Obituaries

Mary Lois Cobb, 78, died Monday, May 13, 2019 at her residence. Visitation Thursday, May 16, 2019, 12:00 Noon till 2:00 P.M. Funeral services will then be conducted Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 2:00 P.M. at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie. Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in charge of arrangements...

Georgia Mae Newcomer, daughter of the late G.E. “Witt” Brown and Alice Mae Welborn Brown was born on February 21, 1925 in Bloomfield, Mo. and departed this life on May, 12, 2019 at the Winchester Nursing Home in Bernie at the age of 94. Friends may visit at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Bloomfield on Thursday, May 16, 2019 from 3 p.m. ...

Brian James “BJ” Grimes, son of Jimmy Grimes of Cape Coral, Florida and Lisa Heaton Rieffer of Dudley, Missouri, was born on August 22, 1986 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri and departed this life on May 5, 2019 at his residence in Dudley at the age of 32 years...

Carolyn Corlew, daughter of the late James William “Jay” Rankins and Juanita O’Neal Rankins was born on June 26, 1952 in Sikeston, Mo. and departed this life on May 11, 2019 at the Southeast Health of Stoddard County at the age of 66. Mrs. Corlew was a member of the First Baptist Church in Dexter, where she sang in the choir.  Carolyn served as creative partner and CFO of the Joe Craig Luxury Group.  After four decades in the profession, her passion surrounded the company's education and charity efforts.  Carolyn was proudest of her role as a founding partner of The Soulmarks Foundation.. ...

Iva Lorene Mayberry, daughter of the late J. C. LaRue and Lila Owens LaRue, was born on May 28, 1920 in Frisco, Missouri and departed this life on May 9, 2019 at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 98 years. Mrs. Mayberry was a homemaker, she attended the Gospel Assembly in Dexter, and she was a resident of Dexter...

Kevin E. Leadbetter, 58, of Jackson, MO formerly of Sturdivant, Mo., passed away May 10, 2019 surrounded by his loving family at his home.  He was born February 25, 1961 in Cape Girardeau, Mo. the son of Cletus and Mary Lee Robins Leadbetter. Kevin had worked at Nestle Purina for over 14 years as a Control Specialist. ...

Shirley Jean Rainey, 82, of Advance formerly of Dexter, MO, passed away May 8, 2019 at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter.  She was born February 10, 1937 at Kennett, Mo. the daughter of Burley and Lillian Skelton James. Shirley had been the Administrator of the Dexter Medical and Surgical Clinic for many years.  She believed in the General Baptist faith.  Her greatest joys were her children and grandchildren.  She enjoyed attended many of her grandchildren’s sports activities throughout the years.  She was also an avid St. ...

Samuel R. McAnally, son of the late Robert Lewis McAnally and Ellen Johnson McAnally was born on October 9, 1930 at Cashmere, Washington and departed this life at his residence near Dexter on May 3, 2019 at the age of 88. Mr. McAnally was a member of the Dudley Community Church, a former farmer in the Dudley Community and a resident of rural Dexter...

Micheal Lee Denbow passed away Sunday May 5, 2019 at his home in Columbia, MO. Friends will be received at Memorial Funeral Home in Columbia on Wednesday May 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Saturday May 11 at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico, Mo. at 2 p.m. with a visitation from noon to 2 p.m...

Maurice Leon Ward, son of the late Bryan Leo Ward and Anna Dell Roper Ward, was born on September 2, 1933 in Dexter and departed this life on Monday, April 29, 2019 at Southeast Health of Stoddard County at the age of 85 years. Mr. Ward was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in the Korean War. He was the former Stoddard County Director of Family Services for the State of Missouri...

Margaret Nellenna Mattison, daughter of the late Grady M. Weldon and Rachel Mae Wilson Weldon, was born on December 11, 1935 in Whitewater, Mo. and departed this life on Monday, April 29, 2019 at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing in Dexter at the age of 83 years...

M. A. Hart, son of the late Joe G. Hart and Anna M. Bruce Hart was born on March 22, 1928 in Elk Township, Stoddard County, Missouri and departed this life on Monday, April 29, 2019 at Crowley Ridge Care Center, in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 91 years, 1 month and 7 days...

