Former Missouri state representative and Mississippi County court judge, Frederick William "Fred" DeField, age 90, died Monday, December 14, 2015, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.
Fred was a native to Southeast Missouri, born June 1, 1925 in Bertrand, Missouri to the late Edward David and Etna Hay DeField. Though successful in every career he pursued, most notably in politics, Fred was best known for his humor, spirit of adventure, and ability to tell a story that could quiet a room. He often told his grandchildren about his days of train hopping as a youth, riding the rails with the vagabonds in order to sign up to serve his country in the Navy. Though he was turned away for being underage (a few times), Fred’s stubborn persistence to serve—a trait that defined his political success and passion for public service for over fifty years—eventually triumphed. During the dark days of World War 2, he joined the Navy at only 17 years old.
Initially assigned to a naval infantry brigade, Lion 4, he was later attached to a mine warfare detachment producing sea mines to drop off the coast of Japan. After an explosion at the mine facility killed 33 men and obliterated the facility, Fred was given an engineering assignment on the Island of Tinian. During his tenure on Tinian he personally saw both the Enola Gay and Boxcar leave and return on their assignment to drop the atomic bombs on Japan.
On January 1, 1946 while still on Tinian over 100 Japanese soldiers, who had just learned that the war was over, came down from the mountains and surrendered to the first American soldier they saw - Fred DeField. The surrender, however, was interrupting Fred’s New Year’s festivities, so he promptly directed them on to headquarters. The incident was written up in the Stars and Stripes newsletter.
After Tinian, Fred was assigned to the Estes, the command ship of the Iwo Jima campaign. During his tenure on the Estes, the ship was assigned to the Atomic energy commission for atomic testing in the Pacific, taking part in over 10 atomic testings culminating in the testing of the first hydrogen bomb.
Later, Fred served on the Estes as it was docked in Saigon in the early days of the Vietnam campaign. In 1961, he played a role in the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba by taking a landing craft from Key West to Cuba and landing Cuban mercenaries on the beach in Cuba.
In 1968, Fred completed a life-long dream of entering politics. That year he ran for and was elected representative of the 160th district of Missouri (which encompassed Charleston and East Prairie). He served 12 years in that position until his appointment as Missouri Director of Farmers Home Administration, a U.S. government agency dedicated to extending credit for agriculture and rural development.
After Fred’s tenure at Farmers Home, he returned back to Charleston where he was elected Presiding Judge of the County Court. He served in that position for 3 terms. His passion for politics kept him active in the Democratic party for years.
In addition to being the great patriarch of the DeField family, he was selected Charleston’s Man of the Year in 2010 for his leadership in the Charleston community. As leader of Boy Scout Troop #33 for a number of years, Fred mentored hundreds of young boys in their transition from youth to manhood. Many of which refer to him as a father today. Ever the adventurer, Fred enjoyed traveling with his family, particularly to national historic sites and National Parks. Fred loved working on his farm in southern Illinois, which kept him active to the end.
On November 13, 1955 he married Dorothy Lee Bryant who preceded him in death on October 10, 2012.
He is survived by: his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Robert and Lynda DeField of Marathon, FL; daughter, Lee DeField Fraley of Sikeston; two grandsons: Rick Slaughter and his wife Tracy of Orlando, FL and Zach Fraley of Denver, CO; one granddaughter, Andrea DeField, Esq. of Miami, FL; and three great-granddaughters: McKenzie Slaughter of East Prairie, and Logan and Mikayla Slaughter of Orlando, FL; also of great help and comfort to him in his final years was his strong friendship with Sandy Harvey. Fred is survived also by his wonderful extended family and friends throughout Missouri.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by one son, Bryant DeField, one grandson, Scott Slaughter; three brothers, Edward DeField, Bruce DeField, and Gerald H. DeField; and one sister, Mildred Ruth DeField Gilmore.
Fred’s life was defined by service, humor, leadership, and congeniality - all qualities which will live on in the lives he touched and characters he molded.
Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, December 18, 2015 at the McMikle Funeral Home.
Visitation will resume at Noon, Saturday, December 19, 2015, and continue until the funeral hour at 1:00 p.m., at the United Methodist Church in Charleston. Rev. David Collum, pastor, will officiate.
Interment will follow at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery near Charleston with full military rites provided by the United States Navy and the Missouri Military Honors Program.
Pallbearers will be: George Gilmore, Marvin Gilmore, Bruce DeField, Dan DeField, G.W. Gilmore and Billy French.
The family requests memorials be made to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142 Memphis, TN 38101-9980
United Methodist Church P.O. Box 351 Charleston, MO 63834
He had lived in Puxico, Missouri for many years.
He had been a minister, pastoring at Walker General Baptist Church for fourteen years and at the Taylor General Baptist Church the past nineteen and a half years and was a member of the Calvary's Way Association. He had been an auctioneer and was a member of the Auctioneers Association in Missouri and Arkansas. He had a love for fishing, playing his guitar, gospel music and especially loved spending time with his family.
