Bettye Joyce Braun, daughter of the late Jesse Davis Pierce and Mary Alice Gann Braun, was born one June 6, 1935 in Blytheville, Mississippi County, Arkansas and departed this life on March 2, 2016 at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 80.
Mrs. Braun was of the Baptist faith, a homemaker and a resident of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She grew up in Blytheville, Arkansas on a farm south of town. She attended Burdette School. Her dad was a Baptist Minister and her mother played the piano and was a good cook. The family had fruit trees, grape vines, herbs, horses, cows, hogs and chickens. They raised a huge garden and had “Hog Killing Day.” They had plenty of pork, fruit and vegetables.
On May 25, 1964, she was united in marriage to Richard David Braun in Blytheville, Mississippi County, Arkansas. Mr. Braun preceded her in death on May 28, 2012.
Bettye’s husband retired from the United States Air Force and she was with him in many travels. After retirement, they moved to Largo, Florida near his relatives and lived there for several years. Then they moved to Dexter on March 26, 2002 to be near her sisters, Virginia Reed and Veleta Stutts. They enjoyed several good years in Dexter
She is survived by one daughter, Jacqueline Suzette (Hawkins) Davis and husband Larry of Beebe, Arkansas; by two sons, David Gene Brown of Cape Girardeau, Missouri and David Andrew Braun and wife Laura of Salisbury, North Carolina; by one sister, Mary Virginia (Pierce) Reed and husband Wafe of Dexter, Missouri; by six grandchildren, George Vincent Hawkins, Emily Georganna (Hawkins) Hulsey, Donavan Davis, Isabella Victoria Brown, Megan Alyssa Braun and Mallory Alana Braun; by four great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Emma Fayth Hulsey, Gavin Alexander Benjamin Hulsey, Kara Leigh Hawkins and Nathan Hawkins; and many nieces and nephews.
Bettye and Richard had a great-nephew, Kurt Randall Pierce, from Dowagriac, Michigan, who lived with them for several years. He graduated from Dexter Senior High School and then attended Three Rivers College in Dexter for a period of time. Kurt later left Dexter and is presently working in the state of Virginia.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by six brothers, James Elvin Hood, Jesse Burette Pierce, Dewey Lee Pierce, James Russell Pierce, Wilburn Ray Pierce and Franklin Delano Pierce and by three sisters, Geneva Geraldine (Pierce) Hamilton, Veleta Frances (Pierce) Stutts and Reba Lois (Pierce) Eslinger.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, March 4, 2016 from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M.
A graveside service will follow on Friday, March 4, 2016 at Chalk Bluff Cemetery in Dexter with Rev. Greg McGhee officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Heartland Quilt Guild, c/o Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home, 125 West Stoddard Street, Dexter, Missouri 63841.
Marion “Bud” W. Phillips, son of Albert Jordan Phillips and Dorothy Graves Phillips, was born on June 28, 1932 in Dexter, Mo. and died on February 28, 2016. He was united in marriage to Mary E. Jackson of Dexter on May 22, 1951.
Mr. Phillips served in the Air Force during the Korean War for 3-1/2 years. Upon his retirement as an accountant, he returned to Dexter where he loved to sing at many of the nursing homes and at New Bethel General Baptist Church.
Marion was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Helen Robinett. Survivors include his wife Mary, son Marion B. Phillips of Dexter, and daughter Carol E. Kannes of Phoenix, Az. His grandchildren are Nicole and Logan Kannes; Robert, Joshua, and Matthew Phillips.
Visitation will be held on Friday March 4th at 9:30 AM with services beginning at 11 AM. Burial will follow at Mo. State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Donations in lieu of flower may be given to Stoddard County Childrens’ Home.
Ronald "Sonny" James Mays, son of the late Herman Buford Mays and Virgin Hodge Mays, was born on October 8, 1944 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and departed this life at his residence in Bloomfield, Missouri on February 29, 2016 at the age of 71 years.
Mr. Mays was a member of St. Joe General Baptist Church in Idalia, Missouri. He graduated from Richland Senior High School in 1962 and worked as a farmer and a truck driver for Hart Transport.
On January 20, 1996, he was united in marriage to Gene Fowler. Mrs. Mays survives of the home.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by one daughter, Dianna Mays-Nielson and husband Brandon of Farmington, Missouri; by three grandchildren, Amberlain Nielson, Caylen Nielson and Emery Nielson; by one step-son, Vallie Griffin of Dexter, Missouri; by two step-grandchildren, Chelsey Duckett and Michael Griffin; by two step-great-grandchildren, Kali Duckett and Lainey Duncan; by two sisters, Brenda Thurber of Rush Springs, Oklahoma and Sue Swinger-Ellbogen of Chicago, Illinois.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Margaret Payne, in 1986.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. with Rev. Greg Stevens and Rev. Dan Sitze officiating.
Interment will follow in the Bloomfield Cemetery.
Dennis Keith Fears, son of the late John Fears and Mary Neal Fears, was born on August 25, 1955 in Elgin, Illinois and departed this life on February 29, 2016 at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 60.
Mr. Fears worked for Federal Mogul in Production Control for fifteen years at Malden, Missouri. After retiring from Federal Mogul, he worked as a property manager. He was a resident of Clarkton, Missouri.
He is survived by one daughter, Jayme Harris and her husband Nathan of Campbell, Missouri; by one brother Mike Fears of Branson, Missouri; by three sisters, Kim Rendleman and husband Alan of Springfield, Missouri, Cindy Bowman and husband Eddie of Dexter, Missouri and Joni Burleson and husband Jeff of Dexter, Missouri; by three grandchildren, Jake Harris, Ella Harris and Stryker Harris; by several nieces and nephews and by many friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Ben Fears.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, on Thursday, March 3, 2016 from 6:00 P.M. till 8:00 P.M. Graveside services will be conducted at the Bernie Cemetery on Friday, March 4, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. with Rev. Tim Ingle officiating.
The Family request that donations be made to the Ben Fears Scholarship Fund, c/o Bernie High School, 516 West Main Avenue, Bernie, Missouri 63822
Arrangements are under the direction of the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home.
Eva Paralee Tipton, daughter of the late Larence Eugene Mason and Edith Opal Fields Mason, was born in Bernie, Missouri
On January 2, 1934 and departed this life at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing in Dexter, Missouri on February 28, 2016 at the age of 82.
Mrs. Tipton was a homemaker, had worked for Brown Shoe Company of Bernie, had completed her LPN and was a nurse at Malden Nursing Center & Golden Living Center of Dexter before her retirement. She was a member of Elk General Baptist Church.
She was united in marriage to Charles Dwain Tipton in Piggott, Arkansas on June 9, 1951. Mr. Tipton preceded his wife in death on November 21, 2015.
Survivors include 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 two brothers, Jim Mason and L.C. Mason both of Bernie, Missouri; by three sisters, Anglee Barnes of Bernie, Missouri, Wilma Burch of Wappapello, Missouri and Linda O’Daniel of Bloomfield, Missouri; 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; also by other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death other than by her parents and her husband, by one son, Charles Dwain Tipton Jr., by one brother, Gene Mason, by three sisters, Mildred Hampton, Alma Poespeshil and Nina Hartle.
Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 from 11:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel at 2:00 P.M.
Interment will follow in Chalk Bluff Cemetery, Dexter, Missouri. Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
