Lela Fay McCoy of Dexter, formerly Charter Oak, daughter of the late Eli Harvey and Mary Jane Epperson Bryant, was born in Center Ridge, Arkansas on December 1, 1921, and passed away at the home of her daughter in Dexter, Missouri on October 17, 2016, at the age of 94 years, 10 months and 16 days.
She had lived in Center Ridge, Arkansas before moving to Southeast Missouri in 1952. She had been a school teacher and had taught in Heber Springs and Center Ridge, Arkansas and then in Charter Oak, Risco, East Prairie & Malden schools. She was a member of the Church of Christ in Essex. She had received recognition in "Who's Who in American Education".
Surviving are three daughters, Weatia Jane Cannon of Green Ridge, Missouri, Lela Jeannine McCoy of Lubbock, Texas, Jan Rene Powell of Dexter; one son, William Elwood "Woody" McCoy of Bloomfield; 14 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchildren; one brother, Jimmie Frank Bryant of Morrilton, Arkansas; two sisters, Nina Scroggins of Center Ridge, Arkansas and Murriel Dixon of Morrilton, Arkansas. Other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by one son, Robert Eli "Bob" Steele; three brothers, Hubert Lane, Doy E. and Afton Bryant; five sisters, Marvel Noakes, Thomasa LaJoy Oliger, Bertie Flowers, Betty Louise Flowers and Mary Rita Sutton.
Visitations will be held on Friday, October 21, 2016, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri with funeral services to follow at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home with Bro. Herman Morse of Dexter officiating.
Interment will be in the Halbrook Cemetery near Center Ridge, Arkansas at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, 2016, with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 or the Southern Children's Home, P O Box 649, Morrilton, AR 72110.
Cash Avery Adams, 7, of Fredricktown, MO, died Friday, October 14, 2016, at his home.
Cash was born December 20, 2008 in Poplar Bluff, MO, and was the oldest of four children.
He is survived by his loving parents, J.D. and Jade (Adams) Jagelovicz, two sisters, KC and Stella, and one brother, Tristan. Also surviving are his grandparents Candee Adams and Tim (Stephanie) Adams , great-grandparents Charlie and Shirley Corlies and Gene Adams, his Aunts Mystee Corlies and Taylor (Garett) Hutchcraft, and uncles Jake Adams, and Austin Adams, and cousin Penelope Hutchcraft. Cash is survived by an array of extended family and many loving friends who became like family during his life.
He was preceded in death by his great-great-grandmother Dorothy Parker, and great-grandmother Audrey Adams.
Cash was a fighter and beat the odds of a diagnosis that was deemed incompatible with life. He lived a loving and happy life and was surrounded by more love and support in 7 years than most people find in a lifetime. He brought joy and laughter to all those he came into contact with and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
While living, it was difficult for Cash to do much traveling because of his discomfort and multiple medical issues associated with Trisomy 13. Cash is no longer imprisoned by his body, nor in pain. He is finally free and his family plans to scatter his ashes as they travel throughout the coming years so that Cash will finally be able to visit those places as well. Cash will forever be in the hearts of his family and many friends and will continue to be a part of new memories and experiences because of this.
There will be a Celebration of Life ceremony for family and close friends to be held on what would have been Cash’s 8th birthday, December 20, 2016.
Cash’s family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to all those who have lent their comfort and support over the years and especially during this most difficult time.
His family kindly requests in lieu of cards, flowers, or gifts that a donation is made in Cash’s name to:
Sonshine Home, 2056 AA Hwy, Poplar Bluff, MO 3901
Robert Lee Brown of Poplar Bluff, son of the late Billy Lee and Virgina Irene Goetmann Brown, was born in Pontiac, Michigan on July 26, 1956, and passed away at the Switzer Residential Care Facility in Poplar Bluff on October 13, 2016, at the age of 60 years, 2 months and 17 days.
