THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014
ONLINE NOW www.GreenfieldVedette.com
Students of the Month
Year In Review
Pages 3, 4, 7
WHAT’S INSIDE OBiTuARiES
• Champ Allen Crumm, 53, Aurora • Anna Mae Goodman, 92, Mt. Vernon • Dorothy (Curtis) Wood, 81, Greenfield • Maxine L. Clay, 88, Aurora • Eldon Masters, Sr., 62 Mt. Vernon • Magdalena Bodea, 56, LaRussell • Alta Oglesby, 90, Aurora
Christmas Eve Candle Light Service
Main Street Baptist Church, Greenfield, will have a Christmas Eve Candle Light Service, December 24th at 6:00 p.m. Everyone invited to attend.
Christmas Eve At Joy Church
Joy Church in Greenfield will be hosting a Christmas Eve Candlelight service from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Join us for the service and communion.
Courthouse Closed
The Dade County Courthouse will be closed on Thursday and Friday December 25 and 26, 2014 to observe the holiday.
Christmas Eve Worship
Top Sports Stories Page 3 Community Events Page 5
S E V E N DAY FO R E C A S T
Friday, Vedette Office Will Be Closed December 25 and 26, 2014. Merry Christmas
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Vol. 150, No. 27 $1.00
Mary McConnell To Retire, Marking A Milestone In Shelter Insurance Companies' History
By Bruce Meentemeyer Managing Editor / Web Content Administrator Communications / Training Shelter Insurance Companies Photo by Marlene DeClue The Vedette Publisher
Mary McConnell, Shelter Insurance agent at Greenfield, Missouri, will retire with a remarkable 56 years of dedicated service to the Companies and to the multitude of policyholders faithfully served by the agency since 1946. Mary’s final day at the office is Wednesday, December 31, 2014. Mary’s retirement is a personal achievement and it also marks the close of era in the history of Shelter Insurance®. Shelter has been represented in the Greenfield community and beyond by the name McConnell since 1946, the very first year of Shelter’s existence. The late Ronald McConnell was 19 years old on October 2, 1946, when he started selling automobile and farm equipment insurance for the new MFA Mutual Insurance Company. As a
charter agent, he was for over two decades the only active co-worker who had witnessed just a few months short of ALL of our Companies' history. Until Ronald's death in March 2007, Shelter's "Dean of Agents" shared the Companies anniversaries, year-for-year. In 1954, Mary and Ronald were married. Mary left the teaching profession in 1958, and together—as they always were—she and Ronald began a professional relationship providing valu-
able insurance protection to the community they loved. Mary became a licensed agent in 1962 and has represented the Companies at Greenfield ever since. Following Ronald’s death, Mary decided to carry on the tradition of outstanding service to policyholders and to the Greenfield community. “Ronald would be proud to know that I’m continuing with the agency,” Mary said at the time. We learned only weeks ago that Mary announced plans to retire at
the end of this year. “All agents and employees of Shelter Insurance Companies are profoundly grateful to Mary McConnell for her remarkable service to this organization,” said Rick Means, President and CEO of Shelter Insurance®. “We’ll always remember and admire Mary’s and Ron’s dedication, sound judgment imporand—most tantly—their genuine concern and affection for friends, neighbors and policyholders. We thank Mary and her family and all of their loyal customers who will continue to receive the excellent service they deserve.” “I want to personally thank Mary for all her support and effort that she has provided this district, state and company over the years,” says Nathan Smith, LUTCF, District Sales Manager, Shelter Insurance Commpanies. “You will truly be missed.” A new Shelter agent
soon will carry on the good work representing the Companies at Greenfield. On paper, Mary’s retirement marks the end of Shelter’s last existing charter insurance agency. There can be no competition for the McConnells’ record of service. Their mark on our history cannot be duplicated. In a 1996 magazine feature article about the McConnells, the author wrote, “The McConnells embody the word loyalty. Through our history Ronald and Mary have been eager to adopt Companies’ changes and learn ways to integrate their skills and standards into the daily life of a community that needs them.” Greenfield is a better place because of their service and friendship. If you would like to send a retirement note to Mary, she can be reached at the following address: Mary McConnell P.O. Box 186 Greenfield, MO 65661
