Dr. Steven Butcher
Dr. Steven Ray Butcher, 67, of Stockton, Missouri, passed away at home on April 23, 2024. Born on March 6, 1957, Steve was the son of Everett Elmer Butcher and Shirley Ann Poindexter Butcher. He was the eldest of three sons. Steve is survived by his wife, Cindy Andress Butcher of Stockton, along with his two children, Jonathan Butcher of Stockton and Elizabeth “Bess” Butcher (Daniel) Hochstedler of Ozark, and two grandsons, Benjamin and Emmett. He is also survived by his mother, Shirley Butcher of Stockton; and his two brothers, Stuart (Jannice) Butcher of Liberty, and Scott (Jackie) Butcher of Winchester, Kansas; and sister-in-law Connie Andress (Dave) Stinson of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Steve leaves numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, and nieces. He loved his family very much. Steve was raised on a farm in Blairstown where he attended a three-classroom elementary school in Norris. His boyhood on the farm was filled with adventures, which he frequently recalled with affection. He attended Clinton High School, and then graduated with honors as a Biology Major at Southwest Baptist University where he met and married the love of his life, Cindy, in 1979. After graduating from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1983 and completing an Internship at Charles E. Still Hospital in Jefferson City, Steve served in Holts Summit and Helena, Arkansas. Finally, he and Cindy settled in Stockton where he served as a devoted family physician for over 30 years. Steve loved his patients and the Stockton community where he became known as a good listener and compassionate practitioner. As one recently said, “Steve was an amazing doctor.” Steve had many hobbies, which led to research and expertise in fields well beyond medicine. Photography, travel, and bike riding were favorites. Spelunking, hunting, hiking, nature, music, archery, golf, muzzle-loading, the mountain man rendezvous, fly fishing, lure crafting, reloading, and more all kept his horizons wide. Steve’s vast interests helped him relate easily to others with similar hobbies. Steve loved the Lord and Church, serving as the teacher of an Adult Sunday School Class and as a Deacon for many years. He went on numerous mission trips as a counselor with the Abiding Faith Youth Drama Team. He also served on medical mission teams to Honduras and Guatemala. Among his many accomplishments, Steve gave generously of his time and devotion to the Stockton School Board for 8 years. He also served the Citizen’s Memorial Hospital in multiple professional and volunteer capacities, including being a primary advocate for bringing Nurse Practitioners to the State of Missouri. In September of 2018, Steve was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a fast-growing type of cancer in his brain. Aware of the disease’s potential devastation, Steve and Cindy bravely chose life over resignation. Through years of treatment that followed, Steve frequently said, “Use me in whatever study brings understanding to the medical community.” Steve and Cindy said, “Yes” to every nutritional, alternative, and conventional recommendation, and Steve became the “miracle patient” who exceeded his doctors’ expectations. With a predicted life expectancy of 15 months at the time of diagnosis, Steve lived more than 5.5 years beyond it, and he did so with grace, determination, and most of all, faith in knowing that no matter what, his Lord and Master would carry and protect him. On the last full day of his earthly life, Cindy took comfort in discovering that their Bible verse for that day was especially fitting: “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten… And you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you.” Joel 2:25-26 The family will receive visitors at the Bland-Brumback Funeral Home in Stockton on Friday, May 3, from 5 – 7 pm. A second visitation will be held Saturday, May 4, at 9 am at Harvest Assembly in Fair Play, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 10:00 am. A Graveside Service will be held at the Stockton Cemetery following the service at Harvest. All who knew and loved Steve are invited to join the family to remember and celebrate his life at these services. In lieu of flowers, those who desire to honor Steve’s memory with a gift are invited to donate to the Dr. Steven R. Butcher Memorial Scholarship Fund, which will support area students entering the medical and healthcare fields. Donations can be made online at https://tinyurl.com/doctorstevenbutcher OR mailed directly to Cindy Butcher at PO Box 865, Stockton, Missouri, 65785. Please make checks payable to The Community Foundation of the Ozarks.
Donna Dutcher
Donna Passed in West Plains Monday services Saturday April 20th at 10:00 AM Burial in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Kansas City Donna Lee Dutcher was born December 6th, 1936 to Charles and Dorothy Lawless. After 87 years she was called home on April 16th, 2924 at her daughters home in West plains. Donna loved to visit family and friends, have BBQ’S and be outside enjoying the sun on her deck, She enjoyed reading and she loved animals and Donna would get the last word in all the time! She was the owner of the “Rocky Top” Bar and was married 67 years. She was preceded in death by husband, parents Charles & Dorothy Lawless, two son’s Danial, Donnie and brother Charles. She leaves a daughter and son-in-law Patricia and Kenneth Crumpton, two grandchildren Kenneth and wife Becca, and Kelly Crumpton. Six Great-Grandchildren, Samantha, Kenneth III, Kyle, Victoria, Danieal and Kortney.
