Bobby Wayne Smith 1947-2011

Bobby Wayne Smith, son of the late Howard Francis and Lydia (Graham) Smith, was born April 7, 1947 in Waynesville, Missouri. He grew up and attended school in the Laquey area.

On July 31, 1966, Bobby was united in marriage to Anna Fern Crossland in Waynesville, Missouri. They shared over 45 years of marriage together and were blessed with five children: Donna, Shawn, Robert, John and Kimberly.

Bobby worked at Laquey School as a janitor. He also worked as a butcher for Grandview Market and B-E Locker Plant. In his spare time, he enjoyed working on lawnmowers and going to the auction to find the best deal possible. He loved going to the races and watching wrestling on television. Most importantly, he treasured those times spent with his family, especially the grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Bobby made a profession of faith and went home to be with his Lord at 11:45 p.m. Sunday, August 14, 2011 in his home after a long illness having attained the age of 64 years, 4 months and 7 days.

Bobby will be sadly missed, but fondly remembered by his wife: Anna Fern Smith of the home; five children: Donna Marshall (Frank) of Laquey, MO, Shawn Cox (Stephen) of Laquey, MO, Robert Smith (Laura) of Richland, MO, John Smith (Jodi) of Waynesville, MO and Kimberly Fincher (Steven) of St. Robert, MO; two sisters: Ginny Harper (David) of Laquey and Patty Bunch of Crocker, MO; one brother: Dwayne Smith of Farmington, MO; nine grandchildren: Melissa, Matthew, Amanda, Greg, Tiffany, John, Danielle, Brittany and Halie; eight great grandchildren: Sade, Rylie, Kinzlie, Gavin, Damarion, Jace, Nadia and Baby Cantrell; several other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Bobby was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 17, 2011 in the Memorial Chapels and Crematory with Rev. Christopher Hendrix and Rev. Larry Adkins officiating. The songs “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder”, “Go Rest High on that Mountain”, and “When I Get Where I’m Going” were played. Soloist Phyllis Smith sang “Going Home”. Serving as escorts were Randy Lane, Richard Crossland, Larry Hunter, Earl Crossland, Stacey Green, James Hendrix and Frank Marshall.

Burial followed in the Waynesville Memorial Park Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville / St. Robert.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Bobby Smith and may be left at the funeral home.

Harriet Jeanette (Wheeler) Graham 1922-2010

Harriet Jeanette Graham, 87, passed away on May 7, 2010. Among her many passions were family, politics, the advancement of equal rights for women, and being out in the natural world – particularly while birding and canoeing.

Harriet was born in Des Moines, Iowa on June 28, 1922, the daughter of Flarra and Clarence Wheeler. The Wheeler family had been long established in Waynesville, Missouri, and the young family returned there soon after.

Harriet married William C. Graham in 1944 and at the end of Bill’s service in WWII, the couple moved to Wichita, Kansas where they became active in Democratic politics. Wichita at that time was dominated by the Republican Party. Harriet and her husband were elected Precinct Committeeman and Committeewoman and worked with others to develop a reform slate of candidates that swept the County offices in 1958. That year Harriet ran for Clerk of the District Court, opposing an incumbent who had held the office for many years. The campaign included door to door campaigning, uncountable bean dinners and memorable electric pink and black campaign signage. Out of over 84,000 votes cast, Harriet won by a margin of 151 votes.

During her two terms as Clerk, Mrs. Graham modernized and streamlined the office systems and processes, hired her staff on the basis of ability, and presided over moving the Clerk’s office into the new County Courthouse. In 1964 she became the first female elected to the Kansas State Legislature from Sedgwick County. As the lone female in the House, she served on the Roads and Highways Committee, Education Committee and Welfare Committee introducing numerous legislative measures, including a bill for a Homestead Exemption Act for senior citizens. She successfully ran for reelection and was recommended to serve on the Tax Committee by both Democratic and Republican house leaders. Against all custom and protocol, the chairman of the Tax Committee blocked her membership, stating, “Women don’t know anything about taxes.”

