Obituaries

BENTON, Mo. — Mary Diane Wolford, 76, formerly of East Prairie, Mo., died Jan. 24, 2020, at her home. Born Sept. 23, 1943, in St. Louis, daughter of the late Harvey and Mary Taylor Dow, she had been employed as an in-home care provider by Quality Care in East Prairie and had attended Victory Baptist Church in East Prairie...

MARSTON, Mo. — Linda K. Stevens, 57, died Jan. 23, 2020, in Marston. Born July 16, 1962, Portageville, Mo., daughter of the late Louise Howell Stevens and James Elmer Stevens, she was of the Pentecostal belief and a 1980 graduated of New Madrid County Central High School...

LaFORGE, Mo. —Joe Shanks, 90, died Jan. 21, 2020, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born March 26, 1929, in LaForge, son of the late Welton and Maude Brooks Shanks, he was a veteran of the United States Army and served as a medic during the Korean War...

SIKESTON — Phillip E. (Gene) Schearf, son of the late Philp Ludwig and Myrtle Amelia Stoffregen Schearf, was born on Sept. 28, 1925, in Delta, Missouri, and departed this life on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at his residence in Sikeston, Missouri, at the age of 94 years...

CASTLE PINES, Colo. —Jerry Spradling, 82, loving and dedicated husband and father, of Castle Pines, Colorado, died peacefully at home on Dec. 31, 2019. He was born May 19, 1937, also at home, in Kewanee, Missouri, to Berniece Laura (Barry) Spradling and James Hughston Spradling...

SIKESTON — Jeffery “Jeff” Collins, 41, died Jan. 15, 2020, at his home in Sikeston. Born April 29, 1978, in Hayti, son of Hugh and Lillian Paul Collins of Sikeston, he was a 1996 graduate of Sikeston High School. He was an employee of Americold Operating System...

SIKESTON — Mark Fraser, age 29, died Jan. 20, 2020, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was born July 6, 1990, in Memphis, the son of Julie Carlisle Fraser Young and the late Dennis Fraser.

CHAFFEE, Mo. — Elaine Schlegel, 71, died Jan. 17, 2020, at her home in Chaffee. Born July 2, 1948, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of the late William F. and Adella M. Glueck Schmitt, she retired from Thorngate Ltd. in Cape Girardeau after 41 years of employment and was a member of the St. Lawrence Catholic Church in New Hamburg. She graduated from Chaffee Senior High School in 1966...

WYATT, Mo. — Charlotte Sue Fitzgerald Knece, 62, died Jan. 20, 2020, at her home in Wyatt. Born Aug. 17, 1957, at Wyatt, daughter of the late Oris Douglas Fitzgerald and Mary Louise Lomax Fitzgerald, she had lived in Ohio many years before returning to Wyatt. She was employed with Casey’s General Store in Charleston and had attended the New Covenant Pentecostal Holiness Church in Wyatt...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Samuel M. Barnett, 54, died Jan. 20, 2020, at his home in New Madrid. Born March 5, 1965, in Dexter, Mo., son of Dianna Kasting Barnett of Sikeston, Mo., and the late Jimmy Lynn Barnett, he was an employee of Noranda Aluminum. He was past president and member of the New Madrid Eagles Aerie 4206 and booster member of the American Legion Post 595 in New Madrid...

SIKESTON — Samuel Elton Rains, age 74, passed away Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Missouri. He was born July 28, 1945, in Leslie, Arkansas, son of the late Oswald Blain and Junia Barnes Rains. Samuel was a veteran of the U.S. Army and had been an engineer for Southwestern Bell/AT&T before retiring...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Dwight Louis Hendon, 60, died Jan. 20, 2020, at his home in Cape Girardeau. Born Jan. 8, 1960, in Sikeston, he was the son of the late Jesse Gene and Jane Fisher Hendon. Survivors include: two sisters, Jan Bennett and Holly Hendon of Wappapello...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Effie Pearlene Shurtz, age 77, died Jan. 21, 2020, at her home in East Prairie. Born April 14, 1942, in East Prairie, daughter of the late Jack and Mattie Moore, Effie was employed for 48 years at the Community Sheltered Workshop in Sikeston, Mo. ...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Carl Pritchard, 84, died Jan. 16, 2020, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born June 10, 1935, in Hickman, Kentucky, to the late William and Annie Zirkle Pritchard, he was a member of House of Prayer World Outreach Center in Charleston, Missouri...

