Area Obituaries

Harold Wayne Sutton was born August 16, 1935, in Success, Mo. He passed away November 20, 2021, at the age of 86. Wayne was preceded in death by his loving wife, Carol; son Matthew; parents Lawrence and Sally; and siblings Earl, Carl, Joe, Eula and Mae. He is survived by his children, Paul, of St.…

Frankie Lee James, son of the late Arthur and Lela Bell James, departed this life on November 24, 2021, at Texas County Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family. He was born February 20, 1946, on the hill above Welch Spring in Dent County, Mo. He is survived by his wife Donnetta; daughter, Melissia Creek and…

MSGT Sid Higashi, retired Air Force, of Success, Mo., passed away November 23, 2021, in Columbia Hospital, at the age of eighty-three. His wife, Mary Ellen, and stepdaughter, Elyse was with him via zoom camera several minutes before his Angel took him to his new home in Heaven. Sid was born in Stockton, Calif., June…

Vivian Lucille Fulks Smith was born on December 28, 1925, in Plato, Mo., to John Sherman and Lina Royster Fulks. On July 17, 1943, she married Doyle Smith. Vivian and Doyle enjoyed 70 wonderful years together. The majority of these years were spent in Licking, Mo. Vivian was preceded in death by her parents; her…

Steven Laroy Mooney, age 62, son of Kenneth and Dorris (Rayfield) Mooney, was born April 29, 1959, in St. Louis, Mo. He passed away November 21, 2021, at Phelps County Regional Medical Center, Rolla, Mo. Steve is preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Curtis (Moose) Mooney. He is survived by his wife…

Gary Gene Bates was born October 4, 1946, to Virgil and Mary E. (Thompson) Bates, in Licking, Mo. He was born with a heart defect and the doctors said he wouldn’t make it through childhood. He was made of stronger stuff than that. He grew up on his parent’s farm, number 10 of 11 children.…

Sharon (Metcalf) Mortensen, age 78, daughter of Ray and Louise (Brelow) Metcalf, was born October 10, 1943, in Mesa, Ariz. She passed away November 20, 2021, at Texas County Memorial Hospital, Houston, Mo. Sharon is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Arvin; one sister, M’Lea; two sons, Alex and Troy; one daughter, Christina; and…

Shirley Jacqueline (Shelton) Pittman, age 87, of Success, Mo., passed away on November 17, 2021, in Mtn. Home, Ark., at Baxter Regional Medical Center after a very unexpected brief illness. Shirley was born on August 26, 1934, to Harold “Jack” and Virgie (Mayfield) Shelton. She was born and raised in Ellis Prairie. She graduated from…

Thomas A Horton, age 77, went to be with Jesus on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. He was born August 21, 1944, in Allegan, Mich., to Nelson Welcome and Thelma Doris (Hogue) Horton. Thomas grew up on a farm in Eunice, Mo., and graduated from Summersville High School in 1962. He married Bettie Cummins on August…

Alvy Earl Williams, age 68, of Houston, Mo., passed away November 18, 2021, surrounded by his family at his home. He was born December 26, 1952, in Terre Haute, Ind., to Carl and Ina (Coffman) Williams. He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Robert. Surviving is his wife, Diane Williams of…