Ruby Dell Taylor McConnell, daughter of the late Robert Speer and Annie Speer, was born on November 12, 1912 in Antoine, Arkansas and died at the age of 100 on February 6, 2013 at the Winchester Place in Bernie.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Dexter and a resident of Dexter.
On December 21, 1932 she was united in marriage to Carl Taylor in Delight, Arkansas. They were married for fifty-four years. Mr. Taylor preceded her in death on February 25, 1987. In 1997 she was united in marriage to Paul McConnell who preceded her in death.
She is survived by one son, Wendell (Patricia) Taylor of Clemson, South Carolina; by one daughter, Rebecca (Wayne) Crippen of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; by three grandchildren, Susan (Nadim) Aziz of Clemson, South Carolina, Steve (Lisa) Crippen of Chaffee, Missouri and Michelle (David) Dalton of Grenada, Mississippi; by ten grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren
Besides her husband and parents she was preceded in death by one son, Carl R. Taylor Jr. and by one brother, Orville S. Speer.
The family would like to extend special thanks to the Winchester Place staff and Preferred Hospice in Dexter for their loving care and friendship for Mrs. Ruby McConnell.
A graveside service will be conducted on Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 1:00 P.M. at the Dexter Cemetery with Rev. Roger Kiepe officiating.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Alberta I. Henderson, daughter of the late Frank Casey and Mildred Proffer Casey, was born on September 14, 1917, in Bebee, Arkansas, and passed away on February 5, 2013, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter at the age of 95.
Mrs. Henderson enjoyed quilting, was a resident of Dexter and worked at Elder’s Manufacturing in Dexter as a seamstress.
On November 6, 1938, she was united in marriage to Elmer “Shorty” Henderson. Mr. Henderson preceded her in death on February 6, 1989.
She is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Peggy and Tommy Miller of Essex; by one sister, Gladys Sting of Dexter; by one daughter-in-law, Joanna Henderson; by three grandchildren, Terry Lee Miller, Mark Allen Miller and Michael Henderson; and by six great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Miller, Bethany Miller, Macy Miller, Megan Miller, Layne Henderson and Victoria Stafford.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one son, Larry Henderson; by one brother, Linus Casey; by one sister, Lavern Triplett; and by one grandson, Larry Henderson, II.
Graveside services will be in Dexter on Friday, February 8, 2013, at 2:30 P.M. with the Rev. Ron Ledbetter officiating.
Interment will be in the Dexter Cemetery.
Virginia Ruth Simmons, daughter of the late Rev. Curtis Lester and Willie Lucille Lancaster was born on October 28, 1948 in Foreman, Arkansas and died on February 4, 2013 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center at the age of 64.
Mrs. Simmons was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Dexter where she sang in the choir. She was also a resident of Dexter.
In May of 1992 she was united in marriage to G.W. Simmons. Mr. Simmons preceded her in death on January 12, 2011.
Mrs. Simmons is survived by three daughters and son-in-laws, Stephanie and husband Roger Carver of McKinney, Texas, Shelia and husband Ralph Jackson of Dexter and Shirley and husband Bill Saunders of Frisco, Texas; by two brothers, Wilbur Lancaster and wife Mary of Tallapoosa, Georgia and Charles Lancaster and wife Clara of McDonough, Georgia and by five grandchildren, Jordan and wife Larissa Faulknor, Ethan Jackson, Alec Jackson, Brady Whitecotton and Tyler Whitecotton.
Besides her husband and parents she was preceded in death by five brothers, James Lancaster, Matthew Lancaster, Buddy Lancaster, Donald Lancaster and Roy Lee Lancaster and by five sisters; Martha Lancaster, Katherine Eubanks, Louise Lemley, Marie Rawls and Annette Morgan.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 9, 2013 at the Church of God Union Assembly of Texarkana, Texas at 11:00 A.M. The church is located at 4981 U.S. Highway 59 South in Texarkana, Texas 75501.
A visitation luncheon will be held after the service. A private burial will be conducted at Sandhill cemetery in Simms, Texas.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter and Bates and Rolf Funeral Home of New Boston are in charge of all arrangements.
Betty Stanfield, daughter of the late Virgil Edmonds and Lydia Pinkard Edmonds was born in Phil Campbell, Alabama on August 6, 1945 and departed this life at her residence in Bernie, Missouri on February 3, 2013 at the age of 67.
Mrs. Stanfield had worked at Brown Shoe Company in Bernie and later at Paramount Hat in Dexter. She was of Baptist Faith.
She was united in marriage to James "Jay" Henry Stanfield in Bernie, Missouri on March 6, 1992. Mr. Stanfield preceded his wife in death on March 14, 2008.
Survivors include, one son, Chris Mekan of Dexter, Missouri; by two daughters, Rhonda Arnold of Poplar Bluff, Missouri and Theresa Mekan of Bernie, Missouri; by six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Also by other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death other than by her parents and her husband, by three brothers, Truman Edmonds, Orvil Edmonds and Virgil Edmonds; by one sister, Geneva Rodgers.
Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 from 12:30 PM until 2:00 PM.
A memorial service will then be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie starting at 2:00 PM.
Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery. Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Lois White Mills and her twin brother Flois (Sam) white were born on May 25, 19919. She passed away on February 3, 2013 at the age of 93.
She was born and raised in the Bethany community and remained a vital and active part of this community until she was stricken with Alzheimer's.
On July 15, 1934 she married Rev. William Harold Mills in Piggott, Arkansas. Harold was an established farmer and Lois eagerly worked alongside him as needed. Together they raised eight children and Pastored four General Baptist Churches. She remained a faithful servant of God taking on many responsibilities within the church as needed. Lois was best known as a Sunday school teacher and her extensive knowledge of the Bible. She taught all ages and was loved by all who sat in her classes.
A faithful servant of God, her priorities were clear to all, service to God, service to family, service to others. When asked by a Sunday school class to define "Saint", her husband could only think of one thing to say, "my wife."
She was preceded in death by her parents Claude and Mary White, two brothers, Flois and Harland Blythe, her husband, Harold of 42 Years, one grandson, Marcus Donald and one son in law, David Waller.
She is survived by five sons and three daughters, Donald William and Joyce of McKinney, Texas and their children, Terri, Randi and Melanie; Graydon Lyle and Bonnie of Potosi, Missouri and their children, Pam, Ron, Mitchell and Bradley; Carrol Dean and Ruth Ann of Camdenton, Missouri and their children, Donna, Bryan and John; Thomas Boyd and Martha of West Plains, Missouri and their children Aaron and Kelley Lynn; Claudia Janet Vessell and Jim of Bernie, Missouri and their children, Jared and Evan; Marsha Lynn Mills of Kansas City, Missouri and her children, Lindsay and Amy; Michael Harold and Charlotte of Bernie, Missouri and their children, Michael and Matthew; Mary Florence Waller of Bernie, Missouri and her children, Daniel and Sierra; by thirty seven Great-grandchildren and one Great-great-grandchild.
While we grieve for her loss here on earth, the angels in heaven rejoice for a child who has come home. Lois would want us to encourage each and everyone to accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and join her in Heaven for the reward that God has prepared.
Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted at Bethany General Baptist Church in Rural Campbell, Missouri on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 starting at 11:oo A.M. Interment will follow in the Bethany Cemetery. Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Charge of Arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Bethany General Baptist Church.