SIKESTON — Frances Vernell Bryant, 66, died Jan. 17, 2020, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Jan. 25, 1953, in Canalou, Mo., daughter of the late Louis and Elizabeth Thompson Bryant, she was a graduate of Sikeston High School and employed by the Sikeston Housing Authority in the clerical department for many years before her retirement. She was a member of the Jubilee House of Prayer Church...

SIKESTON — J. T. Wilson, 95, died Jan. 18, 2020, at his home near Sikeston. Born Aug. 8, 1924, near Salcedo, son of the late Thomas and Rosie Butler Wilson, he had been a resident of this area all of his life and was a retired farmer. He was of the Baptist belief.

PRIMM SPRINGS, Tenn. — Larry Edward Stewart, 75, died Jan. 17, 2020, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Born Oct. 23, 1944, in Portageville, Missouri, son of the late Mamie Fisher Stewart and Edward Stewart, he was of the Baptist belief, a retired Automotive Painter and served in the military in the United States Army during the Vietnam War...

GREENFIELD, Tenn. — John Richard Worley, 85, died Jan. 18, 2020, at Greenfield. Born July 28, 1934, Wayne County, Tennessee, son of the late Lena Pear Warren Worley and Eliphae Allen Worley, he was a member of Bethel Baptist Church, past deacon of the Hornsville Baptist Church. He served in the United State Air Force, was a graduate of the Union University with a degree in banking and he became a bank vice president...

SIKESTON — Bobby Taylor, age 85, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, at Delta South Nursing Care in Sikeston, Missouri. Born July 6, 1934, in Morehouse, Missouri, son of the late Donald Louis and Allene McMullin Taylor, he was a member of Sikeston Masonic Lodge 310 AF&AM...

BLOOMSDALE, Mo. — Carolyn Hunt, 69, formerly of East Prairie, died Jan. 17, 2020, at her home. Born March 10, 1950, in Matthews, to the late Henry and Delphia Adams Day, she was retired from Chrysler Corporation in Fenton after 31 years of service. Survivors include: one son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Kay Earp of Bloomsdale; four brothers, Alvin Day of Fenton, Johnny Day of Downy, Calif., Henry Day Jr. ...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Ruth Ellen Parker Morgan, 79, died Jan. 17, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Nov. 23, 1940, at Belmont, daughter of the late Walter Ray “Radie” Parker and Gladys Beatrice Henry Parker, she was a 1958 graduate of Anniston High School and had lived in East Prairie most of her life. ...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Ted Eugene Rayburn, 61, died Jan. 17, 2020, at his home. Born Sept. 21, 1958, in Wyatt, son of the late Ted and Carolyn Brown Rayburn, he was a member of Victory Baptist Church in East Prairie. Survivors include: one daughter, Jessica West of East Prairie; two brothers, Ronnie Rayburn of East Prairie and Robert Rayburn of Cooter; and three grandchildren and one great-grandchild...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Jerry Don Grogan, 76, died Jan. 17, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Dec. 19, 1943, in Dorena, son of the late Edward Simon “Bob” Grogan and Lola Margaret “Sis” Brown Grogan, he had lived in Mississippi County his entire life. He had worked in the timber business with his father and went on to work with his brother, J.W. Grogan. in the construction business. He was a retired member of the Missouri National Guard...

SIKESTON — Harold A. "Bo" Hoskins, 85, died Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, at his home near Sikeston. He was born Dec. 20, 1934, at Conway, Ark., to the late Norman Lee and Abbie (Baremore) Hoskins. Bo was a longtime resident of this area and had been a forklift operator at Potlatch/Tetra Pak, and he was a member of Old Bethel Baptist Church.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas —Tommie J. “T.J.” Shoffner, 65, formerly of East Prairie, Mo., died Sept. 12, 2019, in San Antonio. Born Feb. 3, 1954, he was the son of the late Emmett and Inez Shoffner. On Oct. 30, 1971, he married Rachel Meeks, who preceded him in death on Dec. 16, 2009. He later married Raquel Gonzales, who survives...

