He had lived in Arkansas but had spent most of his life in Southeast Missouri. He had worked in shipyard maintenance as a welder before his retirement. He was associated with Jehovah's Witnesses and was a veteran of the U. S. Army where he served during the Korean Conflict.
On November 3, 1986, he was married to Grace Lee Maddox in Blytheville, Arkansas.
Surviving are his wife, Grace Lee Keeling of Dexter; two step-daughters, Pat Ellis and Jodi Wyatt both of Dexter, Missouri; four step-sons, Mike and Darrell Burris both of Dexter, Larry Burris of Bates City, Missouri, Eddie Burris of St. Louis; fourteen grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren; and one sister, Loretta VanHuss of Poplar Bluff.
Other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by one great grandson, Andy Burris and one brother, Hollis Hayse Keeling.
Visitations will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2014, after 12:30 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Memorial Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter with Elder Jesse Lacy of Dexter officiating.
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
info@watkinsfuneralhome.com or phone 573 624 3548
He was a lifelong resident of Southeast Missouri and had lived in the Parma area most of his life. He had worked at Noranda Aluminum and as a farmer. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Parma. He was a part-time mechanic and loved working on engines.
Surviving are one son, Danny Biggs of Parma; four grandchildren, Jennifer Rackley of Malden, Rebecca Hager of Poplar Bluff, Jamie C. Biggs of Benton, and Erin Biggs of Bernie; one sister, Betty Jo Tally of Poplar Bluff. Other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by seven brothers, Floyd, Neavle, Eugene, Ira, Winfred, Harold and Dean Biggs; and four sisters, Ruby King, Freda Woolff, Rosemary Rushing and Doris Gist.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 30, 2014, after 11:00 a.m. at the Firsst Baptist Church in Parma, Missouri.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. at the Firsst Baptist Church in Parma with the Rev. Kerry Stokes of Charleston, Missouri officiating.
Interment will be in the Bernie Cemetery in Bernie, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Parma in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
info@watkinsfuneralhome.com or phone 573 624 3548
Kenneth Paul Vandeven, son of the late Edward Henry Vandeven and Dorothy Elfrink Vandeven was born on December 3, 1937 in Cape Girardeau and passed away on April 26, 2014 at his residence in Bloomfield at the age of 76.
Mr. Vandeven was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter, a member of the Knights of Columbus in Dexter, he was a truck driver for Elfrink Truck Line for thirty-eight years and was an employee for W.W. Wood Products for eight years.
He was first united in marriage to Carolyn Shipman on April 23, 1960 in Dexter, she preceded him in death on July 29, 1986. He was then united in marriage to Phyllis Robinett Layton on May 14, 1988 in Bloomfield. Mrs. Vandeven survives of their residence in Bloomfield.
Besides his wife he is survived by two sons, Drake Vandeven and Landon Layton both of Dexter; by four daughters, Christie (Michael) DeArman of Dexter, Aimee Vandeven of Dexter, Jennifer Layton of Bloomfield and Leslie (Aaron) Kyle of Dexter; by two brothers, Dale Vandeven of DeSoto, Missouri and John Vandeven of Bloomfield; by two sisters, Kathleen Barr of Springfield, Illinois and Ida Joan Rowland of Poplar Bluff; by seven grandchildren, Kenneth (Brooke) DeArman, Caroline DeArman, Kendall Pullum, Ashleigh Smith, Amber Smith, Tucker Kyle and Garrett Kyle and by one great-grandchild, Rhyan Pullum.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, April 28, 2014 from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M.
A Rosary Service will be conducted at 7:00 P.M. Funeral Mass will be conducted on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter with Father David Dohogne officiating.
Interment will follow in the Bloomfield cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the 18 Fore Life Charity, c/o Scott Kruse, 705 Laurie Circle, Dexter, Missouri 63841.
John Grant Smith, son of the late Elzie “Cotton” Smith and Helen Coggins Smith, was born on November 30, 1940 in Dexter and passed away on April 21, 2014 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau at the age of 73.
Mr. Smith had worked as a distributor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and was a resident of Dexter.
On July 8, 1966, he was united in marriage to Connie Sue Coleman in Dexter. Mrs. Smith survives at the home.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son, Kyle Smith of Smithton, Missouri; by two brothers, Sherm Smith of Dexter and James “Cotton” Smith of Poplar Bluff; and by two sisters, Edna Harget Smith of Chesapeake, Virginia and Donna Kendrick of Poplar Bluff.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles Smith and Larry Smith.
The family requests that memorials be made to the American Heart Association, Greater Midwest Affiliate, Memorials and Tributes Lockbox, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, Illinois 60674. Envelopes are available at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.
Services provided by Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home of Dexter. No arrangements are planned at this time.
Sue Eskew, daughter of the late Arthur Birchfield and Georgia Taylor Birchfield, was born on January 12, 1934 and passed away on April 17, 2014 at SoutheastHEALTH in Cape Girardeau at the age of 80.
Mrs. Eskew was a member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Dexter, a former member of the Library Board and a member of the Dexter Genealogy Society. She was a housewife and a resident of Dexter.
On April 1, 1952, she was united in marriage to Wes Eskew in Piggott, Arkansas. Mr. Eskew survives at the home.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by five sons, Allen Eskew and wife Teresa of Layton, Utah, Bruce Eskew and wife Debby of Dexter, Doug Eskew and wife Susan of Brandon, Mississippi and Steve Eskew and wife Tiffany of Springfield, Missouri; by one daughter, Debbie Eskew Nelson of Springfield, Missouri; by three sisters, Colleen Godfrey of Grass Valley, California, Linda McClard of Hamilton, Ohio and Bonnie Lemons of Stephens City, Virginia; by nine grandchildren, Chris Nelson, Ashley Perryman, Stacy Earnest, Greg Eskew, Natalie Eskew, Jessica Eubanks, Kevin Eskew, Emily Eskew and Ariana Eskew; and by nine great-grandchildren.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Gary Birchfield; and by two sisters, Sondra Birchfield and DeAnn Jenkins.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, April 21, 2014 from 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Monday, April 21, 2014 at 1:00 P.M. with Rev. Mike Williams officiating. Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
