus was heard to say, “Whatever else happens you can never say we didn’t have a great childhood.”

When he left West Plains it was to play football for William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri after being all state in high school.  He ended his football career after injury and was recruited to the cheer squad.  He was dismissed from college for grades but fought back and graduated in Jewell’s Scottish tradition the same day as his cousin Kate with a Theater major.  His ability to memorize Shakespeare was unparalleled.  For a semester he was hired as Professor of Ballroom Dance at Jewell.  Oh to see him dance again.  At a college function in Kansas City when a waltz started to play he approached an unsuspecting wall flower, bowed and extended his hand.  “No I can’t dance,” she demurred.  “Can you follow…” his goodwill eyes aglow and his friendly graceful hand expectantly cradling hers.  Off they glided, round and round the dance floor.  Like pros.

He became a steady school sub in the greater Kansas City area and lived in Lexington, Missouri.  His Penmac employer called Dacus their best.  “Everyone wanted Dacus, including the students.”  He became a self-styled musician specializing in Irish shanties.

Only Justin Brill could make a deer hunter out of Dacus.  Dacus leaves behind his crippled pet squirrel Littlefellow whom he rescued from the roadside two years ago and who loved to ball up in any of Dacus’s places.

Dacus loved the huge family reunions at Windermere on Lake of the Ozarks.  He was THE most popular attendee year in and year out.  The big reason being that all the siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles wanted The Dacus to blob them.  Even Great Aunt Mary Lou.

Among Dacus’s biggest heroes and influences were his grandfathers, Delano Robertson and Richard Bowles Sr.  He shared Jewell football and ballroom dancing so meaningfully with Richard Sr.  Of all the people with whom Dacus came into contact on this earth, Delano is the one to whom he could relate the best.  Though they started far apart on the political spectrum, they were getting closer.

It was difficult to know precisely how deeply Dacus felt.  When he was four he was looking at a medical journal and kept asking, “What’s this?”  He turned the last page and looked unsatisfied.  Then with all the innocent curiosity of youth, “Show me a picture of the feelings.”

He kept a calm non-aggressive demeanor to a fault.  It is hard to overstate how much he cherished his friends.  What he enjoyed the very most was being with Jolene, Beau, and Del, and in more recent years, niece Daisy and Jolene’s Daniel.

Good bye Dacus.  You know we love you.

Arrangements under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. 

Funeral services for Glenda Goehring, 76, Springfield, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, October 22, 2023 in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Our beloved Glenda Lee Goehring was born on March 31, 1947 in Scotland, South Dakota to loving parents Elsie and Harold Goehring. She was a beautiful little sister to her siblings, Merle Goehring, Lloyd Goehring, George Goehring, Judy Butler, and Larry Goehring.

Although she faced developmental challenges from a young age, Glenda lived her life with both positivity and perseverance. She maintained a youthful curiosity, as well as a spirit of gentleness and kindness throughout her life. Glenda had a heart of gold – she cared deeply for others and found joy in helping whenever she could. She loved entertaining her many nieces and nephews with toys and crafts. An imaginative soul, Glenda spent hours crafting doll clothes, painting beautiful pictures, and tending to her garden.  Glenda found great joy in the simple pleasures of life. She had a green thumb and a passion for gardening, cultivating beauty in her surroundings. Even a leisurely walk to the mailbox brought her delight, appreciating the little things in life. Glenda’s birthday was a cherished occasion, and she adored the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree with tinsel and garland, creating warm, festive memories for her loved ones.  Glenda found wonder in the simple things. Whether she was marveling at a yellow sunflower that matched her favorite color or laughing while watching one of her favorite movies like The Red Green Show, Home Alone, and Ice Age, she found joy in every moment. For Glenda, staying busy with crafts, games, or her garden wasn’t just about filling time; it was how she made the most of every day.

Glenda grew up in the Missouri Avenue Church of Christ in West Plains, Missouri, a foundation that influenced her values and perspectives. She formed a lifelong bond with her dear friend, JoLita Duffel. Throughout her life, Glenda was an embodiment of kindness and generosity. She had a special gift for making those around her feel loved and valued. Her warm heart and giving nature left a lasting impact on all who were fortunate enough to know her.

