LEO GEORGE HILKE Leo George Hilke, 83, Holden, Missouri, passed away December 26, 2000, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg. Mr. Hilke was born March 24, 1917 near Holden, Missouri, the son of Henry Hilke and Mary Gudde Hilke, a lifelong resident of Holden. He was an Army veteran of World War II serving in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre. He served from October 23, 1941 to October 4, 1945 and received the Purple Heart. Mr. Hilke was a farmer and cattleman and was a funeral directors assistant for Huber & Wood and later Wood Funeral Home in Holden from 1965 to 1983. He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church and had attended St. Patrick's Catholic Church, both of Holden. He was a life member of V.F.W. Post No. 5844 and a member of American Legion Post 90, both of Holden, and served on the Centerview School Board. He is survived by four daughters, Donna Wheeldon and husband Jack, Independence, Jean Meads and husband David, Grovetown, Georgia, Ruth Crigger and husband Dave, Overland Park, Ks, Sheila Hilke, Lee's Summit; two sons, Robert Hilke; Lee's Summit, and Paul Hilke and wife Cathy, Holden; and two sisters, Margaret Wood and Angela Flashpohler, both of Holden; nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Theresa Huber. Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, December 29, 2000 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Holden, under the direction of Williams Funeral Chapel, Holden. Father Ernie Gauthier was celebrant. Pallbearers were Mike Wheeldon, Jeff Wheeldon, Tony Hilke, Eric Meads, Jeff Wilson, Pete Wood, and Kelly Ray. Interment was at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Holden, with full military honors provided by V.F.W. Post 5844 and American Legion Post 90, both of Holden. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Lung Association or the American Cancer Association. GREGORY D. "WOODY" WOOD Gregory D. "Woody" Wood, 46, of Warrensburg, Missouri, passed away Saturday, December 30, 2000 at the Boone Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. Gregory was born Friday, July 16, 1954 in Versailles, Missouri, the son of Donald L. and Gloria D. Hart Wood. He moved to Warrensburg, Missouri, in 1970 ans was a 1972 Warrensburg High School graduate. He has worked for Lenger Chevrolet in Warrensburg as a mechanic prior to being an owner operator of Wood Trucking Company, also in Warrensburg. Mr. Wood had worked at Moore-View Residential Care Center as a Med-Aid 1. Mr. Wood married Sally Ann Morris and had two sons, Brett A. Wood, Warrensburg, and Brian D. Wood, Knob Noster. Also surviving are three grandchildren; his mother, Gloria Marriott, Sedalia; grandmother, Elva Hart, Sedalia, his best friend and companion, JoAnn Adams Beemer, of the home; and numberous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 3, 2001 at 10 a.m. at Williams Funeral Chapel, Warrensburg. Rev. Frank E. Myers will officiate. Pallbearers will be Bill Gauchat, Bruce Robinson, Joe Lester, Neal De Vasher, Randy Gudde, Stanley McCannon. Honorary pallbearers will be Don Pautz, Stubby Morris, Mark Lenger, Dave Robinson, Doug Morris, and James F. Edwards, Jr. Interment will be at Sunset Hill Cemetery, Warrensburg, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating blood or money to the American Red Cross in Woody's name. MERVIN LEON MCCARTY Mervin Leon McCarty, 68, Holden, Missouri, passed away Saturday, December 30, 2000, north of Clinton, Missouri as a result of an automobile accident. Mr. McCarty was born Sunday, July 24, 1932 northeast of Holden, the son of Adam McCarty and Maude Opal Geary McCarty. He graduated from Holden High School in 1950. For over 30 years he had been a bus driver for the Holden R-III school district, he was a farmer and most recently worked for the Kingsville Livestock Auction. He had been married to Genie Donnici and they had three children and she survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Theresa Ferguson and husband Bob, Holden; two sons, Denny McCarty and wife Maurita, Tulsa, OK, Steve McCarty and wife Juanita, Holden; his mother, Opal McCarty, Holden; five grandchildren, Amanda, Melissa, Paul, Curt and Tony and one great granddaughter, Madison and his companion Margie Taylor of Sedalia. Mr. McCarty was preceded in death by his father Adam McCarty, February 18, 1976. Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 4, 2001, at 10:30 a.m. at Williams Funeral Chapel, Holden. Rev. Bill Perkins will officiate. Debbie Robledo will serve as organist. Music will include, "Silver Wings," and "Daddy's Hands." Pallbearers will be Paul McCarty, Tony McCarty, Curt McCarty, Mark Brown, Rick Anstine, and Melissa McCarty. Honorary pallbearers will be Ed Goetz, Lloyd Hite, Bob Marsh, Bob Zillner, Harvey Wright, and Amanda Ferguson. Interment will be Holden Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Diabetes Foundation. SHELTON PAT LINDSEY Shelton Pat Lindsey, 70, Knob Noster, Missouri, passed away Sunday, December 31, 2000 at his home. Mr. Lindsey was born Friday, May 16, 1930 in Nashville, GA the son of John Thomas Lindsey and Sallie McNabb Lindsey. He graduated from Nashville High School in 1949. From 1951 to 1963 he was in the Air Force during the Korean War. He had worked for Civil Service at Whiteman Air Force Base as a plumber and retired in 1980 and then started Cottage Greenhouse in Knob Noster in 1989. He married Linda Ruth Galloway on September 17, 1955 in Warrensburg and she survives of the home. Also surviving are two daughters, Amy Denney, Windsor, Missouri, and Hollie Richter, St. Peters, Missouri; two sons, Paul Lindsey, Warrensburg, and Danny Lindsey, Columbia; three sisters, Sarah Martha Thurmond, and Edith Anne Alexander, both of Rosewell Georgia and Jane Shockley, Charleston, SC; a brother, J.T. (Red) Lindsey, Cornelia, GA; nine grandchildren, Kristen, Michelle, Matthew, Brett, Jacob, Alyssa, Sallie, Mason, and Joseph. A memorial service will be held Thursday, January 4, 2001 at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Knob Noster, under the direction of Williams Funeral Chapel, Warrensburg. Rev. Shelby Seelinger and Charles Jordan will officiate. Organist Lonnis Breshears will accompany vocalist, Bernie Clark. A private family burial will be held at the Knob Noster Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to an Education Fund for Pat's grandchildren. WILLIAM HOWARD MCQUITTY William Howard McQuitty, 97, Clinton, Missouri, passed away Saturday, December 30, 2000, at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital, Clinton, Missouri. He was born February 18, 1903 in Huntingdale, Missouri, a son of Willaim Thomas and Hattie Adelia (Freeman) McQuitty. He married Mary Lucretia Cook on September 7, 1927. She preceded him in death December 10, 1995. He was a member of Corinth Baptist Church in Norris, Missouri. Mr. McQuitty farmed near Holden, Missouri for 51 years and then moved into town in 1979. He and his wife owned and operated McQuitty's Cafe in Holden for 10 years. He had lived in Clinton Manor Apartments where he greatly appreciated the companionship of his fellow residents and staff and considered them his extended family. He also leaves one sister, Catherine McArthur, Independence; a brother in law, C.O. Tillman, Clinton; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by six brothers, and sisters. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 3, 2001 at 2 ;.m. at Ben Cast & Son-Wood Funeral Home, Holden. The Rev. D. Randall Cone will officiate. Julie Stout, organist will accompany Cathy McQuitty, soloist. Music will include "How Great Thou Art," and "Beyond the Sunset." Pallbearers will be R. Duane Williams, Preston Crawford, Dale Williams, Richard Sturgis, Bill Hamilton, and Kevin Crawford. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Gus Wetzel, L.C. Eldredge, and George Cast. Interment will be at Holden Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the charity of your choice. MARY JOSEPHINE LUSH Mary Josephine Lush, 80, Lee's Summit, Missouri, passed away Saturday, December 30, 2000 at Lee's Summit Hospital in Lee's Summit. Graveside services were held Tuesday, January 2, 2001 at Lee's Summit Cemetery under the direction of Langsford Funeral Home, Lee's Summit. She was born in April 18, 1920 in Jackson County on the Smith family farm. The Smith's settled here in 1853 after coming from Kentucky by covered wagon. She married Claude R. Lush, Sr. on April 9, 1937 at the Courthouse in Independence, Missouri. While growing up her parents owned and operated the WrightWay Station and Garage on 50 and 7 Hwys. Most of her 80 years were spent on the homestead. She worked six years at Lake City and 15 years at Allied Signal (formerly Bendix) as a machinist, retiring January 31, 1973. She was a member of International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers. She researched her family history to Virginia in 1717 and accumulated dozens of volumes of family history. She was baptized at the Lee's Summit Presbyterian Church at an early age. She was preceded in death by her husband, Claude R. Lush Sr. in December 1989, her mother Basha Blanche Lunnam Wright in 1931; her father, Robert Orman Wright in 1963; and her brother Howard N. Wright in 1981. Survivors include one daughter, Jean Staub, of the home; two sons, Claude and Pam Lush and Gary and Linda Lush, Lee's Summit; nine grandchildren, Debra Jo Staub, TX, Pobin Duncan, Pleasant Hill, Debra Lynn Lightsey, GA, Darla Pennington, Blue Springs, Sonja Duncan, Washington; Stacie Lush, GA; Jennifer Wilson, Lee's Summit; Brandi Markle, Kansas City, Gregory L. Lush, Lee's Summit. Eleven great grandchildren, Partick, Chad, and Dana Pennington, Blue Springs; Jamie Winkler, TX, Brandon Winkler, CO, Heather and Brianna Duncan, Pleasant Hill, Morgan and Aaron Lightsey,GA, Rachel Hafet WA, Riley J. Wilson, Lee's SUmmit' one sister Dean Hopkins, Fort Meyers Florida, and one brother Robert O. Wright Lee's Summit.