That rejection led to her focus on gender discrimination for the remainder of her life. Mrs. Graham then introduced a bill requiring equal pay for equal work, an Equal Rights bill, and an anti-discrimination bill. Harriet introduced the bill to add an equal rights clause into the Kansas State constitution and that bill passed. During this period, President Kennedy appointed a National Committee on the Status of Women, with the governor of each state forming its own commission. Governor Robert Docking appointed Harriet head of the Kansas Commission and while Chairperson she lobbied for a legislative endorsement of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Kansas Legislature did ratify the ERA.

Despite the demands of a successful political career, Harriet managed to raise her son William, Jr. and daughters Deborah and Laura, in the process being a leader in Bluebird//Campfire Girls and Cub Scouts, coach of a girl’s softball team, and participating in community theatre. She also began her lifelong love of birding and canoeing.

After divorce in 1969 Harriet earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wichita State University in 1972, attending some classes concurrently with her son and daughter, and moved to Topeka. In Topeka she served as a Contract Compliance Officer with the Kansas Commission on Civil Rights and began work on a Masters Degree at the University of Kansas which she was awarded in 1977.

In 1978 Harriet returned to Waynesville, Missouri and became a teacher at Wood Middle School, retiring at the age 70. In Waynesville she continued to be politically active, lobbying for Missouri’s ratification of the ERA. She served on the Waynesville Library Board and travelled extensively throughout the world with friends and family. She actively researched the family history in Missouri from the early nineteenth century and began attending the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Rolla, following her Unitarian heroes, Thomas Jefferson and Susan B. Anthony.

Harriet returned to Wichita 2003 following the death of her two sisters, Grace Wheeler Smith and Jane Wheeler Sullivan.

Harriet is survived by her son William Graham, Jr. (Isabelle) of Peynier, France, daughters Deborah Lynch (Martin), of Santa Barbara, California and Laura Graham of Los Angeles, California, grandchildren Brett Graham (Dana), Michele Capps, Rebecca Williams (Robert), all of Wichita, and Andrea Lewis (Phillip) of Woodland Hills, California, eleven great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Mrs. Mabel Edith Yeary 1895-1960

DEATH CLAIMS MRS. E.E. YEARY. FUNERAL SERVICES HELD AT 2 P.M. YESTERDAY

Mrs. Mabel Edith Yeary, 65, who had been in ill health for some time, passed away at the Pulaski County General Hospital in Waynesville at 10:05 p.m., Sunday. She had been taken to the hospital Saturday. Mrs. Yeary was the wife of E.E. Yeary of this city.

Mr. and Mrs. Yeary had been residents of Waynesville for many years and for a number of years operated the Yeary Furniture Company. For the past number of years Mr. Yeary was employed at the post until his retirement.

Mr. and Mrs. Yeary’s only son, Noel Yeary, passed away only last year. Besides her husband, Mrs. Yeary is survived by her father, Thomas J. Ousley of Springfield; three sisters Mrs. Hazel German of Springfield, Mrs. Ruby Willgrube of Charleston, South Carolina, and Mrs. Mary Newton of Springfield; five brothers, Bennett Ousley of Springfield, Lierman L. of Las Vegas, Harry of the state of Alabama, Thomas, Junior, and Robert, both of San Diego, California, and one grandchild.

Funeral services were held yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon at two o’clock in Hedges Chapel at Waynesville with Rev. Clarence Smith officiating. Burial was in Waynesville Memorial cemetery beside the body of the son.

Funeral arrangements were under direction of Hedges Funeral Home of Waynesville. Pallbearers were Jim Greening, Bill Roam, Henry Witt, Dewey Finley, Herman Paulette, and Ted Quisenberry.

(Handwritten Note: Born: 1 Nov 1895 Died 11 Sept 1960)