Obituaries

COMMERCE, Mo. — Barbara Ann Jackson, 76, passed away Aug. 16, 2019, at her home in Commerce. Born Aug. 8, 1943, in Parma, she was the daughter of the late Charlie and Blythe Whitaker Lawrence. Her husband, Bennie Jackson, survives of the home. Other survivors include: one daughter, Cristy Ramsey of Scott City; one son and daughter-in-law, Cliff and Tessa Jackson; five sisters, Lorene Tonsend of Parma, Thelma and Bobby Tatum of Batesville, Ark., Geraldine and Glen Atchley of Weir, Kan., Carol Lawrence of Parma and Vivian Hunt of Dexter; three brothers, Charles Lawrence and Jimmy Lawrence of Sikeston and Harold Lawrence of Dexter.. ...

DELTA, Mo. — Jerry Don Byram, 42, died Aug. 19, 2019, at his home in Delta. Born Jan. 25, 1977, in Jonesboro, Ark., son of Gelene Ruth Ellen Weaver Byram and the late Donald Edward Byram, he was a member of the New Life Fellowship Church in Delta. In addition to his mother, survivors include: two brothers, Danny Byram of Delta and Timmy Byram of Salem; one sister, Vickie Morgan of Jonesboro; and three nephews and two nieces...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Christopher Columbus Oliver, 81, died Aug. 13, 2019, at Charleston Manor Nursing Facility in Charleston. Born April 14, 1938, in Hillhouse, Miss., son of the late Edgar and Mary Lee Hampton Oliver, he attended Lincoln High School in Charleston. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Linda Brown Peagues Turk Watson, 61, died Aug. 18, 2019, at Saint Francis Heart Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Oct. 10, 1957, in Oxford, Miss., daughter of the late Mildred Brown and Jessie Flemmons. At 18 months old, she was severely burned and adequate medical care was not available in Oxford so her brother, Jimmie Peagues and his wife, Bea, took her to Sikeston for medical treatment. They later adopted her...

SIKESTON — Betty Crosier, age 84, passed away Aug. 20, 2019, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born May 10, 1935, in East Prairie, to the late Raymond and Augusta (Knight) Lewis. She was a member of Miner Baptist Church and had worked for Good Humor-Breyers before retiring...

SIKESTON — Tommy Dewain Graham, 58, died Aug. 19, 2019, at his home in Sikeston. Born Jan. 20, 1961, in Camp Lejeune, N.C., to Velma Harris Graham of Sikeston and the late Raymond Lee Graham, he was a member of Cape First of Sikeston and had been a self-employed construction worker...

SIKESTON — Dudley Levell Patterson, 69, died Aug. 19, 2019, at Sikeston Convalescent Center in Sikeston. Born June 26, 1950, in Lilbourn, he was the son of the late Leonard and Mildred Carroll Patterson. Survivors include one sister, Janet Johnson of Sikeston...

BERNIE, Mo. — Loretta Stephenson, 93, died Aug. 19, 2019, at Oak Tree Villa in Jefferson City. Born March 28, 1926, in Conran, daughter of the late William Franklin and Etta Barnett Henley, she had worked for International Shoe Factory before retiring...

MOREHOUSE, Mo. — Thomas Eugene Hafford Jr., 50, died Aug. 19, 2019, at his home in Morehouse. Born Feb. 15, 1969, in San Diego, he was the son of Thomas Hafford Sr. and Beverly Rose Humphrey. On Feb. 5, 2005, in Scott City, he married Wilma Douglas, who survives of the home...

FARMINGTON, Mo. — Billy M. Dickerson, 94, died Aug. 17, 2019, at Farmington. He was born at Winnfield, La., a son of Hannah (Porter) and Olan Dickerson. He married Frankie Ann Allen on Dec. 16, 1945. Billy, a World War II veteran, was a member of the “greatest generation,” as he enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and retired as a Chief Petty Officer in 1963. ...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Mary Ellen Wilson Hilton, 100, died Aug. 17, 2019, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. Born Sept, 19, 1918, in Fancy Farm, Ky., to the late Aurther and Annie Mae Burgess, she worked for Mount Vernon Hospital as a nurse’s aide, the East Prairie R-2 schools as a grandmother and in the lunchroom at Anniston school. She was a member of the First Church of God in East Prairie...

