Steven Matthew Huffman (1976-2011)

Steven Matthew Huffman passed away in his sleep, after a long battle with Sarcoidosis, at his home in Waynesville, Friday 11 November, 2011.

Steven was born in Columbia, Missouri 4 December, 1976 to Eddie Dean Huffman and Jacquelyn Cato Huffman.

Steven received his education in the Waynesville R-VI School District, graduating in 1995. He lived most of his adult life in Springfield, Missouri, and worked in the family dry-cleaning business, construction, and at Kraft Foods before his illness.

Two of his proudest moments were the birth of his children, Taylor, and Gavin.

Steven was a member of the Waynesville Masonic Lodge #375 AF & AM, and the Pulaski County/ Ft. Wood Shrine Club.

Steven was preceded in death by his father, Eddie Huffman, his maternal grandfather, Cletes O. Cato, and his paternal grandparents Loyd L. & Anna Lois Eaker Huffman, and grandfather Edmund J. Kubisiak Jr.

He is survived by his wife, Sarah Haller Huffman, and children: Taylor Paige and Gavin Matthew Huffman, and Kaleb Michael Krejci, of Springfield; his mother Jacquelyn Cato and his dad, Edmund J. Kubisiak III of Waynesville; sister Laura Huffman, his brother Jeffrey Huffman and his nephew Kyle Huffman, all of Waynesville. Also surviving are his maternal grandmother, Jessie McKinley Cato, of Advance; grandmothers, Patsy Rice Woodman of Rolla and Nelda Kubisiak of Osage Beach; aunts: Cathy Cato Cook (Bob), Barbara Jo Cato of Cape Girardeau, and Ramona Cato Bollinger (Mike) of Waynesville, uncles: Gary Kubisiak (Janet) of Tampa, Florida, Kenny Huffman (Kayla) from Cape Girardeau, and uncle Bruce Huffman (Tina) and a host of cousins, relatives, and friends.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 15, 2011 in the Waynesville United Methodist Church with Pastor Bill O'Neal officiating with Pastor Bill Kenagy assisting him. Pianist Cheryl Wood played prelude and postlude and Soloist Anda Zeiger sang "Angel". Kricket Webster and Anda Zeiger sang "Amazing Grace". Serving as escorts were Mike Elmer, Gregg Fields, Pat Fincher, Richard Jensen, Ron Tagge and John Paul Richardson.

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

Jane E. (Huffman) Claiborn 1845-1944

From the Dixon Pilot, July 1944

Mrs. Jane E. Claiborn, 99 Years Old Buried Sunday

One of the few persons who remembered the war between the states and who had witnessed the transformation of this country from wilderness and prairie to farm and industry, died last Saturday at Crocker, when Mrs. Jane E. Claiborn was summoned, at the age of 99 years, 6 months and 17 days.

Mrs. Claiborn came to Pulaski county in about 1864, the year she married D.A. Claiborn. She attended school at the old academy at Lebanon, and often told of the Bushwhackers coming through that town and cleaning out chicken yards and barn lots so completely that not enough food could be found to keep the people from hunger. In those days no salt could be bought in Lebanon and present day complaints of the inconvenience of the rationing program never failed to amuse Mrs. Claiborn. "You don't know anything about hard times" she would say to her listeners.

Jane E. Claiborn nee Huffman was born at Lebanon December 21, 1844. To Mrs. Claiborn and her husband D.A. Claiborn (who died March 1931) were born 11 children, eight of who survive as follows: O.C. Claiborn, Decaturville; Dr. Ed Claiborn, Camdenton; Dr. Dru Claiborn, Big Timber, Mont.; H.A. Claiborn, Wister, Okla.; W.T. Claiborn, Crocker; and Fannie Salveter; Belle Layman and Carrie Hamilton, all of Crocker. The deceased children were Matthew, Cleopatra and Arthur.

Mrs. Claiborn was early converted and had lived a consistent Christian life all through the years, as a member of the Christian church.

36 Descendants in Service

Other survivors are 45 grandchildren, 52 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren. In addition to her own family she reared two orphan children, giving them the same care and love that she gave her own family.

According to Dru Salveter, cashier of the Bank of Crocker, and a grandson of the deceased, more than 35 of Mrs. Claiborn’s descendants are serving their country in its armed forces.

Funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon at Mitchell's Chapel, 4 miles east of Crocker with six grandsons acting as pall bearers: Charlie Claiborn, Paris Claiborn, Winfred Layman, Harold Hamilton, Ralph Hamilton and Allan Salveter.

Reverend W.E. Waddell, Christian minister, assisted by Reverend William Gammon, Presbyterian minister conducted the services at the church and grave.