George Ray Ellis, 75, Kansas City, MO passed away January 16, 2005 at North Kansas City Hospital. Cremation.

Adolphus “Doc” Melton Doc Melton, 83, passed away January 13, 2005 at Liberty Hospital. Cremation. Memorial service will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, January 22, at Country Meadows Chapel, Polo, MO.

Donald Lee Sterling, 77, Belton, MO, passed away Tuesday, January 11, 2005, at his home. He is survived by his daughter Sandy Bell and his son Scott. Contributions can be made to Kansas City Hospice.

Woodrow Wilson, 76, Mt. Grove, MO passed away January 10, 2005 at Veteran’s Administration Medical Center, Columbia, MO. Cremation.

Mark E. Talbott, 86, Independence, MO, passed away January 4, 2005. Memorial service will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday, January 8 at Heartland Cremation and Burial Society, 6113 Blue Ridge Blvd., Raytown. Mark was a graduate of North East High School in Kansas City. He served in the Army Signal Corps during WWII in the Philippines.…

On January 4, 2005, we lost a devoted friend, brother, son, and father. Richard Huffman died peacefully at his home surrounded by loved ones. An informal gathering will be held at the Lee Haven Senior Citizen’s Complex in the Cass Browning Community Center, 111 S. Grand, Lee’s Summit, at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 8, 2005,…

Ruth Jeanette Smith Ruth Smith, 83, Leavenworth, KS, passed away January 3, 2005. Memorial services 2 p.m. Saturday, January 8 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2500 10th Ave., Leavenworth, KS.

Fred M. Secrest, II, passed away January 2, 2005 at home. Cremation.

Jack Gibson, 69, Raytown, MO, passed away December 29, 2004, at his home. Memorial service 12-3 p.m. Saturday, January 1 at 5404 Walton Rd., Bates City. He is survived by his wife; three daughters; and one son.

Elcie Jean Custer, 57, found her peace December 29, 2004. Cremation. A Memorial service will be held 4 p.m., Friday, January 7, 2005, at Heartland Cremation & Burial Society, Raytown, MO. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Tessman Animal Shelter, PO…

Vicky (Van Hoozer) Ecklund died December 27, 2004, after a long battle with breast cancer. She was born March 9, 1949, in Trenton, MO, to Verne and Marian (Lowry) Van Hoozer. Vicky attended Trenton High School and graduated with wonderful classmates in 1967. She attended TJC for one year and then went to Northwest Missouri…

Wahloollah M. de la Rosa, 82, Lee’s Summit, MO passed away December 25, 2004 in her home. Burial is December 29, 2004 at Memphis Memorial Gardens in Memphis, TN.

Dr. Richard E. Spence, 70, Independence, MO passed away December 25, 2004 at his home. Memorial Services will be 11:00 am, Wednesday, December 29 at Heartland Cremation & Burial Society, 6113 Blue Ridge Blvd., Raytown, MO. Contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Hospice or the American Heart Association. Dr. Spence was born October 15,…

Louie “Bud” Cobb Bud Cobb, 59, Kansas City, MO, passed away Dec. 25, 2004, at his home. Memorial service 7-9 p.m. Wed., Dec. 29 at VFW Post 3976, 12810 Kentucky Rd., Sugar Creek, MO.

Robert R. Doyle, 63, Liberty, MO, passed away December 23, 2004, at Liberty Hospital. Memorial service will be 7 p.m., December 30, at The Church of Christ, 1401 Glen Hendren Dr., Liberty. Cremation.

Judy E. Colgan, 53, Independence, MO passed away December 16, 2004 at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, MO. Cremation.

James R. Bohannon, 73, Independence, MO, passed away Dec. 16, 2004, at The Groves Nursing Home, Independence. Cremation with no services. James is survived by his stepson, Ben Reek and wife, Jeannie.

Shirley Sylvia (Bree) Holmes, Independence, MO, died December 14, 2004, at Truman Medical Center Lakewood, Kansas City, MO. Cremation. Shirley was born March 13, 1923, in Fairmount, MO, and was one of six daughters of Herbert H. Bree and Claudia C. (Averill) Bree. She married Harry C. Holmes on October 26, 1938, in Plattsburg, MO,…

John Siemens, Jr., 83, Overland Park, KS passed away December 14, 2004 at Indian Meadows Nursing Home. Cremation.

Ronald T. Wright, 54, Sturgeon, MO passed away December 11, 2004 at the VA Medical Center in Columbia, MO. Burial is to take place December 15, 2004 at 1:00 PM at Jacksonville Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, MO.