Area Obituaries

Sandra (Grove) West, age 77, daughter of Leroy Grove and Delores (Myers) Troupe, was born November 14, 1943, in South Bend, Ind. She passed away April 20, 2021, at Houston House in Houston, Mo. Sandra is preceded in death by her daughter, Jenniffer Hewitt; her husband, Michael West; two sisters, Betty and Violet; and her…

Gerda M. Reed, 93, of rural Licking, passed away at her home on April 18, 2021. Born on February 3, 1928, in Berlin, Germany, Gerda was the daughter of Walter Alish and Edith Schreiter. Gerda was affiliated with the Licking VFW Post 6337 for many years. She always cooked and baked for the Friday night…

Charles “Junior” Ritz was born on May 22, 1936, in Licking, Mo., and went home to be with our Lord on April 13, 2021. Preceding him in death were his parents, Charles Edward Ritz and Marie Wiggins Ritz; brothers, Lesley Ritz and Gary Ritz; and his beloved wife, Rose. Junior married Ina Bates in December…

Mrs. Dorothy Kay York, daughter of the late Leo Kell and Wanda Paterson, passed away on April 13, 2021, at her home surrounded by her loving family. Dorothy Kay York was born on May 25, 1950, in St. Louis, Mo. Dorothy attended elementary and high school in St. Louis but spent most of her summers…

John T. Forbes, 92, of Springfield, Mo., was born on April 1, 1929, in rural Mountain Grove, Mo. After a sudden illness, John passed away peacefully in Cox Hospital in Springfield on April 11, 2021. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Burley and Gladys (Campbell) Forbes; two brothers, Francis Forbes and…

Freda Lorraine Belshe, daughter of Ray Boren and Ada (Jones) Boren, was born November 8, 1937, in St. James, Mo., and passed away April 10, 2021, at the Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston, Mo. Freda, a lifelong resident of Licking, graduated from Licking High School where she excelled in volleyball. Freda was saved and…

Georgell (Deweese) Jackson, daughter of George and Mattie Deweese, was born in northern Missouri in the small community of Keytesville, on August 24, 1932, and departed this life on April 10, 2021. Georgell had an older sister, Melvalee Watson, and a younger sister, Donna Wilhelmson. When Georgell was a young girl, her family moved to…

Isaac “Ike” Leon Ashby, age 91, was born March 12, 1930, to Isaac Franklin and Julia Mae Overton Stewart Ashby. Ike was born in the Promise Land community of Blytheville Ark., at the family home. His mother often said Leon was born over in that corner there, while pointing to a corner in the house.…

Thomas “Gene” R. Gann, age 83, of Steger, Ill., formerly of Licking, Mo., passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 8, 2021. Beloved husband of Carolyn Gann nee Rab. Loving father of Lisa (Douglas) Campbell and Brian Gann. Cherished grandfather of Bradley Wick, Taylor Adams, Thomas Campbell and Livia Gann. Dear brother of Ralph (Lucy) Gann,…

Donald Vernon Chambers was born March 21, 1934, in Sherrill, Mo., to Frederick Percy Chambers and Elizabeth (Curly) Chambers. He passed away peacefully with his loving family at his side at University Hospital in Columbia, Mo. on April 7, 2021. Donald married the love of his life, Lenora Belle Hadley on March 26, 1955, and…