On March 10, 1961, he was married to Wilma Baker in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Surviving are his wife, Wilma Pennington of Puxico; one son, Jerry Lee, Jr. and Susan Pittman of Puxico, Missouri; four daughters, Belinda & William McCormick and Ella & Steve Sperino all of Puxico, Paula & Terry Hester and Mary Ashley & Justin Hockersmith all of Dexter; eleven grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; two brothers, Bill & Christine Pennington of Bloomfield, Jasper Pennington of Dexter; two sisters, Darlene Willard of Puxico and Deloris Phillips of Dexter.
Visitation will be held on Monday December 14, 2015, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.
Funeral services will be Tuesday December 15, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with Rev. Ray Placher of Puxico, Missouri officiating.
Interment will follow in the Walker Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.
Margaret Cox daughter of the late P.D. Allen and Ilah Oberbey Allen was born on June 21, 1926 in Lamar, Arkansas and departed this life on December 9, 2015 at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter at the age of 89.
Mrs. Cox was a member of the Dexter Church of Christ and a resident of Dexter. She had worked at the Collier Company as a licensed real estate agent before retiring.
On November 25, 1972 she was united in marriage to Paul Bland Cox in Dexter. Mr. Cox preceded her in death on August 22, 2011.
She is survived by one son, Ron and his wife Nora Hardin of Dexter; by three daughters, Carolyn and her husband Jim Bowling of Puxico, Patricia Burge of Poplar Bluff and Karen and her husband Gary Blocker of Poplar Bluff; by seven grandchildren, Tonya Pride, Scott and wife Jennifer Bowling, Misty and husband Michael Wiseman, Cory and wife Stacy Blocker, Justin Hardin, Emilee Young and Sarah Kingree; by sixteen great grandchildren; one great-great grandson; by one brother, Larry Allen of Las Vegas, Nevada; by one step-son, Ronald Lee Cox of Branson, Missouri and by one step-daughter, Connie and husband Willard Bean of Jefferson City, Missouri.
Besides her husband and parents she was preceded in death by three brothers, Harold Dean Allen, D.F. Allen and John Allen, and by one sister, Billie Jean Allen.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, December 12, 2015 from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Stan Dauck officiating.
Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family requests all memorials be made to the Stoddard County Children’s Home, P.O. Box 164, Dexter, Missouri 63841.
Mr. Swinger lived in Dexter all his life. He had worked as a mechanic at the Autry Morlan Car Dealership.
He was a member of the Freedom of Road Riders for 26 years and had been a founding member.
Surviving are one brother, Paul Swinger of Dexter, Missouri; special friends, Mary Reeves of Dexter, Missouri and Ramona Morgan of Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Other relatives and friends survive. He was preceded in death by one sister, Phyllis Ward.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. at the Dexter Eagles Aerie in Dexter, Missouri.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Mary Ellen Pippins passed away on December 7, 2015, at the Country Club Care Facility in Warrensburg, MO. Mary was born on February 13, 1931 in Dexter, MO, the daughter of the late Edison and Hallie Evans.
Her husband Bill Pippins of 65 years survives her, along with her son, Bill Pippins, Jr, and his fiancé, Karen Freeman and daughter, Nancy Pippins Rogers and her husband Ivan. She also has 3 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Grandchildren, Matthew Pippins and wife Hollie of Dexter, MO, Amanda Corbett of Warrensburg, MO and Matthew Rogers of Warrensburg, MO. Her great grandchild is Spencer Grace Pippins, daughter of Matt and Hollie Pippins. She also is survived by many nieces and nephews. Mary Ellen was one of 5 children. Surviving are 2 sisters, Patricia Williams of Cape Girardeau and Judy Rimel of Dexter, MO.
Her brother, Bill Evans and sister, Betty Ann Mouser preceded her in death.
Mary Ellen was a farm wife, pharmacist tech and teacher's aid to the Dexter Public Schools Middle School Special Education Class.
She was a member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Dexter, MO and was a member the Beacon Sunday School Class and CWF (Christian Women’s Fellowship). Mary also filled in as Sunday School Teacher on occasions. She loved her church family and attended faithfully for many years before moving to Warrensburg. Having spent most of her life on the farm, Mary Ellen developed a love for all animals. That love existed right up to the last few days with time spent with the song birds housed at the care center.
Funeral Services will be conducted at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home on Friday, December 11, 2015.
Visitation will be at 10:00 am with the funeral service at 11:00 am.
Reverend Michael Williams of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will officiate.
Burial will be at the Stoddard County Veteran’s Cemetery near Bloomfield following the funeral service.
The family wishes that any memorials be made to the Memorial Fund of the First Christian Church, 224 East Stoddard, Dexter, MO 63841 or Serenity Hospice, 1626 E. Elm Street Harrisonville, MO 64701.