Doris Mae Bowling Horn, daughter of the late Edgar Link and Etta Everhart Mallory, was born on May 14, 1928 in Essex, Mo. and departed this life on April 22, 2019 at the Bloomfield Living Center in Bloomfield, Mo. at the age of 90 years. Mrs. Horn was raised by George and Addie Bolin. She was saved at an early age and was of the Baptist faith. She was a former line worker for Elder Manufacturing...

Kimberly Jo Crosby, was born on July 5, 1968 in Bethesda, Ohio and departed this life on April 23, 2019 at her residence in Dexter at the age of 50 years. Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, May 2, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. to noon. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Thursday, May 2, 2019 at noon with Rev. Raymond Poole officiating. Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery...

David R. Shelton, was born on June 5, 1928 in Malden, Missouri and departed this life on Sunday, April, 28, 2019 at Winchester Place in Bernie, Mo. at the age of 90 years. Funeral services were conducted at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Interment followed in Hagy Cemetery...

Curtis “Bud” Blunt, was born on September 24, 1940 in Rural Essex, Mo. and departed this life on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. at the age of 78 years. Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, May 2, 2019 from 5 p.m. ...

M.A. Hart was born on March 22, 1928 and passed away on April 29, 2019 at the Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter at the age of 91.  Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time. Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements...

Marlene Culbertson Creg, daughter of the late Paul Culbertson and Bessie Swallows Culbertson, was born on October 30, 1939 in Bloomfield, Mo. and departed this life on April 26, 2019 at her residence in Dexter at the age of 79 years. Mrs. Creg was the owner and operator of OK Radiator Shop in Dexter, was of the General Baptist Faith and was a resident of Dexter...

Betty June Yount, daughter of the late Raymond Brewer Dayton and Avis Eugenia McCullough Dayton, was born on June 8, 1928 in Ardmore, Okla. and departed this life on April 23, 2019 at her residence in Bloomfield, Mo. at the age of 90 years. Mrs. Yount was the former owner of the Ritz Café and Bookworm Book Store; and she also worked part-time for Dexter Bowl. She was a member of First General Baptist Church in Bloomfield and a resident of Bloomfield...

Gerard LawrenceTessens of Bloomfield, was born in Louisville, Kentucky on March 7, 1953, passed away at Southeast Health of Stoddard County in Dexter, Missouri on April 21, 2019, at the age of 66 years, 1 month and 14 days. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, at 11a.m. at the Watkins and Sons Chapel in Dexter with Bro. Jeremy Tucker of Dexter officiating...

Travis Clay Davis, son of LaDonna Haynes of Matthews, Missouri and the late Ricky Howard Davis, was born on June 17, 1981 in Sikeston, Missouri and departed this life on April 12, 2019 in Jackson, Missouri at the age of 37 years. Funeral services were conducted at the Lighthouse Christian Center on Thursday, April 18, 2019...

Samuel Hunter Johnson, 1, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. entered his Eternal rest into the arms of Jesus on Thursday, April 18, 2019 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Samuel was born on June 21, 2017 to Roy and Kendra Johnson in Poplar Bluff. Samuel loved ducks, being a big brother, sword fighting, Jedi training, dinosaurs, “Star Wars,” the movie “Boss Baby,” his favorite song was “Baby Shark,” favorite foods were apples and cheese. ...

Jerry L. Corlew, son of the late William Max Corlew and Altie Rose Corlew, was born on April 21, 1935 in Sugar Tree, Mo. and departed this life on April 12, 2019 at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing in Dexter at the age of 83 years.

Alvin Metz of Dexter, passed away at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on April 13, 2019, at the age of 91. Visitation will be held on Monday, April 15, 2019 after 12 p.m., until time of services at 1 p.m. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter with the Rev. Bonnie Cannell of Dexter officiating...

Vivian L. Adams Ellsworth, daughter of the late Charles B. Adams and Sadie Ray Whitehead Adams, was born on December 5, 1924 in Powe, Missouri and departed this life on April 11, 2019 at Southeast Health in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 94 years. Funeral Services were conducted at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie on Sunday, April 14, 2019. Interment followed in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery...

