Obituaries

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Martha Lee Criss White, 92, died Sept. 23, 2018, at the Charleston Manor. Born April 28, 1926, in the Henson Community of Mississippi County, daughter of the late Roy and Prussia King Criss, she was a 1943 graduate of Charleston High School and a member of St. ...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Gary Bruce Childers, 73, died Sept. 23, 2018, at the Delta South Nursing Center in Sikeston. Born Oct. 22, 1944, in Mississippi County, son of the late Lonnie Pershing Childers and Geneva Ivie Childers, he had lived in Mississippi County most of his life. In 1976, he went to work for Bunge Corp. and remained there until 1994 when he started Childers Construction Co., which he operated until his retirement. He was a U.S. Army Veteran...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Sammy Denton, 69, died Sept. 20, 2018, at his home.  Born May 31, 1949, in East Prairie, son of the late William Alton and Mary Elizabeth Boswell Denton, he was employed for 25 years by Stanley Muffler in East Prairie. He was of the Baptist belief...

SIKESTON — Janet Sue Kolwyck, 68, died Sept. 20, 2018, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Aug. 7, 1950, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of the late Blan Wilfred and Elizabeth Elmyra Lamastus Kolwyck, she was of the Christian belief and a veteran of the United States Army, where she was a licensed practical nurse. She continued working as a nurse after her military service...

SIKESTON — Joseph "Joe" Ross, age 55, died Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018, at his home in Sikeston. Born March 8, 1963, in Chicago, Ill., son of the late Joseph and Sandra (Kujawa) Ross, Joe was a member of St. Barbara Catholic Church in Brookfield, Ill., and had attended St. Henry's Catholic Church in Charleston, Mo. He was a self-employed interior carpenter at Joe Ross & Sons...

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — Loretta B. Smith, formerly of Charleston, Mo., died May 13, 2018, in Okeechobee. Born Oct. 22, 1927, at Medley, Mo., near the Dorena Community in Mississippi County, daughter of the late Fred and Lula Bevil, she taught school in Mississippi County Dorena and Hames Bayou Area for five years and one year at Belmont. ...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Larry Ray Jones, 67, died Sept. 19, 2018, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Nov. 4, 1950, in Hayti, son of the late George Harrison Jones and Sadie Lee Holt Jones, he had lived in Mississippi County most of his life and was of the Pentecostal belief. Having worked in construction as a truss builder, he had lived in Tupelo, Miss., a number of years. He was a U.S. Marine veteran...

BENTON, Ark. — Frances Sabetha Conyers, 84, formerly of East Prairie, Mo., died Sept. 17, 2018, at her home. Graveside services were held Thursday at East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery with Shelby Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at: www.ponderfuneralhome.com...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Jessie Lee “Fuzzy” Newson-Farr, 68, died Sept. 17, 2018, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Sept. 8, 1950, in Tate County, Miss., daughter of the late Jessie and Annie B. Woods Newson Sr., she graduated from Lilbourn High School in Lilbourn. ...

SIKESTON — Ronald Mitchell "Ron" Payne II mercifully came into the presence of our Lord on Sept. 18, 2018, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Sept. 30, 1967, in Bloomington, Ill., to Ronald Mitchell and Martha "Marti" Jeffries Payne of Sikeston, Ron was a member of Trinity Baptist Church, the Sikeston Jaycees-serving as Rodeo Chairman in 2008 and was Chairman of Sikeston Tourism Board. He had worked for Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Farm Bureau Insurance Company and J & E Wholesale Outlet.

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Euladean M. Farmer, 88, died Sept. 15, 2018, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born June 12, 1930, in Portageville, daughter of the late Mary Blanche Hall Dacus and James Olian Dacus, she was a member of the First Church of God for over 60 years. She served in many capacities throughout those years on the church council and as a Sunday school teacher in the women’s group.

SIKESTON — Judith Ann Gray, 66, died Sept. 19, 2018, at Sikeston Convalescent Center. Born April 7, 1952, in Poplar Bluff, daughter of the late Dennis Gray and Marie Dodd Gray Taylor, she was of the Baptist belief and had lived in Gulfport, Miss., for about five years but spent most of her life in the Sikeston area. She had been a paralegal with attorney Jim Moore for about 10 years. ...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. — Hugh Lay, 98, died Sept. 18, 2018, at the Bertrand Nursing Center in Bertrand. Born May 1, 1920, in Bell City, son of the late Albert Charles and Mable Ramsey Lay, he had lived in Bloomfield all of his life. He was retired from Monarch Feed Mill and was a member of the First General Baptist Church in Bloomfield...

