WHITE OAK CEMETERY - OZARK COUNTY
Source; White River Historical Quarterly
Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 1986
Compiled by Pamela Trump and Nova Pleasant
Historical sketch by Ruby M. Robins

WHITE OAK CEMETERY,(consisting of approximately two acres), lies on land dedicated for this purpose by Marshel COPLEN and Sherman COPLEN. Just off of Highway 160 about five miles east of Tecumseh, the cemetery is located in the northwest, northwest of Section 7, Township 22, Range 11. The earliest burial marked with a headstone is that of: WILEY COPLEN, Dec. 20, 1888—Feb. 25, 1889.

BALLINGER, Joseph Franklin Ballinger, Nov. 15, 1927—Aug. 23; 1983

COPLEN (no other information)

COPLEN, Frances, 1861-1908

COPLEN, Grandad,(no other information)

COPLEN, Marshel, 1853-1928

COPLEN, Nova, Sept. ____ 1923-Oct. ____ 1923

COPLEN, Rosey, Oct. 31, 1887-Dec. 23, 1887

COPLEN, Viola, May 3,1888-Aug.24, 1926

COPLEN, Walter, Nov. 17, 1879—Dec. 20, 1928

COPLEN, Wiley, Dec. 30, 1888—Feb. 25, 1889

CROFUTT, Frank, Pfc. U.S. Army, W.W.II, Feb. 11, 1906—Oct. 14, 1981

DEAN, Martha E., Mar. 4, 1880—Dec. 25, 1916

DEAN, Sara Careline, Apr. 19, 1879—Jan. 29, 1939

EASTER, A. L., July 3, 1853—Aug. 10, 1922

EASTER, Nancy J., May 5, 1879—Jan. 5, 1941

GARGIONE, Albert Ralph, AMCS, U.S. Navy, W. W. II, Korea, Vietnam, 1925—1976

GARGIONE, Michael A., Dec. 5, 1954—Nov. 10, 1979

GREEN, Bessie E., May 29, 1903—July 27, 1962

GREEN, Elmer L., Mar. 7, 1885—July 2, 1918

GREEN, James H., Jan. 9, 1866—Jan. 9, 1946

GREEN, Senith E., May 9, 1876—Dec. 8, 1962

HAWKINS, Three markers with only the name HAWKINS on them

HOUSE, Birtie Homer, 1897-1911

HOUSE, Hattie, 1889-1973

HOUSE, Henry, 1882-1941

HOUSE, I. L., Feb. 4, 1867-Oct. 2, 1925

HOUSE, J. F., Feb. 4, 1858-Mar. 5, 1947

HOUSE, Olive E., 1896-1914

LANGSTON, Alex, 185 1-1931

LANGSTON, Rosetta, 1856-1946

MARSHALL, Verona, (wife of Emil Marshall),
Mar. 3, 1909-April 4, 1931

McCAIN, Four markers with only the name McCAIN on them

OEHLER, Mary S., (wife of W. P. Oehler), 1861-1929

UNDERHILL, Earnest, Jan. 5, 1901-Nov. 29, 1971

DEAN, Two rocks with only the name DEAN on them

SWAIN, (no other information)

Five graves identified only with fieldstones.

The grounds at White Oak Cemetery have been kept in good shape since the late 1940’s by the late Walter HOUSE and then by his son, Raymond (Mose) HOUSE of Willow Springs. Though Walter HOUSE is buried at Baptist Hill Cemetery near Elijah, his father and stepmother, J. F. and I. L. HOUSE, are buried at White Oak Cemtery. Several Yucca Plants about the grounds give the cemetery a slightly foreign look. The first plant was put there by W. P. OEHLER at the grave of his wife, Mary. HOUSE said the plant spread so rapidly that it took a major effort to clear the grounds so mowing could be carried out smoothly. There was a church building near the cemetery at one time. It was built probably in the early 1900’s to serve a Methodist congregation, but by the 1930’s it was falling in disrepair and has now completely disappeared. The church had no connection with the cemetery that he knew of, House said. The present members of the cemetery committee, besides HOUSE, are Sherman COPLEN, and Charles HOUSE, now both of West Plains