Mr. Morgan had lived in House Springs and Imperial, Missouri before moving to Dexter in 1987. He moved to Dudley, Missouri fifteen years ago. He was a retired supervisor and had worked at the Bemis Co. He was an ordained minister with the Full Gospel Church and was a 32nd Degree Mason at the Hillsboro Masonic Lodge.
On September 1, 1973, he was married to Bertie Lee Nash in House Springs, Missouri.
Surviving are his wife, Bertie Morgan of Dudley; two daughters, Donna Aitchison of Arnold, Missouri, Connie & John Paubel of Robertsville, Missouri; two sons, Donald R., Jr. & Regina Morgan, William W. & Patricia Smith of Clarksburg, Missouri; twenty-four grandchildren; eighteen great grandchildren; and six great great grandchildren; and four step-children. Other relatives and friends also survive.
He was preceded in death by one brother, James C. Morgan.
Friends may call on Friday, November 27, 2015, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 27, 2015, at 12:00 pm at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with officiating.
Interment will be in the Brown Chapel Cemetery in Broseley, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.
James Brian Smelser passed away on November 23, 2015 in Dexter, Missouri. The son of Dennis and Janie Smelser of Dexter, Missouri, Brian was born in Paragould, Arkansas on March 10, 1975. Brian was a graduate of Dexter High School with honors, and a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri with a Bachelor of Science degree in Unified Science with an emphasis on biology.
Brian taught high school science in the Risco and Richland school districts for three and one half years.
Later, Brian went back to college and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas in Radiologic Technology (emphasis MRI) and was a MRI Technician at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri for the past 10 years.
Brian’s survivors include his parents, Dennis and Janie Smelser; one brother, Shaun Smelser; one sister-in-law, Emily Smelser; a niece, Lillianne Smelser; and a nephew, Emmett Smelser, all of Jackson, Missouri; and an aunt, Linda Morrow; and cousins, Keith and wife Michelle, and their son Briar Morrow, all of Paragould, Arkansas. Brian is also survived by two special friends, Pam Powell of Sikeston, Missouri, and Andy Spratt of St. Louis, Missouri, and his work family at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
Brian was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, James and Sylvia Morrow of the Stanford Community in Arkansas; paternal grandmother, Faye Smelser Partlow; and step grandfather, J. K. “Buster” Partlow, both of Paragould, Arkansas. He was also preceded in death by his uncle, Wendell Morrow of Paragould, Arkansas.
Brian was an amateur meteorologist, an avid reader, and enjoyed cooking and trying new recipes. He was also a fan of old TV shows, and a collector of Transformers. His favorite pastime was doting on his two rescue cats, Kari and Kagome. He was a member of the New Hope Fellowship Church in St. Louis.
Visitation and funeral service will be held at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri on Tuesday, November 24, 2015, with Mark Snider officiating the services, and Andy Spratt giving the eulogy. Visitation begins at 5:00 PM followed by the funeral service at 6:30 PM. There will also be a graveside service at 10:00 AM the following morning (Wednesday) at Memorial Gardens in Paragould, Arkansas.
Serving as pallbearers will be Keith Morrow, Jerry Dorton, Brett Dorton, Ron Atherton, Dennis Reel, and Alan Hedrick. Andy Spratt is serving as an honorary pallbearer.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or memorials in his name to the Paragould Children’s Home at 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, AR 72450-3319.
The family expresses its thanks to all Brian’s family and friends for their support during his illness and for the compassionate care received at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, and Crowley’s Ridge Care Center in Dexter, Missouri, and Preferred Hospice in Dexter, Missouri.
Tonie Kay Benfield Toburen, daughter of the late Luther Benfield and Beatrice Shearer Benfield, was born on January 5, 1951 and departed this life at her residence in Puxico, Missouri on November 20, 2015 at the age of 64.
Mrs. Toburen is survived by four sons, Scott Johnson of Senath, Missouri, Jeff Edwards of Alvin, Texas, Chris Edwards of Puxico, Missouri and Stephen Edwards of Burnet, Texas; by one daughter, Kelly Benfield Cutrell of Dexter, Missouri; by two brothers, Russell Benfield of Bowling Green, Missouri and Richard Benfield of Puxico, Missouri; by one sister, Vickie Pettes of Puxico, Missouri; and by thirteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be conducted at Ebenezar Baptist Church, 609 North Everett Street, Kennett, Missouri on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. with Pastor Charlie Grey officiating.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Charles Dwain Tipton, son of the late Alonzo Judson Tipton and Ida Bell Walker Tipton was born on March 8, 1928 in Bernie and departed this life on November 21, 2015 at his residence in Bernie at the age of 87.
Mr. Tipton was a Veteran of the United States Army and served in the Korean War. He was a farmer and a resident of Bernie. He was a member of the Elk General Baptist Church.
On June 9, 1951 he was united in marriage to Eva Paralee Mason in Piggott, Arkansas. Mrs. Tipton survives of the home in Bernie.
He is survived by one son Alonzo Darrell Tipton of Dexter; by three daughters, Eva Deane Plunkett of Williamsville, Missouri, Rebecca Jean Vineyard of Sevierville, Tennessee and Amy Lee Blough of Bernie; by one brother, Ray Tipton of Fisk; by one sister, Maxine Beck of Poplar Bluff; by eight grandchildren, Melissa Cruts, Latesha Mercer, Darrin Tipton, Jody Hovelmann, Julie Hopkins, Jennifer Rulapaugh, Jacob Tipton and Matthew Blough and by eight great grandchildren, Lauren Mercer, Sarah Tipton, Jaydon Rulapaugh, Jocelyn Rulapaugh, Wyatt Hopkins, Walker Hopkins, Luke Blough and Addison Hovelmann.
Besides his parents he was preceded in death by one son, Charles Dwain Tipton Jr.; by three brothers, Delmar Tipton, Dean Tipton and Leon Tipton; by two sisters, Wanda Hardy and Virginia Bishop.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 from NOON until 2:00 P.M.
Funeral services will then be conducted on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 2:00 P.M., with Rev. Joe Ogelvie officiating in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie.
Interment will follow in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery with Full Military Honors.
Mrs. Payne had lived in Lees Summitt, Missouri and moved to Southeast Missouri in 2009. She enjoyed collecting unicorns, crocheting, crafts and cooking.
The love of her life, William "Bill" Bailey preceded her in death on November 14, 2009.
Surviving are one daughter and husband, Julie & Keith Stanley of Williamsville, Missouri; three sons and wives, Eric Keith & Cindy Payne of Parma, Missouri, J. R. Payne & Leisa Binkly of Campbell, Missouri, Jeff & Crystal Payne of Dexter, Missouri; one step-daughter and husband, Erin & Kevin Donahoo of Independence, Missouri; nine grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren; two sisters & husband, Faye & Gerald Smith of Pocahontas, Arkansas, Kay Campbell of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; one brother & wife, Ted & Barbara Head of Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Other relatives and friends survive.
She was preceded in death by two grandchildren and one brother, Larry Head.
Friends may visit from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 24, 2015, at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, November 24, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. at the Bernie Cemetery in Bernie, Missouri with the Rev. Gerald Berger of Qulin, Missouri officiating.
Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery in Bernie, Missouri. Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri in charge of all arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
