Recent obituaries from Kirksville and Adair County-area funeral homes. These are short, original summaries written by Kirksville Wire from public listing information — not reproductions of the funeral homes’ own obituary text. Each entry links to the full obituary on the funeral home’s own site. Updated as new obituaries are published.
Shirley “Joan” (Peterson) Helton — Oct. 21, 1936 – Sept. 30, 2026, age 89, of Kirksville. A longtime bookkeeper for Kirksville-area banks and a member of First Baptist Church, she was known for her crafting, sewing and love of family. 
Glen Wesley “Dub” Novinger Jr. — May 31, 1931 – Sept. 30, 2026, age 95, of Kirksville. A retired Kirksville mail carrier known for whistling his route and a frequent contributor to the Adair County Historical Society’s quarterly magazine, he was married to his wife, Elaine, for 72 years. 
Michael Shawn “Mike” Jackson — Sept. 9, 1971 – Sept. 28, 2026, age 55, of Kirksville. A 1990 Kirksville High School graduate and Northwest Missouri State University alum, he was active with the Kirksville Optimist Club and the Arrow Rock Stock & Trading Company’s Civil War reenactors, and kept a small cow-calf and sheep operation. John Earl Smelcer — July 2, 1963 – Sept. 26, 2026, age 63. A published poet and author with a PhD in creative writing, who spent decades working to preserve Alaska Native language and culture. Full obituary: Travis-Noe Funeral Home →
Aaron Charles “Charlie Oliver” McClanahan II — Jan. 19, 1947 – Sept. 25, 2026, age 79, of Kirksville. Worked for the Special Road District before he and his wife opened Charlie Oliver Toys. Full obituary: Travis-Noe Funeral Home →
Hannah Marie (Mason) Kellam — April 24, 1939 – Sept. 24, 2026, age 87, of Kirksville. Survived by her son and daughter-in-law, a daughter, eleven grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren. Full obituary: Travis-Noe Funeral Home →
Dr. Diane Tobin Johnson (Goodman) — April 22, 1947 – Sept. 21, 2026, age 79, of Kirksville. A retired Truman State University associate professor of communication with a background in library science, she was active in Trinity Episcopal Church and the Adair County Friends of the Library. Gary Ellsworth Hollon — Dec. 29, 1936 – Sept. 20, 2026, age 89, formerly of Kirksville. Grew up in several states before settling in Kirksville as a teenager, where he made his home. Full obituary: Travis-Noe Funeral Home →
John Courtney “Kurt” Lechner — Oct. 13, 1948 – Sept. 18, 2026, age 77, of Kirksville. Spent 22 years at Hollister Inc., retiring as plant manager, then ran High Five Sports Cards. Full obituary: Travis-Noe Funeral Home →
Marjorie Louise (Bensink) Wilcox — March 28, 1931 – Sept. 18, 2026, age 95, of rural Glenwood, Mo. Known for her pies and homemade Christmas caramels. Full obituary: Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel →
Barbara Ann (Payton) Ownbey — Feb. 22, 1948 – Sept. 17, 2026, age 78, of Kirksville. A 1966 Kirksville High School graduate who retired as a quality assurance specialist for Hollister Inc. Full obituary: Travis-Noe Funeral Home →
Jean Fox Smith — Jan. 13, 1962 – Sept. 17, 2026, age 64. A beautician and entrepreneur who built businesses alongside her husband. Full obituary: Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel →
Clara Josephine “Jo” Newman — Jan. 9, 1933 – Sept. 15, 2026, age 93, of Bolivar, Mo., formerly of Kirksville. A graduate of Higbee High School who devoted her life to being a homemaker. Full obituary: Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel →
James Marshall “Jim” Robertson — June 14, 1938 – Sept. 8, 2026, of Kirksville. A businessman and longtime Kirksville resident remembered for his devotion to family and community. Full obituary: Travis-Noe Funeral Home →
Sasha Kay Fountain — Aug. 24, 2010 – Sept. 7, 2026, age 16, of Kirksville. Passed away unexpectedly; survived by her parents, a sister, and two brothers. Full obituary: Travis-Noe Funeral Home →
