Steven Lee McRoy, Son of Richard and Carol McRoy, was born on April 13, 1968 in Sikeston and departed this life in his residence at Bloomfield on August 10, 2013 at the age of 45.

Steve graduated from Dexter High School in 1987 after having a transplanted kidney from his mother in December of 1985.

He loved being on his Grandpa and Grandma’s farm.  His Grandpa Don, trained him for his chosen profession of painting houses.  Steve did this until 2010, when his health forced him to give up what he truly loved to do because he got to meet many people.

Steve struggled all his life with many health problems, but on September 7, 2008, he accepted the Lord as his Saviour and joined the First General Baptist Church of Bloomfield.  He became an outstanding young man willing to serve God in any way he could and everyone in the Church loved and appreciated Steve.

Steve loved to be outdoors hunting, fishing and camping with Mom, Dad and his many friends. They went to Sam A. Baker Park a lot and that is where his Dad taught him to swim.

Mom and Dad always took him on trips, from Dogpatch in Arkansas to Branson Silver Dollar City, Memphis Zoo, Six Flags, Opryland or to Cardinal ballgames. He loved NASCAR races and his favorite driver was Dale Earnhardt.

Steve was a wonderful son and Carol and Richard were very blessed to have him and there was nothing they would not do for him.  He was their life to Breathe for.

His grandparents were the late Don and Virginia Reiter and Clarence and Wanda McRoy.

He had two special friends from birth, D.L. and Fern Douglas: a cousin, Rhonda Beardsley of Yelm, Washington: an aunt, Teresa Rushin of Poplar Bluff.

Steve loved and appreciated all of his church family.

Carol and Richard can’t thank everyone enough for the outpouring of love, prayers and hospital visits during the months of July and August for their son, Steve.

Friends may call at the First General Baptist Church in Bloomfield from 1:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M., Monday, August 12, 2013.

Funeral services will then be conducted at 2:00 P.M. in the First General Baptist Church at Bloomfield with Rev. Ronnie Stevens and Rev. Greg Stevens officiating.

Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to First General Baptist Church, 501 Christian Drive, Bloomfield, Missouri  63825.

Vernon Dale Belcher, son of JoAnn Cookson Belcher of Dexter and the late Vernon Leon Belcher, was born on April 22, 1961 in Dexter, Missouri and passed away in the Emergency Room of SoutheastHealth of Stoddard County in Dexter, Missouri on August 10, 2013 at the age of 52 years.

Mr. Belcher was the manager of Dexter Billiards and was a resident of Dexter.

In addition to his mother, survivors include one brother, James Elbert Belcher of Dexter, and by three sisters, Lori Ann Davis of Dexter, Beverly Sue Frymire of Bloomfield and Linda Jonell Ruser of Puxico.

Besides his father, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Donnie Ray Belcher and Lonnie Ray Belcher.

Visitation will be held on Monday, August 12, 2013 from 5:00 P. M. until 8:00 P. M. at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. 

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at 10:00 A. M. at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with the Rev. Roy Sherfield officiating.  

Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery. 

Veleta Frances Pierce Stutts, 81 of rural Dexter died at home on August 10, 2013.

She was born to Mary Alice Gann Pierce and Jesse Davis Pierce on August 9, 1932 in Blytheville, Arkansas.

On May 24, 1949 she married James “Al” Stutts at the Stutts home in Dexter, Missouri.

Veleta graduated from Central High School in Memphis, Tennessee in 1953, from SEMO with a BA in Business Education in 1971 and received her MA in teaching from SEMO in 1980.

From 1967 – 1968, Al, Veleta and their 3 children lived in Belize City, British Honduras.  Over the years, Al and Veleta returned many times to Belize and also hosted numerous visitors from Belize in their Dexter home.

Veleta was a business teacher at Puxico, Dexter and Richland High Schools.   She was instrumental in establishing Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) in both Dexter and Richland.  She was Teacher of the Year in 1987.  She was a member of Business and Professional Womens’ Club and was Woman of the Year in 1978.  She was a member of CTA, MSTA, NBEA, MBEA, AVA and MVA. 

For 10 years she was on the MSTA Southeast District Public Relations Committee.  She was a member of Retired Teachers Associations and Heartland Quilters Guild and also served as President of the guild.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Dexter and enjoyed singing in the choir, including 12 of the FBC Christmas Pageants.  She also sang with the Claremore, Oklahoma choir throughout Europe and at New York’s Carnegie Hall.

Veleta is survived by her husband, Al Stutts, by one son and wife, Mark and Charlotte Stutts of Essex, Missouri; by two daughters and husband, Mike and Debra Ebner of Dexter, Missouri and Lisa Roberts of Dexter, Missouri; by one granddaughter, Jacqueline Owens of Wake Forest, North Carolina; and by two sisters and husband Wafe and Virginia Reed of Dexter, Missouri and Bettye Braun of Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Geneva Geraldine Hamilton and Reba Lois Eslinger and by six brothers, James Elvin Hood, Jesse Burette Pierce, Dewey Lee Pierce, Wilburn Ray Pierce, Franklin Delano Pierce and James Russell Pierce.

Visitation will be held from 1:30 P.M. until 3:00 P. M. on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. 

Funeral services will then be held at 3:00 P. M. on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Dr. Steve Easterwood officiating.

Interment will follow in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery in Dexter.

Anthony Gene Dement, son of Wanda Hampton Grubbs and David Grubbs of Dexter, was born on November 12, 1972 at Poplar Bluff, Missouri and departed this life on August 8, 2013 at his residence in Dexter at the age of 40 years.

Mr. Dement attended the Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter and was a former utility worker for Robertson, Inc. in Poplar Bluff.

In addition to his mother and father, he is survived by one son, David Anthony Dement of Cape Girardeau; by one daughter, Mary Rhinnon Dement of Poplar Bluff; by his companion, Star Porter and her daughter, Makayla R. Pruitt of the home; by three brothers, Charles Dean Grubbs and Jesse Brian Barnes both of Dexter and Ronnie Dement of Ellington; and by one sister, Robin Hedrick Dement of Ellington.

Friends may call at the Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter on Saturday, August 10, 2013 from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. 

Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 3:00 P.M. at the Lighthouse Christian Center with the Rev. Tim Russell officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Caroline Dowdy Cemetery near Dexter.

Clyde E. Laird Jr., son of the late Clyde E. Laird Sr. and Martha Rice Laird was born on June 12, 1954 at Dexter and departed this life on August 6, 2013 in his residence at Idalia at the age of 59.

Mr. Laird was of the Baptist faith, a former tow motor driver for Purolator Filter Company in Dexter, enjoyed fishing and was a resident of Idalia.

Besides his wife, survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Cathy Laird of Ft. Bragg, North Carolina: by one daughter, Misty Laird of the home in Idalia: by two brothers, Sam Laird of Wappapello and Lyndell Laird of Advance, Missouri: by one sister, Loretta Whittley of Bloomfield.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Leo Laird, Leon Laird and Larry Laird: by one sister, Nola Hoggard.