Elvin Gaines, son of the late Fount Gaines and Josie White Gaines was born on March 30, 1923 in Dudley, Missouri and departed this life on January 7, 2017 at the Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 93.
Mr. Gaines retired from General Motors in Pontiac, Michigan, member of the Dexter First Church of the Nazarene, and a resident of Dexter.
On July 1, 1944, he was united in marriage to Betty Jo Webb in Keego Harbor, Michigan. Mrs. Gaines preceded him in death on November 29, 1996.
Survivors include one son, Larry Gaines of Dexter; one daughter, Dana McClure and husband Dan of Dexter; by one brother, Melvin Leo Gaines of Winter Haven, Florida; seven grandchildren, Laura Cooper (Charles) of Dexter, Scott Boroff (Kim) of Danville, California, Christy McMullin (Robert) of Dexter, Cheri Wells (Tim) of Sikeston, Jeff Kraft of Cape Girardeau, Brian Kraft of Clarkston, Michigan, Catherine Craft (Keith) of Dexter; also by fourteen great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, William G. Gaines; one daughter, Jolene Kraft; by four brothers, Clayton Gaines, Earl Gaines, Coy Gaines, Cecil Gaines; also by two sisters, Thelma Stacy and Ilene Gaines.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. Thursday January 12, 2017.
Funeral services will then be conducted on Thursday at 11:00 A.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Rev. Doug West officiating.
Interment will follow at the Armstead Dowdy Cemetery.
Family request that memorials can be made to Dexter Senior/Nutrition Center, 23 West Stoddard Street, Dexter, Missouri 63841: Stoddard County ARC, P.O. Box 444, Dexter, Missouri 63841: or The Salvation Army, 1035 East Malone Ave, Sikeston, Missouri 63801.
Jerry Mercer, son of the late Roy and Geneva Ashworth Mercer was born on July 31, 1935 in Bristow, Oklahoma and departed this life on January 7, 2017 at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell, Missouri at the age of 81.
Mr. Mercer was a supervisor of the Quality Control unit of the Tetrapak Company in Sikeston for forty years. He was a resident of Bloomfield.
He is survived by one daughter, Debra Gail Robinson of Dexter; by two sisters, Belva McCoy of Rockwall, Texas and Shirley Sullivan of Tulsa, Oklahoma; by one grandchild, Jay Roberts of Jackson, Tennessee and one great-grandchild, Jacob Roberts of Flatwood, Kentucky.
A memorial service will be conducted on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at 1:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Jim Davis officiating.
Walter Samuel Wyman of Essex, son of the late William Oscar and Nancy Delena Payne Wyman, was born at Trailback, Missouri on June 16, 1928, and passed away peacefully at his home in rural Essex, Missouri on January 6, 2017, at the age of 88 years, 6 months and 21 days.
Walter had lived in the Essex area all of his life. He had farmed and was a bus driver for the Richland Public Schools for 34 years. He was a member of the Essex Lions Club and was a past member of several area saddle clubs.
He was a member of the St. Joe General Baptist Church where he served as deacon. He had served as a deacon at several churches since the 1960's.
On September 21, 1946, he married Henrietta Louise Schacherbauer in Grayridge, Missouri. She preceded him in death on September 22, 1986. On February 22, 2002, he married Barbara Sherrill McGarity in Dexter.
Surviving are his wife, Barbara Wyman of Essex; daughter, Sandra Smith of Lake Wales, Florida; two grandsons, Bryan (Kirstin) Wyman and Todd (Elizabeth) Wyman all of St. Louis, two step-sons, Dennis (Vanessa) McGarity of Sikeston, Ralph (Linda) McGarity of Paducah, Kentucky; two step-daughters, Sharon Gill of Jackson, Lisa (Doug) Wethington of Slidell, Louisiana; eight step grandchildren; five great grandchildren; seven step-great grandchildren; three special nephews, Gary, Steven & David Wyman. Many other nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends also survive.
He was preceded in death by a son, Sam Wyman; sister, Ruth Evelyn Wyman, and two sisters in infancy, and two brothers, Marvin Wyman, Harold Wyman, step-son, Randy McGarity.
Friends may call on Monday, January 9, 2017, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.
Services will be held on Monday, January 9, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter with Rev. Rick Roberts of Essex and Rev. Greg Stevens of Bloomfield officiating.
Interment will be in the Bluff Cemetery near Idalia, Missouri, with Watkins & Sons of Dexter in charge of all the arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the Stoddard County Childrens Home, P O Box 164, Dexter, MO 63841
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service - www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Hester Lou Robertson, daughter of the late Haywood Edwards and Mable Ross Johnson was born in Parma, Missouri on January 6, 1940 and departed this life at her residence in Bernie, Missouri on January 7, 2017 at the age of 77.
Mrs. Robertson had worked at Overturf’s Drug Store in Bernie, Missouri for over 35 Years as a Pharmacy Tech before her retirement. She was in the American Legion Auxiliary, and attended Bernie General Baptist Church.
She was united in marriage to Edward “Robbie” Robertson in St. Louis, Missouri on May 22, 1962. He survives in their home in Bernie.
Other survivors include, one son, Marcus Eric Robertson of Bernie, Missouri; by one daughter, Melanie Elaine Gonia & husband Ben of Plover, Wisconsin; by one brother, Michael Joe Edwards of Bernie, Missouri; by two sisters, Martha Sue Coram of Malden, Missouri and Anna Faye McGowen of Bernie, Missouri; by three grandchildren, Michelle Robertson, Marcus Robertson Jr. & Starla Williams; by one great-grandson, Kristopher; also by other relatives and many friends.
She was preceded in death other than by her parents, by one son, Michael Edward Robertson; by one brother in infancy, Howard Wilson Edwards.
Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Monday, January 9, 2017 from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.
Funeral Services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie on Tuesday afternoon, January 10, 2017 at 1:00 P.M.
Rev. Steve Fitzpatrick officiating. Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery. Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie in charge of arrangements.
William Kenneth Link, Sr., formerly of Bloomfield, son of the late Jesse Oscar and Pearl Ada Walker Link, was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on August 25, 1927, and passed way at the St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock, Arkansas on January 4, 2017 at the age of 89 years, 4 months and 10 days.
He had lived in Lancaster, California and then returned to Bloomfield in 1974. He was a veteran of the U.S Air Force and had worked as an aircraft electronics inspector with NASA before he retired.
On October 3, 1976, he was married to Glenda “Toots” Cartwright Hardin in Las Vegas, Nevada. She preceded him in death on January 7, 2008.
Surviving are one son, William “Bill” Link of Dexter; two grandchildren & spouses, Beckie & James King of Sidney, Arkansas, Paul Link & Erin Creley of St. Albans, Vermont; two great grandchildren, Shelbie King of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Alan King of Sidney, Arkansas; one step-daughter, Cheryl Zimmerman of Dexter. Other relatives and friends also survive.
He was preceded in death by one son, Dale Link, a brother, Jesse Link and two sisters, Lois Capps and Marva Lou Rampley.
Friends may call on Saturday, January 7, 2017, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield with of Bloomfield officiating.
Interment will be on Monday, January 9, 2017 at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield with Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home - 573-568-4500
www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
