George Melvin "Jim" Owens, son of the late Abe and Elizabeth Grey Owens, was born in Kimundy, Illinois on August 17, 1920, and passed away in Georgia on March 2, 2011, at the age of 90 years.

Mary Louise Owens, daughter of the late Lawrence and Bessie Baird West, was born in Essex, Missouri on September 18, 1924, and passed away in Georgia on March 20, 2011, at the age of 86 years.

Mr. & Mrs. Owens had lived in Essex, Missouri for many years before moving to Darien, Georgia several years ago. They were of the Baptist faith and Mr. Owens was veteran of the U. S. Navy. Mr. Owens was retired from Arvin Automotive and Mrs. Owens had worked on a river boat as a cook.

On May 16, 1942, they were married in Bloomfield, Missouri.

Surviving are one son, Roy Wayne Owens of Townsend, Georgia; and one brother of Mr. Owens, LeRoy Owens of St. Louis, Missouri. Other relatives and many friends also survive. Mr. Owens was preceded in death by four brothers, Don, Dan, Fred and Ira Owens. Mrs. Owens was preceded in death by five brothers, Louie, Leonard, Ernest, Harold and Eugene West; and six sisters, Maxine Bitler, Fay Autrey, Nettie Vickery, Daisy Smith, Irene Alderman and Mildred Rhodes.

Visitation will be Monday, May 23, 2011, after 10 a.m., at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.

Memorial Funeral services will be held Monday, May 23, 2011, at 11 a.m., at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with the Rev. Doyle Corlew of Dexter, Missouri officiating.

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

]

Levella Gold, daughter of the late Charles Roscoe Farmer and Lucy Ruggles Farmer was born on February 4, 1916 at Falls City, Nebraska and died on May 17, 2011 at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau at the age of 95.

Mrs. Gold was a food service employee for the Chaffee School District, a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Dexter and a resident in Dexter.

She was united in marriage to Carl J. Baker, Mr. Baker preceded her in death. She was then united in marriage to Earl Gold, Mr. Gold preceded her in death.

She is survived by one daughter, Carla Ruth Schepper of Gordonville, Missouri; by one brother, Allen Farmer of Dexter; by two sisters, Yvonne Taylor of Wappapello, Missouri and Frankie Kinder of Dexter; by nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Besides her two husbands and parents she was preceded in death by two daughters, Charlotte A. Cook and Donna Rodriguez; by six brothers, Charles I. Farmer, Jim Farmer, Raymond Farmer, Robert Farmer and Earl and Earnest Farmer in infancy and by four sisters, Roxine Terrill, Hortense Davis, Lawanda Farmer and Ruth Elledge.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, May 20, 2011 from 5 until 8 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 10 a.m. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter.

Interment will follow in the Caroline Dowdy cemetery.

Alta Burns, daughter of the late Cecil Colin Snider and Rose Welker Snider, was born on December 8, 1922 at Powe and departed this life in the Golden Living Center at Bloomfield on May 17, 2011 at the age of 88.

Mrs. Burns was a home-maker and resident of Dexter.

She was united in marriage to Arthur J. Burns on March 16, 1938 at Parma. Mr. Burns preceded her in death on February 10, 1965.

Survivors include one son, Bobby Gene Burns of Dexter: by one daughter, Vickey Ann Hunt of Dexter: by two sisters, Betty Acord of Dexter and Vivian Mares of Columbus, Ohio: by four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services and interment will be private, per Mrs. Burns request.

Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home of Dexter, in charge of arrangements.

Lois Estes, daughter of the late Belva Shepherd and Thelma Page Shepherd was born on April 9, 1938 at Ellsinore and departed this life in the Golden Living Center at Dexter on May 17, 2011 at the age of 73.

Mrs. Estes was a home-maker and a resident of Dexter.

She was united in marriage to Arthur Estes on June 2, 1955 at Poplar Bluff. Mr. Estes preceded her in death on December 9, 2009.

She is survived by four brothers, Don Shepherd of Puxico, Roy Shepherd of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Wayne Shepherd of Lebanon and Gary Shepherd of Sikeston: by one sister, Helen Everhart of Newfield, New York.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Kenneth Shepherd: by one sister, Carol Shepherd.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 12:30 P.M. until 2:00 P.M., Thursday, May 19, 2011. Funeral services will then be conducted at 2:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemerery.

Rainey-mathis Funeral Home of Dexter
in charge of arrangements.

Michael Allen Harris, son of Dorothy Elizabeth McLard Burns of Dexter and the late Herbert Harris was born on December 25, 1954 at Dexter and departed this life in his residence at Dexter on May 17, 2011 in his residence at Dexter at the age of 56.

Michael worked as a truck driver, a farm laborer and was a resident of Dexter.

He is survived by one son, Cody Harris of Dexter: by two daughters, Carla Sue Harris of Doniphan and Edna May Harris of Bloomfield: by his mother and step-father, Dorothy Elizabeth and Lee R. “RED” Burns of Dexter: by two brothers, Roy D. Burns and Troy L. Burns both of Dexter: by one sister, Deborah Wilson of Dexter: by three grandchildren, Donna Marie Underhile, Bethany Underhile and Faith Underhile.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M., Thursday, May 19, 2011. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 P.M., Friday, May 20, 2011 in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Mike Kohlbaker officiating. Interment will follow in the Walker Cemetery.

Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home of Dexter
in charge of arrangements.