Knowing this is normally a joyous season but can be difficult when people are grieving, a group dedicated to helping look for missing loved ones has finished its annual Christmastime project.
Missouri Missing's Christmas Tree of Love and Hope honors missing, lost and deceased loved ones. The cookie ornaments personalized with loved ones' names hang on a tree in the home of Missouri Missing founder and Executive Director Marianne Asher-Chapman in Holts Summit.
"There are approximately 196 ornaments on the tree," she said. "When we started doing this four years ago, we had 40. I'd say nine-tenths of the people on here I know in some way. I'd also say there may be more people on here from other states than are from Missouri. I had two pages of names of people asking for an ornament to be made this year."
Asher-Chapman said she would like to expand the project and take the Christmas Tree of Love and Hope to the state Capitol, if she were allowed to put it on display.
"We want the world to recognize and not forget our special people," she said. "These are not great works of art, but they are made with love and compassion."
As Asher-Chapman goes around the tree, she can tell many stories of what families have gone through, from the oldest to the newest.
One of the newest ornaments is on the front of the tree and bears the name of "Darnell."
This is for Darnell Gray, the 4-year-old Jefferson City boy who was reported missing in late October. After a week-long search, his body was found, and his caretaker was arrested in connection with his death.
Asher-Chapman was among those spearheading the efforts of residents who were helping law enforcement search for the boy.
"We don't normally do the ground searches, but people began reaching out, and we tried to help as much as we could," she said. "It was amazing to see how many people wanted and did help, but it was so heartbreaking to have it end the way it did."
Asher-Champman's daughter, Angie Yarnell, disappeared in 2003. She made flyers, rented billboards and did everything she could to spread the word about the case. From this, she began the missing persons advocacy group in 2007 to help families in their searches and to memorialize those who were never able to return to loved ones.
Although Yarnell never came home, Asher-Chapman takes solace in advocating for other missing people and building a community among the families.
There is no charge for the cookie ornaments to be made for a missing or deceased loved one, however donations are always welcome.
For more information about the group go to its Facebook page or missourimissing.org.