Edith Pauline Griffin Parks went to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 23, 2017. She was living in Dallas with her daughter and son-in-law, Hermena and Harold Holigan.

Edith was born on June 17, 1917, in the country outside of Clarksville, Arkansas to Ruby Harvey Griffin and Tom Griffin. She was the fourth of eleven children. She was able to complete 8th grade before having to help support her family full time. Edith married J.D. Parks on October 21,1939, in Benton County, Missouri. Edith was always a hard worker, whether it was gardening, canning, quilting, cooking, working as a nurse’s aid, as a member of Providence Baptist Church, or caring for her extensive family. Her education was limited by circumstances, but her wisdom was not. Edith was strong, funny, honest, and faithful. She met her death with confidence in her God and savior. While we will mourn her absence, her family is grateful that Edith is at home and at peace, with those who went before her.

Edith is survived by her daughter, Hermena Parks (Harold) Holigan of Dallas Texas; six grandchildren, Michael Holigan and Sarah Holigan of Dallas, Texas; Rebecca (Chris) Smeltzer of Brentwood, Tennessee; Lisa Strehlow of Euless, Texas; Julie (Brian) Wiblin of Plano, Texas; and Paul (Jolie) Grant of Yakima, Washington; and fifteen great-grandchildren; one brother, Glen Griffin of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; two sisters, Jean Roberts and Dorothy Arnold of Bedford, Indiana. Edith was preceded in death by her husband, J.D. Parks, her son, Jerry Parks, two sisters, Hazel Griffin and Louise Henson, and five brothers, James, Archie, Marvin, Tommy, and Carl Lee Griffin.

Friends may call after 6 pm on Tuesday, December 26th at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 27th?at 11:00 am at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Puxico, Missouri, with Donald Adams of Matthews, Missouri and Larry Tucker of Sikeston, Missouri officiating.

Interment will follow in the Rock Hill Cemetery, behind Providence Baptist Church near Puxico.

Memorials made be made to the Stoddard County Children’s Home, Inc. PO Box 164, Dexter, MO 63841; stoddardcountychildrenshome.com

Lila Ann Marie Stucker, daughter of Josiah William Stucker and Aurora Maria Halsey Stucker was born on December 19, 2017 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center and departed this life on December 19, 2017 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

Survivors include: her parents; one brother, Brysen Lane Stucker of Poplar Bluff, Mo; by three grandparents, Jerry and Lynn Stucker of Poplar Bluff, Mo, Terry and Tammy Kennedy of Dexter, Mo and Andrew and Melanie Halsey of Platte City, Mo; three great-grandparents, Clifford and Linda Stucker of Poplar Bluff, Mo, Don and Louise Kennedy of Dexter, Mo and Harold and Georgia Halsey of Liberty, Mo; by six aunts and three uncles.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, December 23, 2017 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. 

A memorial service will be conducted on Saturday, December 23, 2017 at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Don Kennedy officiating.

Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter in charge of all arrangements.

Georgie Kay Stilts, 90 of Puxico died Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter.

She was born August 23, 1927 in Kinder to the late Bernie and Nora Isaac. She was married to Earl “Jr.” Stilts in November of 1972. He preceded her in death along with one son, Oscar Overton and one daughter Frances Stovall, 

Georgie was a member of Kinder Baptist Church and worked at Ralph Edward’s Sportswear. 

She enjoyed gardening as well as her family, friends and her church.

Survivors include three sons; Elroy Overton, Darrell Overton and David Hayes; 14 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren.

Friends my visit with the family Thursday December 21, 2017 at 5:00 PM in the Morgan Sifford funeral home chapel.

Funeral services will be held Friday, December 22, 2017 at 11:00 AM also at the funeral home.

Interment will immediately follow in the Puxico city Cemetery.

Lucille Pratt of Dexter, daughter of the late Crit and Mary Payton, was born on July 7, 1936, in Aid, Missouri and passed away at the Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter on December 19, 2017, at the age of 81 years, 5 months and 12 days.

She had lived in Amhurst, Ohio, Cabondale, Illinois, and California, but most of her life was spent in the Dexter area. She was of the Baptist faith.

She married Claude Pratt, in Piggott, Arkansas, he preceded her in death on September 8, 1966.

Surviving are one son and wife, Paul & Karen Pratt of Dexter, Missouri; one daughter and husband, Marilyn & Mike Mattison of Dexter, Missouri; two grandchildren; Hope McDaniel of Perryville, Missouri, Angela Freeman of Dexter, Missouri; four great grandchildren; Abbey Pratt, Hailey Pratt, Kayla Freeman, and Kaleb Freeman, all of Dexter; one brother, Bobby Payton Dexter. Other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Brenda; three sisters, Louise Marlowe, Thelma Sherman and Virginia Griffith; three brothers, Kenneth, Orval and J. C. Payton.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 20, 2017, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 21, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter with Rev. Gary Cooper of Swinton officiating.

Interment will be in the Harper Cemetery in Aid, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements

Mertie G. Cates of Dexter, daughter of the late Leland Moses and Gracie Deck Linville, was born on June 2, 1920, in Bloomfield, Missouri and passed away at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter on December 18, 2017, at the age of 97 years, 6 months and 16 days.

She had lived in the Bloomfield and Dexter area all of her life. She was a member of the New Bethel General Baptist Church and enjoyed quilting, gardening, puzzles and listening to the Bible on tapes.

On June 6, 1942, she married Rev. Elmer James Cates. He preceded her in death on July 9, 1991.

Surviving are one son & wife, Keith & Linda Cates of Dexter, Missouri; one granddaughter & husband, Charity Cates & Shawn Warmack of St. Peters, Missouri; great granddaughter, Naomi Warmack of St. Peters, Missouri; one brother, Jess Linville of St. Louis, Missouri; one sister, Novella Newcomer of Bloomfield, Missouri, special friend, Keith Myers of Springfield, Missouri. Other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by a grandson, Joshua Cates, three brothers and two sisters.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 21, 2017, after 10:00 a.m. until time for services at 11:00 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter with Rev. Steve Tippen of Bloomfield officiating and Rev. Gerald Hart of Bertrand assisting.

Interment will be in the Bloomfield Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.