Barbara June Gard, 72, of Dexter, Missouri, died July 28, 2012 at Clearview Nursing and Rehab in Sikeston, Missouri.

Barbara was born June 12, 1940 in Disco, Michigan. Barbara has resided in Dexter all her life and worked for Dexter Hospital, Lucas Florist and most recently was a decorator for Health Systems Inc.

She married May 1, 1964 to Don Gard, who survives at home.  Two sons survive, Steven and wife Kristen of Naperville, Illinois, and Darrin and wife Crystal of Dothan, Alabama: by four grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.  She is survived by three sisters, Judy Lincoln and husband Jim, Patty Greene and husband Jim, and Norma Crane and husband Gary: by one brother, Ron Atherton and wife Judi: by her step-mother, Melba Atherton and step-brother, David Smith, along with many other relatives and friends.

Preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Lillian Atherton: by one brother Marion Dwain Atherton.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 11:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, July 31, 2012.  Funeral services will then be conducted at 2:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. McGhee officiating.  Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.

Sylvia Jane Gregg, daughter of the late Wm. Lewis and Roxie Lee Ward Cravens, was born in Hartville, Missouri, on November 12, 1921, and passed away at the Golden Living Center in Malden on July 22, 2012, at the age of 90 years, 8 months, and 10 days.

Mrs. Gregg had lived in Parma all of her life. She and her husband had owned and operated Gregg's Grocery in Parma. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Parma and the Parma Senior Citizens Club.

On October 14, 1936, she was married to Amos C. Gregg in Bloomfield. He preceded her in death on February 18, 1976.

Surviving are four daugters, Phyllis (Dan) Biggs and Jane Daniels all of Parma, Bertha Morgan of Wickliffe, Kentucky, Linda (Wayne) Babcock of St. Ann, Missouri; two sons, Phillip Gregg, Kenneth (Doris) Gregg all of Parma; 16 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; and 5 great great grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Bea Cravens, Margaret Cravens and Ethel Cravens and one brother-in-law, Smokey Johnson and other family and friends. Preceding in death were two children, Ronnie & Joanne Cravens; six sisters, Gracie Shaw, Laura Johnson, Alta Ramsey, Mable Cravens, Imojean Tipton, Margaret Ordiway and five brothers, Gilbert, Dale, Riley, Floyd and Franklin D. Cravens.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Parma.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, July 25, 2012, at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church in Parma with the Rev. Kerry Stokes of Charleston officiating.
Interment will be in the Taylor Cemetery near Essex with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Parma in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, PO Box 188, Parma, MO 63870.

Virginia Cossey, daughter of the late Eddie and Edna Layton, was born May 23, 1941, in Bloomfield, Missouri, and died at her home in Dexter on July 20, 2012, at the age of 71.

Virginia was a homemaker, and worked for a short period as a nurse assistant. She was a member of the Living Water Worship Center in Bloomfield, Missouri.

Virginia was married to Odis Jerry Richard of Dexter and they had three children. He preceded her in death.

She later married Gary Wayne Cossey of Dexter, Missouri, on February 14, 1981, and he survives of the home. Virginia is also survived by her three children – Rhonda Seabaugh of Symsonia, Kentucky, Brad Richard of Paducah, Kentucky, and Jeri Ward of Dexter, Missouri; eight grandchildren – Natasia and Lester Tucker of Dexter, Missouri, Christian and Rachel Rea of Lexington, Kentucky, Nicole Ward of Idalia, Missouri, Hannah Ward and Samuel Ward of Dexter, Missouri, and Phoenix Richard of Paducah, Kentucky; and one sister, Dorothy White of Bloomfield, Missouri. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles Layton and Leoid Layton, and one sister, Connie Hankins

Visitation will be held at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 22nd. Funeral services will also be conducted at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 23rd. Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri.

Jeff Lincoln of Leawood, Kansas passed away on July 13, 2012 at Menorah Hospital in Overland Park, Kansas. He was born on May 25, 1961 at Indianapolis, Indiana. He was a resident of Dexter, Missouri from 1961 to 1982.

He is survived by his wife, Susan, of the home. Also by two sons, Garrett and Dillon Lincoln and three step-daughters, Kelly Akers and her husband, Jim, Lauren Shay and Shelby Shay. His parents, Don and June Lincoln, his sister, Diana Lincoln, nephew Josh Jarrell, niece Kacy Pease, all of Dexter, and his in-laws, Ron and Judy Pearson, of Overland, Park, Kansas.

He attended the Dexter School System and graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in Health Service Management. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and is an Order of the Arrow member of the Boy Scouts. He was the regional manager of several residential care and independent living communities for the Tutera Family Group of Overland Park.

Jeff loved life and to be around him would lift your spirits. That is what his friends and family will miss most.

There was a Memorial Service held in Overland Park on Tuesday, July 17, 2012. Friends may call at the First Baptist Church in Dexter from 11:30 A.M. until to 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Funeral services will then be conducted at 2:00 P.M. in the First Baptist Church with Rev. Don Kennedy and Rev. Amy Foley officiating. Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.

Jeff was an organ donor and the family strongly urges everyone to consider that option. We, the family, are proud of his commitment to that cause.

Memorials may be made to the Missouri Organ Donor Trust Fund, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-0570.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Gary Alan Fortner, age 69, passed away on July 4, 2012. He was born on July 13, 1944 in Detroit, Michigan to Louise and Norman Fortner.

He married his sweetheart, Linda Brother Fortner who passed away just two days after him. He is preceded in death by his father, Norman Thomas Fortner, a sister, Sherry Lynn Fortner and a brother, John Fortner. Gary is survived by his mother, Louise Waggoner, sister, Candy Waggoner Miller, brother, Norman Thomas Fortner II (Clipper), daughters Lori Fortner Hawkins, Shannon Fortner, Nikkco Fortner also by five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Gary served in the US Navy from 1962 to 1968, achieving the rating of Aviation Boatswain’s mate Fuels Second Class Petty Officer, receiving multiple decorations including Vietnam Service and Campaign Medals, Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, and the Navy Unit Commendation Medal.

He worked as a production Line Supervisor at Purolator and Primary Children’s Hospital Supply Department. Gary enjoyed fishing at Utah Lake with his wife, Linda and was an active member of the Canyon Baptist Church.

Gary’s wishes were to be cremated. His ashes will be sent to him hometown where he will be laid to rest with his family in Bloomfield, Missouri.