Thomas Odell Miller, son of the late Loyd Thomas and Gladys Ruth Patterson Miller, was born in McNairy, Tennessee on December 7, 1940, and passed away at his home in Parma on May 17, 2018, at the age of 77 years.

Thomas lived in Tennessee until 9 years old, then moved to Arkansas for two years before moving to Missouri.

On September 27, 1958, he was married to Martha Ellen McIntosh in Catron, Missouri.

Surviving are his wife, Martha Miller of Parma; three daughters & husbands, Marsha & John Paul Campbell of North Dinwiddie, Virginia, Tabatha & Joshua Cullum and Wendy Stafford all of Parma; two sons & wife, Thomas Gene & Tricia Miller of O'Fallon, Joshua Koth of Parma; eighteen grandchildren & spouses, Lindsey & David Longrie of Colorado Springs, CO, Misty & Kenny Patterson of Dardanelle AR, Thomas Jacob & Megan Miller of St Louis MO, Kyle Miller, Kurt Miller, Justin Strayhorn, Landon Strayhorn, and Cooper Strayhorn, all of O'Fallon MO, Aaron & Hanna Strayhorn of O'Fallon MO, Heidi & Joe Day of St Louis MO, Michelle & Micah Alsobrook of St Louis MO, Shannon Strayhorn of O'Fallon MO, Hunter Stratton and Seth Stratton of Jonesboro AR, Evelyn Stratton, Kaycee Cullum, JJ Cullum and Brayson Cullum all of Parma MO, Allison Stafford of Parma MO; eight great grandchildren, Benjamin Longrie, Jonathan Longrie and Andrew Longrie of Colorado Springs CO, Kendall Patterson, Maggie Patterson and Myles 'Little Tom' Patterson of Dardanelle AR Kimberley Patterson of Kewanee MO, AJ. Strayhorn of O'Fallon MO; two brothers, Robert "Bobby" Miller of Clinton, Tennessee, Dean Buck of Dexter; one sister, Dorothy Eaton of Parma. Other family and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Margie Leonard and Linda Dutton, and one brother, Paul Miller.

Thomas has donated the "Gift of Life" and his body and will be transported to the St. Louis University School of Medicine. There are no services planned, Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Parma is in charge of arrangements.

The family requests memorial donations be made to the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com

Watkins & Sons Funeral Service

info@watkinsfuneralhome.com or phone 573 624 3548 

Debra "Debbie" Dawn Lewis of Dexter, MO, met her Heavenly Father on May 18, 2018, at the age of 59. She passed away at her home surrounded by family after a long battle with brain cancer.  Her faith and courage were an inspiration to many.    

Debbie was born February 4, 1959, to Bob and Betty Lowrey in Kennett, MO.   On August 19, 1977, in Parma, she was united in marriage to Steve Lewis, who survives of the home.

  

Debbie worked as a gin manager for Mahan Gin in Parma for 15 years.  During this time she achieved her associates degree in business from TRCC. With her husband, Debbie was the owner/creator/marketer of their own Arts and Crafts business.  She then went on to earn her Bachelors in Business Administration from William Woods University.  Debbie finished her career working for Visiting Nurse Association of SEMO as Human Resource, Education and In Home Director.  Debbie also served the City of Parma as City Clerk and Court Clerk for 20 years.  Debbie attended the First Baptist Church of Parma where she was a Sunday School teacher, pianist and Youth teacher until moving to Dexter and attending the Dexter First Baptist Church.  In her free time she enjoyed working in her yard and making memories with her family.   

Other survivors include her mother, Betty Lowrey; one daughter, Heather Lewis; one son, Matthew (Jennifer Ryan) Lewis; 4 grandchildren, Nate Lewis, Carli Lewis, Drew Ryan, and Delaney Ryan; one sister, Lisa Dockins; one brother, Bobby David (Kerri) Lowrey;  Mother in law, Jane Campbell; sisters in law, Sherry (Ronnie) Bess and Marla (Terry) Blankenship; nieces Tori Lowrey, Hunter Dockins, Hannah Dockins, and Melissa Bess; nephews, Bobby Lee (Kelsey) Lowrey and Brandon (Staci) Blankenship; and many other beloved relatives and friends. 

 

Debbie was preceded in death by her father, Bob Lowrey; grandson, Breyn Joe Lewis;  her fur baby, Abby;  grandparents, aunts, uncle and nephew, Rory Harris. 

 

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, May 26, 2018 from 10:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. 

A Celebration of Life service will then be held on Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter, MO with Brother John Mundy, Rev. Greg McGhee and Rev. Mark Smith officiating. 

Internment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery.

The family request per Debbie's wishes that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to:

Missouri Baptist Children's Home

11300 St. Charles Rock Rd, Bridgeton, MO 63044, Stoddard County Children’s Home

208 S Prairie, Bloomfield, MO 63825, or The Brain Tumor Network, 816 A1A North, Ste 201, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32083.  