SIKESTON — Donald Moseley, 71, died Sept. 17, 2018, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Feb. 11, 1947, in Essex, son of the late Marylian Detie and Aaron Eugene Mosley, he had worked for McDonnell Douglas before retiring. Survivors include: one daughter and son-in-law, Donna Mosley and Scott Rauen of Denver, Colo.; one sister, Barbara Mosley Theohar of St. ...

FULTON, Ky. — Charles Ray “Joe Cool” Jennings Sr., 62, formerly of Charleston, Mo., died Sept. 10, 2018, at his daughter's home in Charleston. Born April 2, 1956, in Diehlstadt, Mo., son of the late James Charles Jennings and Veatrice Crider Wilson, he attended Mercy Seat Missionary Baptist Church before relocating to Fulton. He was a self-employed contractor...

SIKESTON — David Ray Trice Sr., 63, died Sept. 11, 2018, at Missouri Delta Medical Center at Sikeston. Born Feb. 18, 1955, in Little Rock, Ark., son of Mildred Lewis Trice of Neelyville and the late Raymond Lee Trice Sr., he was a 16-year veteran of the United States Army, serving mostly in Germany as well as in North Korea and South Korea. After being honorable discharged in 1990, he acquired his CDL license and worked for Hall’s Trucking Line of Charleston and Synder’s LLM...

SIKESTON — Martha Ann Wilton, 79, died Sept. 17, 2018, at Life Care Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Sept. 16, 1939, in Gideon, daughter of the late J.R. and Maude Newton Daniels, she had worked in the billing department at Missouri Delta Medical Center before retiring...

SIKESTON — Andrew Alexander Ormsby Jr., 74, died Sept. 15, 2018, at Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston. Born Oct. 23, 1943, in Galveston, Texas, son of the late Andrew and Wanda Misuerkiewitz Ormsby, he was employed by the Internal Revenue Service for 23 years before retiring. He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sikeston...

SIKESTON — Gertrude McCoy, 93, died Sep. 16, 2018, at Delta South Nursing in Sikeston. Born March 4, 1925, in Nettleton, Ark., she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Savannah Horton Ergle. On March 28, 1945, in Sikeston, she married Nathan Ray McCoy, who preceded her in death on Aug. 22, 2008...

SIKESTON — George N. Hubbard Sr., 91, died Sept. 14, 2018, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.  Born Nov. 13, 1926, in Clay County, Ark., son of the late Thomas and Clydia Flanigan Hubbard, he had been an auto mechanic and heating and air conditioning serviceman. He was of the Pentecostal belief and a former member of several bowling leagues. ...

DEXTER, Mo. — Harold Morrow, 80, died Sept. 16, 2018, at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter. Born May 10, 1938, in St. Louis, son of the late Manual and Elizabeth Notra Snow Morrow, he moved to Dexter 45 years ago from St. Louis. He had owned and operated a cleaning service and was of the Jehovah's Witness belief...

SIKESTON — Donald Eugene Weakley, 68, died Sept. 16, 2018, at the Miner Nursing Center. Born Jan. 5, 1950, in Bertrand, son of the late Charles Walter Weakley and Mary Virginia Ledbetter Weakley, he had lived in Southeast Missouri his entire life and was a graduate of Charleston High School. He had been employed with Rubbermaid in Jackson until his retirement...

SIKESTON — Dorothy Broom, 99, died Sept. 16, 2018, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born April 12, 1919, in Ozark, Ark., daughter of the late John and Lacie Bankston Graham, she was a foster grandmother for Sikeston Public Schools and had worked for Krystal Restaurants in the Memphis, Tenn., area...

SPARTA, Wis. — Thomas “Ricky" Bean Jr., 58, died Sept. 14, 2018, at his home. Born on Jan. 7, 1960, in Sikeston, Mo., son of the late Thomas Sr. and Florene Buchanon Bean, he graduated from Sikeston Senior High. Shortly after graduating, he served in U.S. Army from 1982-1991, stationed in Hawaii and Germany. He worked for Cardinal Glass for a short time, started his corrections career as a parole officer and was a corrections officer for Jackson County Correctional facility...