Glenda loved her Polaroid instant camera. Every snapshot she took over the years went straight into her cherished photo albums. For her, every photo was a memory and piece of her heart she loved sharing.

Although she faced trials, Glenda met life’s challenges with resilience, kindness, and hope. On October 14, 2023, our beloved Glenda passed away peacefully. She will be deeply missed by all those whose lives she has brightened.

She is survived by her sister, Judy Butler, and brothers Merle, George, and Larry, as well as her many nieces, nephews, great-grandnieces, and great-grandnephews. Glenda leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and inspiration.

Glenda is preceded in death by her mother, father, and brother, Lloyd.

Rest in peace, Glenda. Your memory will forever warm our hearts while you are with your mom and daddy in heaven where yellow is everywhere.

Visitation services to honor her beautiful life will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Saturday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Jacob’s Ladder Hospice Springfield, Missouri or Allen Supported Living in Thayer, Missouri  and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775. 

Funeral services for Peggy Jean Kissinger, 90, Ozark, Missouri, formerly of West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, October 20, 2023, at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.    

Peggy Kissinger baked the world’s best rum cakes. Of course, as a Baptist, she would always explain to the liquor store employee why she needed gallons of rum. She loved giving the cakes to family and friends, and she often donated cakes for auctions to support her many charitable organizations. Her cakes weren’t just tasty, they were symbolic of her widespread love for family and community.

Peggy entered this world in Ash Flat, Arkansas on March 10, 1933. Born to Merle and Mabel Fowler, she followed two wonderful brothers, Leman and JW. After her own mother’s passing, her Dad married Freida and added to the family were siblings Freida Jean, Gilbert, Sybil, Waymon and Keith. Peggy helped raise these younger siblings as if they were her own kids.

At the age of 18, she found the love of her life, G.V. Kissinger. He would love her for the rest of his life. Their marriage saw several moves and babies—they dearly loved those babies. Rodney was born in Batesville, Arkansas, and Bruce joined the family 2 years later in Pontiac, Michigan. Son James came along after they moved to West Plains, Missouri. Then, there was Cathy. What can we say? Cathy had her Dad wrapped around her little finger, and Peggy always showed off Cathy as the cutest thing anyone had ever seen. Peggy and G.V. worked tirelessly to provide opportunities for their kids.

As life moved forward, Peggy and G.V.’s family grew. They welcomed daughters-in-law Roxane (James) and Anita (Rod). Adding great joy to life were six grandkids Matt, Andrew, Amie, Amber, Alicia, and Erin, along with three great grands–Piper, Kaden and Jack. It was a loving and nurturing family.

That family would be tested when on April 18th, 1987 G.V. lost his battle with cancer. He left Peggy much too soon, but he did not leave her alone. He left her with a caring family that would sustain her for the next 36 years.

While Peggy loved her own kids, her home was always open to others–the doors were literally never locked. Friends felt free to visit her unannounced, and you could always expect a slice of her famous rum cake.

Their home was always filled with family at Christmas and Thanksgiving, but you didn’t need a holiday to walk into the warm arms of a Peggy hug. Closely followed with her saying,

“I love you a bushel and a peck A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck A hug around the neck and a barrel and a heap A barrel and a heap and I’m talkin’ in my sleep About you, about you.”

Peggy’s life was focused on others. She worked tirelessly to ease the burdens of families as a caseworker for the Division of Family Services and later as an Employment Specialist for the Division of Employment Security. For many years following retirement, Peggy used her joy and spunk to serve as a substitute teacher for West Plains Public Schools.

Along with loving her family, Peggy also loved her community. Her many areas of service included being a Rotary President, a Paul Harris Fellow, Library Board member, Park Board member and Missouri State University-West Plains supporter. Her community was not just local but also international as she was a foreign exchange parent to five students from Sweden, Brazil, Finland and Turkey. When Peggy moved from her home of almost 60 years in West Plains to The Baptist Home in Ozark, MO, the family found more than 25 plaques of achievement that had been presented to Peggy for her many years of community service. Her most coveted accolade was a Honorary Associate of Arts from Missouri State University-West Plains.

