Stories from Monday, December 12, 2011

SIKESTON -- Alma Curry of Sikeston said she's always enjoyed fixing up old dolls and toys, but little did she know one day her home would transform into Santa's workshop. Since last month Curry has cleaned up, refurbished and re-energized over 400 used toys, which will be given away from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday -- or until the toys run out -- at the Cape First of Sikeston Church...

PORTAGEVILLE - Bobby Gene "Bob" Gill, 88, died Dec. 11, 2011, at his home in Portageville. DeLisle Funeral Home of Portageville is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete.

BERTRAND -- Harold Drake Evans, 57, died Dec. 10, 2011, at the Bertrand Nursing Facility. Born Nov. 15, 1955, in Dexter, he was the son of Daphna Drake Evans who survives of Sikeston and the late James Marion Evans. He was a member of the Sons of the American Legion Post No. 114 in Sikeston and had been employed as a tow truck driver for Satterfield Auto and Truck Salvage...

SIKESTON -- Electa Karma "McCoy" Long, 84, died Dec. 11, 2011, at the Bertrand Retirement Home. Born July 12, 1927, in Jerusalem, Ark., to the late Chestor and Leona Robinson McCoy, she was a homemaker and of the Baptist belief. On Sept. 2, 1948, she married James Ray Long who preceded her in death on Sept. 15, 1953...

WALLS, Miss. -- Sammie Brown Nicholson, 69, died Dec. 10, 2011, in Walls. Born Dec. 19, 1941, in Charleston, Mo., son of Mildred Brown Nicholson and the late Albert Nicholson, he was of the Methodist belief. On Feb. 20, 1981, in Abbeville, La., he married Eloise Christian who survives of the home...

DEXTER -- Thelma L. Lindsay, 92, died Dec. 10, 2011, at the Golden Living Center in Dexter. Born Feb. 27, 1919, in Essex, to the late Albert Creed and Mary Swinger Creed, she was a former licensed practical nurse at Vintage Villa Nursing Home in Dexter and a member of the Taylor General Baptist Church in Essex...

ESSEX -- Pauline A. Walters, 85, died Dec. 8, 2011, at Winchester Place in Bernie. Born Aug. 17, 1926, in Essex, to the late Elmer LeFord Williamson and Mabel Elizabeth Sitton, she had worked as secretary at Big Starr and at Elders Manufacturing in Dexter...

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers at funeral services held Dec. 10 at Ponder Funeral Home for George Marcus "Jim" Sutton, 80, died Dec. 8, 2011, were: Daniel Sutton, Marcus Sutton, Tod Vanover, Eric Johns, Chris Smith and Jake Myers.

BERNIE -- Ronald "Bud" Lowery, 74, died Dec. 9, 2011, at his home. Born Dec. 18, 1936, in Powe, to the late Vaughn Lowery and Ellis Irene Perry Lowery, he was a member of the Elk General Baptist Church where he served as a teacher. He retired after 40 years from Adams and McCord Painting Contractors in Dexter...

PUXICO -- Russell Ramsey, 65, died Dec. 10, 2011, at his farm. Born Oct. 25, 1946, in Marble Hill, son of the late Lloyd and Alveda Baker Russell Ramsey, he had been a resident of Puxico for 40 years. He attended the Woodland High School in Marble Hill and was a graduate of the University of Missouri where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in animal science and completed his master's and specialist degrees in education. ...

sports@standard-democrat.com CHAFFEE -- Looking to bring home their first Lady Devil Invitational Tournament championship since 2005, the Sikeston Bulldogs used a dominant first half against the Delta Bobcats to pull away for a 70-39 win. "The girls came out extremely focused in the first half," Sikeston head coach Matt Schonhoff said. "It was one of the best first halves that we've played all year and we had a goal set when we had practice on Saturday that let's come away with a championship...

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SIKESTON - Route 114 in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform shoulder repairs. The section of roadway is located from Route 60 to the New Madrid County Line. Weather permitting, work will be performed rom 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday...