Obituary -- Veva Parkhurst 1941-2022

Veva Jane Parkhurst, 80, Blythedale, MO passed into eternal rest Monday, January 24, 2022 at her home with family by her side.

She was born on May 13, 1941 at the home of her parents, Tommie and Tessie (Fowler) Starmer near Martinsville, MO. She was the sixth of nine children.

Jane started her education at a one room rural school called Muddy Valley, which Jane attended for four years before continuing her education at Martinsville. She graduated in May of 1959. She later attended Art Instruction Inc. in Minneapolis, MN after the birth of her children. She was a self-taught artist that worked in pencil drawings before going into oils.

Jane worked in the lithograph department at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City.

Jane was united in marriage to Rollan Glee Parkhurst on December 27, 1959 at the Martinsville Christian Church. She had met Rollan, the love of her life, when he came home on leave from the army during her senior year of school. They were introduced by his brother Paul, who was the basketball coach at Martinsville. They enjoyed 48 years of marriage. To their union, four boys were born: Michael, Monty, and twins, Matthew and Mark.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rollan; parents, Tommie and Tessie Starmer; father and mother-in-law, Orville and Mae Parkhurst and siblings, Mabel Lilavea and William Earl.

Jane is survived by her sons, Michael (Michelle), Monty, Matthew (Renee) and Mark (Amy); grandchildren, Amanda, Zachary, Cody, Chelsea, Dylan, Drew, Clay, Alex, Anthony, and Delaney; 14 great grandchildren; and siblings, Wilma, Shirley, Oleta, Lavonne, Royce (Sue) and Marie (Bill). She also had oodles of nieces and nephews and lots of friends.

Funeral Services were held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 29 at the Eagleville Christian Church, Eagleville, MO under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, Eagleville, MO. Inurnment at a later date will be held in Highland Cemetery, Eagleville, MO. The family received friends from 9:30-11:00 a.m. Saturday at the church. Memorials may be made to Eagleville Christian Church and/or North Harrison School in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Eagleville, MO 64442. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com

Obituary -- Janet Murphy 1949-2022

Janet Kay Murphy, 72, of Gentry, Missouri passed away on Saturday, January 29, 2022, overlooking her pastures and animals. She was superhero nurse to many, others she was a cheerleader for the underdog, to everyone she was known as a horse lover and unconventional.

Janet is currently leading a trail ride in heaven. Likely lost after taking a left in the wrong cloud, with slightly scared angels (but trusting) in tow. And when one of those angels fall off their horse (because she picked a ditch too steep), she will force them to get back on their horse. It’s important to remember that Janet would also tell us to get back on our horse and not be upset. For she is once again a riding beautiful Missouri Fox Trotter with the perfect gait and a Diet Coke in her saddle bag.

Janet was born on July 25, 1949 in Stanberry, Missouri to Harold and Gladys (Coy) Yount. She was a graduate of Maryville High School and became an RN in 1979. She was the Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation for St. Francis Hospital in Maryville, retiring after 37 years of patient care.

She took great joy in raising funds for the American Heart Association and their annual Heart Walk. The latter half of her life she became an avid supporter of the Back Country Horsemen of Missouri that protects equestrian resources (i.e., her favorite trails). The family would like to encourage donations to one of these groups in lieu of flowers.

Janet married Martin Murphy on August 28, 1982. He survives of the home. Additional survivors include their children, Shannan (Greg) Welker, Angela Garr, Regina Murphy, Abby Murphy; two sisters, Lola Moberly and Barb King and one brother, Butch Yount and seven grandchildren, Alexa, Delaney and Brady Welker, Jordan and Makenzie Garr, Meagan and Trey Greckel.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Gary Yount and Steven Yount.

Memorial Services 1 pm Saturday, February 5th at Laura Street Baptist Church under the care of Price Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday, February 4th at Price Funeral Home.

Obituary -- John Schieber 1928-2022

John Fredrick “Fred” Schieber, 93, of Ravenwood, Missouri passed away on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at his home.

Fred was born on July 17, 1928 in Conception, Missouri to Lawrence and Eleanor (Lager) Schieber. He attended school in Conception, Missouri and served stateside during the Korean War with the United States Army.