SIKESTON —Bobby Taylor, 85, died Jan. 14, 2020, at Delta South Nursing Care in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

DEXTER, Mo. — Pauline M. Duke, age 99, formerly of Dogwood, Missouri and Sikeston, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She was born March 3, 1920, in Marston, Missouri, daughter of the late Lee and Emma Heath Matthews, and was a member of Dogwood United Methodist Church in Dogwood...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Bernice Scott Gilmore, 81, died Jan. 4, 2020, at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. Born March 25, 1938, in Conrand, Ark., to the late Algen and Essie Bruce Scott, she was a member of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in New Madrid. She was employed as a Head Start Aide many years ago, and she was a homemaker until she retired. She was a caregiver for many years...

YUMA, Ariz. — Deborah Joyce Edwards, age 67, died Jan. 12, 2020, at her home in Yuma. Born Jan. 10, 1953, in East Prairie, Mo., daughter of the late Ernest Lee Hanor and Betty Jean Childers-Edsall, she was retired from Thorngate Manufacturing in Cape Girardeau, Mo. On Sept. 4, 1971, in Sikeston, Mo., she married Arvil Lee Edwards, who preceded her in death on May 31, 2016.

JACKSON, Mo. — Ashley Marie Howard, 22, of Jackson, passed away Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. She was born Oct. 25, 1997, in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was the daughter of Cecil and Vicki (Lopas) Smith. Ashley worked at the AT&T call center as a sales representative. She enjoyed playing pool, hanging out with friends and family and loved to decorate. She was a “doer” and had a giving heart. Her family was very important to her...

SIKESTON — Larry Chappell, 72, died Jan. 14, 2020, at his home in Sikeston. Born Aug. 23, 1947, in East Prairie, son of the late Noah and Lorene Cork Chappell, he had worked as a brew setter for Lewis Bakeries and then worked for Duckett Truck Center before retiring...

BERTRAND, Mo. — Larry Ray Parker, 69, died Jan. 13, 2020, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Oct. 13, 1950, in Ridgley, Tenn., he was the son of the late Billy Ray and Virginia Kuykendall Parker. Survivors include: his wife, Michelle Monday of Bertrand; one son, Michael Parker of Wickliffe, Ky.; one stepson, Paolo Dipersico of Vancouver, Canada; four daughters, Trevia Parker of Cleveland, Ohio, Jamie Rae Arellano of Plymouth, Calif., Bobbie Sue Westmoreland of Finley, Tenn., and Billie Jo Woods of Jackson, Tenn.; one brother, Bennie Parker of Mason Hall, Tenn.; and seven grandchildren.. ...

SIKESTON — Betty Jane Martin, 75, passed away Jan. 14, 2020, at her home in Sikeston, Missouri. Born Nov. 12, 1944, in Reyno, Arkansas, she was the daughter of the late William M. Bellah and Georgia Bellah Poyner and a 1963 graduate of Anniston High School. ...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Sharon Silman Mullins, 62, died Jan. 11, 2020, at Portageville. Born June 24, 1957, in St. Louis, she was the daughter of the late Mucy Belle Muse Silman and Jerry Dale Silman. On Aug. 28, 1981, in Portageville, she married Richard Lee Mullins, who preceded her in death on Feb. 6, 2006...

BERTRAND, Mo. — Margie A. Mickel, 85, died Jan. 12, at at the Bertrand Nursing and Rehab Center. Visitation will be from 5:30 p.m. until time for memorial services at 7p.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church in East Prairie.  Steve Douglas and Mark Douglas will officiate...

SIKESTON — Felicia Faye McCurry Harden, 46, died Jan. 12, 2020.Born May 28, 1973, at Chattanooga, Tenn., she was adopted and raised by Don and Beverly McCurry.

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Richard Allen “Dusty” Nelson, 78, died Jan. 13, 2020, at his home in Charleston.

MALDEN, Mo. — Martha Dean Daugherty, 92, died Jan. 12, 2020, at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Born May 7, 1929, in Lou Ann, Ark., daughter of the late Mary  Rowen and Charles Rowen,she worked for years for the New Madrid Tourism through the state of Missouri...