ORAN, Mo. — Marvin Gregory Pobst, 84, died Sept. 15, 2018, at the Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee.  Born July 7, 1934, in Oran, son of the late George and Rosie Walter Pobst, he served in the U. S. Army. After his service, he farmed and worked on a river boat for a number of years. He also owned and operated a liquor store in Chaffee...

SIKESTON — Bradley Duke “Brad” McDonald, age 52, passed away at his home in Sikeston on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018.  He was born May 15, 1966, in Cape Girardeau, to Duke and Pat Griffin McDonald who survive of Sikeston.  He was a 1984 graduate of Sikeston High School. He attended the University of Missouri and Southeast Missouri State University, majoring in finance. He was a member of Crossroads of Hope Baptist Church in Sikeston...

DELTA, Mo. — Charles Ray Drew, 82, died Sept.12, 2018, at the Advance Nursing Center. Born June 23, 1936, in Bell City, Mo., to the late Joe and Goldie Arnold Drew, he was a retired grain elevator manager with Cargill Inc. and was a graduate of Bell City High School where he was active in sports...

SIKESTON — John Gaddy Sr., 92, died Sept. 8, 2018, in Sikeston. Born Jan. 31, 1926, in Conway, Ark., son of the late Thomas Gaddy and Laura Sullivan-Gaddy, he retired from the City of New Madrid in 1987. He was an important member of the community through his volunteering efforts as well as being a member of the Neighborhood Watch...

MATTHEWS, Mo. — Willie Earl Ealy Jr., 72, died Sept. 7, 2018, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born April 27, 1946, in St. Louis, son of the late Willie Earl Ealy Sr. and the late Rachel Carter Ealy, he graduated from East High School in Howardville. ...

SIKESTON — Joe Reed, 68, died Sept. 6, 2018, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Feb. 20, 1950, in Cairo, Ill., son of the late John Reed and Mary McCoy Reed, he was employed as an over-the-road truck driver for many years. He retired from Ready Mix in Marston. He was a member of Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Marston...

SIKESTON — Beatrice “Bea” Tubbs, 85, died Sept. 11, 2018, at the Convalescent Center in Sikeston. Born Oct. 10, 1932, in Sikeston, daughter of the late V.A. Tubbs and Eva Crunk Tubbs, she was a homemaker and had attended First Assembly of God Church in Sikeston...

SIKESTON — Gloria Jean Hensley, 46, died Sept. 9, 2018, at Missouri Delta Medical Center.  Born June 5, 1972, in Dexter, daughter of T.W. Graham of Morley and the late Janis Sue Baker Graham, she had been a sales clerk at Eubanks-Finney Department Store in Sikeston and had attended Second Half Ministry in Sikeston. ...

KEARNEY, Mo. — Donald Edward York “Don” York, 83, died Sept. 8, 2018, at home. Born Jan. 16, 1935, in West Plains, son of the late Nancy Jane Myers York and Louis Alexander York, he was the founding pastor at the First Pentecostal Church of Kearney and continued as pastor emeritus and as chaplain to the Kearney Fire Department until his passing...

SIKESTON — Jose 'Joe' Salavarria, 66, died Sept. 9, 2018, at his home in Sikeston. Born March 17, 1952, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, son of Rosa Marie Santiago Salavarria and the late Jose Salavarria, he was a veteran of the U.S. Marines, a member of Old Bethel Baptist Church and had worked as a truck driver for Pullen Brothers for over 20 years before retiring...

DEXTER, Mo. — Wayne Jackson, son of the late George Thomas Jackson and Mattie Posiey Jackson, was born on Oct. 19, 1933, in New Madrid and departed this life on Sept. 9, 2018, at his residence in Dexter at the age of 84. Mr. Jackson was a former auto parts salesman. ...

MATTHEWS, Mo. — Peggy Schuerenberg, age 81, passed away on Sept. 8, 2018, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Born April 4, 1937, in Matthews, daughter of the late Raymond and Lounell Riley Myrick, she was a member of the Matthews Missionary Baptist Church for many years...