He spent his life raising livestock and was a member of St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic Church. Fred was a proud member of Levi’s & Laces Square Dance Club and enjoyed spending many hours at the Sale Barn trading stories with friends.

He married Doris M. Rogers on April 30, 1953 in Maryville, Missouri. She preceded him in death on November 19, 2021. He was also preceded by his parents, daughter, Eleanor Cottrell, granddaughter, Jessica Schieber, great-grandson, Hayden Niendick, sister, Beatrice Rogers and brother, Edward Schieber.

He is survived by his children, David Schieber, Linda Berry, Kevin (Rosemary) Schieber, Teresa (Patrick) Maline, Deanne Cordell and Sheila (Daniel) Kizer; twenty two grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; his brothers and sisters, Lawrence “Butch” Schieber, Agnes Welliver, Martin Schieber, Andy Schieber, Martha Copley, Sr. Monica Schieber and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial 11 am Monday, February 7th at St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic Church under the care of Price Funeral Home. Burial St. Patricks Cemetery, Maryville. Rosary 1 pm Sunday, February 6th at St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic Church. The family will receive friends following the rosary until 3 pm. The family suggests memorials to St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic Church. www.pricefuneralhomemaryville.com.

Obituary -- Shelly Barnett 1968-2022

Michelle Lee (Fletchall) Barnett, 53, of Sheridan, MO passed away on Monday, January 31st, 2022 at Mosaic Life Care in Saint Joseph, MO surrounded by family.  She had made her peace and was welcomed into the arms of Jesus. She left an imprint on the heart of everyone she met. She was one of the few pure and wholesome souls left on this earth. Home was anywhere she was.

She was born on July 28th, 1968 at Saint Francis hospital in Maryville, MO to the late Donald Lee and Yvonne (Lantz) Fletchall.

She was a 1986 graduate of Worth County High School in Grant City, MO.

She had a love for journalism and singing in the school choir.

Michelle was united in marriage to Daniel B. Barnett on August 5th, 2000.  The two created a blended home together on a farm just outside of Bedison, MO. They eventually relocated back to Michelle’s hometown of Sheridan where she and Dan reopened the local Sheridan Thriftee store and made it their own.

Michelle enjoyed cooking, planting flowers, gardening, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Family was everything to her. The only thing stronger than her determination was her faith in God.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Sheridan, and later, the First Baptist Church in Maryville, MO. She was also a member of the Rosanna Chapter 262, of the Eastern Star.

Her survivors include her husband Daniel Barnett of the home; Her four children; Drew (Natascha) Steinman of Hopkins, MO, Hilary Steinman of Maryville, MO, Randell (Amanda) Barnett of Oahua, HI, and Ashlyn Barnett of Sheridan, MO; two sisters; Debra (Charles) Zook and Kimberly Fletchall both of Maryville, MO. Eight grandchildren; Draedyn Degase, Ava Steinman, Quentin Degase, Bridgett Steinman, Isaiah Steinman, Harper Pritchett, Maddox Pritchett and Adaley Barnett; two nephews; Chad and Joshua Zook.

It was Michelle’s wish to be cremated and that no services be held.

Donations in her honor are suggested to be sent to the American Cancer Society and the Sheridan United Methodist Church.

Bram Funeral Home in Maryville, MO is in charge of the arrangements.

Erin Virtue’s Triple Sparks Shamrocks Past Union Star

“By the rude bridge that arched the flood, their flag to April’s breeze unfurled, here once the embattled farmers stood and fired the shot heard round the world.” – Emerson

While the battleground was not nearly as significant, the impact was immediate. Erin Virtue, normally a role player for the Shamrocks, hit a buzzer beating three pointer at the end of the third quarter in the consolation round of the Gilman City Tournament with North Harrison facing elimination at the hands of Union Star and having just lost a heartbreaker to Tri-County in the first round. Union Star was completely outplaying and outworking the Shamrocks up to that point and had built some separation. North Harrison had rallied, but the Trojans were still in control. 

