GEEZER

(ge-zer) slang. Not Young. Not Dead. Somewhere In Between.

the wisdom of a t-shirt...

"If you don't believe in ghosts, then you've never been to a family reunion." Ashleigh Brilliant

Katie & her little cousin Seth. They became fast friends at their Great Grandma Grace's funeral. I like to think she was smiling down on them...

debs oldest daughter

photo of my oldest daughter Koren & her husband Cody by my sister Lisa...

North Mercer R-III Alumni Dinner

annual reunion dinner held at the school commons Sept. 5 2010
Secretary Linda Shroyer sold raffle tickets for two wooden creations that were made by Dave Niemeyer.
Deanna Dailey Schreffler was a raffle winner.
Those attending from Mercer and surrounding area:
Linda Shroyer, Elijah Dailey, Marie Dailey Hass, Chastine Haggard; Duane Dailey, Columbia; Frank and Deanna Schreffler, Des Moines; Richard Haggard, East Moline IL...
attending the dinner and purchasing raffle tickets supports the Alumni Scholarship Fund that provides two $500 scholarships to Mercer High School graduates. K.J. Dailey and John Torrey were the recipients this year.

Elsie Lucile Smith

from Grandma Grace Brown's scrapbook

Elsie Lucile Smith, 89, died april 21 1992 in the Foxwood Springs Health center, Raymore in Cass County, where she lived. Services will be at 11a.m. Friday at the Potwin (Kan.) Christian Church; burial in McGill Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Blackman Chapel. The family requests no flowers and suggests contributions to the Fellowship of John in care of the Budd Park Christian Church. Mrs. Smith was born in Bethany, MO and lived in Butler Co, KS before moving to Raymore in 1983. She was a teacher, secretary, and home missionary for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) before she retired in 1961. She was a graduate of Emporia (Kan.) State Teachers College. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was a member of the Potwin Christian Church. Survivors include a daughter, Karen J. Yount, Kansas City; four grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.

Elsie was my Grandma Grace's cousin

Oleta Maxwell

from Grandma Grace Brown's scrapbook

In Memory of Oleta Maxwell
May 29 1914-March 21 1996
Funeral service Saturday 2:00p.m. March 23 1996
Worley-Luginbuel Chapel
Clergy Marvin Tunnell
Music-The Old Rugged Cross, Whispering Hope, Amazing Grace
Interment Service-Monday 1:00p.m. March 25 1996
White Chapel Cemetery, Wichita KS
Clergy Father Dan Andre
Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home, Grove, Oklahoma

Oleta Maxwell, age 81 of Grove, died Thursday March 21 at St John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo after a long illness.
She was born on May 29 1914 at Leon, KS, the last of eight children of Fred and Gertrude Overstreet Tabing both of whom preceded her in death. She moved to Grove in 1969 and was a member of the Women of the Moose, Grand Lake Business and Professional Women, anda life member of the V.F. W. Auxiliary. Oleta married John Maxwell on Feb 11 1978 in Grove. He survives.
Also surviving are: one daughter, Trudy Engstrand of Bel Air, Md.; one son, Edward G. Weyer of Wichita, Ks.; four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2p.m. on Saturday March 23 in the Worley-Lguinbuel Chapel with Marvin Tunnell officiating. The interment will be in White Chapel Cemetery in Wichita, Ks, at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 25. Services are under the direction of the Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home in Grove.

Cecil Chambers

from Grandma Grace Brown's scrapbook


Cecil Chambers, 56, a resident of Route 4, Trenton, died around 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan 3 1996 at the Cooper County Hospital in Boonville, where he was taken after suffering from an apparent heart attack while returning home from a hospital visit in Columbia.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Resthaven Mortuary, north of Trenton.
Mr. Chambers was born Sept. 7 1939 at Trenton, MO, the son of Cecil "Odd" and Edith Corbin Chambers. He graduated from Trenton High School and then served in the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Chambers had farmed in the Trenton community all his life. He was married to Janet Work Biermann on Oct. 23 1985 at Middletown, Pa.
Mr. Chambers was a member of the Edinburg IOOF Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Janet of the home, southwest of Trenton; two sons, Larry Chambers of Trenton, and Edward Biermann, stationed in Germany; two daughters, Kathryn McElroy of Pea Ridge, Ar., and Lisa Maurer of Hummelstown, Pa., and eight grandchildren.
Mr. Chambers was preceded in death by his parents, and one son, Garry Wayne Chambers.