Jacob Donald Bates of Puxico, Missouri was born February 8, 1989 in Lansing, Michigan to Edward and Cynthia Bates.

Jacob died in Advance, Missouri on May 16, 2018 at the age of 29 years, three months and eight days.

Mr. Bates had lived his former years in Michigan and had lived in Puxico since the age of 15. 

Jacob loved fishing, hunting mushrooms, rock hunting, jeep rides, exploring Mingo and hunting with Chantel.

He loved being at the Casa in Oklahoma on hunting trips with Shane. He secretly loved getting Butter Butter Sissy Sissy time even if the girls had to twist his arm to participate. His greatest joy was spending time with his son Kingston.

On October 12, 2013 he was married to Chantel LeAnn (née Crowley) Bates in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. They would have celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary on October 12, 2018. 

He is survived by his wife Chantel LeAnn Bates of Puxico; His parents, Edward and Cynthia Bates of Puxico; one son, Kingston Edward Bates of the home; one brother Shane (Candace) Bates of Chantilly, Virginia; two sisters, Amber Sweeney and her special friend Bob Ranschburg of Potterville, Michigan and Elizabeth Bates and her special friend Kane Parker of Broseley, Missouri; grandparents Shirley Hawkins of Flint Michigan and Don Bates of Wappapello, Missouri; four nephews; six nieces as well as a host of many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather Jack Hawkins and his paternal grandmother Ada Bates.

Visitation was held from 5 o’clock to 8:00 PM on Friday, May 18, 2018 at the Morgan Sifford funeral home in Puxico.

Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 11:00 AM in the Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico with Reverend John Crowley and Reverend Jerry Crowley serving as officiants. 

Interment will immediately follow in the Puxico city cemetery in Puxico, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to an account set up at Peoples Community Bank for Kingston Edward Bates.

Wilma Faye Wheetley Phillips, daughter of the late Edward Wheetley and Becky Payne Wheetley was born in Success, Arkansas on January 6, 1937 and departed this life at her residence in Bloomfield, Missouri on May 13, 2018 at the age of 81.

Mrs. Phillips was a homemaker, a member of Dudley Community Church and a resident of Bloomfield, Missouri.  She was united into marriage to Euell Dean Phillips n New Madrid, Missouri on September 25, 1956.

Survivors include four sons, Larry Phillips of Puxico, Missouri, Jimmy “JP” Phillips, Charles “Charlie” Phillips and Roy Phillips all of Bloomfield, Missouri; by one honorary son, Rick DeLay; by five brothers, Edward Wheetley, Kenny Wheetley, Don Wheetley, Jim Wheetley and Mack Wheetley; by one sister, Pat Wheetley Burns; by four grandchildren, Travis Phillips, Dustin Boyles, Joshua Phillips, Melanie Elizabeth Phillips;  by honorary grandchildren, Courtney DeLay Aslin & Chelsea DeLay, by two great-grandchildren, James and Lila; by one honorary great-grandchild, DeLayne; also by other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death other than by her husband and parents, by one daughter, Melonie Faye Phillips, three brothers, Doyle Wheetley, Earl B. Wheetley and  Gerald D. Wheetley in Infancy; by one sister Viola Wheetley Cobb.

Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Saturday, May 19, 2018 from 12:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M.   

Funeral services will then be conducted at 2:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Bro. John Ross and Bro. Roy Patterson officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery.   Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

 In lieu of flowers, Memorials maybe made to:

 St Jude Children’s Research Hospital

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, Tennessee 38105

 

Bonnie S. Roper, daughter of the late Louis Elbert and Anna Lee Holland Hankins, was born in St. Louis, Missouri on January 11, 1940, and passed away at the Bloomfield Living Center in Bloomfield on May 12, 2018, at the age of 78 years, 4 months and 1 day.

Bonnie had spent her childhood in Gleason, Tennessee and moved to Bloomfield in 1987. She attended Walker Mt. Zion General Baptist Church and enjoyed crocheting and sewing.

She was first married to Bob D. Sanders on May 18, 1957, in St. Louis, He preceded her in death. On, June 18, 1989, she was married to Olen “Bo” Roper in Bloomfield, Missouri. He preceded her in death on March 6, 2016.

Surviving are two daughters & husbands, Lisa & Bobby Bemister of Bloomfield, Kim & Ron Keeney of Van Buren; one son & wife, Johnny & Christy Sanders of Van Buren; one step-son and wife, Tony and Tonya Roper of Dexter, Missouri, one step-daughter and husband, Catrina and Terry Dawson of Dexter; five grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; eight great grandchildren, and several step-great grandchildren; one sister & husband, Sandy & Tom Wehner of Sullivan. Other relatives and many friends also survive. She was preceded in death by one sister, Margaret Price and several step-siblings.

Friends may call on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Chapel in Bloomfield, Missouri.

Interment will follow in the Walker Cemetery near Bloomfield, Missouri with Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home of Bloomfield, Missouri in charge of arrangements.