Zoey McQuate hit a free throw with 7.4 seconds left in the third quarter to put Union Star up 27-20, but in a sequence that had symbolized North Harrison’s play up to that point, she missed the second free throw, only for Audrey Hodge to grab the offensive board and draw the foul. 

But in a turn of events that swung things back in North Harrison’s favor, Hodge missed both free throws and North Harrison pushed the ball up the floor. Camden Castleberry found Erin Virtue on the left wing, Virtue let it fly and it was nothing but net at the buzzer. Somehow, despite being completely outplayed and outworked up to that point, North Harrison was only down 27-23 going into the fourth.

It’s too early to tell what kind of an impact this play will have at this point, although North Harrison not only won that game 42-37, but won the next as well to get Consolation. But something similar happened to them in junior high back in 2017, when the Shamrocks started off the season 0-3. In their fourth game, Camden Castleberry came off a ball screen to hit a buzzer beating three pointer at the half to break up a close game, and the Shamrocks won the game and went on to win 10 out of their last 13 games to go 10-6.

Things didn’t immediately turn around, as after Jayliegh Robins grabbed a putback to make it 27-25, she rolled her ankle with 6:43 left while scrambling for a loose ball and came out. The score was stuck at 27-25 for the next few minutes, until Halle Morgan hit two free throws to finally tie it up.

Hodge scored from inside to put Union Star back up 29-27, but Robins had come back in by then and North Harrison was a totally different team at that point and Camden Castleberry hit back to back jacks to put the Shamrocks in front 33-29 at the 3:18 mark.

Union Star was not done, as Kelly Clibon hit two free throws to cut it to 33-31 and the Trojans got a stop, but they missed a go-ahead three and had to start fouling. Camden Castleberry hit two free throws to make it 35-31 with 1:27 left.

Mara Mitchell scored from inside to cut it in half with 1:11 let, but Trendi Johnson countered with two free throws with 53 seconds left to make it 37-33. Mitchell drew a foul, but missed both free throws. Audrey Hodge got the board, but missed the putback try and the rebound went out of bounds off Union Star. 

Mitchell fouled out, and Camden hit one of two, only for Zoey McQuate to hit a 3-pointer at the top of the key to make it 38-36 with 29 seconds left. But Camden kept hitting her free throws, getting two with 16 seconds left to make it 40-36. Hodge made one of two with 9 seconds left, and Camden made both free throws with 7.2 seconds left to finally seal it and give North Harrison the 42-37 win.

Up to that point, the game had looked like a complete mismatch in Union Star’s favor. Camden Castleberry’s 3-pointer put North Harrison in front 9-8 with 1:22 left in the first quarter, only for Clibon to get the hot hand for Union Star, scoring eight in a row to make it 16-9. The Trojans were flying to the offensive glass, getting 22 for the night, and getting on the line as well. 

The Shamrocks trailed by as much as 26-14 in the third quarter before they finally started coming back, getting baskets from Erin Virtue, Trendi Johnson, and Jaci Davis to cut it to 26-20. But the Trojans were still in control before Virtue’s 3-pointer at the third quarter changed the momentum.

Camden Castleberry hit 20 for North Harrison, 13 coming in the last quarter. Trendi Johnson had 8, Erin Virtue 5, Jayliegh Robins 4, Halle Morgan 3, and Jaci Davis 2.

Halle Morgan had 9 boards. Jayliegh Robins had 6, Trendi Johnson, Jaci Davis, and Erin Virtue 5, Camden Castleberry 3, and Carmon Fordyce 2.

Trendi Johnson had 5 assists. Camden Castleberry had 3, and Erin Virtue and Jaci Davis 1.

Halle Morgan and Jayliegh Robins had 5 tips each. Camden Castleberry had 4, Erin Virtue 3, and Jaci Davis and Trendi Johnson 2 each.

Trendi Johnson had 6 steals. Jaci Davis had 4, Camden Castleberry and Erin Virtue had 3 each, and Erica Gerken, Jayliegh Robins, and Halle Morgan had 1 each.

