Obituaries - 5-26-22

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Dorothy A. Pettersen passed away peacefully on May 18, 2022 at home in Clinton, Missouri with members of the family present.
She was born on March 19,1929 in El Dorado, Kansas. Dorothy was the oldest daughter of John S. Barwick and Gladys L. (Casey) Barwick. Called "Daby" by Eta W. D. Buenting Casey & Addison J. Casey, her grandparents. "Daby" stood for Dorothy Ann Barwick. Growing up, she lived in El Dorado, KS and Paola, KS, Wichita, KS, and while her father was away during WWII, Guthrie, OK. There she joined the Rainbow Girls. She went to Guthrie High School in Guthrie and then later, to Wichita East High School, where she graduated. Between her Junior and Senior year, she attended Interlochen Music Camp in Michigan. She was proficient in both cello and flute.
She attended Wichita University majoring in music. Her studies were interrupted when her father took the family to Punta Arenas, Chile where he was involved in working for the Chilean government. While in Chile, she attended the University of Chile, in Santiago, where she studied the cello.
She returned to Punta Arenas and was a member of the Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestral Ensemble. Throughout her life, she was always interested and active in tennis, golf, and skiing. She sewed her and her father’s tennis clothes and all of her little sister’s clothes. While in Punta Arenas, she was in a published magazine photograph that was used to advertise the local ski resort.
At a party in Punta Arenas, she met her future husband, Kenneth C. Pettersen, challenged him to a footrace, and won. For some reason he came back, they started dating, and got married on September 5th, 1952 in Punta Arenas. She was unable to get flowers for her wedding because Eva Peron had recently died and the flower shops in Punta Arenas had shipped all their flowers to Argentina for the funeral. She made her own wedding gown. She ended up getting a flower for that gown from her own flower bed. After their honeymoon in Argentina, they settled in Cerro Castillo, in southern Chile where her husband was an Assistant Manager with Sociedad de Explotadora de Tierra del Fuego, a big corporation that ran large sheep ranching operations in southern Chile. She had her first son, John, while living in Cerro Castillo.
In 1955, she, and her family came up to the United States and settled near Crescent, Oklahoma. They established Wolf Creek Sheep Ranch, the largest sheep operation in Oklahoma at the time. While there, her other two sons Keith and Robert were born. In 1962, she and her husband, Ken, took the family up to Wichita and they both attended Wichita University. She got her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish there in 1964. The family moved to Madison, Wisconsin to allow both of them to pursue graduate studies. After attending University of Wisconsin in 1964-65, they returned to Wichita. She then completed her MA at Wichita State University in 1970.
While she was advancing in her education, she began working as a teacher and continued this for many years. She taught Spanish and English at the grade school, middle school, and high school levels. After retiring, she taught preschool for a while. During the 1970’s, she got a Real Estate license and Broker’s license and was in the business for a time.
After retiring again, she followed her love of travel. She traveled by bus, train, car and cruise ship over a great portion of the world. She visited cities as far east as St. Petersburg, Russia and as far west as Melbourne, Australia, as far south as Cape Horn, Chile, South America, and as far north as Nordkapp, Norway.
She is survived by her sister, Elizabeth (Betty) Ball, and three sons, John C. Pettersen, Keith A. Pettersen, and Robert C. Pettersen. Dorothy had four grandchildren: Eric, Leif, Jennifer, and Matthew Pettersen. She had four great grandchildren: Talin Pettersen and Millie, Ivy, and Jonas Melcher.
Family was always her top priority. Throughout her life, her focus was on her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a positive influence on all of them.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri. Inurnment will be in Summit View Cemetery in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Julia Van
Coffman Cary
August 30, 1921- January 23, 2022
Julia Van Coffman was born in Portia Arkansas on August 30, 1921, to Roy and Ethel Coffman. She was the oldest of four children. Although she grew up on a farm, it certainly is no surprise that the "farmer's life" was not for her. After graduating from high school in Portia, she attended Arkansas State College for one year. She returned to Portia when it was time for her younger sister to go to college, and taught school. It was during this time she met a bachelor named John Cary who was the railroad agent in Portia. They married in November 1942 and moved to Black Rock, Arkansas. On August 2, 1944, she gave birth to their only son, John Jr. In 1951, she began teaching in Black Rock, and continued teaching in Black Rock & Walnut Ridge until 1960 when the family moved to Clinton, Missouri. During her time in Black Rock, she also completed her bachelor's degree at Arkansas State. Shortly after moving to Clinton, she began teaching, and taught there for 20+ years. During that time, she also earned her master's degree. She dedicated her life to teaching - inspiring students not only intellectually, but fashionably as well. She loved golf, was an active member of the Methodist church, a proud member of the DAR, the "hostess with the mostest", a beloved friend, aunt, great-aunt, sister, daughter, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother & great-grandmother. She was full of sass, and full of class. She is survived by one son, John L Cary Jr, Victoria Cary, daughter-in law, Benjamin Cary, grandson, Julia Cary, granddaughter, and 3 great grandchildren, Ford Cary, Nolan Cary, and Phillip Cary.
