Willa "Bo" Gardner of Essex, Missouri, daughter of the late William Allen and Clara Emma Lowery Neal, was born on February 22, 1925, in Manilla, Arkansas and passed away at her son's home in Ashland City, Tennessee on December 23, 2017, at the age of 92 years, 10 months and 1 day.

She had lived in the Grayridge and Essex areas most of her life. She had worked as a floral designer for 40 years at area florists. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She enjoyed gardening, flowers and working in her yard.

Surviving are one daughter and husband, Susan & Gene Gaines of Dexter, Missouri; four sons & wives, Jeffrey Hatfield of Advance, Missouri, Eric & Marianne Hatfield of South Bend, Indiana, Kevin Hatfield of Essex, Missouri; William & Robbie Hatfield of Ashland City, Tennessee; nine grandchildren; many great & great great grandchildren; two sisters, Joy Sue Maulding of Festus, Missouri, and Omega Lovett of Grays Lake, Illinois. Other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by one son, Mark Edward Hatfield; two grandsons, Kevin Lee Hatfield, Jr. and Mark Edward "Buck" Hatfield, Jr.; great granddaughter, Maura Peters, great great grandson, Bryson Umfleet; three brothers, Jesse, James and William Neal; two sisters, Novella Nelson and Imogene Evans.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 28, 2017, after 11:00 a.m. until time for services at 1:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter with Bishop Michael Comer officiating.

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

Bill Hutchcraft, son of the late Raymond Hutchcraft and Evelyn Saltzman Hutchcraft was born on September 20, 1944 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri and departed this life on December 23, 2017 at the Southeast Health of Stoddard County Emergency Room in Dexter at the age of 73 years.

Bill was an employee of the Stoddard County Cotton Company in Bernie, Missouri and a resident of Dexter.

On March 2, 1984 he was united in marriage to Paula Cox in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mrs. Hutchcraft survives of the home in Dexter.

Besides his wife, Paula other survivors include three daughters, Lauren Howard and husband Brock of Dexter, Brooke Pagano and her husband Nick of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Erika Hutchcraft of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; by one grandson, Christian Pagano of Colorado Springs, Colorado; also by other relatives and many friends.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Emerson Pagano.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 12:00 until 2:00 P.M. Thursday, December 28, 2017.

Funeral service will then be conducted on Thursday, December 28, 2017 at 2:00 P.M. with Rev. Ron Beaton officiating.

Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.

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.