Aivry Griffin Remembered at Rock Port Game; Aydan Gladstone’s Shot Snaps Losing Streak

Worth County’s boys snapped a two game losing streak as Aydan Gladstone’s shot in the closing seconds gave the Tigers a 49-48 win over Rock Port. During the halftime of the game, the Rock Port cheerleaders gave cards to the Worth County cheerleaders in memory of Aivry Griffin. They wore special shirts and ribbons in her memory.

Worth County started off well as Aydan Gladstone hit Jackson Smith backdoor, Gladstone scored off a drive, and Gladstone scored again to make it 6-2. Aiden Burke cut it to 6-4, but Jackson Runde scored off a steal and cleaned up on a miss in transition to make it 10-4. 

But Rock Port has one of the top point guards in the area in Holden Farmer, a 6’3” guard who can handle the ball and break down defenses, and they began chipping away, getting the deficit down to 20-18 on Farmer’s 3-pointer before Tyler New scored off a drive and Jackson Runde scored off a steal to make it 24-18.

But some defensive lapses let Rock Port right back into the game, and Bannack Skillen got behind the Tiger defense and was all alone for a 3-pointer than put them up 27-24 before Gladstone’s free throws cut it to 27-26 at the half.

Tyler New hit a 3-pointer for the Tigers to start the third quarter to put them back in front 29-27, but Farmer threatened to take over, scoring off a drive, knocking down a guarded shot from the high post, and hitting a guarded three. Aiden Burke scored off a steal and Rock Port took a 36-29 lead at the 2:06 mark of the third quarter.

But with Farmer on the bench with three fouls, Worth County started coming back as Jackson Runde scored off a drive, Aydan Gladstone got a steal, and Tyler New scored off a Gladstone steal to cut Worth County’s deficit down to 36-35 after three.

Grant Cameron put the Tigers in front early in the fourth with a 3-pointer to make it 40-38, but then a defensive lapse by the Tigers sparked Rock Port and Malachi Skillen tied it at 40 again. Bannack Skillen added another basket to put Rock Port in front 42-40.

Aiden Burke got behind the Tiger defense to push Rock Port’s lead to three with 1:45 left at 46-43, but Tyler New’s drive cut it back down to 46-45, and Worth County put on a full court press and forced a five seconds call. But then Burke stole the ball and converted with 57 seconds left to make it three again at 48-45.

Grant Cameron missed a 3-pointer that would have tied it and fouled Burke on the rebound, but Burke missed a 1-1 that would have made it two possessions and Worth County got another chance. With 27 seconds left, Aydan Gladstone scored off a drive to cut it to 48-47. Jackson Runde then stole the ensuing inbounds pass, missed the wide open layup, but stuck with the play and tied up Holden Farmer for the rebound. Farmer fell to the floor trying to yank the ball away from Runde and was called for traveling, giving Worth County another chance.

This time, Aydan Gladstone drove down the middle of the lane and scored to make it 49-48 with 10 seconds left. Rock Port rushed it up the floor, and Farmer missed a contested look from the right side and Jackson Runde got the defensive board with 3.4 seconds left. 

Rock Port still had fouls to give, and they picked up their fourth and fifth fouls in quick succession, leaving 1.3 seconds left.

But with 1.3 seconds left, Worth County threw the inbounds pass away, giving Rock Port another chance. Everyone knew where the ball was going to, and Rock Port inbounded it to Holden Farmer with a chance to win the game from 8 feet out. But Jackson Runde contested it heavily, and the shot was short, handing the Tigers the win.

Aydan Gladstone had 18 for the Tigers. Tyler New had 13, Jackson Runde 11, Grant Cameron 5, and Jackson Smith 2.

Jackson Runde had 14 boards to complete the double double. Jackson Smith had 8, Aydan Gladstone 5, Grant Cameron 4, Tyler New 2, and Tanner Ridge 1.

Tyler New had 6 assists. Aydan Gladstone and Jackson Smith had 3 each, and Jackson Runde 2.

Jackson Smith and Jackson Runde had 3 tips. Tyler New had 2. Aydan Gladstone had 5 steals. Jackson Runde had 4, and Tyler New had 3.

