Anna Pearl Goodpaster Cox 4/4/38 - 7/7/24

Mary “Jane” Simmers Hellebuyck–Rowland, 89, of Weston, MO, was born on July 26, 1934, in Jefferson City, MO to Charley and Etta Kremer Simmers. She passed peacefully on July 11, 2024.  
She was a 1952 graduate of Lillis High School in Kansas City, MO. She was united in marriage to Clarence Hellebuyck in 1954 and to this union three children were born.  The family lived for 16 years on North Crooked Road, Parkville, MO. 
Here she began her extensive iris gardens with over a hundred varieties of irises. She was a member of The Kansas City Iris Society. 
She had a great love of sportscars and was the proud owner of a brand new off the showroom, ’63 Triumph Spitfire Convertible. It was black with a black rag top and red leather interior, that she and her children loved.  
Early in her working career, she worked at The Green Parrot, Hallmark Cards, and Atlas Wire.   As a young mother, she returned to college and in 1968, she received her Bachelor of Arts Degrees in elementary education and art, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Park College, Parkville, MO. 
She taught elementary art for the Park Hill School District for 17 years, beginning her teaching at Graden Elementary School and retired after teaching at Renner Elementary School for many years. 
In 1972, the family moved to North Farley Road in rural Farley. While living here, she went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Art from St. Mary’s College in Leavenworth. In 1978, they sold the farm to spend their last few working years while living in Northmoor, MO. 
After retiring, they enjoyed several years of retirement at Bella Vista, Arkansas where she became an accomplished golfer. In 1991, with her husband’s deteriorating health, she moved to Weston, Missouri to be near family. 
In 1992, she took on the restoration of one of Weston’s oldest antebellum homes. It was through this project that she met her second husband, Baldy Rowland. Following the passing of her first husband, she and Baldy moved to the Lake of the Ozarks where they enjoyed traveling, fishing, and living in a fantastic log cabin that she really enjoyed. 
On Christmas Day in 1997, in Las Vegas, Nevada, she married her second husband and self professed love of her life, Baldy. Before long, they returned to Weston, and together they took on the restoration of another of Weston’s beautiful antebellum homes.  
Here she established an exquisitely landscaped garden featuring a water garden with a waterfall, and a spectacular water fountain. She established a unique collection of irises and perennials which she shared with numerous friends throughout the Weston community. 
Soon after this project they began a new adventure of traveling the country in their RV, which they loved, as well as the friends they made along the way. They settled in Yuma, Arizona where she “loved the hot weather.”  
Following the death of her second husband in 2020, she continued to live in Yuma, until she returned to Weston a year ago. Throughout her life she enjoyed traveling the world and always practiced her art talents. 
She displayed her works at the Kansas City Plaza Art Fair, sold paintings at the Parkville Art Gallery, at a gift shop in Platte City, and did custom consignment pieces.  She primarily enjoyed working with watercolors and loved specializing in miniature landscapes, but learned and mastered all mediums. 
She had a love of baking, was a talented seamstress and truly a Renaissance woman. During her retirement, she continued her education and studied to earn her Master Gardeners certificate.  
She was a splendid example of a strong and independent woman defending women’s equality. 
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Clarence Hellebuyck and Wilbur (Baldy) Rowland; her parents; and her sister, Patricia Simmers Berry. 
She is survived by her three children; daughter, Holli and Cesare Bacchini of The Netherlands; son, Howard and Kathy Hellebuyck, and daughter, Tauy and Chuck Scott, all of Weston. Also surviving are her sister-in-law, Beverly Gooch of Kansas City, MO; granddaughter, Elena and Remon Romp of The Netherlands; grandsons, Alex Bacchini, of The Netherlands; Jeff and Samantha Hendrix, and Beau and Megan Hendrix, and great-grandsons, Landon Hendrix and Connor Hendrix, all of Weston; step- granddaughter,  Brandi Duncan and Brad Urczyk, of Olathe,  KS; step-grandson, Phil Scott and Brenda Clapper, of Coronado, CA, step-great-grandchildren, Pierce and Paige Duncan, of Olathe, KS; and brother, Charley and Helen Simmers of Washington state.  A private celebration of life will be scheduled. 
Arrangements By:  Vaughn Funeral Home—Weston,MO. Ph. 816.386.2281.  www.vaughnfuneralhomes.com 

