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After a brief illness well-known Executive Director of the Carl Junction, (MO) Chamber of Commerce passes away

Gary Stubblefield
Gary Stubblefield

Gary Stubblefield advocated for Carl Junction and greater southwest Missouri. Appearing on magazine covers, public speaking engagements, television shows, and commercials.

Online tributes poured in across the Four States Monday for the passing of one of the area's most recognizable figures. KRPS's Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

Gary Stubblefield, of Carl Junction (MO), passed away this past Saturday, March 11, at Mercy Hospital Joplin following a sudden illness. Gary was born November 5, 1961, to Paul E. Stubblefield and Virginia Cramer at Jane Chinn Hospital in Webb City, Missouri.

He graduated in 1980 from Joplin Senior High and has lived and served in this Carl Junction area most of his life. Last May, Stubblefield resigned from the Carl Junction City Council one month after running unopposed, winning a second term. For 13 years before his passing, Gary was theExecutive Director of the Carl Junction Chamber of Commerce. He was so well known that he appeared in atelevision commercial for a local pharmacy.

"I prefer to do business with people I know, people who call you by name. I like the personal touch, and Stones Corner pharmacy delivers on that. To me, that's a big deal."

Gary is survived by his mother. A Celebration of Life will be held this Saturday, March 18, at 1:00 p.m. at the Carl Junction Middle School Auditorium. Family will receive friends from noon up to service time. Gary Stubblefield was 61 years old. For 89 9 KRPS, I'm Fred Fletcher-Fierro

Since 2017 Fred Fletcher-Fierro has driven up Highway 171 through thunderstorms, downpours, snow, and ice storms to host KRPS’s Morning Edition. He’s also a daily reporter for the station, covering city government, elections, public safety, arts, entertainment, culture, sports and more. Fred has also spearheaded and overseen a sea change in programming for KRPS from a legacy classical station to one that airs a balance of classical, news, jazz, and cultural programming that better reflects the diverse audience of the Four States. For over two months in the fall of 2022 he worked remotely with NPR staff to relaunch krps.org to an NPR style news and information website.

In the fall of 2023 Fred was promoted to Interim General Manager and was appointed GM in Feburary of 2024.