The last few years of Peggy’s life were a struggle as the grip of dementia took hold. She completely forgot her famous rum cake recipe. However, as memories grew cold, she continued to enjoy the warm embrace of family and friends. It was as if they were returning the many hugs she had shared through the years.

On October 14th, 2023, Peggy Jean Kissinger received her last earthly hug and walked into the loving arms of God. I’m sure she then heard the words she had so many times spoken herself—”I love you a bushel and a peck. A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.”

The family will receive their friends from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m., Friday, at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be at Oak Lawn Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to MSU West Plains and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775. 

Funeral services for Roscoe Dewane Parker, 84, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 20, 2023, at First Christian Church, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.    

Mr. Parker passed away on Wednesday October 11, 2023 at his home.

He was born April 23, 1939 to Earl and Ava (Crow) Parker in West Plains, Missouri. He was the fifth child, second son and the youngest child of the Parker family.  Roscoe graduated from West Plains High School in 1957. He was united in marriage to Marilyn Anne Morgan on June 29, 1963 in West Plains. They were married for 46 years until Anne’s death on August 11, 2009. Roscoe was a devoted husband and father of three. In the fall of 2011, Ros met Darla Evins. They were married October 15, 2016 in Orange Beach, Alabama.  He enjoyed his career in banking for over 40 years until his retirement in 2008 and was an active member of the community. He created the Jays fast pitch softball team in West Plains, where he led the organization for 6 years. Roscoe served on the Fairview School Board and was President of the Heart of the Ozarks Fair board for many years and was the driving force behind the construction of new buildings at both locations. He and Anne also owned the Biscayne Market in West Plains for several years. Roscoe enjoyed quail hunting, stock car racing, boating on Norfork Lake and watching Cardinals baseball. He loved spending time with family, coaching and watching his children and grandchildren’s games. He was a member of the First Christian Church of West Plains. Roscoe never met a stranger and was a friend to many.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Anne, infant sister Delores, brother Paul, and sisters Earlene Downen and Maxine Franks.

He is survived by his wife, Darla; his three children, Steve (Lori) Parker, of Eureka, Missouri, Rick (Kim) Parker of Chesterfield, Missouri and Lea Anne (Kent) McCormick of McKinney, Texas; fourteen grandchildren and one great grandchild; Darla’s children, Rachel Evins, Monica Evins and Whitney (Todd) McGinnis;  many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation services will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, in the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Evergreen Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775.

A Memorial Service for Porshia Lee Garrison, 56, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, October 13, 2023, at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.    

Porshia passed away at 1:27 p.m., Saturday, October 7, 2023, at Cox South, Springfield, Missouri.  

She was born July 10, 1967, at West Plains, Missouri, to Tom Reid, Sr., and Mary Henry Reid.  Porshia loved her grandchildren, spending time with her family and attending church.  She loved working in home health care where she was able to help people.  Porshia enjoyed babysitting, making blankets, crocheting, sewing, cooking, baking and hairdressing.

She is survived two children, Levi Garrison and significant other, Cierra Crider and Joseph Garrison, all of West Plains; two grandchildren, Lucas Michael Garrison and Walker Garrison; her parents, Tom and Mary Reid, Peace Valley, Missouri; three brothers, Rocky Reid and wife, Linda, Rolla, Missouri, Tom (Tinker) Reid, Jr. and wife, Grace, Peace Valley, Missouri and Chet Reid and wife, Laura, Peace Valley, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; her former husband, Tony Garrison, West Plains; special friend, Brett Vaughan, West Plains; and friend, Gene Jenkins, Cherokee Village, Arkansas. 

Her grandparents, Glenn and May Henry preceded her in death.  

Visitation services will be held from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m., Friday, at Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions may be made to the family and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775. 

Graveside services for Leroy Robert Trone, Sr., 74, West Plains, Missouri, formerly of Minnesota, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 28, 2023, at Union Woodland Cemetery, McGregor, Minnesota.    

Mr. Trone passed away at 9:47 p.m., Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at his home.  