IOOF services for Cecil Chambers will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Resthaven Mortuary, north of Ternton. Burial will be in the Edinburg IOOF Cemetery.
A family visitation will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the mortuary.
Mr. Chambers, 56, a resident of Route 4, Trenton, died Wednesday evening, JAn 3 1996 at the Cooper County Hospital in Boonville.

Funeral services for Cecil Chambers were held at 2p.m. Sunday at Resthaven Mortuary, north of Trenton. Carl Hanes, noble grand of the Edinburg IOOF Lodge, and the chaplain, Troy Hanes, officiated.
Mr Chambers, 56, a resident of Route 4, Trenton, died Wednesay evening Jan 3 1996 at Cooper County Hospital in Boonville.
Tape recordings of The Dance, If Tomorrow Never Comes, and Go Rest High on the Mountain were played for special music. Mrs. Jackie Gibler served as organist.
Pallbearers were Mike Glidewell, Gary Rogers, Keith Risinger, Myrle W. Swank, C.A.Reid, and Steve McCollum.
Burial was in the Edinburg IOOF Cemetery.
Military graveside rites were conducted by members of the Joseph L. Norton Post No. 919, VFW with Chet Baker as commander; Louis Pushkarsky, chaplain; Ron Persell, officer of the day; Ed Geyer and James Wattenbarger, color guards; Ralph Thomas and Ed Sullivan, flag bearers; Billy Williams, Charles Davidson, and Burl Shelton, firing squad; and Charles Elder, bugler.

In Memory of Cecil Chambers
Sept 7 1939-Jan 3 1996
Resthaven Mortuary, Trenton, MO
Officiating: Edinburg IOOF Lodge
Nobel Grand-Carl Hanes
Chaplin-Troy Hanes
Organist-Jackie Gibler
Pallbearers-Mike Glidewell, Gary Rogers, Keith Risinger, Myrle W. Swank, C.A. Reid, Steve McCollum
Interment-Edinburg IOOF Cemetery
Edinburg, MO

Millie Creswell (Campbell) Fulkerson

tried to blow up her picture from the 1890-1891 West Fairview School newspaper photo from Grandma Grace Brown's scrapbook....don't think I did her any justice...she looked beautiful but tiny in the original....

West Fairview School

1890-1891 9th girl over in first row is Millie Creswell (Campbell) Fulkerson....a cousin of my great grandpa Tom Maxwell.

Lela Leone Walker Smith

from the scrapbook of Grace Maxwell Brown

Lela Leone Walker Smith was called home to be with our Lord Sunday, July 3 2005.

Lela is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Wilbur and Eliane Maberry, and Frank and Sandra Maberry of Apple Valley, CA, and Larry and Clara Maberry of Albuquerque, NM, three sisters, Clarice Haley and husband, Roy and Peggy Jewel of Chillicothe and Winifred Vickers of Fredricksburg, MD, 10 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Lela was preceded into the gates of Heaven by her parents, George C. and Vival B. Burton Walker; her brother, Warren Noel Walker; her husband, John J. Smith; and two grandsons, Samuel Lee Maberry and Mark Lowell Maberry.

Lela was born Aug. 3 1916 near Pharr, TX. she graduated from Avalon High School at Avalon. Lela and sons resided at Trenton during the late 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Lela and husband, John, relocated to Apple Valley in 1977, completing their lives there.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 13, 2005 at First Assembly of God in Victorville. The church is located at the corner of Balsam and Nisqually Roads.