SIKESTON — Jack Arthur Miller, 88, died Sept. 7, 2018, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Born May 23, 1930, in Evansville, Ind., son of the late Arthur and Mary Eliza Bridger Miller, he served in the United States Navy and attended Murray Lane Baptist Church in Sikeston. He was a self-employed carpenter and owner of Jack Miller Carpet Installation...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Garland Wayne ‘Checkbook’ Summers, 64, died Sept. 5, 2018, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Oct. 15, 1953, at New Madrid County, son of the late J.L. Summers and Mary Doris Crane Coulter, he had lived in Charleston most of his life where he owned and operated Checkbook’s sound system and owned and operated Checkbook’s BBQ. He was a member of Abundant Life in Christ Missionary Baptist Church...

SIKESTON — Betina Marie Ott, 35, died Aug. 26, 2018, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Memorial service will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel.

CHAFFEE, Mo. — Jean D. Harrell, 92, died Sept. 5, 2018, at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Born April 30, 1926, in Chaffee, daughter of the late Frank and Pearl Moore, she was a retired machine operator for Chaffee Shoe Company. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Chaffee and Chaffee Order of Eastern Star 48...

PARMA, Mo. — Robert Earl Waters, 56, died Sept. 3, 2018, at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter. Born May 15, 1962, in Morehouse, son of the late Art Lee Waters Sr. and Margaret Carrie Waters, he had lived in Parma most of his life and had worked in farming and also for Arvin Manufacturing and SRG Manufacturing.He was a veteran of the U.S. Army...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Lonnie Denell “Lakeside” Johnson Sr., 62, died Aug. 8, 2018, at his home in Charleston. Born Feb. 18, 1956, in Wyatt, son of the late James Elijah "Jack" Johnson and Sadie Hampton Johnson, he was a 1974 graduate of Charleston High School in Charleston. He was a factory worker at Superior Electric in Cape Girardeau for many years, a custodian at the Charleston Manor Skilled Nursing Facility and currently employed at the Nutrition Center in Charleston...

SIKESTON — Larry Freeman, 66, died Sept. 1, 2018, at his home in Sikeston. Born Nov. 29, 1951, in Dexter, he was the son of the late Omar and Ruby Mason Freeman. On Dec. 31, 1970, in Russellville, Ark., he married Phyllis Vick Freeman, who preceded him in death on July 31, 2006...

SIKESTON — Duane Curtis DeCota, 89, of Sikeston died Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Duane was born Sept. 25, 1928, in Alton, Ill., to John and Evelyn DeCota. He graduated from Roxana High School in 1946, received his degree in business from the University of Illinois in 1950 and was a resident of Sikeston for the last 47 years.

LILBOURN, Mo. — Alma Louise Wheeler, 70, died Aug. 27, 2018, at her home in Lilbourn. Born Nov. 11, 1947, in Portageville, daugher of the late Comeail Marghall LaFerney and Oscar LaFerney, she was of the Pentecostal belief. She had been a cook for many years at the Lilbourn and New Madrid County Central schools...

SIKESTON — Glenn Monroe Forbis, age 91, passed away on Aug. 31, 2018, at La Bonne Maison in Sikeston. Born Oct. 11, 1926, in Holt Summit, he was the son of the late Fred and Hester Windsor Forbis. On May 6, 1951, in Sikeston, he married Mary Ann Hitchcock Forbis, who preceded him in death on June 7, 2012...

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — John Jordan Jr., 71, died Aug. 22, 2018, at Evelyn’s Hospice House of Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Born Dec. 26, 1947, in New Madrid, son of the late Elnora Denwood and John Jordan, he was a graduate of O'Bannon High School and worked at the United States Postal Service for a number of years...

SIKESTON — Frances Carolyn “Sis” Evans Duff (Granny) was born Aug. 7, 1938, in Bloomfield, to Roy and Frances Yeakey Evans, who preceded her in death. She was the only daughter, but was blessed with three loving brothers, Jim (Gerry), Tom (Glenda) and Norman (Molly) “Punk” Evans...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. — Dale Wayne Beyer, 59, died Aug. 29, 2018, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Sept. 23, 1958, in Dexter, son of Wayne and Mary BeCraft Beyer of Bloomfield, he had lived in St. Louis where he had worked for Husband Refrigeration. He moved to Bloomfield six years ago and went to Life Chapel Church in Sikeston...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Candy Ann Rolwing, 50, died Aug. 29, 2018, at her home.  Born April 13, 1968, in Sikeston, daughter of the late Cecil William and Goldie Mae McGee Banks, she was a bookkeeper and member of St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Charleston...