CANALOU, Mo. — Robert Lee Landers, 97, died Aug. 18, 2019, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born March 11, 1922, in Canalou, to the late Abraham and Mary Elizabeth (Scott) Landers, he worked for Landers Construction before retiring. He was married to Evelyn Adaline (Campbell) Landers, she preceded him in death...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Karen Lee Cook departed this world for her heavenly home on Aug. 17, 2019, at the age of 68. Born Dec. 28, 1950, in Cape Girardeau, she was the daughter of the late Guy George and Lelia Mae Haubold Turner.  On June 12, 1970, at Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church in Marston, she was married to Calvin Cook, who preceded her in death on July 28, 1994. ...

DELTA, Mo. — Dayton L. King, 76, died Aug. 18, 2019, at his home in Delta. Born June 9, 1943, in Delta, son of the late Floy King and Zona Hodge King, he was the owner and operator of Bob’s Sinclair for many years in Scott City and member of the First Baptist Church in Delta, ...

SIKESTON — Judith Jane Alcorn-Hathhorn, 73, passed away Aug. 18, 2019, at her home in Sikeston. She was born Feb. 13, 1946, in Cape Girardeau, to the late Delmar and Helen Wyman Alcorn Sr. Judith was a member of First Christian Church in Sikeston and a member of the Red Hat Society. She was a teacher for Sikeston Public Schools for 32 years before retiring...

MOREHOUSE, Mo. — James Spurlin, 61, passed away peacefully at his home in Morehouse on Aug. 18, 2019. He was born March 24, 1958, in Chicago, to Wanda Jewell Finney Spurlin Cochran, who survives of the home and the late Eldon Eugene "Buddy" Spurlin...

SIKESTON — Sylvester Bates, 86, died Aug. 16, 2019, at Westfield Nursing Center in Sikeston. Born Nov. 25, 1932, in Addison, Ala., son of the late Floyd and Verda King Bates, he attended Murray Lane Baptist Church and had worked as a self-employed construction and car mechanic before retiring...

SIKESTON — William Causey, 85, passed away Aug. 15, 2019, at Sikeston Convalescent Center in Sikeston. Born Nov. 15, 1933, in Bethel Springs, Tenn., to the late Lonie and Graple Cecelia (Moore) Causey, William was a member of First Assembly of God, had worked as a brick mason and had worked for the Standard Democrat for 28 years before retiring...

BENTON, Mo. — Dathine L. Milam, 93, died Aug. 14, 2019.  She was the daughter of the late Willis and Stella Holder Milam.  Survivors include: four sisters, Mildred Killough of Bosque Farms, N.M., Jean Bollinger of Benton and Thelma Haney and Sue (Charles) Pratt of Sikeston, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Glenda Milam of Benton and Lillian Milam of Jonesboro, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Darla Monisa Woods Allred, 52, died Aug. 12, 2019, at her home in East Prairie.  Born Oct. 16, 1966, in Union City, Tenn., to Mary Stowe Woods of Anniston and the late Hulon Woods, she was a member of Victory Baptist Church in East Prairie...

HENSLEY, Ark. — Shelia Paulette Tanksley-Gray, 51, formerly of East Prairie, Mo., died Aug. 11, 2019, in Hollister.  Born May 18, 1968, in Sikeston, daughter of the late Daniel Tanksley Sr. and Mildred Williams Tanksley, she was a member of the Bingham Road Baptist Church...

SIKESTON — Hugh Boon, 64, died Aug. 14, 2019, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau. Born Nov. 17, 1954, in Memphis, Tenn., son of the late H.L. and Loyce McFall Boon, he was a member of First Baptist Church of Sikeston, where he served as a deacon and taught the Joyous Fisherman Sunday School Class. He was a master sergeant (retired) of the U.S. Air Force and a human resource manager...

HAYWOOD CITY, Mo. — Jimmy Brown, 71, died Aug. 10, 2019, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born March 11, 1943, in Philadelphia, Miss., son of the late Henry and Daisy Campbell Brown, he was of the Christian belief and had attended Greers Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. He was a farm laborer until he became self-employed in the recycling business...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Beverly Ann “Bev” Farris, 65, died Aug. 7, 2019, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Nov. 23, 1953, in Charleston, daughter of the late Sam Weems and Mattie Cooper, she was a 1971 graduate of Charleston High School in Charleston, she was a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Evansville, Ind., and Holly Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Wyatt...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Robert “Robbie” Oliver Leffler, 56, died Aug. 12, 2019. Born Dec. 12, 1962, in Sikeston, son of Ruth Ann Wicker Leffler Dooley of Charleston and the late Oliver John “O.J.” Leffler, he was a 1981 graduate of Charleston High School and had attended the First Assembly of God Church in Charleston...