He was born October 7, 1948, at Redwing, Minnesota, to Archie Godfried Trone and Alice Eleanor Fellows Trone.  Leroy graduated from McGregor High School.  Mr. Trone was a veteran, having served with the United States Army in Vietnam where he was awarded a bronze star.  He retired from Ford in St. Paul.  He loved hunting and fishing.

He is survived by two children, Leroy Trone, Jr. and Tanya Catlin; two grandchildren, Grace Weldon and Riley Weldon; one brother, Arvid Eugene Trone; three sisters, Judy Trone, Donna Sobaszkiewicz and Karen Larson; and several nieces and nephews. 

His parents and five brothers, Merril, Melford, Darrel, Dwayne and Allan Trone, preceded him in death.

Arrangements under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. 

Charles Zajicek, 86, West Plains, Missouri, passed away at 11:03 a.m., Friday, September 29, 2023, at Ozarks Medical Center.  Arrangements under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

On October 2, 2023, longtime West Plains resident and civic leader, Newton Clyde Brill, Jr., 87, died at his home with wife Carolyn by his side. Mr. Brill was born on March 10, 1936 in Mountain Grove, MO in the home of his grandmother Olive Young. The attending physician was Mr. Brill’s great-grandfather, Dr. Samuel Hubbard who practiced medicine in Wright County, Missouri for sixty-four years.

In 1940, Brill and his parents, Newton Clyde Brill, Sr. and Marie Young Brill, moved to West Plains where Newt attended elementary school and high school. For several years, the family lived on Cass Avenue in a cottage at the end of their block. At the other end, just across the street from the city park, lived the family of Joe and Josephine Saunders including daughter Carolyn and son Tom. A warm friendship developed between the two families, and Newt, his brother Jim, Carolyn, and Tom played together nearly every day sharing many adventures.

At West Plains High School Newt played Zizzer football and basketball and ran track. At that time, he also began courting childhood friend Carolyn Saunders. Newt graduated from high school in 1954, and from 1954 to 1958, attended the University of Missouri, Columbia on a Naval ROTC scholarship. Upon graduation he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, and the following month he and Carolyn were married at First Baptist Church in West Plains.

Following officers’ training in Quantico, Virginia, Newt trained as an artillery officer at Camp Pendleton near Oceanside, California and received additional training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and at Twentynine Palms, California. During this same period, Brill also trained as a nuclear warfare officer at the Nuclear Warfare College on North Island at San Diego. His two daughters, Julia and Margaret, were born at the naval hospital in Oceanside.

After three years of active duty in the Marine Corps, Brill served as a captain in the reserves while also attending law school at the University of Missouri where he was assistant editor of the Missouri Law Review. Desiring to make their permanent home in West Plains, upon Newt’s graduation, Newt and Carolyn returned to their hometown where Newt joined the law practice of Richard D. Moore. In 1968, son Joel was born in West Plains.

In the early years of his law practice, Newt handled all kinds of cases including family law, criminal law, and litigation. Eventually he specialized in business law, corporate law, estate planning, probate law, and real estate. From 1971 to 2002, Brill owned and operated Kellett-Landis Abstract Company, later known as Brill Title Company.

One of the more colorful episodes in Newt’s practice of law took place in New Orleans in 1968 when he and Dick Moore were representing the Rural Electrification Association at a convention. At their hotel, following a day of meetings, Newt was held at gunpoint as thieves demanded his wallet which he had left in his room. During a scuffle with his assailants, the gun discharged, and Newt was shot in the hip. Thankfully, the wound was superficial. His assailants fled and were never heard from again (at least not in connection with this incident).

Over his lifetime, Brill served his community of West Plains in many capacities, most notably in the fields of health care, elder care, and banking. In 1965, a year after he and Carolyn returned to West Plains, Newt began serving on the West Vue Nursing Home Board of Directors and was elected president of that board the following year, a position he held for nearly fifty years. During that time, he oversaw the establishment of a Practical Nursing School at West Vue and the opening of West Vue Apartments, Pleasant Valley Manor, Pleasant Valley Village, West Vue Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and the West Vue Green House Homes.

