Tributes | Missouri Folk Arts Program

A TRIBUTE TO FR. MOSES BERRY (1950-2024)

We were sad to hear the news that Fr. Moses Berry of Ash Grove, Mo. died on January 12, 2024. Thanks to an introduction by independent scholar Jami Lewis of Mt. Vernon, we at Missouri…

Blond woman with glasses in black cardigan speaks into microphone.

A TRIBUTE TO BEVERLY STROHMEYER (1944-2023)

Saturday, September 2, we woke to the news on Facebook that our friend and colleague Beverly Strohmeyer had suffered and survived a major cardiac event. Over the next two weeks, we followed the stories of…

Seated woman in straw hat talks into microphone while holding her guitar.

A Tribute to Kim Lansford (1955-2023)

In the midst of the celebrations of the Ozarks at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in D.C., we learned the sad news that Ozark musician Kim Lansford had died on Sunday, July 2, 2023. In anticipation…

A Tribute to Bernard Allen (1941-2023)

We’ve learned the sad news yesterday that master luthier Bernard Allen of Naylor, Mo. passed away Sunday, 4/16/2023. Missouri Folk Arts has been honored to work with Mr. Allen many times over the years, first…

Vesta Johnson is photographed playing fiddle at a home session during a Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program site visit. Vesta is an elderly white woman with white hair, peppered with black at the root. She has a focused expression fixed on her fiddle, wearing a pair of thin metal framed glasses, a plain dark brown tee shirt, and a pair of white pants. Vesta sits in the foreground of the photo on a brown metal chair, behind her is an array of home decor (couch and pillows, white curtains, and a wood paneled wall with a landscape painting).

A TRIBUTE TO VESTA JOHNSON (1922-2021)

We were very sad to hear the news on Friday, March 5, 2021, that master old-time fiddler Vesta Johnson had died. At the same time, we understand from her devoted family that she passed peacefully…

A TRIBUTE TO GARY JOHNSTON (1937-2020) BY SAMUEL KENDRICK

Once again, we must share sad news. Early this week, we learned that previous Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program master fiddler Gary Johnston (Nevada, Mo.) has died. We are thankful, though, that Mr. Johnston’s friend and…

Image of Evelyn Pulliam; from the chest up. Evelyn is an older Black woman, she wears a light pink lace patterned top and matching over jacket. She wears a thick pearl necklace, and has a white broach on her shirt. She wears thick plastic framed glasses, hair is tied back in braids.

A TRIBUTE TO EVELYN PULLIAM (1953 – 2020) BY DR. GLADYS CAINES COGGSWELL

We at the Missouri Folk Arts were very sad to hear the news that previous Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program apprentice Evelyn Pulliam of Kennett, Mo. (1998 and 1999) recently passed away. We thank master storyteller,…

A TRIBUTE TO MARTIN J. BERGIN, 1939-2020

We are saddened to learn that cowboy poet and master saddlemaker Martin J. Bergin, of Overland, Mo., passed away on September 24, 2020. His funeral services are scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2020 with Ortmann’s…

Sarah Denton photographed during a community scholar workshop in Columbia, Mo. Sarah is an older white woman with salt and pepper hair pushed back using her red eyeglasses as a headband. She smiles while holding up a peace sign, wearing a blue and white patterned shirt tucked into a long black cardigan. She wears denim jeans. Sitting beside her and behind her are other workshop attendees.

A TRIBUTE TO SARAH BLEVINS DENTON, 1956-2020

Sarah Ann Blevins Denton, 1956-2020 Two weeks ago, we were shocked and so sad to learn that our friend, Ozark regional community scholar Sarah Denton, died unexpectedly from a heart attack on her morning walk…

Photographed Lois Mueller handstitches in a folding chair.

A TRIBUTE TO LOIS JANE MUELLER, 1933-2019

We at the Missouri Folk Arts Program are saddened to learn from Barry Bergey that master quilter Lois Mueller died on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. Formerly of St. Louis, the Muellers relocated to New Haven…

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