Stories from Monday, March 5, 2012

DEXTER -- Oscar Vernon Ayers Jr., son of the late Oscar Vernon Sr. and Dessie Jane Godwin Ayers, was born Aug. 3, 1934, in Sikeston and passed away March 3, 2012, at the age of 77 years and 7 months at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He had lived in Sikeston before moving to Dexter 40 years ago. ...

SIKESTON -- Martha Lou Cox, 66, of Sikeston, died March 4, 2012, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born June 6, 1945, in Sikeston, to the late Hubert and Leona Blackburn Boyer, she was the owner of The Accent Shop in Sikeston for 17 years and was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Sikeston...

NEWTON, Mass. -- John I. Meyer, formerly of Benton and St.Louis, Mo., died March 1, 2012. A former vice president of the international architectural and engineering firm of Sverdrup and Parcel, Inc., his design projects included major sports arenas and many government and NASA related structures as well as some of the larger initial Saudi Arabian ministry buildings. ...

SIKESTON -- James A. Tanner, 90, died March 4, 2012 at his home. Arrangements are incomplete with Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston.

BENTON -- William Douglas Fender, 55, of Benton, previously of Kennett, died Thursday, March 1, 2012, at his home. Born May 24, 1956, in Jonesboro, Ark., to Douglas Fender of Jonesboro and the late Neva Lou Mock Fender, he graduated from Kennett High School and attended Southeast Missouri State University and Arkansas State University. ...

SIKESTON -- Benson Presnell Forrest, 85, died at 11:45 p.m. March 2, 2012, at the Miner Nursing Center. Born Feb. 14, 1927, in Sikeston, to the late Benson Bayliss Forrest and Florence Cox Forrest, he had worked as a shoe machinist at the International Shoe Factory and was a member of Life Church...

CHARLESTON -- Jerry Rosson, 63, died March 4, 2012, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete with McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

BARDSTOWN, Ky. -- Dr. John C. Bradford Sr., 79, affectionately known as "Gaga" by his grandchildren, died peacefully Friday, March 2, 2012, at Flaget Memorial Hospital in Bardstown, surrounded by his loving family. He was born Aug. 5, 1932, in Diehlstadt, Mo. ...

EASET PRAIRIE -- Acie Myers, 71, died at 8:43 a.m. March 3, 2012, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete with Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

VAN BUREN -- Wilma Bedell Ball, daughter of Ura Vincent and Beulah (Short) Buffington, was born Jan. 5, 1917, in Great Falls, Mont., and departed this life March 2, 2012, in the Riverways Manor Nursing Home in Van Buren. She had attained the age of 95 years, 1 month and 28 days...

SIKESTON -- Jack Douglas Smith, 60, died March 3, 2012, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete with Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston.

MATTHEWS -- Dale Frederick Geske, 84, died Saturday March 3, 2012, at the Sells Rest Home. Born Oct. 16, 1927 , in Sikeston, to the late Fred and Cora Gruen Geske, he lived and farmed near Matthews. On Nov. 27, 1946, he married Nelva Jean McCann who preceded him in death...

sports@standard-democrat.com FARMINGTON -- Although Miller Career Academy was late to the party, it's the Dexter Lady Bearcats who are going home early. Dexter struggled against a mighty Miller team that was led by sophomore Zhanesha Dickerson's 21 points on Saturday during the Class 4 quarterfinal losing 51-34...

sports@standard-democrat.com FARMINGTON -- After completing a perfect 30-0 season last year and capturing the school's first-ever basketball state championship, Sikeston's players had dreams of returning to the final four once again. But those dreams ended in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday night with a 65-64 loss to Imagine College Prep in a Class 4 Quarterfinal game at the Farmington Civic Center...

jillb@standard-democrat.com NEW MADRID - Today's headlines are full of the news of budget cuts for education. As a result, school districts are looking for innovative ways to stretch the dollars they receive and to find additional sources for new funds...

For more pictures and stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

MINER -- A fire early this morning in Miner destroyed a new business and remains under investigation. According to Miner Assistant Fire Chief Randall Briggs, firefighters were called to the scene between 1 and 1:30 a.m. today on Route HH, which is in Miner's jurisdiction...

For more pictures and stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...