IRONTON, Mo. — Walter Pate "Chick" King Sr., 79, died Aug. 11, 2019, at the home of his daughter in Ironton. Born June 27, 1940, in Dell, Ark., son of the late Homer Lee and Blanche (Pate) King, he was a veteran of the U.S. Army and had owned and operated West Coast Combine before retiring...

TERRE DU LAC, Mo. — William Franklin "Frank" Payne, 73, died Aug. 9, 2019, at Mercy Hospital in Festus. Born May 27, 1946, in Sikeston, son of the late Mitchell and Della Rodgers Payne, he was a 1964 graduate of Sikeston High School. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in accounting. After serving in the U.S. Army, he practiced as a certified public accountant until his death...

ORAN, Mo. — Judith Clara “Judy” King, 92, died Aug. 9, 2019, at her daughter’s home in Morley. Born June 1, 1927, in Oran, daughter of the late Zeno LeGrand and Welden Stike LeGrand, she was the owner and operator of Judy’s Salon from 1970 until 1992 and a member of the Guardian Angel Catholic Church in Oran...

SIKESTON — Nathan Michael Best, formerly of Livingston, Ill., 39, died Aug. 5, 2019, of injuries sustained in a traffic accident.  Born Feb. 11, 1980, in Springfield, Ill., son of Michael Best and the late Terri (Mattingly) Best, he was employed at Food Giant...

SIKESTON — Robert R. Johnson, 46, died July 31, 2019, at Pemiscot Couny Hospital in Hayti. Born Feb. 14, 1973, son of Robert Jones and the late Nola Sue Johnson Sears, he had been raised and lived in Sikeston with his grandmother, Helen Cantrell. She preceded him in death in 2013. Survivors include: one brother, Jimmy Sloan of Missouri; one sister, Angela Rich of Florida...

MOREHOUSE, Mo. — William Alton Bohannon, 98, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, at Southeast Health in Dexter. He was born in Bear Creek, Ark., to the late Euggie Irtle and Effie Eunice Savage Bohannon. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Morehouse, where he served as deacon for many years. ...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Johnny Raymond Simpson, 67, died Aug. 9, 2019, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Feb. 7, 1952, in Fresno, Calif., son of the late Mary Pigg Simpson and Robert Allen Simpson, he was a member of First United Methodist Church of Portageville...

SIKESTON — Allen H. Mays, 88, died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, at West Ridge Place Assisted Living in Sikeston.  He was born Jan. 6, 1931, in Red Oak, Oklahoma, to the late William Jesse and Willie Clemmie Victoria Mays. Allen served as an electrician in the U. ...

SIKESTON — Deborah Kay Sherrard, 58, died Aug. 6, 2019, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born April 11, 1961, in Sikeston, daughter of Ella Dee Martin Sherrard of Sikeston and the late Charles Richard Sherrard, she was a member of Trinity Baptist Church and Historic Downtown Sikeston. She worked as a secretary at the Kindergarten Center nearly 25 years for Sikeston Public Schools and had been a hairdresser prior to this...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Flora Burrow, 85, died July 30, 2019, at the Portageville Health Care Center. Born Jan. 21, 1934, in Joiner, Ark., daughter of the late John B. and Geneva Burns Williams, she was a member of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Lilbourn for over 30 years where she served on the Mother's Board. She was a stay-at-home mother and later employed by Visiting Nursing Respite Services as a caregiver...

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. — James "Jimmy" Henry Robinson, 76, died Aug. 6, 2019, at Southgate Living Center in Caruthersville. Born Jan. 29, 1943, in Gary, Ind., to the late Willie Ed and Ardella Glenn Robinson, he was a 1963 graduate of Howardville High School. ...

DENTON, Texas — George Herbert Steck, 59, of Denton, Texas, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, in Justin, Texas, after a long and hard fought illness. He was born on March 11, 1960, to George and Jeannette Steck in St. Louis, Missouri. George attended Sikeston Senior High School and Southeast Missouri State University. He married the love of his life, Sandra “Sandy” Elaine Steck in 1996 in Denton and spent the next 23 years doing his best to make her happy...

SIKESTON — Victor Alan McClung, 76, of Sikeston, went to be with his savior, Jesus Christ, on Aug. 6, 2019. Victor was born on July 12, 1943, to the late James David and Wilma Elizabeth (Morgan) McClung in Randolph, Tennessee. He graduated from Sikeston High School in 1961 and trained in electronics/communications while serving in the Air Force from 1965-1968...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Jeanette Sanders Gates, 60, died Aug. 3, 2019, at her home in New Madrid. Born Jan. 6, 1959, in New Madrid, she was the daughter of Eddie Mae Walker Sanders of New Madrid and the late Porter Sanders. Her husband, Joe Gates, preceded her in death...

