Obituaries

Mary Jo Watson, a loving mother and grandmother, departed this life December 5, 2021, at home in Blackwater, MO with her son Mark by her side. Mary was born October 9, 1934 to Noble B. and Ruby Mae Hud son in Pocahontas, Arkansas. Mary, who was a lifelong interior designer, retired in 2019, and closed her busi ness, Mary Watson Antiques and Interi ors, in Blackwater, MO. She cherished her friends and clients alike doing what she loved. She also loved assisting the community of Blackwater with special events that were there to bring more attention to the place she loved. Mary cherished her family, and having them visit her in Blackwater. Her grandchildren loved to visit, especially for her roast beef meals and her homemade cookies. She loved to watch them walk the farm and fish with Uncle Mark, and play baseball in the field next to her home. When she couldn’t visit Arnold, she would mail them cookies which they al ways loved.

Joyce Ann (Rentel) Vollrath, 78, of Pilot Grove, MO passed away Thursday, January 20, 2022, at her home surrounded by her family. Joyce was born July 16, 1943, in Boonville, MO, the daughter of Robert J. (Rob) and Dorothy Mae (Davis) Rentel. April 11, 1964, Joyce was united in marriage to James Vollrath at St John Catholic Church in Clear Creek, MO.

Elwood Eugene Waller, 81, of Nelson, MO, died Thursday, January 20, 2022, at Research Medical Center in Kansas City. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m.

Marjorie Leola Vieth Meyer, 97, of Lone Elm Missouri (previously of Kansas City) peacefully left earth for the heavens on February 3, 2022. Marjorie’s life will be celebrated on Monday, February 14, 2022, at Zion Lutheran Church in Lone Elm, Missouri with visitation at 10:30 A.M.

James H Richerson, 75, of Plattsburg, Missouri, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, January 31, 2022. He was born on Dec 19, 1946, to Noal Homer & Pauline Caroline (Kraus) Richerson in Boonville, Missouri, where he grew up. Jim was raised in the Catholic church and attended 12 years of catholic school. He attended and graduated college at Central Missouri State University where he met and married the beautiful love of his life, Anna Christina Gunderson, on August 17, 1968. Jim and Anna had two children Jeff Richerson and Christy (Richerson) Hoksbergen. He worked 33 years with Ciba-Geigy as a Chemical Sales Representative before becoming the Purchasing Manager of the Sur-Gro plants.

Medora Jean “Dora” Stroup, 81, of Nelson, MO passed away Saturday, January 22, 2022 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Jefferson City, MO. Dora was born June 17, 1940 the youngest child of Sherman and Agnes (Davis) Todd in Sedalia, MO and was raised in Clifton City, MO. She attended Otterville High School. On August 3, 1957 she married Robert Stroup who preceded her in death on January 25, 2020. She was of the Pentecostal faith.

Melba Marie Eichen, of Carlinville, passed away January 22, 2022, at Heritage Health of Carlinville, a result of COVID-19. She was born September 3, 1924, the eldest of six, to Harry and Loretta Schaefer Klaus. Due to a difficult labor, she had the unusual-for-the-era privilege of being born in St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, IL instead of in their farmhouse near Nilwood.