Stories from Tuesday, August 20, 2019

FARMINGTON, Mo. — Billy M. Dickerson, 94, died Aug. 17, 2019, at Farmington. He was born at Winnfield, La., a son of Hannah (Porter) and Olan Dickerson. He married Frankie Ann Allen on Dec. 16, 1945. Billy, a World War II veteran, was a member of the “greatest generation,” as he enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and retired as a Chief Petty Officer in 1963. ...

SIKESTON — In a move he called “shocking,” Sikeston DPS Director Mike Williams was relieved of his duties Friday evening. According to statement from Sikeston City Manager Jon Douglass, "Effective (Friday) Mike Williams is no longer serving as Director of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety. James McMillen has been named Acting Director by City Manager Jonathan Douglass."...

MOREHOUSE, Mo. — Thomas Eugene Hafford Jr., 50, died Aug. 19, 2019, at his home in Morehouse. Born Feb. 15, 1969, in San Diego, he was the son of Thomas Hafford Sr. and Beverly Rose Humphrey. On Feb. 5, 2005, in Scott City, he married Wilma Douglas, who survives of the home...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — A Tennessee man pled guilty to a firearm charge after being arrested in Mississippi County. According to a release from the United States Attorney's Office, Demarcus M. Fleming, 25, of Memphis, pled guilty to one felony count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He appeared before United States District Judge Ronnie L. White...

BERNIE, Mo. — Loretta Stephenson, 93, died Aug. 19, 2019, at Oak Tree Villa in Jefferson City. Born March 28, 1926, in Conran, daughter of the late William Franklin and Etta Barnett Henley, she had worked for International Shoe Factory before retiring...

PORTAGEVILLE — Six new teachers will be gracing the halls of the Portageville School District. Two will be in the elementary school, two will be in the middle school and two will be in the high school. Portageville schools began Friday. Elementary School...

SIKESTON — Dudley Levell Patterson, 69, died Aug. 19, 2019, at Sikeston Convalescent Center in Sikeston. Born June 26, 1950, in Lilbourn, he was the son of the late Leonard and Mildred Carroll Patterson. Survivors include one sister, Janet Johnson of Sikeston...

BENTON, Mo. — The Benton Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a photography exhibit and competition from Aug. 29-31 at the annual Benton Neighbor Days. There are three divisions: 12-and-under, 13-and-over non professional and 13-and-over professional. There is six categories: landscapes, people, objects, animals, plants and images of Scott County or Benton...

SIKESTON — Tommy Dewain Graham, 58, died Aug. 19, 2019, at his home in Sikeston. Born Jan. 20, 1961, in Camp Lejeune, N.C., to Velma Harris Graham of Sikeston and the late Raymond Lee Graham, he was a member of Cape First of Sikeston and had been a self-employed construction worker...

SIKESTON — Betty Crosier, age 84, passed away Aug. 20, 2019, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born May 10, 1935, in East Prairie, to the late Raymond and Augusta (Knight) Lewis. She was a member of Miner Baptist Church and had worked for Good Humor-Breyers before retiring...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Linda Brown Peagues Turk Watson, 61, died Aug. 18, 2019, at Saint Francis Heart Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Oct. 10, 1957, in Oxford, Miss., daughter of the late Mildred Brown and Jessie Flemmons. At 18 months old, she was severely burned and adequate medical care was not available in Oxford so her brother, Jimmie Peagues and his wife, Bea, took her to Sikeston for medical treatment. They later adopted her...

FISK — Missouri State Highway Patrol dive team members removed a body from a passenger car found submerged in the St. Francis River, just south of the U.S. 60 bridge, Tuesday morning. Authorities are not releasing information concerning the identity of the victim at this time...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Christopher Columbus Oliver, 81, died Aug. 13, 2019, at Charleston Manor Nursing Facility in Charleston. Born April 14, 1938, in Hillhouse, Miss., son of the late Edgar and Mary Lee Hampton Oliver, he attended Lincoln High School in Charleston. ...

DELTA, Mo. — Jerry Don Byram, 42, died Aug. 19, 2019, at his home in Delta. Born Jan. 25, 1977, in Jonesboro, Ark., son of Gelene Ruth Ellen Weaver Byram and the late Donald Edward Byram, he was a member of the New Life Fellowship Church in Delta. In addition to his mother, survivors include: two brothers, Danny Byram of Delta and Timmy Byram of Salem; one sister, Vickie Morgan of Jonesboro; and three nephews and two nieces...