All Obituaries

Melony Marie Harding, age 33, of Pilot Grove, MO, formerly of Gravois Mills, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at her home. Melony was born July 12, 1989, in Nevada, MO, the daughter of Benjamin “Sonny” Carpenter and Christina (Heckadon) Jenkins. Melony was a free spirit and lived life to the beat of her own drum. She was energetic and worked very hard for her family. She was a loving mother, and her three children, Marijane, Zachary, and Harleigh, were her whole...

Carol Jean Schweitzer Lang, age 88, a lifelong Pilot Grove MO area resident, passed from this world comfortably with family by her side on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center.   Carol was born December 9, 1934, first child to the late John and Irene Schuster Schweitzer of Pilot Grove MO.  A 1952 graduate of Pilot Grove High School, she went on to obtain her nursing degree in May 1955.  On October 22, 1955 she married Lawrence J. Lang.  They...

Kathryn “Katy” Ann Laas, 38, of Kirksville, MO peacefully left this earth on May 29, 2023. Katy was born on September 13, 1984 in Sedalia, MO to James Andrew “Andy” Laas and Ann Marie (Coslett) James. Katy went to elementary and middle school in Smithton, MO, and finished middle school and high school at Stover, graduating in 2003. She attended State Fair Community College and later a culinary arts school in Santa Ana, CA. Katy was active in theatre arts in high...

James Brian "Jim" Lavery, 57, of Syracuse, passed away Thursday, May 25, 2023 at his home. He was born on January 14, 1966 in Kansas City, MO. On August 21, 1987 in Tipton, MO, he married Jill Salzman who survives of the home. Jim was a 1984 graduate of Tipton High School. He had worked most recently at Cargill in Marshall, MO. Jim enjoyed computer programing, board games and painting miniatures. Survivors include his wife Jill of 35 years; two children, Ryan Lavery, of St....

   Lu Beckmann, age 74, of Stover went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.    It was on the 15th day of August in 1948 that Bunney and Ellis Lee (Johnson) Marriott welcomed their first child, Lucille, into their home in Morgan County.    On June 5, 1966, Lu was united in marriage to Harry Beckmann at the Stover United Methodist Church. Lu and Harry moved into their forever home in 1975, where they raised their two children, Shannon and Shila,...

Mabel Louise Brush, 95, of Tipton, MO passed away Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at SSM St. Mary’s Hospital in Jefferson City, MO. Mabel was born on February 5, 1928, in Cappeln, MO, the daughter of Alvin and Clara (Brandes) Wildschuetz, who preceded her in death. Mabel grew up on the family farm with her siblings, Arthur, Omar, and Hazel. She enjoyed gardening and reporting to her brothers about St. Louis Cardinals baseball games. On April 3, 1948, she married William Adam Brush in...

Mary Maude Meisenheimer, age 88, of Pilot Grove, MO, passed away Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at University Hospital in Columbia. Mary Maude was born October 24, 1934, in Pilot Grove, daughter of Otto and Mary (Scheidt) Bader, who preceded her in death. She married the love of her life, Oscar "Mickey" Meisenheimer on April 22, 1954, in Clear Creek. Mickey preceded her in death on September 26, 2004. Mary Maude was a 1952 graduate of Pilot Grove High School. As a teenager she worked at...

Ralph Herman Twenter, age 92, of Pilot Grove, MO, passed away Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at Katy Manor in Pilot Grove. Ralph was born November 3, 1930, in Pilot Grove , a son of Daniel and Mary (Kempf) Twenter, who preceded him in death. He married the love of his life, JoAnn Kanenbley, on August 29, 1953, in Sedalia, MO. JoAnn preceded him in death on August 18, 2014. Ralph and JoAnn owned Twenter Lumber Company in Pilot Grove for 36 years. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church,...

Richard Douglas Fajen, age 75, of Ozark, MO, formerly of Stover,  passed away Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at his home in Ozark. Doug was born June 29, 1947, in Stover, the son of Richard and Hazel Fajen, who preceded him in death.  Doug was confirmed in the Lutheran Church at age thirteen. He graduated from Stover High School in 1965. In his early years he worked at the fish hatchery and the local supermarket. Later he managed K-Marts in Versailles and the Lake area. Doug enjoyed...

Sharon J. Rentel, age 79, of Pilot Grove, MO,  passed away Thursday, May 11, 2023, at Katy Manor in Pilot Grove. Sharon was born September 6, 1943, in Pilot Grove, a daughter of Henry and Isabel (Gramlich)  Rentel, who preceded her in death. Sharon was a private and generous friend. She worked as a hairdresser for many years and sold real estate part-time. Sharon enjoyed going to the boat with friends and caring for her dog. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death...