Name of Deceased: Joye L. (Bushnell) Murphy
Newspaper: The Joplin Globe
Submitters Name: Jody Eggensperger

Obit: Joye L. Murphy, 80, Joplin, died on Sunday, March 23, 2008, at Silver Creek Assisted Living in Joplin, following a lengthy illness. Joye was born July 26, 1926, in Ivanhoe, Minn., the daughter of Joe Bushnell and Wilda (Joynt) Bushnell. She moved to the Newton County, Mo., area in 1937, from Minnesota, and attended Stella Schools. Joye worked in real estate sales for Charles Burt Realty, retiring in 1998, and was a lifetime member of the Millionaire Club and of the Faith Assembly of God Church. She married Jack Murphy on June 14, 1941, at Stella. He survives. Additional survivors include a son, Gary Murphy and wife, Dian, Seneca, Mo.; two brothers, Dawn Bushnell and wife, Lavaun, Neosho, and Sheldon J. Bushnell, Joplin; three grandchildren, Jeff Murphy, Brent Murphy and Keri Gunther; and three great-grandchildren, Jessica and Joshua Murphy and Rachelle Gunther. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by a son, Terry Murphy in 1999.

Services will be Friday, March 28, at 1 p.m. at the Clark Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, Larry Grissim, Minister will officiate.
Burial will be in the Neosho Memorial Park Cemetery, south of Neosho. Friends may call at the Clark Funeral Home, Neosho, on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the family will receive friends Thursday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clark Funeral Home, Neosho

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Name of Deceased: Virgil "Lee" Lee McCormack
Newspaper: The Joplin Globe
Submitters Name: Jody Eggensperger

Obit: Virgil "Lee" Lee McCormack, age 93, of Joplin, was wrapped in the arms of  Jesus and taken home at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 5, 2008. He was surrounded by his loving wife and daughters. Lee was born on Dec. 31, 1914, in Warrensburg, Mo., to the late Walter and Lulu Adair McCormack. He grew up on the family farm and attended a one room school house through the 8th grade. He moved into town
and lived with his grandmother while he completed his high school education. He attended Central Missouri State Teachers College. In 1939, he enrolled in Lincoln Airplane Flying School in Lincoln, Neb., and was sworn into the Navy in 1940. It was at this time that he met his wife of nearly 61 years, Norma Ahlman McCormack. They were married on March 2, 1941. He served as a pilot in the Navy for 21 years and attained the rank of lieutenant commander. He flew anti-submarine missions in the Pacific during World War II and he and his crew narrowly escaped death on several occasions. He knew he had an "angel on each shoulder" who brought him safely home. After the war he was stationed at several
bases. First was in Milton, Fla.; second was in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he was a gunnery officer; third was on the West Coast at Menlo Park and Palo Alto where he was in the General Line School; fourth was in Olathe, Kan., where he was superintendent of training; fifth was in Brunswick, Maine, Newfoundland and Iceland, where he was in charge of checking early warning systems; sixth was in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were he was the commanding officer of Leeward Point. Lee and Norma had two daughters, Phyllis and Janet, who shared in the life of travel and treasured all the wonderful experiences they had because of their dad's career. Upon his retirement in 1961, the family moved to Joplin. Not content to simply
retire, Lee bought land and went to work designing, building and operating Park Plaza Mobile Estates, a home to over 100 families. He remained active in the business until his passing. Always ready for a new challenge, he purchased the Colonel's Pancake House and worked there for several years, greeting people with a smile and a hot cup of coffee. Owned by his daughter, Phyllis, the Colonel's continues to be a part of the family. He loved traveling with Norma in their RV until her passing on Jan. 13, 2001. He had a tremendous memory and he enjoyed
sharing memories from his rich and full life with his family and friends. He was blessed to find Marlene Farren and to join with her in marriage on Sept. 12, 2003. They shared nearly five years together and enjoyed traveling as well and spent many happy times at their condo in Branson. During his fight against cancer, she was at his side constantly, caring for him with great love and devotion. He was a member of First United Methodist Church for 40 years and was president of his Sunday School class for 20 years. He was baptized by immersion at the age of 90 and then became a member of Forest Park Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, Lee was preceded in death by his wife, Norma; his stepmother, Ernestine; and his sister, Mary Evelyn. Survivors include his wife, Marlene; his daughter, Phyllis Pearce and husband, Tom; daughter, Janet Fisher  and husband, Craig; step-sons, Dan Farren, Steve Farren and wife, Connie, Mark Farren and Scott Farren and wife, Renee; brother, Dale and wife, Frances; sister-in-law, Maxine Lehman and husband, Mickey; grandchildren, Jeff Pearce, Chris Pearce, Brady Fisher and Julie Anderegg; great-grandchildren, Sydney
Pearce, Bennett Dahl, Samuel and Benjamin Fisher, Marla Anderegg and he was "Papa" to Zachary, Jade and Alexis Farren; and nieces and nephews who loved and admired him and a host of friends. He loved his country, he loved his family, but above all he loved his God.

Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Mason-Woodard Chapel. Floyd Weston officiating. Entombment will be in Ozark Memorial park Cemetery. Those gentleman serving as pallbearers will be Jeff Pearce, Chris Pearce, Brady  Fisher, Kent Anderegg, Chuck Thelen and Tim Douglas. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the mortuary. Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society

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Name of Deceased: Edna R. (Wilson) Miller
Newspaper: The Joplin Globe
Submitters Name: Jody Eggensperger

Obit: Edna R. Miller, age 89, Joplin, passed away at 7:40 p.m. Saturday, April 5, 2008, at her home after an illness. Mrs. Miller was born Jan. 5, 1919, in Grove, Okla., to the late Murray Wilson and Lola Ellsworth Wilson and had lived in the Joplin area for several years. She had lived in southern California from 1950 to 1975, and worked at the former Miller Manufacturing Company in Joplin, as a sewing operator. She was a member of Joplin Family Worship Center. She married Paul Miller on May 22, 1947, in Kansas. He survives at the home.
Additional survivors include a son, Karl Miller, Joplin; one daughter, Vicky Haith and husband, Larry, Joplin; grandchildren, Tanya Matthews, Springfield, Mo., Fawn Watson and husband, Zach, Joplin, Dawn Sage and husband, Marcus, Jefferson City, Mo.,
Ethan Miller and wife, Melissa, Norfolk, Va., April Peck and husband, Jon, Joplin; great-grandchildren, Alyssa Matthews, Michael Vance, Tekoah Sage, Delfus Matthews, Dalarrie Sage, Will Watson, Ashlynne Sage, Brandon Peck, Kate Watson and Tylor Peck.

Services will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Joplin Family Worship Center. Marcus Sage will officiate. The family will receive friends following
the service at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Joplin Family Worship Center, in care of Parker Mortuary.Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.

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