Liz Brown Comes Up Big as Tiger Girls Win Second Straight 42-41

Last fall, towards the end of softball season, we asked Aivry Griffin which underclassman we should roast next year, since she was the lone senior on the squad. “Definitely Liz Brown,” she said. Fittingly enough, it was Liz Brown who came through last Tuesday, scoring the game winning shot for the Tigers after Kynah Steele had kept the Tigers in the game all night with 18 points, 18 boards, and took two charges on defense. 

Things did not look good for the Tigers at first, as it looked like Chaney Vogler and Avery Meyerkorth were getting to the line at will and Rock Port jumped ahead 6-2. But Taylor Sanders hit a 3-pointer and Kynah Steele got a putback and a three point play to put Worth County in front 8-6. After that, Vogler hit from the high post, Meyerkorth scored off a drive, and Mikayla Makings scored off a steal to put Rock Port up 12-8, and the Blue Jays stayed ahead for a long time to come.

Ali Brown’s inside shot kept Worth County close at 14-11 early in the second, but then the bottom threatened to drop out as Rock Port was getting to the line at will and they pulled away to a 22-13 halftime lead. 

Kynah Steele willed the Tigers back into the game, scoring the first five points of the third quarter for Worth County as they closed to within 24-18 at the 6:05 mark. But then Meyerkorth started working the offensive glass at will, pushing Rock Port ahead 28-18 with 4:04 left in the third.

Something had to change, and other people finally started stepping up and scoring for the Tigers. Hailey Adwell hit a 3-pointer to resurrect Worth County’s chances. Meyerkorth countered with another putback, but Steele hit two free throws, Justina Wimer hit a baseline shot, and Steele got a third chance putback to make it 30-27, and then took a charge on Vogler to draw her fourth foul.

Ali Brown picked up her fourth foul, Meyerkorth got yet another putback, and Vogler got loose in transition for a three point play at the start of the fourth to make it 34-27, but Hailey Adwell got a putback and Taylor Sanders hit a 3-pointer to cut it to two. 

The teams traded blows for the next stretch, but Vogler fouled out as Taylor Sanders drove into the basket with 4:15 left to take away one of Rock Port’s leading scorers; Sanders hit her free throws to cut it to 38-36. Meyerkorth countered with a drive, but Kynah Steele countered with a cut to the basket and a pass from Liz Brown to cut it to 40-38 with 3:34 left. Liz Brown then got a steal with 2:40 left to tie it up. 

Rock Port then threw the ball away into the backcourt after a long possession. Meyerkorth got a steal and missed a layup, but then Ali Brown picked up an offensive foul after grabbing a defensive board with 50 seconds left, sending her to the bench with five fouls. 

With 43 seconds left, Addison Maifeld drove down the left side and drew a foul, hitting one of two to put Rock Port up 41-40. But after a long possession, Brylee Rush threw a pass to Liz Brown, who drove down the right side and scored with 13 seconds left to give Worth County its first lead since the first quarter at 42-41.

Meyerkorth then lost the ball out of bounds, and Worth County broke the press, running it down to 1.9 seconds. Kynah Steele missed a 1-1, but then stole the ensuing inbounds pass after Rock Port called timeout to set something up.

Kynah Steele had 18 points for the Tigers. Taylor Sanders had 8, Ali Brown and Hailey Adwell had 5 each, Liz Brown 4, and Justina Wimer 2.

Kynah Steele had 18 boards. Liz Brown had 7, Brylee Rush, Hailey Adwell, Ali Brown, and Kara Staton 2 each, and Abbi Brown, Taylor Sanders, and Autumn Cousatte had 1 each.

Brylee Rush had 4 assists. Hailey Adwell and Liz Brown had 2 each. Autumn Cousatte, Ali Brown, Kara Staton, and Abbi Brown had 1 each.

Hailey Adwell had 5 tips. Autumn Cousatte 4, Liz Brown 3, Kynah Steele 2, and Taylor Sanders, Kara Staton, and Justina Wimer 1 each.

Liz Brown had 5 steals. Autumn Cousatte and Kynah Steele had 2 each, and Kara Staton and Justina Wimer had 1 each.