Lee Howard, 77, Galena

Lee Howard, 77, Galena, died Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at his home.Born May 31, 1948 in Mena, Ark., Lee was the son of Ben and Molly (Bates) Howard.He worked for several years in the maintenance department at St. John’s Hospital in Joplin, Mo.

Cierra Osborne, 20, Galena

Cierra Dawn Osborne, 20, Galena, died at 9:10 a.m., Sunday, September 7, 2025 at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Mo. following an illness.Born July 19, 2005 in Joplin, Mo., Cierra was the daughter of Jason D. Osborne and Wanda Elizabeth Bishop. She grew up in the four-state area.

Mary Mills, 89, Galena

Mary Earlene (Nutting) Mills, 89, Galena, died Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at her home surrounded by her family.Born November 16, 1935, in Anderson, Mo., Mary was the only child of Ernest Rolland Nutting and Blanche Mae (Rhine) Nutting.

David Berry Jr., 56, Joplin, Mo.

David A. Berry Jr., 56, Joplin, Mo. died Friday, August 29, 2025 from heart complications.Born March 28, 1969 in Escondido, Calif., David was the son of David A. Berry Sr. and Ida (Leopoldo) Cox.David was preceded in death by his biological mother, Ida R. Cox; father, David A. Berry, Sr.

Naomi Carter, 75, Chetopa

Naomi R. Carter, 75, Chetopa, died the afternoon of Sunday, September 14, 2025, at her home.Born July 21, 1950, Naomi Ruth Strickland was the daughter of Elmer and Thelma (Lindsey) Strickland in Oswego. She grew up and attended school in Oswego, graduating from Oswego High School in 1968.

Phillip Smith, 73, Oswego

Phillip Dean Smith, 73, Oswego, died September 8, 2025. Born August 22, 1952 in Oswego, Phillip was the son of Homer Smith and Virginia Barker Smith.Phillip grew up helping his father on Frank Farris’ farm. In 1972 he joined the U.S.

Alice Lewis, 79, Columbus

Alice May Lewis, 79, Columbus, died peacefully Friday, September 5, 2025, at her residence, surrounded by family and friends.Born July 20, 1946, in Newton, Alice was the daughter of the late William McComb and Kathrine Husky. She was nearly born on the stairs of the Newton Post Office.

Randy Hall, 72, Cassville, Mo.

Randy Lynn Hall, 72, of Cassville, Mo. died Monday, September 8, 2025 at his home.Born November 8, 1952 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Randy was the son of Clinton Dale and Twila (Helwig) Hall.Randy and Jane Popanz were united in marriage January 17, 1992 in Neosho, Mo. She survives.

Nancy Peck, 80, Columbus

Nancy J. Peck, 80, Columbus, died August 30, 2025, at Medicalodge in Columbus. Nancy was a school teacher. Arrangements are made with Midland Cremation Society in Joplin, Missouri.

Dana Burgess, 65, Bentonville, Ark.

Dana Jeanne Burgess, 65, Bentonville, Ark., died August 27, 2025, in Bentonville, Ark., after battling a long illness.Born October 15, 1959, in Sedan, Dana was the daughter of Jospeh A. Sutton and Deloris J. Gilliam.