Stories from Thursday, December 6, 2012

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- It came down to the wire, but Sikeston notched late wins against visting Carbondale, Ill., to sweep win both their matches against the Terriers and Cape Central Wednesday night at the Sikeston Field House. The Bulldogs went up against Carbondale first escaping with a 39-34 win during the last match...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- A pair of Sikeston Bulldogs made the cut this past week when the All-Region soccer team was announced. Josh Hampton and Paul Hughes, both seniors, were selected as part of the team, which is compiled from schools in the Southeast region and includes districts 1-4...

MALDEN -- Roger Kent Wright, 53, died Dec. 3, 2012, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Born Nov. 10, 1959, in Parma, son of Norma Jean Jackson Wright of Malden and the late John Allen Wright, he had lived most of his life in the Malden and Parma areas and was a member of the Church of God in Christ in Parma...

CATRON -- Stella Louise Simmons, daughter of the late Hershel and Katherine Tanner Akridge, was born in Gideon on Aug. 18, 1948, and passed away at her home in Catron on Dec, 4, 2012, at the age of 64 years, 3 months and 16 days. She had lived in St. Louis until moving to Catron 43 years ago. She was a member of the Baptist Church in Catron. She had operated Simmons Grocery and helped manage Melvin Simmons Used Cars...

SCOTT CITY -- Linda Sue LaFentres, 45, died Dec. 4, 2012, at Southeast Health Medical Plaza in Cape Girardeau. Born Dec. 16, 1966, in Cape Girardeau, to Paul J. and Nancy N. Mack Backfisch of Scott City, she was general manager at the Pilot Travel Center in Charleston and a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Randy Haney, 56, died Dec. 5, 2012, in Bertrand. Born May 16, 1956, in Charleston, to Dan Haney of East Prairie and the late Rachel L. Slaughter Haney, he lived most of his life in East Prairie and worked on the riverboat. Survivors include three sons, John Haney, Rick Haney and Dan Haney all of Jefferson City; two daughters and a son-in-law, LeeAnn Rapert of Charleston and Rachel and Ben Barker of Sikeston; three sisters, Kaylee Davis and Lily Barker both of Sikeston, and Lacy Harland of Charleston; and four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.. ...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Katie Brown Davis, 88, died Dec. 4, 2012, at her home. Born Sept. 30, 1924, in St. Louis, to the late John Murray and Mattie Elizabeth Perkins Hudson, she had lived most of her life in East Prairie where she was a member of the Freewill Baptist Church in East Prairie...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Jimmy Dell Conyers, 52, died at 6:45 a.m. Dec. 4, 2012, at his home. Visitation is from 6 p.m. until time of memorial service at 7 p.m. Friday at the Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie. Buddy Hannah and Chuck Elders will officiate...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Mary Givens, 92, died Dec. 5, 2012, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete with Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

DEXTER -- Melissa A. Bell, 40, died Dec. 2, 2012, in the emergency room of the Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Born Nov. 30, 1972, in Auburn, N.Y., she was the daughter of Thomas Spingler and Donna Garhart Spingler. Visitation is from 4 p.m. until time of the memorial service at 5 p.m. Friday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. The Rev. Tim Russell will officiate...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Thomas Merlin Angel, 74, died Dec. 2, 2012, at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti. Born Aug. 22, 1938, in Portageville, to the late Merlin and Ann Lou Robison Angel, he was a carpenter and a painter. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a member of the First Baptist Church...

CHARLESTON -- Bedella Smith, 90, died Dec. 2, 2012, at her home. Born June 7, 1922 in West Helena, Ark., to the late Sam and Stella Green Walker, she was a member of St. Paul Baptist Church in Henson where she served as an usher. On Sept. 25, 1938, she married Thatus A. Smith who preceded her in death Sept. 8, 1997...

SIKESTON -- Shirley McClellan, 78, died Dec. 5, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete with Ponder Funeral Home of Sikeston.

DEXTER - Bob Blair, 77, died Dec. 5, 2012, at the Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Arrangements are incomplete with the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

SIKESTON -- Ruben Eugene Scott, age 67, died Nov. 26, 2012, at his home in Sikeston. Born Jan. 8, 1945, in Canalou, he is the son of Alline (Hill) Scott of Sikeston and the late James Edward Scott. On Oct. 21, 1987, he married Karen Kay (Edwards) Wren; she survives of the home...

SIKESTON -- Raymond Howard "Ray" Williams, age 95, died at his home in Sikeston on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012. He was born in Sikeston on Oct. 9, 1927, to the late Virgil Duree and Irene Westmoreland Williams. Mr. Williams was a U.S. Army veteran, a member of Temple Baptist Church, until it disbanded, he then joined Murray Lane Baptist Church...

sports@standard-democrat.com ATLANTA -- Blake DeWitt is now an Atlanta Brave. Sources close to the situation confirmed Wednesday night that the former Sikeston standout baseball player signed a deal with the Braves organization. Details of the agreement are still being finalized...

sports@standard-democrat.com CHAFFEE -- Missed free throws came back to haunt the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday as they tried to stay alive in the Lady Devils Invitational Tournament. Matched up against Oran in the consolation bracket semifinals, the Lady Bulldogs fought back from a late double-digit deficit to make it a one score game...

MINER -- Police in Miner are investigating a robbery that took place in a hotel parking lot on Monday night. According to reports, Miner police received a robbery report at 8:37 p.m. at the Drury Inn Hotel in Miner. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to our electronic edition...

leonnah@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Southeast Missouri girls of all ages will have the opportunity to gain some modeling experience while also helping out a local business. Dreams 2 Reality will present a free holiday dream dream dress drive and modeling photo shoot which includes Santa Claus from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Sikeston VFW Hall...