Everton Christmas Program
Lockwood United Methodist Church will be having there Christmas Eve Worship on Wed. 24th beginning at 6 p.m., with music, communion and candle lighting, to "Silent Night". All are invited and welcome. We will also be having a Christmas Eve worship service at "The Crossing" located at 524 Main Street, beginning at 11 p.m. with video music from contemporary Christian group, Third Left to right, seated: Kynlee Bryant, Jesse Grisham, Lillian Mead and Kaden Adams. Standing: Hannah Janson, Brady Gladden, Emma Little, James Grisham, Robin Day, with retelling of the McCray, Austyn Heckmaster, Trinity Hurt, Braydon Schultz, Lizzarae Shearer, Christopher Duvall, Autumn Fifer and Tristan Davisson. Christmas Story and Can- Photos by Cletis McConnell Vedette Reporter dle lighting. Thursday evening, December 18, 2014, saw a full crowd at the Everton Schools Christmas program. The audience heard Join us for our annual selections Merry Christmas Dinner. Christmas There is no charge for the from the elementary dinner and everyone who school students and sixth attends will receive a graders, the kindergarteners and first Christmas present. graders, first and second We will be serving turkey, ham, mashed po- graders, second and third tatoes, dressing, gravy, graders, third and fourth sweet potatoes, green graders, fourth and fifth beans, corn, cranberry graders, fifth and sixth sauce, rolls, dessert, and graders, eighth graders, Cookie Chimeherd and drinks. We have been gra- her Thai flute and the high school choir accomciously allowed once panied by Kristi Ball on again use the Family Life the piano. Center to hold the dinner. Among the highlights The dinner will be of the evening was the held Christmas Day, De- crowning of the 2014 Mr. K-2nd Grade Miss Merry Christmas 2014, Kynlee Bryant and Mr. 3rd - 5th Grade Miss Merry Christmas 2014, Lillian Mead and Merry Christmas, Jesse Grisham. Mr. Merry Christmas, Kaden Adams. cember 25, 2014, at 12 and Miss Merry Christnoon at the Family Life mas for K-2nd and 3rd- Cray, daughter of Tam- Cory Hurd and Braydon daughter of Jessica Sartin Bryant and Jesse GrCenter, 410 Main Street, 5th grades. Rin and Richard McCray Schultz, son of Stephanie and Brady Gladden, son isham for K-2nd grade Lockwood, Missouri. Kindergarten candi- and Austyn Heckmaster, Keck and James and of Autumn and Derrick and Lillian Mead and Also call Shirley at dates were Kynlee son of Amanda Heck- Christie Schultz. Gladden. Filling in for Kaden Adams, 3rd-5th 816-476-2311. for more Bryant, granddaughter Fifth grade candi- Kenzie Sartin was Han- grade. master and Corey info, rides, or deliveries. of Jimmie and Sara dates were: Lizzarae nah Janson, daughter of Gilmore. Congratulations. Donations are accepted Bryant and Jesse GrShearer, daughter of Pa- Jaudawn and Karl JanThird grade candiMrs. Smith and the and used to pay for the isham, son of Tina Grtricia Culp and Ray dates were: Lillian Mead, students of the music deson. food and other items isham and Chris Burkett. Shearer and Christopher daughter of Bobby and partment wish to thank For 3rd-5th grade: used for the dinner. AnyFirst grade candiDuvall, son of Tara and Colene Mead and Kaden the teachers and staff, Dr. Autumn Fifer, daughter thing donated above the dates were: Emma Little, of DeWitt and Holly Fifer Jansen, and Mrs. Harden price of the dinner is used daughter of Scott and Adams, son of Wade Scott Duvall. Returning 2013 roy- and Tristan Davisson, for their help and supTammy Little and James Adams and Michelle for the next dinner. alty who assisted in son of Felicia Davisson. port. Also, thanks to Mrs. Grisham, son of Tina Gr- Adams. Fourth grade candi- crowning the 2014 winisham and Chris Burkett. The 2014 Miss and Ball for her time and talSecond grade candi- dates were: Trinity Hurt, ners were: For K-2nd Mr. Merry Christmas ent. dates were Robin Mc- daughter of Jennifer and grade, Kenzie Sartin, winners are: Kynlee
Free Christmas Dinner