Burial will be in Resthaven Gardens at Chillicoth in early September at a time and date to be announced. (paid obituary)

A graveside service for Lele Leone Walker Smith is to conducted Friday Sept 2 2005 at 11 a.m. The service will be at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Chillicothe. (paid obituary)

Lyle E. Neill

from the scrapbook of Grace Maxwell Brown

Lyle E. Neill, 81, of Bethany, died Tuesday March 29 2005 at his home.
Mr Neill was born April 6 1923, the son of Robert and Clara Neill.
On Aug. 29 1948 he married Gladys (Pash)Neill in Gallatin, MO. she preceded him in death on February 10 2004.
He leaves three sons, Richard Neill, Galena, MO; Steve Neill, Kansas City, MO; and Ed Neill, Kansas City, MO; a daughter Annete Ramsey, DeSoto, Kans.; nine grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Louis, Ray, Sherman, and Gilbert, and two sisters, Caroline and Gladys.
Funeral services were Friday, April 1, at the Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany. Burial was in Miriam Cemetery, Bethany.
Memorials: Donor's choice in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424.

Jennie R. Neill

from the scrapbook of the late Grace Maxwell Brown

In Memory of Jennie R. Neill
August 2 1909-May 10 2001
Services Roberson Funeral Home
Bethany Missouri Monday May 14 2001 2 p.m.
2:30p.m.
Officiating Reverend John Fordyce
Music Clara Belle Gentry, Soloist
Donna Gayle Garbinson, Accompaniest
Pallbearers
John Seltman
Terry Kinder
Bobby Gene Taggart
Jerry Johnson
Jim Cracraft
Harold Carter
Interment Christian Union Cemetery Gilman City, MO

Jennie R. Neill
Jennie R. Neill, 91, Bethany, MO, and formerly of Gilman City, died May 10, 2001 at a Bethany nursing home.
Mrs. Neill was born in Harrison County on Aug. 2 1909 the daughter of Francis M. and Etha Mae (Whisler) Brown. She married Sherman Neill on Jan 21 1933 and he preceded her in death on Dec. 27 1992. She was a homemaker and member of the Blue Ridge Christian Church, northwest of Gilman City.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Albert and Bill Brown.
She leaves several cousins.
Funeral services were held May 14 2001 at the Roberson Funeral Home in Bethany. Burial was in the Christian Union Cemetery, Gilman City.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Ridge Christian Union Church, in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO.

John J. Smith

from the scrapbook of my late grandma Grace Maxwell Brown

John J. Smith, a 77-year-old resident of Apple Valley, CA, passed away June 15, 2001. Mr. Smith was a former Trenton resident.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 21, 2001 at the First Assembly of God in Victorville, CA. A graveside service will be held at a later date at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Chillicothe.

Mr. Smith was born in Lamoni, IA on Dec. 28, 1923. He was a career Army man. He served during World War II in Africa and the invasions of Italy, France, and Germany. He remained in Germany with the peacetime occupation forces for a number of years. He served

in the Army's Rifle Team of Marksmen, based at Fort George Meade, MD until disability forced him from active duty in 1961. He had resided in Apple Valley for 25 years. He enjoyed bowling in Apple Valley and Victorville leagues until the advance of cancer caused him to cease participation.

Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of 47 years, Lela Walker Maberry Smith; three sons and their families, Mr and Mrs Larry Maberry of Albuquerque, NM, Mr and Mrs Frank Maberry, Mr and Mrs Wilbur Maberry of Apple Valley; 10 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; and six great-great grandchildren.

Mr Smith was preceded in death by two sisters, Edith Corbin and Verma-dean McCullough and one brother, Vermil Brown, all former Trenton residents, and another brother, William Smith.

{deb's note, Vermil should be Vermal.}

John J. Smith

A graveside service for former Trenton resident John J. Smith will be held at 11a.m. on Wednesday, July 18, 2001 at the Resthaven Memorial Garden in Chillicothe.

Mr. Smith passed away Friday, June 15, 2001 near his home in Apple Valley, CA.

Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of 47 years, Lela Walker Maberry Smith; three sons, Wilbur, Frank, and Larry Maberry and their families of Apple Valley & Albuquerque, NM, sisters-in-law, Clarice Haley, Lois Vickers and Peggy Jewel of Chillicothe, and Grace Brown of Trenton.

handwritten note: Lela Smith died July 3, 2005

WWII Ration Books

my late Grandma Grace & Grandpa Vermal had several of these they didn't use during the war....proving just how thrifty they were! I wish I had taken pictures of them...or knew who ended up with them.....but found these pictures on google.com of someone elses grandparents ration books....

found online....

my great grandmother Gilly May Higdon...

http://allmylines.com/ir/4165

June 1 1900 Harrison County Fox Creek Twp. Missouri Census
Gilly M Higdon daughter in law white female born Oct1883 age 16 marriage status N no children
b. MO father b. IN mother b. KY
Higdon Philip head, white, male born April1846 age 54 married 25 years b. IN father b. KY mother b. Germany occupation, farmer.
Bryant Mary Alice (Higdon) wife, white, female a. April 1859 age41 married 25 years total 9 children, 8 living b. MO father b. KY mother b. IN
Higdon, Joseph Daniel Barnet son, white, male b.Sept 1879 age 20 single b. MO father b. IN mother b. MO occupation farm laborer
Higdon Emilie Phylis daughter white female b. Nov1881 MO age 18 single father b.In mother b. MO occupation at school
Higdon, Nora Grace daughter white female b.Oct1887 age 12 single b.MO father b.In mother b. MO occupation at school
Higdon Minnie A. daughter white female b.May1891 age 9 b. Mo father b. IN mother b. MO occupation at school
Higdon Hobart Franklin Robert son white male b. Oct1894 age 5 single b. Mo father b. IN mother b.MO

the legend at the bottom is interesting:
(XR) cannot read
(XW) cannot write
(B) blind
(D) deaf
(I) idiotic

found William Cullen Bryant again....

I read a lot of books about Abraham Lincoln, whom I find absolutely fascinating. and you will usually find a mention of WCB.....
The Fiery Trial Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery p. 136 William Cullen Bryant, editor of the New York Evening Post introduced Lincoln Feb. 27 1860 at a lecture....
p.147 WCB opposed "a plan ....manufactured on Wall Street...." a special train brought 30 leading NY merchants to the nation's capital bearing a petition for compromise signed by 40,000 NY businessmen.....

William Cullen Bryant

found in the last book I read....As Big As The West The Pioneer Life of Graville Stuart by Clyde A. Milner II & Carol A. O'Connor...
p.273
after his wife Awbonnie's death, Granville Stuart composed an announcement of her passing that used poetry to express his grief. He turned to William Cullen Bryant's Thanatopsis...for a long excerpt full of nature images and assurance that everything will eventually die. The lines provided sentiment without overt religious content.....

found this reference to Grandpa Vermal Brown online....

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mysouthernfamily/myff/d0010//g0000031.html


as Vermal Brown, birth about 1900
married to Leona Grace Maxwell
1. Janet Mae Brown

sent them an email....
after clicking on the source link.....Kevin Dailey was the source in 00.....hmmm.

Grandma Grace has left us....

funeral home program
In Loving Memory of Grace Brown
September 21, 1916-April 14, 2011
Services 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Resthaven Mortuary, Trenton, Missouri
Officiating Rev. Danny Chestnut
Special Recorded Music "Amazing Grace"
Pallbearers
Kerry Dauma~Chris Crawford
Shawn Crawford~John Axsom
Kevin Dailey~Tom Butler
Interment Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Trenton, Missouri

