William E. “Will” Monroe was born on April 22, 1944, in Averett, Missouri, to the late Lawrence T. Monroe and Claudine Morse Monroe.  He departed this life on Wednesday, January 16, 2013, at the age of 68 years at the Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Will was united in marriage to Helen Hoopingarner on December 11, 1964, in Dexter, Missouri, and to this union two children were born.  Mrs. Monroe survives of the home.

Also surviving is one son, Keith Monroe, of Dexter; and one daughter, Kari Standley, of Bloomfield; two grandsons, Logan Monroe of McMinnvile, Tennessee, and Ethan Standley of Bloomfield; two granddaughters, Baylie Davis and Dakoda Monroe of Dexter; one sister, Audrey Jackson, of Madison, Mississippi; several nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. 

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Thomas Monroe, of Bloomfield.

Mr. Monroe was proud to be a veteran of the U.S. Army.  He served from June 1961 to May 1964, with most of his enlistment in Munich, Germany.  He received an honorable discharge in May of 1964.  He also served five years in the Missouri National Guard.

He was a past member of the Amvets Post in Bloomfield, Missouri, and was currently a member of the Wappapello VFW Post #3418 and the Dexter Elks Lodge #2439, having served as Exalted Ruler in 1996-1997.

He had worked at Dexter Aircraft, Inc., Monarch Feed Mills and then retired from Tyson Foods as Truck Shop Foreman and mechanic. 

Will loved spending time with his family and friends and also loved gardening, fishing and being outdoors.  He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, January 21, 2013, from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. 

Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, January 22, 2013, at 11:00 A.M., in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Rev. Brett Wright and Rev. Roger Wooten officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri.