Bertha Gates, daughter of the late Martin Wilfong and Ester Harrington Wilfong, was born on August 24, 1935 in Puxico, Missouri and passed away June 1, 2011 at her residence in Dexter at the age 75.

Mrs. Gates was a member of the Friendship Baptist Church, a former inspector for Paramount Headwear, and a resident of Dexter.

On March 26, 1954 she was united in marriage to Bill J. Gates in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Mr. Gates preceded her in death on December 31, 1999.

She is survived by two sons, Steven Gates and his wife Carol of Brockwell, Arkansas and Mark Gates and wife Cindy of Dexter; by two brothers, Donald Wilfong and Gary Wilfong both of Puxico; by one sister, Reva Cantrell of Puxico; and by four grandchildren, Bradley Gates, Matthew Gates, Justin Gates and Tommy Gates.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by five brothers, Lester Wilfong, Thurman Wilfong, David Wilfong, Eugene Wilfong, and Claude Wilfong; and by one sister, Vivian Pate.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, June 3, 2011 from 5 until 8 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 2 p.m. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Lonny Mittag officiating. Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.

Donnie L. Scott, son of the late Charles Benjamin and Sarah Nelson Scott, was born in Olney, Illinois on April 19, 1936, and passed away at his home near Puxico, Missouri on June 1, 2011, at the age of 75 years, 1 month and 13 days.

He had lived in Illinois before moving to Dexter in 1983 and had lived in Puxico since 1992. He attended the People's Full Gospel Church in Dudley, Missouri.

On May 12, 1964, he was married to Vida Hagy in Noble, Illinois. She preceded him in death on September 26, 2002.

Surviving are three sons, Donald Scott of Dowagiac, Michigan, Joe Scott of Dexter, Missouri, John Scott of Dudley, Missouri; two daughters, Sara Watkins of Dudley, Missouri, Irene Bolin of Puxico, Missouri; twenty grandchildren; thirty-one great grandchildren; three brothers, Neal Scott, Hugh Scott and Bert Alvord all of Olney, Illinois; one sister, Betty Jordan of Springfield, Illinois. Other relatives and many friends also survive. He was preceded in death by one grandson, Daniel Watkins, and two brothers, Jack Scott and Joe Lester.

Visitation will be Saturday, June 4, 2011, after 11 a.m., at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 4, 2011, at 1 p.m., at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with James Hagy of Dexter, Missouri officiating.

Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri in charge of arrangements.

Lester Cunningham, son of the late Luther E. Cunningham and Ida Reed Cunningham, was born on November 27, 1921 in Turkey, Arkansas and departed this life at his residence in rural Puxico, Missouri on June 1, 2011 at the age of 89 years.

Mr. Cunningham was a self-employed farmer, a veteran of the United States Army serving in World War II, member of the Dudley Community Church in Dudley, Missouri, and a resident of rural Puxico.

On March 11, 1945 he was united in marriage to Rue Eileen “Punkin” Hendrix in Dudley, Missouri. Mrs. Cunningham preceded him in death on June 17, 2001.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Darrell Cunningham and Sheila of Dudley, Missouri and Danny Cunningham and Sandra of Dexter, Missouri; by one daughter, Angela Gregory of Dexter; by four grandchildren, Jason Gregory, Ashlie Shipman, Shelly Leonard, and Matthew Cunningham; by two step-grandchildren, Aaron Ellsworth and Summer Kern; also by two great-granddaughters, Emma and Elizabeth.

Besides his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Micheal Cunningham, one son-in-law, Cate Gregory; by four brothers, Chester Cunningham, James Cunningham, Ray Cunningham, and Rex Cunningham; by five sisters, Pauline McKuin, Nerine Hamilton, Joy Long, Anna Lea Mansbridge, and Fern Patrick.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 5 until 8 p.m., Friday June 3, 2011. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday June 4, 2011 at 9 a.m., in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Rev. Ryan Helton officiating. Interment will follow in the Dudley Cemetery.

Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in charge of services.

Alma May DeGroot, daughter of the late Norville Shular and Ruby Snow Shular was born on February 8, 1927 at Townley, Missouri and departed this life in the Golden Living Center at Bloomfield on May 28, 2011 at the age of 84.

Mrs. DeGroot was a member of Mt. Pisgah General Baptist Church at Aquilla, a former employee of Paramount Headwear in Dexter and a resident of rural Bloomfield.

She was united in marriage to Henry E. DeGroot on April 27, 1947 at Bernie. Mr. DeGroot preceded her in death on May 15, 1995.

She is survived by two sons and daughter-in-laws, Gary and Carolyn DeGroot of Gordonville and Wayne and Goldie DeGroot of Bloomfield: by three brothers, Lonzo Shular of Charlotte, North Carolina, Leon Shular of Citrus Heights, California and Leslie Shular of Poplar Bluff: by two sisters, Lorene Dortch of Chio, Michigan and Ann Beck of High Ridge: by two grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, LeRoy Shular.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 5 until 8 p.m., Monday, May 30, 2011. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 31, 2011 with Rev. Ray Rowland officiating. Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.

Amalee Blocker, daughter of the late Walter and Opal Woods Bell, was born in Grayridge, Missouri on July 22, 1941, and passed away at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on May 31, 2011, at the age of 69 years, 10 months and 9 days.

She was raised in Morehouse, Missouri and had lived most of her life in Dexter.

On May 27, 1978, she was married to Ulen Blocker in Dexter, Missouri.

Surviving are her husband, Ulen Blocker of Dexter, Missouri; one son & daughter in law, Raymond & Belinda McAnally of Bloomfield, Missouri; one daughter, Donnie Allison of Dexter, Missouri; seven grandchildren; and twenty great grandchildren. Other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by one brother, Charlie Bell and one half-sister, Dorothy Marchant.

Friends may visit on Friday, June 3, 2011, after 10 a.m., at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 3, 2011, at 1 p.m., in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri.

Interment will be in the Dexter Cemetery in Dexter, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com.

Watkins and Sons Funeral Service in charge of arrangements