Trenton Republican Times Friday April 15, 2011
(courtesy of Lisa Butler)
Area Services Set
Leona "Grace" Brown
Funeral services for Leona "Grace" Brown are scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at Resthaven Memorial Gardens, north of Trenton.
Open visitation will begin Monday morning, April 18, 2011 at the mortuary.
Mrs. Brown, a 94-year-old Trenton resident, died at 6:04a.m. on Thursday, April 14, 2011 at Sunnyview Nursing Home in Trenton.
Mrs. Brown was born on Sept. 21, 1916 at the family farm in Brimson, the seventh child of Thomas Whitten and Gilly Mae Higdon Maxwell. She was married on July 22, 1939 to Vermal Brown of the Blue Ridge community, who preceded her in death on Oct. 10, 1997.
Mrs. Brown worked at Mattingly's Variety Store in downtown Trenton and then Eastgate Shopping Center when the store became Matco. She retired from the store May 4, 1979 after 26 years. She enjoyed bowling and quilting. She was a member of the Cat Creek Baptist Church.
She is survived by two daughters, Charlene Ann Smith and her husband Jim of Kansas City and Janet Mae Axsom and her husband Bernard of Spickard, a sister , Minerva Brown of Brimson; a niece, Marsha Williams; a nephew, Clyde Maxwell; 11 grandchildren; and 20 great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter Sharon Kay Crawford; a sister Evie Maxwell; five brothers, James, Leland, John, Eugene, and Henry Maxwell; and two nephews, Jasper Maxwell and Lawrence Gale Brown.
Memorial donations have been suggested to the Wright Memorial Hospice.
Online condolences may be left at whitakereads.com.

a family picture

after Grandma Graces funeral....a sad way to bring a family together....

old piano from Halfrock Christian Church

Kiera Pollard has this listed on Mercer County Swap on facebook for $50. my mom Janet Axsom used to play piano at both Halfrock churches.....

Joseph F Bryant death certificate

http://danoon.net/tng/showmedia.php?mediaID=724 found in a google search... this is a handwritten document, some parts were hard to read.... place of death Harrison County, MO city of Bethany Joseph F Bryant male, white, married date of birth Jan 21 1841 age 75y11m15d physician attended deceased from 9 a.m. Jan 16 1917 till 2 p.m. Jane 16 1917. death occurred 2 p.m. place of burial Miriam Cemetery date of burial Jan 19 1917 undertaker SM Haas Bethany MO cause of death ulcer of the stomach contributary arterioscerosis length of illness: many years JH _______________(can't read!) MD Jan 18 1917 Bethany MO occupation attorney general of nature of industry loan money birthplace Bartholomew County Indiana father Stephen Bryant born Gerad Co KY mother E. Hancock born Mercer Co KY informant JF Bryant Jr of Bethany MO filed Jan 18 1917 registrar Leslie B Web

Grace Brown 1916-2011

http://www.newspressnow.com/obits/27552522/detail.html Trenton, MO- Leona 'Grace' Brown, 94, Trenton, died April 14. 2011. Preceeded by parents: Thomas Whitten and Gilly Mae Higdon Maxwell;husband, Vermal Brown;daughter, Sharon Kay Crawford; sister, Evie Maxwell; brothers, James, Leland, John, Eugene, Joseph; nephews, Jasper Maxwell, Lawrence Gale Brown. Survived by: daughters, Charlene Ann (Jim) Smith, Janet Mae (Bernard) Axsom; sister, Minerva Brown; niece, Marsha Williams, nephew, Clyde Maxwell; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren. Services: 1 p.m. Tuesday, Resthaven Mortuary of Trenton. Burial: Resthaven Memorial Gardens.

Grace Maxwell Brown

aka Grandma Grace passed away this morning under hospice care at Sunnyview Nursing Home in Trenton, MO. she was 94. she had a pretty good life until just the last little bit. Grandma taught me how to crochet and bake. whenever I'd lie about something she'd just nod her head like she believed me when I knew she didn't. she was a working mom back when such a thing was unheard of. she sewed and quilted and raised a huge garden and canned. she did cameo painting on fabric. she threw huge family dinners. she made the best hot rolls and apple dumplings. She only got to go to school until 8th grade and then had to go to work. She raised her family during WWII rationing. she mowed the yard and their lake lot. she made curtains for the windows of their camper. she made entire meals to take to the field when my dad and grandpa were farming. she grew beautiful flowers. she loved babies....when I was first married and babysat a newborn, she would come to help me and rock little Chelsea for hours on end. she was so excited when our daughter Koren was born....her first great grandchild. She was a good woman and I will miss her, but I know she was ready to go and her body just gave out. it's still hard to think of Christmas without her. I will always think of my grandma Grace in her bib overalls, rolled up to her knees, out mushroom hunting. Love you, Grandma!