William Joseph Pirtle
William Joseph Pirtle, age 88, passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri.
William was born November 24, 1933 in Sedalia, Missouri the son of Claude and Olia (Crawford) Pirtle. He retired from the US Air Force. After retiring from the military, William worked at Stephenson's Restaurant in Independence and was also employed with Wal-Mart. William was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and the VFW Post #1894. He enjoyed fishing and watching baseball. William was very proud of his grandchildren.
William was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria, and a son-in-law, Christopher Smith.
He is survived by a daughter, Michelle Smith of Independence, Missouri, two sisters; Virginia Lee Pirtle of Sedalia, Missouri and Sharon Kay Hickman of California, 5 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and 2 great great-grandchildren.
A prayer service was held May 18, 2022 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church with Father Jim Taranto officiating. The Knights of Columbus served as pallbearers. Special music included "Amazing Grace and On Eagle's Wings." Interment followed in Englewood Cemetery, Clinton, Missouri. Military honors were under the direction of VFW Post #1894 and the US Air Force.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, Missouri.
Pastor Don
Wesley Brown
Pastor Don Wesley Brown, age 61, transitioned to glory on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at his home in Clinton, Missouri.
He was born on October 15, 1960, in Clinton, Missouri to Anna Pearl and Denver Brown. Pastor Brown was the youngest of ten children, the uncle of eight, the great uncle of fourteen, and a cousin and friend to many.
Pastor Brown was a graduate of Clinton High School Class of 1979 where he was a great athlete who excelled in both football and track. You can still find his mark of success in the halls of Clinton High School with his shot-put record.
He later went on to further his education at William Jewell College where he also set the mark and holds the record for shot put. Pastor Brown went on to graduate in 1984 with his degree in Physical Education. He then moved on to work for Sprint and was promoted to the Human Resources Department, until God called him to the ministry.
Moreover, his unfailing love for his family kept him going. He took his great nephew Quinton in, and raised him as his own. As a pillar in the Brown family, he extended his love, wisdom, and support; leaving a blueprint of success for them all to follow.
As a man of God, Pastor Brown wore multiple hats in his walk such as Sunday School Secretary, Superintendent, and Teacher. He served as a member of the Antioch Cemetery Board. He actively advanced the Kingdom of God in the roles of Choir Director, Deacon, and Pastorship. His love for people and the community can be found in every ministerial role he held.
Pastor Brown was a faithful member of Second Baptist Church. A former Pastor of Solid Rock Church where he implemented collective ministry moments such as Friday Night Fire in effort to cross cultural lines and bring unity. Pastor Brown later established his own ministry, Save Our World Ministries, also known as S.O.W. Through this ministry he continued to outreach and build the community, all while being brother, uncle, cousin, and friend.
Pastor Brown is preceded in death by his mother and father, as well as his brother Harold Brown and his sister Mary Williams. He leaves to honor his legacy his siblings: Beverly Moore, Stanley Brown, Keith Brown (Idella), Debra Hall (Kenneth), Vicki Jackson, Linda Brown, and Valerie Brown. Alongside his nieces and nephews: Lezlee, Brian, Richie, Keith (Toots), Wiley, Tyise, Frankie, and Dawn.
A Celebration of Life was held Saturday, May 21, 2022 at the Benson Convention Center in Clinton, Missouri with Minister Mashawn Parks officiating. Special music was played by keyboardist, Bruce Kerr and violinist, Mike Town. Interment followed in Antioch Cemetery, Clinton, Missouri.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, Missouri.