Robert had lived in Pontiac Michigan before moving to Missouri, he had lived in Bernie and Dexter and had lived in Poplar Bluff the past twenty years. He had worked for the city of Pontiac, Michigan and was a member of the Liberty General Baptist Church in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
Surviving are three sisters, Mary Hazen of Auburn Hills, Michigan, Beverly Garrison and Alesia Cook both of Pontiac, Michigan; and one brother, Bryan Wayne Brown of Pontiac, Michigan. Many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends also survive. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one sister, Linda Marie Brown, and one brother, Michael C. Brown.
Visitation was Sunday, October 16, 2016, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Graveside services were held on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. at the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter, Missouri with Rev. Brian Johnson of Bernie, Missouri officiating.
Interment followed in the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri is in charge of arrangements.
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Rev. Rayla Stewart Hogue passed away Friday, October 14, 2016, just before 6:00 am. Rev. Hogue was at her home in Clarksburg on hospice after a six month battle with colon cancer.
Rayla was born Rayla Kay Stewart on April 14, 1955, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, to parents Raymond and Naomi Stewart, who preceded her in death.
She was raised in Dexter until she left home for college in 1973. She met her husband, James, in January, 1977 and they were married after graduation from Southwest Missouri State University on May 19, 1978.
Rayla was preceded in death by a sister, Suzanne.
She is survived by her husband, James V., of the home in Clarksburg, one son, James S., and his wife, Maria, also of Clarksburg, one sister, Lillian Snavely of Ozark, Missouri, as well as six nieces and nephews and numerous other family and friends.
Rayla graduated from SMSU on May 12, 1978 with a B.S. in education, majoring in music performance. She attained a Masters of Arts in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1991 and a Masters of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary in 2006. Rayla was ordained by the St. Louis Association of the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ in 2014 and served St. John’s United Church of Christ and Chamois United Methodist Church. She also served in several positions within the conference and on the Committee on Ministry of the Eastern Association, where she held her clergy standing.
Prior to ordination, Rayla had been a companion and partner to her husband, serving in numerous settings in the Southern Baptist Convention and the United Methodist Church, before finding a home in the United Church of Christ. It was finally in the UCC that she found the support and encouragement to move into ordination and her true calling, her own pastorate. They served in Missouri, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado and she had grown to love her adopted home in the southern Rockies, but returned to Missouri to care for her parents prior to their deaths.
Rayla had an accomplished history as a vocalist, having been the featured vocalist with the Denver Symphony, the Symphony Orchestra of Albuquerque, and many church related venues. Her musical style was eclectic, including music ranging from classic to blues to jazz to folk to rock.
Rayla will be missed by her husband, son, and daughter-in-law. She will be interred in Dexter, next to her sister and parents, in a private ceremony.
There will be a memorial celebration of her life at St. John’s UCC in Chamois, Missouri, at 3:30 pm on Sunday, October 23, 2016. Rev. Jeffery Hammonds and Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Missouri Midwest Conference of United Church of Christ Vitality Covenant Ministry at 475 E. Lockwood Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63119.
JW "John" Hughes of Morehouse, son of the late Will and Rhodia Stroud Hughes, was born in Sikeston, Missouri on May 24, 1931, and passed away at the Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston on October 15, 2016, at the age of 85 years, 4 months and 21 days.
John had lived in Morehouse most of his life. He had worked as a fork lift operator for the Himmleberger-Harrison factory in Morehouse and was of the Pentecostal faith.
On August 16, 1949, he was married to Martha Nell Irene Hensley in Piggott, Arkansas. She preceded him in death on September 11, 2013.
Surviving are three daughters and husbands; Angela & Tom Graham, Margie & Charles Ruedrich all of Sikeston, Rhodia & Troy Fiddler of Lexington, Tennessee; two sons and wives; Paul & Lisa Hughes of Sikeston, Russell & Patsy Hughes of Puxico; nineteen grandchildren; twenty-five great grandchildren; seven great great grandchildren; one brother, Joe Hughes of Morehouse; and one sister, Leone Merriman of Fisk. Other relatives and many friends also survive. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one son, John William Hughes, and two sisters.
Friends may call on Monday, October 17, 2016, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 17, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with Rev. John Ruedrich of Scott City, Missouri officiating.
Interment will follow in the Matthews City Cemetery in Matthews, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri is in charge of arrangements.