For nearly sixty years, beginning in 1966, Brill worked on behalf of Ozarks Healthcare (known earlier as West Plains Memorial Hospital and Ozarks Medical Center). He served on its board of trustees, its board of directors, and the OMC Foundation Board, later known as the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation.

Brill was also active in the West Plains banking industry, serving on the boards of First National Bank, Centerre Bank, and Boatman’s Bank. In 1997, he was a founding board member of Community First Banking Company, retiring from that role in 2022.

Brill served on many other boards including the West Plains Schools Board of Education, the Board of Trustees of Southwest Baptist University, the Board of Governors of the Missouri Bar Association, the board of Legal Services of Southern Missouri, the board of the West Plains Housing Authority, and the board of Downtown West Plains. In 2005, he was a founding member of the West Plains chapter of the Marine Corps League.

Throughout his life, Brill was the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the West Plains Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award, the Purcell Professional Award from the Missouri Bar Association, the Trustee of the Year Award from the Missouri Association of Homes for the Aging, and the Distinguished Zizzer Alumni Award, to name a few.

Newt was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church where he served for many years as chairman of the deacons, president of the church corporation, a Sunday School teacher, and a member of other committees.

Outside of his career, Newt was an outdoorsman. As a youngster, he attended Boy Scout camp where, one year, caught up in the moment, he succumbed to the temptation of a Mohawk haircut. When he returned home, his dismayed mother demanded that he wear a stocking cap to church. In the days when Newt was raising his family, he often went quail and dove hunting with his father-in-law Joe Saunders. For many years, Newt and a group of close friends enjoyed annual fishing trips on the Buffalo River. The high point of each day was returning to camp to fry their day’s catch and share stories over an open campfire. On one such trip, they were awakened during the night as a tornado roared through the area adjacent to their camp. Newt and his friends always returned from these trips relaxed, jubilant, and full of exciting tales.

Two of Newt’s other great passions were food and travel. An accomplished cook, Newt relished trying new recipes and recreating dishes he had enjoyed in restaurants or in the homes of friends. He could whip up any number of outstanding gourmet meals, but he will be best remembered for his light, fluffy pancakes and his mouthwatering cheeseburgers.

The many trips that Newt planned for his family created a lifetime of treasured memories. On one such vacation to the United Kingdom in 1978, Newt rented a car and piloted his family throughout Scotland, England, and Wales. Some highlights of the trip included tea at a castle in the Scottish Highlands, a picnic lunch on the banks of Loch Ness, and a misty, cloud-shrouded walk among the ancient ruins of Stonehenge in the days before a barrier kept the stones at a safe distance from curious pilgrims. Over the years, Newt and Carolyn visited France many times where they were magnificently entertained by Carolyn’s brother Tom who had homes in Paris and Provence.

The one constant throughout Newt’s long life was his beloved wife Carolyn to whom he was married for sixty-five years. Newt is survived by wife Carolyn, daughter Julia Frohlich and husband David of Oakton, Virginia; daughter Margaret Tao and husband Tony of Shawnee, Kansas; son Joel Brill of Springfield, Missouri; grandson Joel Frohlich and wife Katharina Landgrebe of Tübingen, Germany; granddaughter Rachel Tao of Kansas City, Missouri; brother Jim Brill and wife Penny of West Plains, and three nieces including Aimee Webb and husband Bill of West Plains, Carrie Collins and husband Kevin of St. Louis, and Stacy Pyle and husband Joey of Columbia, Missouri.

Mr. Brill was preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law Thomas Saunders, and his nephew Jamie Brill.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, October 9, 2023 at First Baptist Church, West Plains, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Visitation will be held prior to service time from 1:00 until 2:00.  Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ozarks Healthcare Development Foundation, and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 W. Main St., West Plains, MO 65775.

Graveside services for Patricia Marie Farris, 80, Dayton, Ohio, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 7, 2023, at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.    

Mrs. Farris passed away at 1:50 a.m., Sunday, September 24, 2023, at Spring Hills Singing Woods Nursing Center, Dayton, Ohio.  