Ronnie Cates, son of the late George Cates and Helen Benes Cates, was born on December 29, 1944 in Houston, Texas and departed this life on April 9, 2019 at the Puxico Nursing and Rehab Center in Puxico, Missouri at the age of 74 years. Funeral services were conducted at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, April 12, 2019. Interment followed in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield...

Gary “Beaver” Blocker son of the late Charles Blocker and Wilda Provance Winchester was born on December 23, 1950 in Bernie, Missouri and departed this life on April 9, 2019 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau at the age of 68 years. Graveside memorial services were conducted at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield on Thursday, April 11, 2019...

William Elwood “Woody” McCoy, son of the late William Thomas McCoy and Lela Fay Bryant McCoy, was born on September 21, 1946 in Center Ridge, Arkansas and departed this life on April 8, 2019 at Southeast Health in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 72 years...

Kenneth Dugger, son of the late William H. Dugger and Thelma Baltimore Dugger, was born on July 27, 1949 in Zalma, Missouri and departed this life on April 7, 2019 at NHC Healthcare in West Plains, Missouri at the age of 69 years. Graveside memorial services were conducted at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield on Monday, April 15, 2019...

Joe Marion Scales, son of the late Joe R. Scales and Pauline Cobb Scales was born in Stoddard County Mo. on October 30, 1934 and departed this life at Cypress Point Healthcare in Dexter, Mo. on April 8, 2019 at the age of 84. Mr. Scales was a veteran of The United States Army, had worked at Brown Shoe Company as an electrician, then at Liberty Township as Road Boss until his retirement.  He had also worked as a driver for Dunklin County Transit.   He was a member of the American Legion and VFW both of Malden, also a member of Elks and Eagles both of Dexter.  He started up the first Bernie Little Baseball League and He was a resident of Bernie.. ...

Larry “Buck” Lewis, son of the late Joseph Lewis and Christine Hester Lewis, was born on March 26, 1947 in Bloomfield and departed this life on April 12, 2019 at his residence in Wappapello, surrounded by family and friends, at the age of 72 years. Mr. ...

Clarence Dale Smith, son of the late Louie Elbert Smith and Opal Snider Smith, was born in 1939 in Essex, Mo., and departed this life on April 12, 2019, at the age of 79. Mr. Smith grew up on his family farm in Essex, Missouri.  After graduating from Essex High School, he devoted his life to farming in Essex, Puxico, Dexter, and Dudley, Missouri.  Mr. ...

Genevie Gaines, daughter of the late Clarence Robinson and Eunice Sneed Robinson Hume, was born on September 6, 1925 in Sikeston, Mo. and departed this life on April 2, 2019 at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter at the age of 93 years. Mrs. Gaines was an educator for 28 years. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Dexter...

Laura Nan Ross was born on September 25, 1926 in Kinder, Mo. to Asa and Ada Kelley Clodfelter. She passed away on April 5, 2019 in Cape Girardeau, Mo. at the age of 92. She was one of 8 brothers and sisters and grew up in a loving family on a farm outside Bloomfield. Laura was named after her two grandmothers, who she never knew as they died at an early age...

Mary Ellen Blankenship, daughter of the late Deloyce Robinson and Mary Grace Carter Robinson was born on January 5, 1930 in Knoble, Ark. and departed this life on Monday April 8, 2019 at her residence in Dexter at the age of 89 years. Mrs. Blankenship was a member of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Dexter, graduated from Dexter High School in 1947 and attended Poplar Bluff Business College. ...

Joan Gales Osbourn died peacefully Monday, April 1, 2019 at Southern Trace Nursing Home in Bryant, Ark. Joan was born February, 21, 1940 in Dexter to Carl and April Gales. Joan is survived by her husband Darrell Osbourn, daughters Julie Busick, Jana Strickland, a sister Pauline Nelson and stepsons Bobby, Tim, Darrell and Chris Osbourn...

Bobby Lee Earnest, son of the late John Earnest and Siller Stephens Earnest, was born on March 17, 1954 in Memphis, Tn. and departed this life on April 3, 2019 at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 65 years. Funeral Services were conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter on Friday, April 5, 2019. Interment followed in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield...

Inez Holder of Columbus, Ga., formerly of Dexter, daughter of the late Perry Delmer and Bessie Lee Hendrick Daniel, was born in Murray, Ky. on June 24, 1921, and passed away at the Magnolia Manor Nursing Home in Columbus, Ga. on April 5, 2019, at the age of 97 years, 9 months and 12 days...

