Ricky Arlon Ayers, son of the late Arlon Jewel Ayers and Ester L. Gray Ayers was born in Gideon, Missouri on September 10, 1955 and departed this life at his residence in Bernie, Missouri on March 3, 2017 at the age of 61.
Mr. Ayers was a Veteran of the United States Army. He had been in Management Positions for John Deere Company for 25 years and he was a member of the Sunnyvale General Baptist Church of Rural Malden, Missouri.
He was united in marriage to Marilyn Owens in Piggott, Arkansas on July 2, 2014. Mrs. Ayers survives in their home in Bernie.
Other Survivors include two daughters, Natalie Burnside of LaVernia, Texas and Scarlett Dawson of Bernie, Missouri; by two step-daughters, Valerie Crow of Sikeston, Missouri and Jennifer Smith of Bernie, Missouri; by one sister Lorretta Ayers Stone of Bell City, Missouri; by ten grandchildren; also by other relatives and friends.
Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at Bernie Cemetery, Bernie, Missouri starting at 1:00 P.M.
Rev. James Hamlett officiating.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
Velma Pearl Kestner, daughter of the late Charles R. Hurt and Nora Gibson Hurt, was born on May 31, 1924 in Naylor, Missouri and passed away on March 3, 2017 at the Cypress Point Nursing Facility in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 92.
Mrs. Kestner had previously worked at an ammunition plant in St. Louis, Missouri, Brown Shoe Company in Dexter and was a homemaker at her residence in Dudley.
On December 29, 1950, she was united in marriage to Henry P. Kestner. Mr. Kestner preceded her in death on November8, 2013.
Survivors include one son, Henry D. Kestner and his wife, Linda of Dexter; by two grandchildren, Suzanne Kelley and her husband, T.J., Andrew Kestner and his wife, Elisha; by two great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Kelley and Ally Kelley; by two step-great-grandchildren, Kaileb Hill and his wife, Brandy, and Shellbie Hill and by one step-great-great-grandson, Bryson Hill.
Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two sons, John Howard Kestner and Joseph Robert Kestner; by two sisters, Mabel Hurt and Nellie Abbott, and by five brothers, Dow Hurt, Howard Hurt, Donald Hurt, Homer Hurt and Tommy Hurt.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Sunday, March 5, 2017 from 1:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M.
Funeral services will then be conducted on Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 2:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Danny Collins officiating. Interment will follow in the Dudley Cemetery.
Jerry D. O’Neal was born on May 3, 1944 in Malden, Missouri to the late Edward O’Neal & Helen Grable O’Neal. He departed this life on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at the Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 72 years 9 months and 28 days.
Jerry D. O’Neal was a supervisor at a produce warehouse. On August 7, 1982 he was united in marriage to Paulette Whitlock O’Neal in Bernie, Missouri. She survives of the home.
His other survivors include: Son: Jerry O’Neal of Neelyville, Missouri, Daughters: Beth O’Neal of Neelyville, Missouri & Brandy Muzingo of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, five Grandchildren Brother: David O’Neal, Sisters: Robin, Missy Self, Pam & Ronda.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 6, 2017 at 12:00 P.M. at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with Mr. James Powell officiating.
Interment will be in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Edith Maye Frazier of Dexter, daughter of the late Burl "Watermelon" and Maudie Mae Davis Smith, was born in Bragg City, Missouri on July 22, 1942, and passed away at her home in Dexter on March 2, 2017, at the age of 74 years, 7 months and 8 days.
She had lived in the Dexter area most of her life. She was a home maker and had attended a non-denominational church. She enjoyed playing bingo, gardening and flowers at her house.
On September 30, 1962, she married Ulise Ray Frazier in Kennett, Missouri.
Surviving are her husband, Ray Frazier of Dexter; one daughter, Phyllis Harris of Greenville; two sons, Phillip Ray Frazier of Dexter, Dennis Frazier of Wappapello; a grandson she raised, Phillip Ray Frazier, II of Dexter; six grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; four brothers, Fred, Jonia, & Lloyd Smith all of Dexter, Floyd Smith of Poplar Bluff; one sister, Burlis Jean Burnett of Dexter.
She was preceded in death by one grandson, Benjamin Rushing, six brothers and three sisters.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 5, 2017, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Watkins & Sons Funeral Service in Dexter, Missouri.
Funeral service will be held Monday, March 6, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel with Bro. Dale Presley of Dexter officiating.
Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery in Dexter, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
info@watkinsfuneralhome.com or phone 573 624 3548
Bertha Newell, age 81, of Bloomfield, Missouri passed away Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at her home.
She was born December 7, 1935, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Ferdinand and Claudina Jones Jaco. She and Adam Lee Newell were married November 1, 1952 in Millersville. He passed away June 15, 2004.
Bertha was ordained to the ministry in1969. She ministered at Bell City Pentecostal Church and the Apostolic Assembly Church in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, retiring in 2002. She was a member of Greater Vision Church in Chaffee, Missouri.
Loving survivors include two sons, Ronald “Dale” (Donna) Newell and Adam “Eddie” (Wanda) Newell all of Bloomfield; two sisters-in-law, Judy (the late Cletus) Jaco and June (the late Pete) Jaco of Jackson; grandchildren, John (Angela) Newell, Joeye (Una) Newell, Christina (Darin) Rogers, Niomie (Keith) Zoellner, Adam “Little Eddie”(Chelsie) Newell, Breanna (Finney) Eddington, Amanda (Andy) Chism, Terry Thomas, Laurie Houston, Mike Houston, and LaDonna Powell; great-grandchildren, Nathan Newell, Joeye Newell, Jr., Lonnie Newell, Kamy Newell, Tiffany Hovis, Ricky Hovis, Louis Rogers, Maci Zoellner, Tate Zoellner, Kylee Zoellner, Maybree Newell, Chelsey Chism, Andy Chism, Anabella Chism, Heather (Aaron) Nelson, Ashley Bess and Devon Powell; great-great-grandchildren, Austin Nelson, Abby Nelson, Deliah Bess, Trinity Thomas, Tylee Thomas and Kayson Thomas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant daughter, Nancy Lee Newell, two sisters and brothers-in-law, Clara (Bob) Wright, Margaret (Bud) Barks, and two brothers, Cletus and Pete Jaco.
The visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Friday, March 3, 2017 at chapel A of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at the funeral home, with the Rev. Robert Poe officiating.
Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.
The family suggests that contributions be made to Greater Vision Pentecostal Church in Chaffee.