She was born February 28, 1943, at New Plymouth, Idaho, to William Pelc and Freda Viola Harsin Pelc.  On September 28, 1963, she was married at White Church, Missouri, to James Martin Farris, who preceded her in death in 2020.  Mrs. Farris enjoyed sewing and quilting and was an avid rock collector.  She was a livestock and horse 4-H advisor in Preble County, Ohio for twenty years; worked as a Preble County Humane Officer for five years and was a member of Gammil Gem Club for almost twenty years.

She is survived by three children, Michelle Niswonger, Eaton, Ohio, Cynthia Brown and husband, Dave, Brownsville, Oregon and Andrew Farris and wife, Dee, Silver Creek, Georgia; eleven grandchildren, Kyle, Kelsey and Levi Niswonger, Katheryn, Jessica and Rebecca Crane, Eli, Miranda and Lauren Farris, Alex Beckett and Kylie Cooper; two great-grandchildren, Braxton and Emilia Lipscomb; four brothers, Jim, George, Joe and Mike Pelc; four sisters, Shirley Baria, Rosie Hergesheimer, Barbara Pelc and Margaret Poe; and many nieces and nephews. 

Her parents, husband, five brothers and three sisters, preceded her in death.  

Visitation services will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Friday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to West Plains Regional Animal Shelter and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775. 

Funeral services for Rachel Ann Squire, 93, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 30, 2023, in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.    

Mrs. Squire passed away at 8:55 a.m., Sunday, September 24, 2023, at her home.  

Rachel was born March 15, 1930, at Viola, Arkansas the daughter of W. Homer and Dora Bell (McElmurry) Green. She was married on December 11, 1949, at West Plains, Missouri to Kenneth G. Squire who proceeded her in death on March 8, 2012.

Rachel’s life was surrounded by children. For several years she was a foster parent and then was a bus driver for the West Plains R-7 Schools. After the school purchased the buses, she cared for children in her home which included children of the employees of Boatmen’s Bank. She was also able to care for her Great-Grandsons, Mason and Jax, since they were babies. She enjoyed piecing quilts, hand quilting them and giving them to family and donating them to raise funds for special causes. She also loved crocheting and sewing. She made her daughter’s school clothes and her son’s shirts. She also had a passion for gardening, canning, and cooking.

Rachel is survived by her daughter, Linda Squire, West Plains, Missouri; two grandchildren, Leslie Squire, Branson, Missouri and Krista Lair and husband, Heath, West Plains, Missouri; six great-grandchildren, Kourtney, West Plains, Missouri, Hunter, Branson, Missouri, Brett, Connor, Mason and Jax, West Plains, Missouri.

She is proceeded in death by her parents, husband, son and daughter-in-law, Danny and Jan Squire, two brothers, James David Green and Noble Green, and two nephews, Gary Neal Green and Billy Don Green.

Visitation services will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Friday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be at Moody Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Moody Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775. 

A celebration of life service for Billy (Bill) Wayne Pruiett, 68, West Plains, Missouri, will be held from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM, Saturday, September 30, 2023, at Pottersville Baptist Church, 9815 County Road 7290, Pottersville, MO  65790.

 Mr.  Pruiett passed away September 19, 2023, at Ozarks Health Care.  

Bill was born July 16, 1955 to Charlie and Rachel (Harbin) Pruiett in Caruthersville, Missouri.  Bill retired from the City of West Plains Parks and Recreation Dept after 27 yrs of service.  He loved camping, fishing, and smoking meat with his family and friends. 

