Area Obituaries

David Eugene McElfresh, age 67, of Duke, Missouri, passed away on July 29, 2025. He was born on July 11, 1958, in Licking, Missouri, to Lester Lee McElfresh and Merle (Dowden) McElfresh. David was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Hershel McElfresh; his nephew, Jason Wilson; and his niece, Tina Harris. He is…

Donald (Don) Edward Davidson, 88, of Edgar Springs, Missouri, passed from this life on Friday, August 1, 2025, at St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Don was born on July 15, 1937, to Roy and Faye Davidson, in Edgar Springs, Missouri. Don graduated High School in 1955 from Rolla High in Rolla, Missouri. During…

Johna Sue Williamson, of Edgar Springs, Missouri, passed away Friday, July 25, 2025, at the age of 69. Johna was born to the late John Franklin Clark and Mary Etta (Boyer) Clark on June 19, 1956. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Wilma Wilson and Mary Colman. Johna…

Joseph Oscar “Joe” Gunter (b. 20-Apr-1936, d. 16-Jul-2025), age 89, has slipped the bounds of this earth and passed over to God’s Country. He lived a full life and will long be remembered as “The Walnut King” of Success, Missouri. For most of his life, he was in the business of cutting standing walnut trees…

Donald “Gene” Eugene Humphrey, age 90, of Newburg, Missouri, passed from this life on July 19, 2025. He was born on September 14, 1934, in Vessie, Missouri, to William Chester Humphrey and Edith Jane (Henson) Humphrey. Donald, lovingly known as “Gene,” was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Mildred Hatfield; brothers, Wayne and…

Larry James Cooper, age 70, passed away July 16, 2025, in Springfield, Missouri. He was born July 26, 1954, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Clanton and Eunice Cooper. Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Clanton and Eunice Cooper, and brother-in-law, Huck Lane. He is survived by three children, LJ Cooper, Justin Cooper and…

Norma Jean Dotson, 87, of Rolla, Missouri, passed from this life on July 16, 2025. She was born on October 9, 1937, in Newburg, Missouri, to Carl William Turner and Oleta Thelma (Ray) Turner. Norma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Billy Jack Dotson; a son, John Crawford; and her sister, Anita…

Donald (Don) Eugene Whitby, age 90, died on July 5, 2025, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. Don was born on May 20, 1935, in Fisk, Missouri, to Les and Noma Whitby. He was the middle child of twelve children. In 1954 Don married Amy Mooney, and to this union there were four children…

Billy Jack Jackson was born in Waterloo, Iowa, on January 11, 1934, to Faun Elbridge Jackson and Ruby Lea Jackson, and departed this life on July 3, 2025. Jack was preceded in death by an older brother, Faun Eugene, and a sister, Hazel Lea. When Jack was a young boy, he moved with his family…

Diane was called to Heaven at 1:03 p.m. on June 26, 2025, at Mercy Hospital, Springfield, Missouri, at the age of 81 years, 8 months, and 30 days. At Diane’s side was her husband of 63 years, Thomas Perry, along with their dear friends Deacon Gary Gorman, and his wife Norma, as well as Pastor…