SIKESTON — Terry Lee Artrip, 62, died Jan. 10, 2020, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born June 18, 1957, in Barberton, Ohio, son of the late Sonja Artrip, he was a member of Cornerstone Church in Bertrand, MO. Terry was a truck driver for Midwest Logistics...

JACKSON, Mo. — Reba W. Ward, 87, died Jan.10, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born March 28, 1932, in Dexter, daughter of late Freda Frank "Pete" and Ella Miller Brazel, she lived in Dexter most of her life and moved to Jackson four years ago. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Dexter. She had worked at Hamra's and Stovall's Department Stores and later was a rural mail carrier...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Jeanette Bugg, 85, died Jan. 10, 2020, at her home in Portageville. Born July 14, 1934, in St. Louis, daughter of Isabelle Schoenhard Kniker and Albert William Kniker, she was the owner and operator of the original Portageville Flee Market, a den mother of the Cub Scouts, and she also started the C.B. Club of Portageville. She was a member of the Church of God in Portageville...

MOREHOUSE, Mo. — Harold Eugene Morse, 76, died Jan. 9, 2020, at his home in Morehouse. Born Oct. 11, 1943, in Morehouse, Mo., son of the late Harvey and Rosie Mcanelly Morse. Survivors include: three brothers, Steve Morse of Benton, Dale Morse of Idalia and Raymond Morse of Dexter; four sisters, Maxine Newell and Bonnie Hughes of Dexter, Ann Copeland of Sikeston and Brenda Condict...

BENTON, Mo. — Everett Michael “Mike” Smith, 57, died Jan. 8, 2020, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Oct. 7, 1962, in Rosiclare, Ill., son of Frances Januska Smith and the late Everett Wendell Smith, he was a material handler at Verdesian Life Sciences and attended Morley Baptist Church...

NEW MADRID, Mo. —Margaret Sebourn, 75, died Jan. 9, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardaeu. Born Jan. 29, 1944, in Campbell, daughter of the late John S. and Evelyn Miller Nolen, she was employed for many years at the Bank of New Madrid until her retirement...

DEXTER, Mo. — Tom Fairchild, 93, died Jan. 7, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Jan. 13, 1926, in Dexter, son of the late Orvial Fairchild and Hattie Pry Fairchild, was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in World War II. He was a retired carpenter...

SALEM, Ill. — Blanchette Sue (Davenport) Davis, of Salem, Illinois, formerly of Pocahontas, Illinois, departed this life on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, at Hitz Memorial Home, Alhambra.  She had attained the age of 80 years, 5 months and 12 days. Sue was born on July 24, 1939, in Sikeston, Missouri. She was the daughter of James A. and Velma M. (Mays) Davenport. On Sept. 14, 1962, she was united in marriage to Howard Wray Davis, Sr. and he preceded her in death on July 23, 2007...

WYATT, Mo. —John Patterson Brown, 48, died Jan. 8, 2020, at his home in Wyatt. Born Oct. 23, 1971, at Charleston, son of the late C.D. Brown and Carman Louise Snider Brown, he had lived in Charleston most of his life, moving to Wyatt 18 years ago. He had been employed as a commercial truck driver and was of the Pentecostal belief...

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Paul Davis Watson Sr., age 89, passed away Jan. 6, 2020, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Feb. 21, 1930, in East Prairie, Missouri, the son of the late Charles and Ruth Barnhill Watson. He was a member of Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and worked with experimental defense aircraft and in the space program at McDonnell-Douglas and Boeing before, retiring...

SIKESTON — Monroe Young Sr., 80, died Jan. 3, 2020, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.  Born April 2, 1939, in Batesville, Miss., to the late Earnest and Alma (Kuykendall) Young, he attended public school in Batesville and Sardis, Miss.. and spent many years working at auto mechanic shops where he painted and detailed cars and he also was skilled at landscaping lawns...

SIKESTON — Peggy Lou Harris Ham, 90, died Jan. 7, 2020. Born Nov. 21, 1929, to Doug and Nevelle Harris, she was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church in Sikeston. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale Floyd Ham; and daughter, Donna Cox...