Stories from Tuesday, September 3, 2002

WYATT - Thelma Louise Murphy Litchford, 77, died at 10:45 p.m. Aug. 31, 2002, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Aug. 29, 1925, in Mississippi County, daughter of the late Tandy Baxter and Elsie Mae St. Clair Murphy, she lived in Mississippi County most of her life and was a member of the Wyatt Baptist Church. ...

SIKESTON -- Marilyn "Gail" Sexton, 56, died Sept. 2, 2002, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Arrangements are incomplete at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel.

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at services conducted at 11 a.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel for William L. Bohannon Jr., 78, who died Aug. 30, 2002, were: Ben Bohannon, Justin Bohannon, Philip Bohannon, Mike Bohannon, Randy Bohannon, Jeff Bohannon, Gary Bohannon and Greg Moore...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Hazel L. Davis, 92, formerly of Commerce, died Aug. 31, 2002, at her home. Born July 7, 1910, in Cape Girardeau County, daughter of the late Roy "Price" and Rozena Jane O'Guin Knight, she was a cook on a Marquette Cement Company riverboat and member of Bethany Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau...

DYERSBURG, Tenn. - Rosemary Millar, 58, formerly of Portageville, Mo., died Aug. 30, 2002, at the Dyersburg Methodist Hospital. Born July 11, 1944, in Sikeston, Mo., daughter of the late John and Mary Francis Welsh Hooper, she was an educator for years before being employed as a juvenile officer by the State of Tennessee...

EAST PRAIRIE - Bobby C. Owens, 69, died at 6:30 a.m. Aug. 31, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Dec. 1, 1932, in Mississippi County, son of the late George Holloway and Virgie Mae Husk Owens, he lived in Mississippi County most of his life and was a member of the First Baptist Church in East Prairie. ...

BENTON - Shirley Clara Klipfel, 63, died at 6:20 a.m. Aug. 31, 2002, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Born Jan. 16, 1939, in Kelso, daughter of the late Marcus and Clara Johanna Compas Schaefer, she was a self-employed crafter. She was a member of St. Denis Catholic Church and St. Ann's Sodality...

ARNOLD - Wilma Lee Rayburn, 55, formerly of Sikeston, died Sept. 2, 2002, at her home. Born Nov. 18, 1946, in Essex, daughter of the late Eli Franklin and Ida Fields Payne, she was a nurse aide at Missouri Delta Medical Center and lived in Sikeston for 35 years before moving to Arnold in April...

SIKESTON - Lowell E. Webb, 91, died Sept. 1, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born May 30, 1911, in Hartville, he was the son of the late Jesse F. and Bertha Webb. The Webb family moved to New Madrid County near Parma in 1922 and he served in the U.S. Navy from 1930-1934...

MORLEY - Charles C. McCann, 71, died at 3:02 p.m. Aug. 31, 2002, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Jan. 20, 1931, in Sikeston, son of the late Tricie and Edna Counsil McCann, he retired as a mechanic for the Scott County Highway Department in Benton...

I am looking for Charles Warren Lagrand Grissom or anyone who knows of his whereabouts. He needs to call his mother at (605) 718-2713 or e-mail mrsjfasthorse@rushmore.com My husband said that I should like Mike. He pronounces Missouri like I do. I also agree about Cousin Carl. He would make a good Republican governor. All he does is talk...

SIKESTON - A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Putnam Jr. Tuesday. --- CANALOU - A daughter was born Wednesday to Mr. and Mrs. F.A. Mitchell of Canalou. SIKESTON - The Cotton Carnival Committee of Henry Meldrum Post, the American Legion, met Thursday night to discuss plans for the 18th annual American Legion Cotton Carnival that will be held four days, Sept. 26 to 29 inclusive...

SIKESTON - Nick and Dawn Simmons have announced the engagement of their daughter, Amanda Nicole, to Aaron Belt, son of Kenneth and Ritta Belt of Sikeston. Simmons is a 2002 graduate of the Living Heritage Academy in Dallas, Texas. Belt graduated in 1997 from Thomas W. Kelly High School in Benton...

SIKESTON - Cynthia Davis and Jackie Groves have announced their engagement. The couple will be married in a patriotic-theme ceremony, which is open to the public, at 7 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Ramada Inn atrium, 2608 E. Malone Ave.

SIKESTON - Did you know Red Peppers was founded by Pete Cunningham and Lottie Dover in 1928? Or that until 1940-41, members had to be voted in to the organization which was limited to 50 girls? How about the fact that 1962-63 was the last year Red Pepper initiation included being covered in things like molasses, flour, cracked eggs, mustard and ketchup?...

NEW MADRID -- The city of New Madrid took the opportunity Saturday to say thank you. Citing his 38 years of service to the city and the county in the Missouri Legislature, city and county officials along with friends and family paid tribute to Fred E. "Gene" Copeland. As part of the honor, the new addition to the New Madrid Memorial Library was dedicated to Copeland...

MINER - A Poplar Bluff man was arrested on drug charges following a vehicle stop by Miner police early Sunday morning. According to Miner Police Chief Roger Moore, the vehicle was stopped by Capt. A. Moody and patrolman D. McDermott of the Miner Police Department on Highway 62 in Miner at about 1:56 a.m...

I normally agree with your views, but today, you were way off. Missouri doesn't end with an "a". It ends with an "i". I just cringe when someone says Missou-rah. I'm glad that Matt Blunt finally set the record straight. You should set up a booth at the Cotton Carnival and have a "Southeast Missouri" survey. I think you would be disappointed with the outcome. I am a former Sikeston resident...

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. - Erin Gray Chambers and Benjamin Roy Alcorn exchanged wedding vows in a 5:30 p.m. ceremony June 8, 2002, at Laguna Beach before the Rev. Aaron Gutridge. The bride is the daughter of Robin and Carolyn Chambers and the bridegroom is the son of Sonny and Elizabeth Alcorn, all of Sikeston, Mo...