SIKESTON — William Thomas Stinnett, age 80, passed away on Aug. 3, 2019, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Sept. 21, 1938, in Linden, Tenn., he was the son of the late Rubery and Hazel Dunn Stinnett. On Oct. 22, 1960, in Sikeston, he married Barbara Grimes Stinnett, who survives of the home...

FLOWER MOUND, Texas — Naida “Jane” Allen, 89, passed away Monday, Aug. 5, 2019, in Flower Mound, where she resided the past several years. She was born Dec. 2, 1929, in Sikeston, Missouri, to Wade Taylor and Sarah Elizabeth Adams Malcolm.  She and Bill Allen, also from Sikeston, were married Feb. 5, 1949, in Piggott, Arkansas. They lived in Christopher, Illinois, most of their married life. She was a Christian...

NAPLES, Fla. — Virginia (Ginger) Dill, passed away Aug. 3, 2019, at Naples Community Hospital with her husband, Dee, at her side. Born Sept. 19, 1959, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to Don Charles and Sue Honeycutt Evans of Memphis, Tennessee, Ginger attended school in Charleston, Missouri, before graduating from high school in Dexter, Missouri, and later attended Southeast Missouri University. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Dexter...

MARSTON, Mo. — Panzie Jean Hinklin, 63, died Aug. 5, 2019, at her home in Marston. Born March 9, 1956, in Portageville, she was the daughter of the late Maratha Meinz Cook and Henry Cook. Her husband, Charles Hinklin, preceded her in death in 2007. She was also preceded in death by three brothers, Bill Cook, Earnest Cook and D.L. Cook;  and one sister, Sheila Robinson...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Aubrey Lorain Wilson, a resident of East Prairie, Missouri, died Sunday, August, 4, 2019, at the Bertrand Nursing and Rehab Facility following a brief battle with lung cancer. He was 97. Born Nov. 30, 1921, at Wildersville, Tennessee, the son of the late Alfred Carlin and Lena Lewis Wilson, he lived his early life on his grandparents’ farm in West Tennessee during the Great Depression. ...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Sarah Louise Holtsman, 93, died Aug. 4, 2019, in Heber Springs, Ark. Born  Feb. 20, 1926, in Wardell, she was the daughter of the late Daisy (Myrtle) Kirksy and Willis L. Reddick. On Aug. 6, 1973, she married Lloyd Holtsman; he preceded her in death on April 18, 2019...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Dorothy Caroline Moody, 68, died Aug. 4, 2019, at her home in Charleston. Born March 12, 1951, at Evansville, Ind., daughter of the late Arthur Neal and Myrtle Phillips Neal, she grew up in the Evansville area and later moved to Sikeston. She had been employed as legal secretary for Dempster Law Firm and later as a certified nurse’s aide.  She was a member of the First Church of God in East Prairie...

DEXTER, Mo. — The sunrise of Lawrence “Sugar Bear” Cole was June 12, 1952, in Parma, Missouri. He was born to the late Leonard and Elsie Cole. Lawrence’s sunset was July 31, 2019. At an early age he confessed his faith and accepted Christ as his personal savior, under the leadership of Rev. Stanford Ellis. He was a faithful member of New Mount Zion Baptist Church. Lawrence worked at Purolator for several years and he also worked for Tyson...

SIKESTON — Robert Eugene Madison, 76, died July 31, 2019, at his home. Born Jan. 3, 1943, in Venice, Ill., son of the late William Dale Madison and the late Elizabeth LaFleur Madison Jones, upon graduating from Lincoln High School in Venice, he enlisted in the United States Navy on Aug. ...

JACKSON, Mo. — Rev. Richard L. Combs, 81, of Jackson, Missouri, was accepted into the loving arms of Jesus, Friday, August 2, 2019, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. In recent years, Pastor Combs battled multiple health challenges, but through it all, he kept a positive attitude and a contagious smile...

WYATT, Mo. — Edward Lester Barker, 61, died Aug. 1, 2019, at his home in Wyatt. Born Jan. 5, 1958, at Fulton County, Ill., son of the late Earl L. Barker and Dora Thompson Barker, he worked with his family on their farm and later went on to work in the agricultural field as a sales representative of farm machinery many years, including Delta Holland. ...