Calvin McRoy, son of the late Harvey Jackson and Martha Jennings McRoy, was born on February 25, 1925, in Bloomfield, Missouri and passed away at the Golden Living Center in Bloomfield, Missouri on August 1, 2012, at the age of 87 years, 5 months and 7 days.

Calvin had lived in Bloomfield all of his life. He attended the General Baptist Church and was a veteran of the U. S. Army serving during WWII in Germany. He had been a truck driver with Cassens Transport.
On October 4, 1947, he married Mildred Bowling in Piggott, Arkansas.

Surviving are his wife, Mildred McRoy of Bloomfield, Missouri; two sons, Gene McRoy of Bloomfield, Missouri, Jim McRoy of Farmington, Missouri; two daughters, Sue Hampton of Bloomfield, Missouri, Mary Jines of Centralia, Missouri; eight grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; two sisters, Geraldine Harris of Bloomfield, Missouri, Vivian Patterson of Dexter, Missouri; two brothers, Ronnie McRoy of Bloomfield, Missouri and Don McRoy of Alton, Illinois. Other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by four sisters, Eileen Crowe, Velma Kingree, Wilma Handley, Virginia Hendrix, and two brothers, Alvin Sonny McRoy and H. M. McRoy.

Friends may visit on Friday August 3, 2012, after 10:00 a.m. at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield.
Funeral services will be held on Friday August 3, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield with Refv. Dwight Hensley of Bloomfield, Missouri.

Interment will be in the Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with full military honors, Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
 
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
 

Violet Virginia Ellsworth, daughter of the late John O. Wilson and Jesse Pearl Watkins Wilson was born on May 12, 1920 at Bernie and departed this life in the Garden View Care Center at O’Fallon, on July 31, 2012 at the age of 92.

Mrs. Ellsworth was a member of The Pilgrim’s Rest Church in Fairdealing, a former caterer with Serv O Nation in St. Louis and a former cook at Newberry’s in Poplar Bluff.

She was united in marriage to Orvil Ellsworth at Dexter. Mr. Ellsworth preceded her in death in July of 1971.

She is survived by two sons, Orvil Dean Ellsworth of Troy and Lonnie Ray Ellsworth of Wentzville: by one daughter, Pam Smith of Columbia: by three grandchildren, Rodney Ellsworth, Machelle Wooster and Caitlyn Smith: by three step-grandchildren, Angela Fox, Arthur Yore and Kellie MacLachlan: by five great-grandchildren, Crystal Ellsworth, Eric Ellsworth, Eden Wooster, Tristan Wooster and Sutton Wooster: by seven step-great-grandchildren, Artie Yore, Justin Yore, Emma Yore, Wylee Fox, Halee Fox, David MacLachlan and Tristan MacLachlan: by two great-great-grandchildren, Noah Ellsworth and Lacey Yore.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one daughter in infancy, Yvonne Joyce Ellsworth: by two brothers, John O. Wilson and William Stanfield: by two sisters, Wilma Kearbey and Cora Mae Jines.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M., Thursday, August 2, 2012. Funeral services will then be conducted at 11:00 A.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Donny Emmons officiating. Interment will follow in the Smith-Stevenson Cemetery.

Lee Arthur "Pops" Hester, Sr., son of the late Willie B. Hester and Grace Hester Barber, was born in Armorel, Arkansas on August 24, 1933, and departed this life at his home in Essex, Missouri on July 29, 2012, at the age of 78 years, 11 months and 4 days.

He had lived his entire life in Southeast Missouri and had lived in Essex, Missouri for over 45 years. He was honorably discharged after serving two years in the U. S. Army. He worked for the A. F. Evans family for over 35 years.

On November 13, 1967, he was blessed in matrimony to Edna Lee Buchanan in Baker, Missouri.

Surviving are his wife Edna Lee Hester of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; 11 sons, Lee Arthur Hester, Jr. of Lilbourn, MO, Earl Farr of Ft. Wayne, IN, Stanley (Linda) Farr of Ft. Wayne, IN, Ronney (Yvette) Hester, Sr. of Helendale, CA, Dewayne Hester of Jacksonville, AR, Ronnie Lee (Sophia) Buchanan of Sikeston, MO, Terry D. (Sandra) Hester of Huntsville, Alabama, Eric Lee (Rose Maria) Hester of Tampa, FL, Jeffrey (Trina) McKeller of Clarksville, TN, Arthur Lee (Dorothy) Session of Jefferson City, MO, Alfred Charon Session of Jefferson City, MO; 6 daughters, Brenda K. (Charles) Kellum of New Madrid, MO, Delois (Ronnie) McComb of Poplar Bluff, MO, Vanessa Renee (Rosalito) Gutierrez of Tipton, OK, Angela (Aaron) Bush of Poplar Bluff, MO, Candice Kay (Dale) Kilgore of Poplar Bluff, MO, Schfonia Porche' Session of Jefferson City, MO. He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 infant children, and 3 sisters, Beatrice Davis, Volla Bonner and Christine Combs

He departed this life with 52 grandkids and 46 great grandkids. Uncle Lee as he was called by many, was an integral part of raising so many nieces and nephews. There are a lot of men that he was very instrumental in helping to become the men that they are today.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 4, 2012, after 1:00 p.m. at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 4, 2012, at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with Pastor Ronnie Webb of Poplar Bluff officiating.

Interment will be on Monday August 6, 2012 at 10:00 am in the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.

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

Robert Tilson, son of the late Robert Tilson Sr. and Eula Butler Tilson was born on December 16, 1929 in Earle, Arkansas and departed this life at his residence in Parma, Missouri on July 30, 2012 at the age of 82.

Mr. Tilson was a member of the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Parma, former Truck Driver with Ohio Pacific Transportation, and a resident of Parma.

In January 1978 he was united in marriage to Arletha McBride in Bloomfield, Missouri. Mrs. Tilson survives of the home in Parma.

Besides his wife, survivors include three sons, Otis Johnson of Atlanta, Georgia; Larry Williamson of Memphis, Tennessee, and George Jackson of Atlanta, Georgia; by one daughter, Maudessa Rose of Naperville, Illinois; also by twenty-four grandchildren and several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sons, Lewis Jackson and Robert Williamson Jr.; also by one sister, Derotha Kirkwood.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. Saturday, August 4, 2012. Funeral services will then be conducted on Saturday, August 4, 2012 at 1:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Minister Reginald Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in the Macedonia Cemetery in Malden, Missouri.

Martha J. Boyles, daughter of the late Abe and Sarah Welch Malonee, was born in Oakland, Arkansas on March 31, 1924, and passed away at her daughter's home in Dexter, Missouri on July 29, 2012, at the age of 88 years, 3 months and 28 days.

Martha lived in the Dexter and Essex areas most of her life. She attended the Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter. She had worked as an inspector in a hat factory for over 20 years.

She was married to Ransom Boyles, he preceded her in death.

Surviving are one son, William Boyles of Bloomfield, Missouri; one daughter, Shirley Culverhouse of Dexter, Missouri; nine grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren. Other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by two sons, Eddie James Boyles and Johnny Boyles; one brother and two sisters.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 31, 2012, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, August 1, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. at the Watkins and Sons Chapel in Dexter with Rev. Tim Russell of Dexter, Missouri officiating.

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