Area Obituaries

Joyce E. (Rhoades) Shumate, 78 of Holden, Missouri passed away Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at her home. Joyce was born November 8, 1947 in Holden, daughter of Everett F. Rhoades and Hallie (Bradshaw) Rhoades. She graduated from Holden High School, Class of 65. She was a stay at home mom for many years. On August…

Dorothy F. Humphries Pine of Independence, MO passed away at Cedarhurst Retirement Home on May 7, 2026, at age 90. Services included a visitation on May 19 from 5-7:00 p.m. at Speaks Chapel on 39th Street Independence, MO. Graveside services were set for May 20 at 2:00 p.m. at the Holden Cemetery Holden MO. In…

Francis Leroy Brillhart, age 91, of Holden, Missouri, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Holden, Missouri. Francis was born on Thursday, January 03, 1935, in Belleville, Kansas, the son of Earl and Blanche (Stewart) Brillhart. He was one of three sons born to the family. At the…

Jewell Mae (Goodwin) Shockley was born May 16, 1922, in Calhoun, Mo to the parents of Sam Edward Goodwin and Netty Mae Goodwin. Sam and Netty had a total of six children, two boys and four girls, and Jewell was their last surviving child. Jewell did not always attend school as she was taught at…

Richard “Rick” Wayne McQueary, age 72, of Holden, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Lee’s Summit Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family. Rick was born on Friday, February 26, 1954, in Peoria, Illinois, the son of Shelva and Delia (Hildebrand) McQueary. He grew up in Peoria and graduated from Dunlap…

  Martha “Coleen” Huggins, age 96, of Holden, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Holden Manor in Holden, Missouri, surrounded by her loving family. Coleen was born on March 6, 1930, in Elmer, Missouri, the daughter of Jimmie and Sarah (Bell) Allen. She graduated from La Plata High School in 1948.…

Bertha “Louise” Sechrest, 91, of Kingsville, Missouri, passed away peacefully in Holden, Missouri, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Louise was born on Saturday, December 15, 1934, in Pittsville, Missouri, the daughter of the late Burney and Minnie (Haines) Smith. She grew up in Holden and graduated from Holden High School in 1953. On January 26,…

    January 10, 1936 – March 29, 2026 Beverly Craig of Blue Springs, MO, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2026. She was born January 10, 1936, in Holden, MO. She is preceded in death by her husband Gerald Craig; daughter Jacalyn Magee; parents Glenn and Jane Simmermon; siblings Rodney Simmermon, Ernest Simmermon, Beatrice…

Theresa Gayle Wright, age 69, of Holden, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. She was born on Friday, August 24, 1956, in Independence, Missouri, to Ervin Hennrich and Anna Marie (Thompson) Hennrich, both of whom preceded her in death. Theresa was raised in Independence and…

Walter James “Jim” Beattie, Jr., 86, of Pleasant Hill, was born January 2, 1940, in Kingsville, the son of Walter James Sr. and Alice Gene (Hooton) Beattie. He departed this life Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at the Crown Care Center in Harrisonville. Jim grew up in the Strasburg and Kingsville area where he attended high…