Stories from Monday, July 7, 2003

WALNUT GROVE - Christine Wolfe Killmer, 96, formerly of Dexter, died July 3, 2003, at the Willard Care Center in Willard. Born Aug. 16, 1906, in Tula, Miss., daughter of the late John T. and Mary Lavona Kesler Webb, she owned and operated the Wolfe Grocery in Dexter from 1956-1967 and lived in Walnut Grove since 1992. A charter member of Calvary Baptist Church in Dexter, she was currently a member of the Walnut Grove First Baptist Church...

PORTAGEVILLE - Hillard Walter Snelling, 69, died July 5, 2003, at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti. Born Oct. 24, 1933, in Manila, Ark., son of the late Walter V. and Mary Lillie Brigman Snelling, he was a member of the Boekerton Baptist Church, where he served as a Sunday school teacher and deacon. He retired from Plastene Supply Co. in Portageville...

MORLEY -- It's no secret that music comes naturally to Grady Lutes. Since he was 4 years old, the now 32-year-old has been playing the guitar -- and, amazingly, has never had one lesson. "Any man can go get lessons and get the notes, but only those with God-given talent can play music. God implanted the talent in me and I give all my praise and glory to God," Lutes said...

I heard on the news again that there was a daycare worker who had left a child in a van and the child died in the heat because they forgot to get it off the van. That could be prevented if they count the kids before they get on the van, when they get off the van and count again when they get where they're going. If she had kept a head-count, this tragedy could have been prevented...

SIKESTON - The executive board of the Southeast Missouri Area Council of Boy Scouts, meeting over the weekend at Camp Lewallen, voted to employ another field executive. He is Herman Niswonger, now training in New York City. --- SIKESTON - Billy Bess, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Bess, left Thursday for Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., where he will receive instruction as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves...

GRAPEVINE, Texas - J.P. Montgomery, 89, died July 6, 2003, at Baylor Hospital of Grapevine. Born April 23, 1914, in Wiseman, Ark., son of the late Ulysses Palmer and Frances Myrtle Pinkston Montgomery, he owned and operated Montgomery Motor Co. in Chaffee, Mo. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Chaffee where he served as a deacon...

PEORIA, Ill. - MaryJo L. Icenogle, 67, died at 6:50 p.m. July 5, 2003, at the Methodist Medical Center. Born Jan. 16, 1936, in Sikeston, Mo., she was the daughter of the late Joseph Lambert and Leona Nelson Newton. She was a member of Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church in East Peoria and was a seamstress for Peoria Tent Awning for 10 years...

WYATT - James Edward Fowler, 66, died at 7:30 a.m. July 7, 2003, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Vernon "Jack" Brinkman, 80, died July 4, 2003, at his home. Born Oct. 8, 1922, in Cape Girardeau County, son of the late Paul and Bess Deevers Brinkman, he retired in 1982 from Auto Tire and Parts in Cape Girardeau. A former member of the Catholic Church in Perryville, he was a member of St. ...

CALVERT CITY, Ky. - Willie Alvin Landers, 87, died at 4:24 p.m. July 5, 2003, at the Calvert City Convalescent Center. Born March 31, 1916, in Piggott, Ark., son of the late Abraham Pinkum and Mary Elizabeth Landers was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Calvert City. He was a construction carpenter before retiring and was affiliated with the North Marshall Church of Christ...

ADVANCE - Wilma Lee Bohnsack, 66, died July 5, 2003, at her home. Born Feb. 10, 1937, in Stoddard County, daughter of the late Clarance and Addie Hitt Umfleet, she retired from the Sikeston Health Care Center and was a member of the Advance First Baptist Church...