Bill is survived by his five children, Gwendolyn Wadkins and husband, Tim, Kearney, Missouri, Jason Pruiett, Jessica Bates and husband, Brian, belonging to Teresa Pruiett. Also Jaime Welker, and Amanda Frazier and husband, Jesse, belonging to Charlotte Bruesch, all of West Plains; seventeen grandchildren, Shelby and Austin Smith, Ryan Wadkins, Riley Wadkins, Marcus Pruiett, Hannah Pruiett, Ashley Ingram, Bailey and Steven Steele, Grace and Preston Eagleman, Brianna Bates, Briggs Gunter, Beau Bates, Jessica Welker, Jennifer Welker, Jorgiah Welker, Jacqueline Loomis, Nicholas Loomis, and Emilee Frazier; seven great-grandchildren, Maddie Rae, Oakley, Daniel, Lincoln, Stetson, Watson, and Eleanora; two brothers, Doug Pruiett, Carthage, Missouri and Marty Pruiett, West Plains; two sisters, Charlene Church and husband, Ed, North Glenn, Colorado and Mary Hicks and husband, Duaine, Pomona, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Debbie Pruiett, West Plains and Michelle Pruiett, St. Clair, Missouri; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins; and Special friends, Peggy and Jerry Hopper, Granby, Missouri.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Rickie, Freddie, and Joe Pruiett, infant brother Ernie Pruiett, two sisters, Judith Hill and Sandra McCracken, three sisters-in-law, Julia, Lulla, and Jan Pruiett and two brothers-in-law, Mike Bryan and Mike McCracken.  

Memorial contributions may be made to the family and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775. 

A memorial service for Joyce Ann Mauldin, 91, West Plains, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 23, 2023, at Central Calvary Baptist Church, West Plains.

Mrs. Mauldin passed away September 18, 2023, at Ozarks Medical Center.

She was born April 26, 1932, at Fairfield, Illinois, to Charles “Chub” and Louise McGuire Joslin.  Joyce accepted Christ as a teenager while attending Garden Grove High School, California, where she graduated in 1949. She moved back to the area in the 1960’s and has many friends and acquaintances. Joyce wore many hats in her lifetime which included a nurse’s aide, med tech, wife, mother, EMT, bowler, well-known seamstress and she retired from Ozark Action in 1996 as a Health Coordinator.

Joyce had four children, Kathy Smith of Springfield, Jeff Smith (Sheila) of West Plains, Bev Smith Esterline (Alan) of Inola, Oklahoma, and Cindy Schoenhofen (Ed) of West Plains; seven grandchildren and their families including many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Joyce also included many others as her family, too.  She is also survived by her sister-in-law Mary Lee Martin Joslin, two nieces and their families, and her beloved furbaby, Buddy. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Howard “Bud” Joslin, and her husband Tom Mauldin.

A celebration of Life Service for Mary Ann Leroy, 77, Dora, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 23, 2023, at Family Life Church, Dora, Missouri.    

From her family home, the cowgirl rode away to receive her Crown of Glory on September 15, 2023.  

She was born August 14, 1946, at Dora, Missouri, to John O. Freeman and Velma Freeman.  Mary Ann attended school in Dora and on July 4, 1964 was married to Dwaine Warren; two boys came from their union.  Mary Ann was united in marriage on December 8, 2001, to Ronnie Leroy, who had two boys.  She was a dedicated factory worker in West Plains.  Mary Ann was a baptized believer and a member of Family Life Church, Dora, Missouri.  She enjoyed the simple things in life from trail rides to horse shows and living life on the farm with her husband.  Time with family was important to her.  Mary Ann had an intense love of nature and animals, especially her dogs and horses.  As a Wife, Mother, Grammer and Friend, Mary Ann walked the talk.  Happy Trails until we see you again.

She is survived by her husband, Ronnie, Dora, Missouri; two sons, Mark Warren, Dora, Missouri and Vince Warren, State of Connecticut; two step-sons, Ronald Leroy and wife, Kari and David Leroy and wife, Crystal, all of Dora; special friend, who Mary loved like a daughter, Deanna Frazier and husband, Donny, Dora; nine grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren, Weston Warren and wife, Ally (Langston), Kendra Shankle and husband, Justin, (Remi and Kimber), Garrett Warren, Andalyn Warren and husband, Jared Rauso, (Mylan and Marigold), Kianna Warren and Dustin Reynolds (Kiegan and Nolan), Brianna Newton and husband, Shannon, (Kolton), Dylan Leroy and wife, Jessica, (Adylan and Lauren), Nicole Griffin and husband, Jonathan, (Jaxton), Clayton Leroy, Morgan Melvin, (Kayson) and Caleb Frazier. 

Her parents preceded her in death.  

Memorial contributions may be made to Sweeton Pond Cemetery, Family Life Church or Dora FFA and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775.