I have learned a lot about the people of this area, some of whom I knew before, but many, sadly, I never met until I became acquainted through their obituaries.
Many of the most visited obituaries on Inside Joplin Obituaries are of people whose lives were cut tragically short in their teens or 20s, or people who met horrific deaths in accidents or as a result of violent acts committed by others.
The obituaries of former teachers and school administrators usually draw heavy traffic because of the number of people who went through their schools or classrooms and often times those who have served in political office or whose names have been featured prominently in the news also receive a large number of visitors.
Sometimes, however, the people whose deaths are felt the most are not those we see every day or read about in the newspapers and see on television.
And this week, an obituary that grabbed my attention and the attention of a few thousand more of you was not the death of someone famous or someone notorious, but someone who greeted everyone with a kind word, a friendly smile and left you feeling good.
It almost made you wish you didn't see only see him every 3,000 miles.
The readership on Scott Smith's obituary started slowly when it was first published Tuesday, but has continued to grow through the week.
For a quarter of a century, he almost made the chore of getting your oil changed at Barney's Quick Lube in Joplin a regularly awaited pleasure.
When you pulled your car into the business on 32nd Street, you never felt like he was running it through an assembly line, though the business always had a steady supply of customers.
Scott Smith made you feel like your car was the most important one he was servicing that day and through a smile and a friendly conversation, he made you feel like you were the most important person who was going through the regular car maintenance.
That's a rare gift. He will be missed.
Trucks and pickups
I received an e-mail earlier this week that caught me off guard.
On Thursday, I ran a post on the Inside Joplin blog headlined "Barton County Sheriff investigating reports of men in trucks trying to lure children by using puppies, ice cream truck melodies."
The writer thought that I was giving truckers a bad name and stressed the difference between trucks and pickups.
The writer made excellent points and gave me something to think about if something like this ever comes up again.
I had considered using a different word in the headline and had considered using "pickups," but decided against it, primarily because the news release from the sheriff's office referred to "trucks" and I have never heard any references to ice cream pickups.
I also am unaware of anyone associating over-the-road truckers with targeting children.
But I will give it careful thought.
Signing July 20 at The Book Guy in Joplin
My next signing for Lost Angels: The Murders of Rowan Ford and Doug Ringler will be held 10 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday, July 20, at The Book Guy.708 E. 15th Street in Joplin.
The Book Guy has copies of 5:41: Stories from the Lost Tornado, Scars from the Tornado, and Newton County Memories, in addition to Lost Angels.
I will have copies of my other books, available on the 20th, as well.
The signing will be in conjunction with the biggest sale of the year at The Book Guy.
Lost Angels is also available online at Amazon.com at the links below and can be purchased at Always Buying Books and Changing Hands Book Shop in Joplin, Granby Auto Supply and Hardware in Granby and Pat's Books in Carthage.
This week's top 10 most visited posts for the Turner Report, Inside Joplin and Inside Joplin Obituaries are listed below the Amazon ads with links to each.
The Turner Report
1. Probable cause: Joplin man murdered the mother of his grandchildren, shot his son and left him in critical condition
2. Probable cause statement: Lamar man kidnapped woman, threatened to "damn shoot" her
3. January cyberattack on MSSU exposed personal information about students, alumni
4. Neosho driver discovers saying "I'm drunk" during 7th and Maiden Lane stop does not ptevent DWI charge
5. Services being held for murder victim, accused killer pleads not guilty
6. Former Sarcoxie teacher pleads not guilty to sex charge involving student
7. Jalen Vaden to Jayda Kyle's father- I pray you know I didn't do this to her
8. Arraignment for former Sarcoxie teacher charged with sex crime set for Wednesday
9. Former Joplin police officer receives probation on assault charge in connection with DWI injury crash
10. Cynthia Davis: Truck drivers used to be considered gentlemen; now some of them can't even speak English
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Thanks for supporting the Turner Report, Inside Joplin and Inside Joplin Obituaries with your subscription or contribution through the PayPal buttons below or by sending your contribution to Randy Turner, 2306 E. 8th, Apt. A, Joplin, MO 64801.
Inside Joplin
1, Joplin woman killed, two men wounded in shootout at 8571 Eloise Lane
2. Wichita man drowns on Elk River in Noel while attempting to rescue female swimmer
3. Barton County Sheriff investigating reports of men in trucks trying ot lure children by using puppies, ice cream truck melodies
4. Joplin man arrested on weapons charge following disturbance on 500 block of South Joplin Avenue
5. New HIghway Patrol troopers in Troop A include Joplin, Webb City, Lamar natives
6. Motorcyclist seriously injured in collision at 22nd and Maiden lane
7. Joplin Police Department Weekend Arrests
8, Joplin Police identify motorcyclist critically injured in crash at 22nd Street and Maiden Lane
9. Jasper County Sheriff's Office Arrests
10, Diamond trucker killed, two injured in fiery four-vehicle crash on I-44
Inside Joplin Obituaries
1. Sarah Tyminski
2. Scott Smith
3. Angie McCauley
4. Samantha Harr
5. Bobby Horton
6. Katherine Phillips
7. Corey Ellis
8. Vern Young
9. Bob Talley
10. Tim Hayes
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