Jennie Camp
Jennie Lou Camp was born in Carrier, Oklahoma on April 9, 1925, and went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 14, 2024. Jennie passed peacefully in her own home, with her son and daughter-in-law holding her hands. Jennie was the fifth child of Charles and Verna Ford. She lived her childhood in Jet, Oklahoma, helping on the family farm. She would always rather milk cows and drive a tractor with her father than help with cooking and housework. She was saved at a young age and attended the Church of Christ until her later years where she enjoyed attending First Southern Baptist Church with her son and daughter-in-law. After high school, Jennie went to cosmetology school and worked in a beauty shop in Cherokee, OK. This beauty shop was across the street from a local restaurant, where Jennie saw a picture on the wall of a handsome young man. When she asked about him, she was told that his name was Alfred and that he was in the service. When Alfred came home, he started dating Jennie. Jennie and Alfred Camp were married on April 18, 1945. They soon moved to the Los Angeles area of California. Just after moving, their car broke down and they ended up with an old Indian motorcycle as their only mode of transportation. They both were employed by a manufacturing company and worked the graveyard shift. When Alfred was promoted, Jennie was able to become a full-time homemaker. This union was blessed with one son, Edward. The family of three spent a lot of time enjoying flying, camping, fishing, and waterskiing together in Southern California and Arizona over the years. Although Jennie never learned to waterski, she did get her pilot’s license after Alfred purchased a plane. In 1974 they purchased a small ranch in central California and started raising cattle. In 1987 Alfred and Jennie, along with their son Edward and his wife Sandra and their children, moved to Stockton, MO where they purchased acreage west of town. The family worked the cattle farm together, with Jennie helping to sort cattle well into her 80’s, much to the dismay of her son and daughter in law. After Alfred passed away in 2012, Jennie was able to continue living in her home with her very spoiled cat. She spent much of her days listening to the bible on CD. She looked forward to visits with her grandson, and her granddaughter and family. Jennie is survived by her son Edward and wife Sandra of Stockton, Granddaughter Jennifer Lynch and husband Nick of Springfield, Grandson Christopher Camp of Bolivar, and Great grandsons Charlie and Henry Lynch of Springfield. She also leaves several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews in California, Oklahoma, and Texas. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 4 at First Southern Baptist Church in Stockton. Visitation will be at 1:30 pm with the service to follow at 2:00 pm.
Helen Acheson
Memorial services Saturday April; 20th at 2:00 PM Helen Louise Acheson, age 95, passed away from a short unexpected battle with cancer on April 8, 2024, at her home in Stockton. She was born in Sparta, MO. January 18, 1929, to Ida & John Simpson, She grew up on a family farm with seven sisters and brothers. She was known as “bluebird nana” by her grandchildren because of her love raising bluebirds. She loved her flowers and many beautiful dogwood trees. On October 9, 1948 she married R.J. Acheson and they had four children; Jill(David), Julie, Jim (Michelle) and Lorri. Helen was preceded in death by her spouse R.J. and several sisters and brothers. She is survived by her four children plus many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; plus extended family Stachia and Kevin Esterline. Services will be held at Bland-Brumback Funeral Home in Stockton on Saturday, April 20, at 2:00 PM
Dixie Dawes
Memorial Graveside services Friday April 12th at 10:00 AM in Stockton Cemetery Dixie Ann Pyle Dawes passed away Sunday April 7, 2024 at CMH Bolivar. She was the 3rd daughter of Pansy and Gilbert Pyle. She was born May 31, 1941. She spent most of her life in or around Stockton on the farm. She graduated from Stockton High School. She married her high school sweetheart Roy Dean Dawes, to this union 2 sons were born, Michael Allen Dawes and Derick Dean Dawes. She was proceeded in death by her husband Dean, her parents, a sister Peggy Stanley, a brother Ronnie Pyle and wife Kay . She is survived by her 2 sons, 3 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandsons, a sister Nancy Levi and husband Joe, a brother-in-law Robert Stanley, a sister-in-law Shirley Pyle and husband George and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was a member of Old Union Missionary Baptist Church and a 50 Year member of Eastern Star.