June 3, 2005 The ADVOCATE’s Free Press & Community News Serving Anderson, Southern Franklin and Western Linn Counties Volume 9, No. 44 Transcribed with permission of Vern Brown Page 5, Column 1: “Charles B. Neal 1916-2005 Graveside services for Charles B. Neal, 88, Rogers, AR, were Saturday, May 28, 2005, at 12:00 p.m. at Garnett Cemetery. Memorial services were held Sunday, May 29, at 2:00 p.m. at the Central United Methodist Church in Rogers. Mr. Neal died May 26. Charles B. Neal was born July 19, 1916, at Garnett, the son of Charles H. and Inez B. Neal. Charles and Edith Parrott were married December 24, 1938, at Baldwin. He graduated from Baker University in Baldwin with a BA in Economics and from Northwestern University in Evanson, IL, with an MBA in Finance. He lived in Tulsa, OK, for 35 years working for First National Bank and Trust Company, taking early retirement and moving to Rogers, AR, in 1978. There he worked for First National Bank of Rogers before retiring in 1983. Charles was a member of the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and was on the Hospital Boards in Tulsa and in Rogers. He served on his church’s board and was a trustee of Baker University, but after his family, his greatest joy was singing in the choir for many years at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church in Tulsa and Central United Methodist Church of Rogers. Mr. Neal was preceded in death by his parents, Charles H. and Inez B. Neal. Charles is survived by his wife, Edith Neal, of Rogers, AR; his son, Dr. Charles L. Neal and his wife, Nelda, of Ruston, LA; his daughter, Cathy Neal Philpot and her husband, Mike, of Pittsburg; his sister, Martha Neal Sheern and her husband, Ralph, of Garnett; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Red Cross Benton County Chapter, 3311 Southwest I, Bentonville, AR 72712. Callison-Lough Funeral Services, Rogers, AR, was in charge of arrangements.” “Zora Eugenia Robison 1917-2005 Funeral services for Zora Eugenia Robison, 87, Chanute, were Tuesday, May 24, 2005, at Penwell-Gabel Gibson Chapel with Rev. Rick Qualls officiating. Interment was in Neosho County Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Robison died Sunday, May 15, at her home. Zora Eugenia Robison was born October 21, 1917, at Kansas City, MO, the daughter of Jesse Daniel and Rilla Electa (Bouse) Kellerman. She was a graduate of Westphalia High School. Zora and Elmer J. Robison were married December 5, 1937, at Westphalia. He preceded her in death on December 1, 1998. After her children were in school, Zora was employed in Chanute at A&P, Jeff’s Foodliner, and then JC Penney, where she retired. Her life was her husband, her children, and her grandchildren. She was a member of the Otterbein United Methodist Church in Chanute. Mrs. Robison was also preceded in death by her brothers, Donald Eugene Kellerman and J. Kenneth Kellerman; her sister, Alice Louise Kellerman; and her granddaughter, Michelle Robison. Zora is survived by her son, Elmer John Robison, Jr., of La Miranda, CA; her daughter, Vivan Lee Rowan of Chanute; her brother, Lee F. Kellerman of Garnett; five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to Otterbein United Methodist Church. Penwell-Gabel Gibson Chapel, Chanute, was in charge of arrangements.” Page 5, Column 2: “Ruth Ellen Thomasson 1920-2005 Funeral services for Ruth Ellen Thomasson, 85, Gardner, formerly of Garnett, were Tuesday, May 31, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel with Rev. Gale Mack officiating. Interment was in Garnett Cemetery. Mrs. Thomasson died Thursday, May 26, at Medicalodge of Gardner. Ruth E. Thomasson was born May 24, 1920, at Wagner, OK, the fifth child of Sigel and Iva Myrtle (Kennedy) Pruitt. The Pruitt family moved from Oklahoma to Centerville, where Sigel worked on the railroad. There she grew to be a young woman and met and married James Lloyd Thomasson, who also worked on the railroad. They had three sons, James Lloyd, Dale Ray, and Roy Eugene. Soon after Roy was born, Ruth’s husband died in August, 1945, and she was left with the formidable prospect of providing for her family of three little boys by herself. She moved her family to Garnett where she resided until 1994. She took on various kinds of work to provide for them. She did washing and ironing and was what would now be called a nanny for several families. For years she worked in the kitchen for the sale barn on Tuesdays where she became famous for her chocolate and lemon meringue pies. Because Ruth was such a compassionate, caring person, she worked for McLeod’s Nursing Home and Arkhaven Nursing Home until she retired. Ruth spent the last 11 years at Medicalodge in Gardner. She was a member of First Christian Church in Garnett. Mrs. Thomasson was also preceded in death by her son, Dale Thomasson; her first-born grandson, Kevin Thomasson; her brothers, Jim Pruitt and Burris Pruitt; and her sister, Verna McGraw. Ruth is survived by her sons, Jim Thomasson and his wife, Karen, of Gardner, and Roy Thomasson and his wife, Guin, of North Kansas City, MO; her sisters, Jessie Patrick of Iola and Jean Ross and her husband, Jim, of Osawatomie; her daughter-in-law, Virginia (Ginger) McDaniel of Osawatomie; 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Casketbearers were Mike Thomasson, Todd Thomasson, Steve Thomasson, Danny Thomasson, Troy Thomasson, and Tim Thomasson. The family suggests memorials to Medicalodge of Gardner. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.” Page 5, Column 3: “Ina Bea Stewart 1917-2005 Funeral services for Ina Bea Stewart, 87, Garnett, were Monday, May 30, 2005, at 8:00 a.m. at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel with Rev. James Skedel officiating. Interment was in Garnett Cemetery. Mrs. Stewart died Friday, May 27. Ina Bea Stewart was born August 31, 1917, in Anderson County, the daughter of Walter Clark and Lochia Nina (Hart) Pugsley. She was a homemaker and loved to attend the dances in Harris. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Garnett, the Pink Ladies Auxiliary at Anderson County Hospital, and the J.J.J. Club. Ina and Claron Harold Stewart were married October 17, 1946, at Colony. He preceded her in death on October 7, 2001. Mrs. Stewart was also preceded in death by her parents, Walter Clark and Lochia Nina Pugsley; and her sister, Lola Pugsley Guern. Ina is survived by her daughters, Mary Adele Mills and her future husband, Marles Paylor, of Yukon, OK, Clarann Peine Kempnich and her husband, Bob, of Garnett, and Patricia Lynn Nelson and her husband, Dave, of Ottawa; seven grandchildren, Sally Mills and her future husband, Darren Miller, Susan Mills, Lorrie Peine, Brenda Kempnich, Robett Kempnich, Lean Nelson, and Steve Nelson; her brother, Homer Pugsley; her sisters, Nina Hodgson and Nellie Kelley; and her sister-in-law, Wilma Bieck of Fremont, NE. Music was provided by Jon Covault, organist, and Mary Hamilton, soloist. Musical selections included “In The Garden” and “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”. The family suggests memorial contributions to the First Baptist Church of Garnett or Gran-Gran’s Nursing Home of Yukon, OK. Ina will be sadly missed by family and friends. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.” Transcribed for Anderson County Kansas USGENWEB By: Lulu B. Nixon