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ERNEST L. WILLIAMS

The Weston Chronicle

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Christian (Chris) John West

Ernest (Bill) Williams passed away July 14th, 2024 at St. Luke’s North hospital surrounded by his family.
Ernie was born in Lake City, Iowa to Bertha and James Williams. He grew up in Lanesboro, Des Moines, and Carroll, Iowa. After graduating high school, he joined the Army. His Army career lasted for 11 years with 2 tours of Korea and 2 years in Vietnam. He was also an Army recruiter in Norfolk, Nebraska. While in Vietnam he received a letter from a young lady in Woodward, Iowa. 
When he came home on leave, he met this young lady who a year later would become his wife. Marjorie and Ernie were married on July 12, 1969.They just celebrated their 55 anniversary 2 days before he passed. 
When he left the Army, he started a 20-year career at the U.S. penitentiary in Leavenworth, KS. He started as a guard and retired as a counselor. 
Ernie and Marjorie moved to Weston, MO in 1978 and still reside there. After a month of retirement, he just had to go back to work. Since he was only 51 years old. 
He went a whole different direction with his last job. He joined a little electronic company that repairs controls for trains, grew to become WABTEC. He would work there for 26 years retiring in 2020.
Upon retirement he loved to go fishing going to stock car races and all his granddaughters’ events.
Ernie was very active in the community. He was a cub scout leader for Pack 249 for 7 years, a member of the board of the HUD housing for 5 years and a member of the Weston Lions club for 35 years.He served as secretary and general chairman of the Lions Antique and Collectable show for most of those years. 
Ernie will continue to help others in his death.  He became a tissue donor hero thru the Midwest Transplant Network and donated his pacemaker to St. Jude’s hospital.
He is survived by his wife Marjorie, sons Don (Melissa), James (Rosemary), granddaughters Annica and Emelyn. One sister Janet of Humeston, IA
Celebration of his life will be July 28 at the Vaughn funeral home in Weston, MO. Visitation at 2:00 with services at 3:00. 
Donations can be made to the Weston Lions Club c/o of JP Coldron, 3000 Maple Farm Road, Platte City, MO 64079. 

Arrangements By:  Vaughn Funeral Home—Weston,MO. Ph. 816.386.2281.  www.vaughnfuneralhomes.com

Christian (Chris) John West of Pharr, Texas passed away on Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024, from heart complications.
Chris was born in 1947 to Robert and Lenore West of Rittman, Ohio. At the age of 19, Chris and a friend hitchhiked from Ohio to Kansas City, Missouri where he met his lovely wife, Marsha (Hickerson) West. They were married in 1968 and made their home in Weston, MO in 1973, where they raised their two boys, Dan and Brian.
Chris worked for McCormick Distilling Company as a Logistics and Production Planner in 1985 and retired in 2013.
Chris had a passion for working with scouting Troop 249 of Weston. He began volunteering when his boys became active with the troop. During this time, he held many different positions within the troop and district until his passing.
Chris was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Lenore, his sister, Betsy, son, Brian, and grandson, Colby. 
He is survived by his wife, Marsha, son, Dan and wife Danielle, granddaughter, Chloe and husband David, brother, Ken and wife Kathy, and several nieces and nephews.
The Celebration of Life will be held at Eventful At Locust Grove in Weston, MO on November 9th. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your favorite charity or organization in Chris’s honor.

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With heavy hearts, our family announces the passing of our beloved Anna Pearl Goodpaster Cox, 86 years old, of Weston, MO. Anna entered into her eternal heavenly home July 7th, 2024 surrounded by the love of family.
Anna was born April 4th, 1938 in Marion, Indiana to Morgan Daily and Violet Dawn (Galbreath) Goodpaster. The eldest of 7 children, she took on a caregiver role early in life, with a strong love of family. 
Anna grew up and graduated high school in Marion, Indiana, where she had many precious memories growing up in a large family. 
After graduation Anna made the decision to serve her country for 3 years in The United States Air Force from 1958-1961. Upon her Honorable discharge from service, Anna came to Missouri to be with her family who had relocated here. 
When she arrived she started work as a drug and alcohol abuse counselor at Fort Leavenworth Kansas, where she retired many years later.
While working, Anna attended Mid America Nazarene College where she received her Bachelors degree, before attending Saint Mary’s College and attaining her Masters Degree.
In November, 1964 Anna Pearl United in Marriage to Reverend John Cox. The couple resided in Weston, until his passing three years later. Anna then resided with her family in Weston, Missouri for the remainder of her life, where she was a devoted caretaker to her elderly parents for many years until their passing. 
Anna was a faithful, devoted lover of God, Family and Life. Her love for all God’s creatures, big or small was unmatched. She was never in too big a hurry to stop for a turtle crossing the road, or to tell a stranger how beautiful they were. She truly brought new meaning to the saying, “wouldn’t hurt a fly”!
Anna always gave her all, including spreading the love of Jesus to everyone near her, never expecting or wanting anything in return. Her love, laughter, wisdom, prayers and sincerity we will all miss dearly.
Anna is preceded in death by her husband; Reverend John Cox, her parents; Morgan and Violet Goodpaster, her brothers; Michael Goodpaster and David Goodpaster, her nephews; Jason Goodpaster and Zachariah Crawford, and her nieces; Madawna Greer and Shelley Goodpaster.

Anna Pearl is survived by her sisters, Charlene Bishop, Billie Jean Lovelady and Becky O’Connor, Brother; JB Goodpaster and sister in law Ann Goodpaster. Nieces and Nephews, Jeanie Lovelady, Jan Dunkel, Jennifer Piette, LeAnn Downing, Walter Bishop, Florence Schimmel, Tatiana Crawford, Shawn O’Connor, Timmothy O’Connor, Julie Goodpaster, Brenda Rhodes and Karry Goodpaster, several great nieces and nephews; other relatives; many friends, and much beloved dog Scout.
The family would like to Thank everyone at the Saint Lukes Hospice team, for their help,  love and support during this time!
In memory of Anna; Go visit a loved one, compliment a stranger, or help an animal in need! Life is short, family is everything and tomorrow’s not promised. 
Private Family Graveside held at a later date.

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Ernest L. Williams

  Obituaries

Mary “Jane” Simmers Hellebuyck–Rowland

Christian (Chris) John West

Mary “Jane” Simmers Hellebuyck–Rowland

Christian (Chris) John West

Full obituaries may be found in the print and/or e-edition of the Weston Chronicle

​​Weston • Platte County • Missouri