Joe Marion Scales, son of the late Joe R. Scales and Pauline Cobb Scales was born in Stoddard County Mo. on October 30, 1934 and departed this life at Cypress Point Healthcare in Dexter, Mo. on April 8, 2019 at the age of 84. Mr. Scales was a veteran of The United States Army, had worked at Brown Shoe Company as an electrician, then at Liberty Township as Road Boss until his retirement.  He had also worked as a driver for Dunklin County Transit.   He was a member of the American Legion and VFW both of Malden, also a member of Elks and Eagles both of Dexter.  He started up the first Bernie Little Baseball League and He was a resident of Bernie.. ...

Ila Mae Horton, the daughter of the late Reuben Frances Bowling and Jewell Josphine Haskins Hollis, was born July 15, 1938, in Lilbourn, Mo. She was united in marriage to Wilson Horton. He preceded her in death. Mrs. Horton died on March 28, 2019, in Poplar Bluff, Mo, at the age of 80 years. ...

Dorothy Jean Pulley, daughter of the late Clarence Taylor and Irene Taylor, was born on June 17, 1942 in Bloomfield, Mo. and departed this life on March 29, 2019 at her residence in Bloomfield at the age of 76 years. Funeral services were conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter on Monday, April 1, 2019. Interment followed in the Bloomfield Cemetery...

Tyler Maddox, son of Bethany Stanberry Maddox of Grayridge and the late Kevin Maddox, was born on May 28, 1995 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. and departed this life on March 27, 2019 at his residence near Grayridge, Missouri at the age of 23 years. Mr. Maddox was a former farm laborer with Conner Farms. He was a 2014 graduate of Richland High School...

Larry Owens, 66, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died January 26, 2019. A memorial service will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 3 at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield. White-Sanders Funeral Home of Fisk is in charge of arrangements.

Cindy D. (Lewis) Murphy, formerly of Advance, Mo., died Monday, March 25, 2019 in Bonne Terre, Mo. A visitation and celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 30 at Coplin Funeral Home Chapel, Park Hills.

Ray Dean Casey, son of the late William Casey, Sr and Ella Masterson Casey was born on May 2, 1948 in Dexter, Missouri and departed this life on March 27, 2019 at the Dexter Living Center in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 70 years. Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter in charge of all arrangements...

Robert Lee Limbaugh, 88, of Edwardsville, Ill. passed away at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at Meridian Village in Glen Carbon. He was born March 14, 1931 in Kennett, Mo. Visitation will continue at Sifford Funeral Home, 580 N. Highway 51 in Puxico, Missouri on Saturday, March 30, 2019 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. A graveside service with full military honors will follow at the Puxico City Cemetery in Puxico...

Joel G. Vinson, 77, of Sikeston, died Sunday, March 24, 2019 at Sikeston, Mo. He was born April 18, 1941 at Rock Island, Ill., the son of John B. Vinson and the grandson of Samuel R. and Pamie Lou Scott Vinson, who raised him. Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter in charge of all arrangements...

Barbara Jo Walker, 64 of Malden died Monday, March 25, 2019 at her residence in Malden. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27 at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 28 at the Bradshaw Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Richard Blagg, Pastor David Wilson and Pastor Jerry Adams officiating. Interment will be in the Mount Gilead cemetery in Clarkton...

Michael Edmond Gisi son of the late Eugene Gisi and Mamie McWaters Gisi was born on January 26, 1960 in Dexter, Mo. and departed this life on March 24, 2019 in St. Louis, Mo. at the age of 59 years. Mr. Gisi had worked as a truck driver for Jim Gibson Trucking and Bootheel Petroleum. ...

Pauline “Pill” Gisi, daughter of the late Johnnie Warren and Lena Causey Warren, was born in Essex, Missouri on July 24, 1925 and departed this life on March 21, 2019 at Mulberry Manor in Dexter, Mo. at the age of 93 years. Mrs. Gisi was a former employee of Stoddard County for 23 years; working in the recorder of deeds office. She was an active member of Hopewell General Baptist Church and a Sunday school teacher, for many years. She loved watching her grandkids play sports and gardening...