On March 4, 1932, Sarah Ellen Wilson Shanks was born in Gray Ridge, Missouri to Dwight (Doby) and Mildred Lowery Wilson and passed away May 17, 2015 at Golden Living Center in Dexter at the age of 83. Sarah lived most of her life in Gray Ridge and Bell City and attended Gray Ridge School where she graduated in 1948.
Sarah loved her flower garden and always had beautiful flowers. She also loved to read and work word puzzles.
Sarah was well known for her pecan pies and fruit cakes and if she knew you had a favorite dessert, you were sure to get one made for you. She was a good neighbor and friend. She was good to help when her friends and neighbors were sick and made sure they had food.
Sarah attended the First Pentecostal Church of Morehouse for many years and later was attending the First Pentecostal Church in Dexter. She loved her church family and was faithful to attend.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant brother, Loman V. Wilson.
Sara was married to James (Jim) Shanks on July 12, 1969, who survives of the home in Gray Ridge. She is also survived by two sons, Phillip Wilson and Jean Ann of Gray Ridge, Missouri and Keith Shanks and his friend Felicia of Benton, Missouri; by one brother C. O. Wilson and Kathy of Tompkinsville, Kentucky; by one sister, Mary Bollinger of Waynesville, Missouri; by five grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; by many nieces, nephews and cousins; and by a childhood friend (sister), Irene Jordan.
Sarah was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Thursday, May 21, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. with Rev. Jeff Wells officiating.
Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery.
On July 10, 1949 he married Vera Lorraine Norris. He spent his early career of 23 years at Scism Motor Company and later as a full time farmer. Billy was a member of the Liberty Hill General Baptist Church and also attended the Wappapello United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Masonic Hall in Bloomfield.
Surviving are his wife, Vera, one son & wife, Terryl & Glinda Almond of Dexter Missouri; one daughter, Dr. Donna Almond of Wappapello; two grandchildren, Rachel Almond of St. Petersburg, Florida, Rebekah & Jay Sims of Bloomington, Indiana; and one great granddaughter, Harper Sims. He was preceded in death by one special daughter, Sherry Szczeblewski and one sister, Lois Hill-Russell.
Billy was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and a friend to many.
Friends may call on Thursday May 21, 2015 from 5.00 to 8.00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter Missouri.
Funeral services will be Friday May 22, 2015 at 11.00 a.m. in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter Missouri.
Interment will follow in the West Pleasant Valley Cemetery near Bloomfield Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.
Watkins & Sons Funeral Services
www. watkinsfuneralhome. com
He had lived in the Parma and Dexter area most of his life. He had worked as a truck driver. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and golf.
On October 17, 1982, he was married to Vivian Lawrence in Parma, Missouri.
Surviving are his wife, Vivian Hunt of Dexter; three daughters, Nikki Jaynes of Dexter, Kimberly Hunt and Carmenita Hunt, both of West Virginia; one son, Josh Hunt of Sikeston; three grandchildren, Shayna Grubbs, Ryker Jaynes, and Anney Rose Jaynes, all of Dexter. Other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Doyle Hunt, Wayne Hunt, and Kenneth Tucker.
Friends may call on Monday, May 18, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Services will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, with Rev. Kenneth Biggs of Dexter, Missouri officiating.
Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery in Bernie, Missouri, with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri, in charge of arrangements.
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Mom-Mom (as she was known to us) was a member of the First Baptist Church in Dexter. She gave freely of her time to the Church, where she served as a Sunday School Teacher and an Organist for the Church for forty-five years. When she wasn’t serving at the Church, she enjoyed traveling and fishing opportunities with her husband Bob.
Her greatest achievement in life was raising her four children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She impacted our lives more then she could ever imagine and will be missed.
On July 17, 1951 she was united in marriage to Bob Coffey in Dexter. Mr. Coffey survives of their residence.
Besides her husband she is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Kay Coffey of Cape Girardeau; by three daughters and their spouses, Jan and Dave Reimann of Cape Girardeau, Vicki and Jody Lemmon of Dexter and Lisa and Greg Mathis of Dexter; by two brothers, Dr. John Barbour of Florida and Rev. Jeff Barbour of Fort Knob, Kentucky; by eight grandchildren and their spouses, Chad and Liz Reimann of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, J.J. Lemmon of Dexter, Christy and Brandon Vaughn of Dexter, Rev. Dr. Eric Mathis and Brittany of Birmingham, Alabama, Josh and Katie Reimann of Louisville, Kentucky, Aaron and Brittany Mathis of Dexter, Bobby Coffey of Cape Girardeau and Rachel Coffey of Cape Girardeau and by ten great-grandchildren, Eliott Reimann, Garett Reimann, Natalie Reimann, Lily Reimann, Noah Reimann, Chloe Lemmon, Delaney Lemmon, Brayden Vaughn, Mabree June Vaughn and Harper Anne Mathis.
Besides her parents she was preceded in death by one brother, Wallace “Jerry” Barbour and one brother in infancy.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, May 18, 2015 from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. in the First Baptist Church in Dexter with Rev. Dr. Eric Mathis, Rev. Josh Reimann and Rev. Dr. George Nite officiating. Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
*In lieu of flowers the family requests all memorials be made to the: Alzheimer’s Association, 9370 Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63132-3253 OR First Baptist Church Missions Fund, 11 West Castor Street, Dexter, Missouri 63841.
He had lived in the Dexter area most of his life. He had worked for the city of Dexter as the Water Commissioner. He had been a member of the Dexter Elks Lodge #2439, the American Legion and was a veteran of the U. S. Army. He enjoyed hunting and he loved to visit the casinos and play the slots.
On November 23, 1951, he was married to Irene Pedigo in Waterloo, Indiana. She preceded him in death on December 7, 1995.
Surviving are two sons and spouses, Joseph & Jamie Whitaker of Fenton, Missouri, David & Robin Whitaker of Dexter; four grandchildren; four great grandchildren; one sister and brother-in-law, Betty & Curtis Stevens of Dexter; his life long friend and companion, Anna Ruth Leeks of Poplar Bluff. Other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Gene Whitaker and John Whitaker and four sisters, Ella May Whitaker, Dorothy Carter, Dora Helton, and Margarette Colone.
Friends may call on Saturday, May 16, 2015, after 11:00 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Services will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, with Sister Karen Hardin of Dexter, Missouri officiating.
Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery in Dexter with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri, in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P O Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718 or Livestrong Foundation, National Mail Pricessing Center, P O Box 6003, Albert Lea, MN 56007-6603.
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
