Marking the anniversary of the disappearance of Ira Lee Briscoe, friends and family gathered Saturday at People’s Park in West Plains, defying frigid temperatures and biting wind to release 24 balloons, one for each month Ira has been gone.
The last day anyone spoke to Ira was Dec. 17, 2020, and he was reported missing to the Howell County Sheriff's Department on Dec. 23.
About 20 friends and family members talked Saturday about Ira, and the frustration of still not knowing where Briscoe is or what happened, and the effort of keeping him in the hearts and minds of the community.
A Facebook group created in September 2021, “Ira Lee Briscoe ‘Bring Ira Home,’” has a following of almost 2,300. And it's not only Briscoe its members are concerned about; the Facebook page lists others reported missing in Howell County, including Briscoe's friend and occasional roommate Limon Little, who disappeared around the same time.
The list includes 10 men and one woman, ranging in age from 17 to 61 at the time of disappearance. Brandon L. Sly and Eli A. Mullett, both 17, were reported missing on April 13 to the West Plains Police Department. The oldest unsolved case is that of Danny R. Roberts, who was 33 when reported missing to the Howell County Sheriff's Department on June 14, 1995.
Posts in the group include comments from those who knew Briscoe as an elementary school student at Glenwood School. Briscoe had cancer as a child, and recovered. His parents, Marilyn and Rodney, are lifetime members of the community. Marilyn has said, as a mother, it was difficult to almost lose Ira to cancer only to have him vanish as a young man and father of a young son who misses him.
The efforts are to shine a light on the disappearances, and keep it shining, while encouraging community members to get involved in solving the cases and keep pressure on law enforcement. One common sentiment expressed is that someone must know what happened, but are fearful of coming forward because of possible retaliation from those involved.
"The community needs to get more verbal about what happened," says Christi Clarke, administrator of the group and co-organizer of Saturday’s balloon release. She reminded those present that the missing are sons, fathers, siblings and friends with loved ones who need closure.
Most of those loved ones, including Briscoe’s mother, know in their hearts they will never see him alive again, but hold out hope the mystery of his disappearance will be solved so their minds can be put at ease, if only a little.
"They need a place to grieve," Clarke remarked.
Clarke has also been involved in the search for Briscoe for the past two years, including walking waist-high in pond water. She says Marilyn has done that and more: "She will stop at nothing.”
The balloon release was the conclusion of two years of searching the woods, ponds, caves and ravines, talking with law enforcement and the agonizing task of waiting. Briscoe's father was unable to be there due to health problems.
In the time that has passed, Marilyn Briscoe is no less determined. Speaking during the ceremony, she described her son as strong-willed and stubborn, and admitted she asks herself if she did everything she could as a mother; those present for the gathering reassured her that she did.
She prayed that if anyone knows what happened to Ira Briscoe, that God would soften their hearts and they would come forward with information that could lead to Ira's remains and at least bring closure, if nothing else, to his loved ones.
Marilyn talked about how her son’s disappearance is with her and other loved ones "every day."
At the pinnacle of the event, it was time to release the 24 balloons. After everyone else let theirs go, she finally released her balloon, the last one.
The wind stilled, and the last balloon hovered for a few moments before being whisked away with the others.
