Stories from Tuesday, February 23, 2021

SIKESTON — Donald Kay Merrick of Sikeston was born to the late E. Dewey and Emma Merrick on Sept. 18, 1945, in Stoddard County, Missouri, and passed away on Feb. 18, 2021, in Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee, Missouri. Donald had been a resident of Sikeston all of his life. He enjoyed spending time with his family...

SIKESTON — Representatives from the Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities tried to answer resident’s questions regarding higher utility bills during Monday night’s Sikeston City Council meeting. Many residents attended the Feb. 1 Sikeston City Council meeting, angry at their monthly bills that were much higher than expected. ...

SIKESTON — Jacob Gareth Moore, 19, resident of Sikeston, died Feb. 18, 2021, in Sikeston. He was born Oct. 19, 2001, in Sikeston, to Jalanda Venee Winfield-Fennell and Gareth Moore. Jacob was a student in the Sikeston Public School District and received his high school diploma in May 2020. He was a volunteer at Westfield Nursing Center...

SIKESTON — Derrick James Ellis, 40, died suddenly Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, while visiting relatives in Phoenix, Arizona. He was born March 27, 1980, in Sikeston, to the late Mary Ellis-Harris and Danny Jimerson. He attended public schools in Sikeston and worked many years as a cook for several restaurants in the Sikeston and Columbia, Missouri, area...

SEARCY, Ark. — Virginia Rae (Thompson) Wright of Searcy, Arkansas, went to Heaven on Feb. 21, 2021. She was born and raised in Charleston, Missouri, where she married her high school sweetheart, Charles Wright, on April 10, 1954. She raised five sons and one daughter...

SIKESTON — A class at Bootheel Counseling Services aims to help those suffering from anxiety. The four free 30-minute anxiety classes are held from 11-11:30 a.m. on Thursdays over Zoom. “The goal is to provide information to people to help them understand anxiety,” said Anastasia Kinsey, a clinical therapist at BCS who leads the classes. ...

As the snow melts off local roadways, the local COVID-19 vaccine effort is ramping up once again. On Wednesday, the Missouri Delta Medical Center is holding a vaccine clinic for those needing their first Moderna vaccine. The clinic will take appointments from those in Phase 1B-Tier 2, which are high-risk individuals protecting those who are at increased risk for severe illness and anyone aged 65 and older...

ORAN, Mo. — Korinne Lyn Dannenmueller, daughter of James Dannenmueller and Vicky Kieffer Dannenmueller of Oran was born on March 27, 2001, at Sikeston, Missouri, and passed away on Monday, Feb., 22, 2021, at her residence in Oran at the age of 19 years...

RENTON, Wash. — Johnnie Lee Davis Sr. was born in New Madrid, Missouri, to Sherman and Lula Mae Davis on July 22, 1937, and he died Feb. 3, 2021. He was preceded in death by both parents; one sister, Norva Lee Cole; nine brothers, Percy Davis, Louis Davis, Monroe Davis, Charles Lee Bobby Joe Davis, Owen Foster Jr., Robert Foster, Ezell Davis, Dwayne Wright, Walter Davis, Marvin Davis and Roger Davis...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Pecola Wofford was born Nov. 15, 1929, in Kewanee, Missouri, to the late Jessie Lee and Willie Mae Jones and died Feb. 19, 2021. She married the late simon Wofford III on Feb. 8, 1947, in New Madrid. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jessie Lee and Willie Mae Jones; her husband, Simon Wofford III; three daughters, Alberta Farr, Dorothy Wofford and Sharon Iola Wofford; and one son, Simon Wofford IV...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Businesses in Mississippi County are being warned to watch out for counterfeit money. On Tuesday the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office was contacted about counterfeit bills circulating throughout the county. According to a release from the Sheriff’s Office, by law, they were not told where or what denomination...

SIKESTON — Bobby Eugene "Gene" Knight Jr. went on to his heavenly reward on Feb. 21, 2021. He was born July 28,1952, in Paducah, Kentucky, to Bobby Eugene Knight Sr. and Vanace Ann "Baker" Knight. He graduated from Sikeston High School in 1970. Gene married the love of his life, Shirley Jean Knight, on March 10, 1975. ...

SIKESTON — Michael Forrester, 63, died Feb. 20, 2021, at his home in Sikeston. Visitation is from 11 a.m. until service time at 1 p.m. Wednesday at DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville. Burial will follow in the Mounds Park Cemetery.

SIKESTON — Ruby Smith Shanks, 74, died Feb. 21, 2021, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Services will be held Wednesday at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston, Missouri.

SIKESTON — Reba Ryan died Feb. 23, 2021, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Arrangements are incomplete at McMikle Funeral Home in Sikeston.

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Karla Kay Thacker, 55, died Feb. 20, 2021, at Pemiscot County Memorial Hospital. Visitation is from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. Thursday at DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville. Burial will follow in the Portageville Cemetery...