Robert E. Martin of Wappapello, son of the late George L. Martin and Neva Brooks Martin Moore, was born in St. Louis, Missouri on August 26, 1926, and passed away in his home in Wappapello, Missouri on August 30, 2017, at the age of 91 years and 4 days.

Robert lived in St. Louis for many years and worked as a dental technician. He moved to Wappapello in 1989.

Robert married Ollie Mae Taft on August 25, 1951 in St Louis Missouri.

Surviving are his wife, Ollie Martin of Wappapello; three sons, John A. Martin of Parma, Missouri, Michael J. Martin of St. Louis, Missouri, Robert M. Martin of Troy, Missouri; five daughters, Sandra P. Samson of Wright City, Missouri; Cheryl A. Gibbear of Wappapello, Missouri, Debbie K. Martin of San Antonio, Texas, Patricia S. Willyard of Wappapello, Missouri, Robin M. Stidem of Desloge, Missouri; twenty one grandchildren; twenty five great grandchild; two great great grandchildren; and one brother, Raymond Martin of Hazelwood, Missouri.

He is preceded in death by one grandson; Christopher Allen Martin; four brothers; George L. Martin, James Martin, Donnie Moore and Joseph Moore. Many nieces, nephews and other family and friends also survive.

There are no services scheduled at this time.

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 

Pauline Jane Whitener, daughter of the late Sebastian Cab Whitener and Lillie M. Lee Whitener was born on February 1, 1924 in Detroit, Michigan and departed this life on August 31, 2017 at Southeast Health of Stoddard County in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 93.

Pauline was a Beautician and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Dexter.

Survivors include one niece, Florene Lee and husband Sug of Bernie Missouri.

Besides her parents, she is preceded in death by one brother, Paul Lee Whitener.

Friends may call at the Rainey Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, September 2, 2017 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.  

Services will be conducted on Saturday, September 2, 2017 at 2:00 PM at the Rainey Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Rev. Ron Beaton officiating.

Interment will follow at the Dexter Cemetery.

Dale Herbert Gaebler, 78, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017 at his residence.

Dale, the son of the late Herbert and Bertha Lueker Gaebler, was born Nov. 15, 1938 in Parma, Mo.

He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and had retired as Transportation Director for the Poplar Bluff R-1 School District. Dale proudly served from 1958 to 1967 in the Missouri Army National Guard. He was a devoted husband, father, brother and grandfather and loved to spend time with his family. Dale enjoyed working at “The Farm” and taking care of his mules.

On April 23, 1963, he married Wanda Gambill in Poplar Bluff. She survives.

Other survivors include two children, Timothy Dale Gaebler and his wife Cindy and Anita Leigh Cates and her husband James of Poplar Bluff; five grandchildren: David Gaebler of Charleston, Mo., Colter Gaebler and fiancé Shelly White, Alex Gaebler Payton Cates and Brileigh Cates of Poplar Bluff; and two sisters: Irene R. Hamm of Poplar Bluff and Erma Berg of Grafton, Wisc.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday in the funeral chapel with Tim Gaebler officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery

Memorials may be made to the Jefferson Barracks POW/MIA Museum, P.O. Box 67, St. Charles, MO 63302.

John Charles Chesser was born October 4, 1935 in Desert, Texas to Bennie Earl Chesser and Pauline Goodwin Chesser. He died Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at Wilson N. Jones Medical Center in Sherman, Texas at the age of 81. He was a resident of Tom Bean, Texas.

John was a retired employee of Texas Power and Light Company. He was a regular contributor to the Parkinson's Foundation and a member of the Baptist faith. John married his wife Louise "Skip" on May 16, 1980 in Whitewright, Texas with Rev. Houston Garner officiating. He greatly loved his family. He loved to share joy and laughter. He was a wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was greatly loved and will be missed.

He is survived by his beloved sidekick Wrinkles; daughter-in-law, Michelle Chesser of Denison; son, Earl Chesser and wife Donna of Whitewright; daughter, Bev Gunn of Tom Bean; daughter, Judy Smith of McKinney; son, Scott Chesser and wife Cynthia of Dexter, Missouri; grandchildren, Kristy (Terry) Caldwell. Danielle (Sterling) Wells, John Michael Chesser, Angela Chesser, Stephanie Chesser, Stacy (Gary) Brewer, Jennifer Cummings, Jordan Smith, Austin Chesser, and Matthew Chesser; 6 great-granchildren; sisters, Billie Short of Blue Ridge and Sharon Fleming and husband Larry of Sherman; numerous nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Louise "Skip" Chesser; son, John T. Chesser; grandson, Brian Chesser; sister, Mildred Watkins and husband Chuck; and son-in-law, Bob Gunn. 

Funeral Services will be held 12:00 PM, Saturday, September 2, 2017 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel, Whitewright, Texas.

Officiating the service will be Rev. Houston Garner. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Whitewright, Texas.

Pallbearers will be John Michael Chesser, Jordan Smith, Austin Chesser, Matthew Chesser, Larry Fleming, and Leamon Ray Chandler.

William Loyd “Dub” Conner, son of the late Loyd Oceal Conner and Bessie Clone Knight Conner was born on November 6, 1933 in Dexter and departed this life on August 28, 2017 at the Central Gardens Residential Care Facility in Dexter at the age of 83.

Mr. Conner was a Veteran of the United States Army and served in the Korean War.  He was a member of the Hopewell General Baptist Church and had attended the First Baptist Church.  Mr. Conner served for nine years on the Richland School Board.  

He was a member of the Essex Masonic lodge for fifty years and served twenty-five years on the local Co-op board.  He enjoyed fishing and playing golf and spent forty-three years farming from 1954-1997.

On January 17, 1953, he was united in marriage to Eloise Causey in her parents’ home.  Mrs. Conner survives him and resides in Dexter.

Dub is survived by one son, Dale Conner and wife Bev of Ellsinore, Missouri; by two daughters, Diana and husband Larry Mayberry of Dexter and Karen and husband Frank Ninos of Denver, Colorado; by one son-in-law, Dale Hardin of Parma; by ten grandchildren, Jamie Dawn Kuykendall and husband Jeremy, Matthew Mayberry and wife Katie, Jeremy Conner, Sarah Lawfield and husband Jarrett, Marissa Mills and husband Matt, Casey White and husband Trey, Jessica Hunter and husband John, Alexis Payne and husband Jamie, Cody Conner and wife Lorna and John Michael Ninos; and by seventeen great-grandchildren, Hayden Conner, Lanie Grey Mills, Conner Kuykendall, Hanna Rose Conner, Drew White, Lindy Lawfield, Cain Kuykendall, Emerson Hunter, Hudson White, Barrett Mills, Sawyer Mayberry, Bristol Lawfield, Sophia Payne, Johnny Hunter, Sylvia Mayberry, William Lawfield and Caroline Payne.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by one daughter, Linda Hardin and by one sister, Marlene Nelson.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, August 31, 2017 from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.  

Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, September 1, 2017 at 10:00 A.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Mike Williams officiating.  

Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with Full Military Honors.

In lieu of flowers the family requests all memorials be made to the Disabled Veterans Wildlife facility, P.O. Box 372, Dexter, Missouri 63841 or the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery Assistance League.