Achueh W. Chu

1918-2012

      Achueh W. Chu, 94, St. Joseph, Missouri died Friday, May 18, 2012 at a local healthcare facility. 

      She was born March 5, 1918 in Tauyen, Taiwan.

      Mrs. Chu lived at the same home for 80 years in Taiwan. She immigrated to America at the age of 80 where she lived with her son and daughter in St. Joseph, Missouri until she passed away at the age of 94.

      She had many opportunities to return to her home country, but steadfastly refused because she loved the United States. She liked to say: “Jesus in charge of United States!” Toward the twilight of her time on Earth, she became a Christian.

      Achueh loved her garden and was very active outdoors until the closing months of 2011.

       She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two sisters; and two brothers.

      She leaves behind five daughters and one son, four daughters live in Taiwan, one daughter and her son live in St. Joseph, Missouri; 22 grandchildren; and a trainload of great-grandchildren.

      Services:  10:00 A.M. Tuesday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery.  The Family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory where friends may call after 5:00 P.M. Monday.

Tommy Gene Singleton

1929-2012

      Tommy Gene Singleton, 82, St. Joseph, Missouri died Thursday, May 17, 2012 at a local healthcare facility. 

      He was born October 15, 1929 to Warren Eugene Singleton and Grace Ann (Shell) Singleton in St. Joseph, Missouri. 

      He married Eileen Grace Pfeifer March 19, 1949, at the First Presbyterian Church in Bismarck, North Dakota.

      Tommy worked for the Corps of Engineers, Riverdale, North Dakota.  He moved back to St. Joseph in 1958 and worked for the St. Joseph Fire Department from 1958 to 1989 when he retired.

      Mr. Singleton was a member of Wyatt Park Christian Church.  He was a member of the Eagles Lodge.  He volunteered at The St. Joseph Fire Museum after retirement.

      He was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen Grace (Pfeifer) Singleton.

      Survivors: sister, Frances May (Singleton) Ballinger, St. Joseph;  nieces, Linda (Ballinger) Arnoldy (Phillip R.), Overland Park, Kansas and Beverly (Ballinger) Dewey (Michael), St. Joseph; grandnephew, Austin Christopher Mueller (Amy), Overland Park; grandnieces, Michelle (Dewey) Frakes (Ryan), St. Joseph and Janette (Dewey) Yardley (Travis), Raymore, Missouri; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

      Care provided by Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.  The Family suggests memorial gifts to The American Cancer Society or American Heart Association.

1929-2012

      Patricia “Pat” L. Matteson, 82, Savannah, Missouri died Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at a local healthcare facility. 

      She was born June 6, 1929.

      She married Donald George Matteson.

      She was a Registered Nurse in the Army and continued working in healthcare.  Pat was a member of VFW, Eagles Lodge, 20 Plus successful member of Alcoholics Anonymous.

      She was preceded in death by her parents, Soren and Esther (Berg) Jensen; her husband; and son, Thomas Matteson.

      Survivors: daughter, Pamela Scott; son, Donald Matteson, three grandchildren, Sharon James, Annette Hanway, and Christina Cary; and numerous great=grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

      Memorial Service will be held at a later date.  Care provided by Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.  The Family suggests memorial gifts to Alzheimer’s Association or American Cancer Society.

Crissie L. (Cockram) Parks

1929-2012

      Crissie L. (Cockram) Parks, 83, St. Joseph, Missouri, formerly of Virginia Beach, Virginia, died Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at Heartland Regional Medical Center. 

      She was born March 1, 1929 to Henry Lee Witten and Lue Crissie (Parks) in Washington, D.C.

      She worked as a Secretary for Lee County in Florida.

      Crissie was of Christian faith.

      She was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Kerry Cockram and Clarence Thompkinson; and three brothers.

      Survivors: daughter, Deborah Birley (Dan); three sons, Michael Cockram (Margaret Ann), James Cockram, and Paul Cockram (Debra); 13 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and sister, Irma Lee Thompkinson.

      Memorial Services will be held at a later date.  Care provided by Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. In lieu of flowers, the Family suggests memorial contributions to the First Christian Church, Box 397, Maysville, MO  64469.

Larry Glenn Fones

1947-2012

      Larry Glenn Fones, 64, St. Joseph, Missouri died Tuesday, May 15, 2012. 

      He was born August 19, 1947 in Maryville, Missouri to Donald Glenn and Edith Fern (Darby) Fones.

      He married Hazel Justus July 3, 1973.

      During the Viet Nam war, Larry served in the Marine Corps.  Mr. Fones worked as an attendant at the Missouri State Hospital.

      He was a member and volunteer at Family Worship Center.  He enjoyed fishing and gardening and was a loving husband and friend.

      He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Billy Max Fones.

      Survivors:  his wife, Hazel, St. Joseph; two brothers, Roger Fones (Marilyn) and Jerry Fones (Mary), all of St. Joseph; numerous nieces and nephews.

      Services:  1:00 P.M. Monday, Family Worship Center. Interment Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Bethany, Missouri.  The Family will receive friends 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Sunday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.  The Family suggests memorial gifts to Family Worship Center.

Mary L. Van Meter

1928-2012

      Mary Louise (French) Van Meter, 83, St. Joseph, Missouri, died Monday, May 14, 2012 at a local healthcare facility.

      She was born November 6, 1928 to Elias Jackson and Mary Viola (Beal) French in Union Star, Missouri. 

      Mary married Melvin L. Van Meter on December 19, 1948 in St. Joseph. He preceded her in death on June 19, 2011.

      She worked as a teacher, seamstress and was a homemaker.  Mrs. Van Meter was a member of Patee Park Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school, helped with the nursery, food pantry, and other activities.

      Preceding in death are her parents; husband; five sisters, Opal Niederhouser, Crystal Van Meter, Ruby Caraway, Anne Hunt and Luella Keys; four brothers, Dale French, Lewis French, Chester French and Marvin French.

      She is survived by her two sons, Michael Van Meter, St. Joseph and Mark Van Meter (Debra), Noblesville, Indiana; two daughters, Michele Fisher (Martin), Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Marcia Van Meter, San Rafael, California; two brothers-in-law, Arthur Warren Van Meter, St. Joseph and  Jimmy Pettyjohn, San Luis Obispo, California; seven grandchildren, Natalie Van Meter, Indianapolis; Tara Danner (Jason), Los Angeles, Jackson Van Meter, Bloomington, Indiana; Matthew Kuvara and Colby Kuvara, San Francisco; and Mitchell Fisher and Meredith Fisher, Cedar Rapids; and great-grandson, Collin Jackson Danner.

      Services: 1:00 P.M. Saturday, Patee Park Baptist Church.  Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The Family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:30 P.M. Friday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory, where friends may call after 12:00 P.M. Noon Friday.  Mrs. Van Meter will be removed from Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory to arrive at the church one hour prior to the service. The Family suggests memorial gifts in her honor to Patee Park Baptist Church, Patee Park Baptist Food Pantry or to the Alzheimer’s Association.