Karen Sue (Mathes) Slaughter — July 30, 1952 – Sept. 1, 2026, age 74, of Queen City, Mo.. Remembered for her warmth and her love of family, friends, and animals. Full obituary: Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel →
Thomas Richard Scriven — June 20, 1951 – Sept. 1, 2026, age 75, of LaPlata, Mo.. A U.S. military veteran of 23 years’ service who passed away at home surrounded by family. Full obituary: Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel →
Mary Elizabeth (Snider) Farwell — Dec. 15, 1947 – Aug. 27, 2026, age 78, of Green Castle, Mo.. Passed away at University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia. Full obituary: Travis-Noe Funeral Home →
Michael Alfred Wadleigh — July 31, 1945 – Aug. 25, 2026, age 81. Remembered for his sense of humor and the small joys he found in everyday life. Full obituary: Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel →
Aaron William Chrisman — Nov. 24, 1941 – Aug. 14, 2026, age 84, of Greentop, Mo.. A quarry worker in his early career who passed away at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville. Full obituary: Travis-Noe Funeral Home →
Wendell Wayne Adams — Sept. 11, 1936 – Aug. 14, 2026, age 89, of Kirksville. Passed away at his home; survived by his daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. Full obituary: Travis-Noe Funeral Home →
Martha Francis “Tepa” (Buchanan) Ross — Sept. 19, 1935 – Aug. 11, 2026, age 90, of Greentop, Mo., most recently of Lynden, Wash.. Grew up attending a one-room schoolhouse near Greentop before graduating Greentop High School. Full obituary: Travis-Noe Funeral Home →
Roger Dale Wayman — Dec. 30, 1961 – Aug. 7, 2026, age 64, of rural Adair County, Mo.. Grew up on a farm near Novinger and graduated Adair Co. R-1 School. Full obituary: Travis-Noe Funeral Home →
Roger Dale Eitel — Aug. 23, 1956 – July 28, 2026, age 69, of Green Top, Mo.. A drummer who played shows around the Branson, Mo. area starting at age 16. Full obituary: Travis-Noe Funeral Home →
Regina Lee (Lightfoot) Attebery — May 9, 1945 – July 28, 2026, age 80, of Unionville, Mo. area. A 1963 graduate of Unionville High School who passed away while recovering from hip surgery. Full obituary: Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel →
Debra Ann Pawling — May 9, 1954 – July 25, 2026, of Kirksville. Built a career in sales; remembered as a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Full obituary: Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel →
Suzanne “Zan” (Collier) Phillips — Oct. 14, 1952 – July 25, 2026, of Kirksville. A 1970 Kirksville High School graduate who earned a biology degree from the University of Missouri. Full obituary: Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel →
Elmira “Myra” Ellen (Evans) Baiotto — Nov. 25, 1926 – July 23, 2026, age 99. Born in Sedalia, Mo.; survived by a sister and two sons. Full obituary: Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel →
Janet Sue (Pfaff) Murphy — March 22, 1940 – July 23, 2026, age 86, of Kirksville. Tended animals on her Kirksville-area farm for many years; passed away in Morris, Illinois. Full obituary: Travis-Noe Funeral Home →
Samantha Iris Simmons — Aug. 31, 1984 – July 23, 2026, age 41, of Kirksville / Queen City, Mo.. Studied child care at Kirksville Area Vocational Technical School. Full obituary: Travis-Noe Funeral Home →
Robert Wayne “Wayne” Ellis — Dec. 17, 1943 – July 6, 2026, age 82. Passed away at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in Columbia, Mo. Full obituary: Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel →
Tamra Sue Tarr — Nov. 9, 1948 – June 30, 2026, age 77, of Kirksville. A Kirksville High School graduate remembered for her warmth and lifelong care for others. Full obituary: Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel →
Jason Laverne Lloyd — July 11, 1969 – June 30, 2026, age 56, of Quincy, Ill.. Remembered by those who knew him as quietly profound and a devoted listener. Full obituary: Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel →
