Linda Stoker, daughter of the late Frank Huntington and Ruby Parker Huntington was born on January 27, 1952 in Bernie, Missouri and departed this life on December 2, 2018 at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau at the age of 66 years.

Linda was a former employee of Federal Mogul in Malden, Missouri and Elders Manufacturing in Dexter, Missouri.  

On April 10, 1971, she was united in marriage to Lavon Odell Stoker in Malden, Missouri.  Mr. Stoker preceded her in death on July 25, 2005.

Survivors include: one son, Ben Stoker and wife Christy of Essex, Missouri; two daughters, Angelisa Wagner of Cape Girardeau, Missouri and Lavonda Sherfield and husband Josh of Essex, Missouri; eight grandchildren.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one grandchild and one sister, Betty Hardcastle.

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

Bobby Dean Gaines, son of the late Jess Gaines and Hazel Dickerson Gaines was born on February 6, 1937 in Dexter, Missouri and departed this life on December 2, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center at the age of 81 years.

Mr. Gaines was a Veteran of the United States Marines.  He was a supervisor for Fram Filter Company and was a resident of Parma, Missouri.

Survivors include, his wife, Ann Gaines of Dexter; one son, Terry Gaines of Dexter, Missouri; one daughter, Tracey Gaines of Dexter, Missouri; one brother, Gene Gaines of Poplar Bluff; five grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Donald Gaines and Richard Gaines; three sisters, Nadine Richards, Ruth Ellen Taylor and Helen Jones.

A graveside service will be conducted on December 6, 2018 at 10:00 AM at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri.  

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

J. C. Leonard of Parma, Missouri, son of the late William Monroe and Opal Lee Redman Leonard, was born on November 13, 1943, in Portageville, Missouri, and passed away at his home near Parma on December 1, 2018, at the age of 75 years and 18 days.

J. C. was a retired nuclear engineer and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Parma. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, was a pilot and enjoyed flying and traveling.

On August 2, 1964, he was married to Margie Ruth Miller in Catron. She preceded him in death on May 19, 2008.

Surviving are one son and wife, Duwayne and Tammy Leonard of Swansea, Illinois; one daughter, Sharon Leonard of Parma; two grandchildren, Keegan and Brayden Leonard both of Swansea, Illinois. Other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bill and Sonny; and four sisters, Betty, Mildred, Margaret and Nadine.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 3, 2018, at the Parma Cemetery with Dr. Jim Kerr of Shiloh, Illinois officiating. Interment will follow with full military honors. Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Parma in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P O Box 758517, Topeka, KS  66675-8517 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105

Brenda Tucker Williamson of Dexter, Missouri, the daughter of the late R. C. & Mildred Duckworth Tucker, was born near Puxico, Missouri on March 13, 1946, and passed away at the Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on December 1, 2018, at the age of 72 years, 8 months and 18 days.

She had lived in the Bloomfield and Dexter areas all her life. She was a member of the New Bethel General Baptist Church in Dexter. She enjoyed gospel music, and road trips with Sue. Brenda served on the Stoddard County Fair Board for many years, enjoyed reading the Bible and spending time with family.

On November 24, 1966, she married James M. Williamson in Dexter. He preceded her in death in June of 1999.

Surviving are two sons, Daron Williamson of Bloomfield, Cleveland (Angela) Williamson of Ozark; four grandchildren, Austin (fiance, Kayla Fodge) of Bloomfield, Kyle (Emily) of Branson, Rhett Williamson and Laura Williamson both of Ozark, Missouri; one great grandchild, Laney Williamson of Bloomfield; and one sister, Thelma (Jimmy) Thompson of Dexter; a very special friend Sue Horn of Dexter. She was preceded in death by one brother, Hayward Frailey.

Visitation will be held on Monday, December 3, 2018, after 10:00 a.m. until time of services at 12:30 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri.

Interment will follow in the Triplett Cemetery near Dexter, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.

Orlando Frederick Botsch was born February 3, 1926 to Christian William Botsch and Flora Mary Winter Botsch in Carmi, Illinois.  He died peacefully in his sleep at his home Sunday, December 2, 2018 at the age of 92.

At the age of twelve, Orlando and his family moved to and started a new life on a farm east of Bernie.  Being raised on a farm, farming became his vocation.

Orlando graduated from Bernie High School in 1942 at the age of 16.  He was drafted into the United States Army during World War II on July 28, 1944.  He obtained the rank of Master Sergeant, serving as Battalion Sergeant Major for the 808 Engineer Aviation Battalion until his discharge in August of 1946.  Although he was in the Army, he spent a total of 64 days and nights on water during that time.

Orlando married Dorothy Lee Quinn on Christmas Day, 1952.  They moved to the house Orlando had built on the farm and lived the rest of their lives.

To this union two children were born, Rhonda Arlene and Steven Kent.  Dorothy preceded Orlando in death on May 23, 2001.

Although a farmer, Orlando had many other interests.  In the early sixties Orlando partnered with Kenneth Davis for a short time and co-owned Botsch-Davis Supermarket.  He was a substitute mail carrier for a few years.  In August of 1955 Orlando bought his first airplane, building a 2000 foot runway by his home.  He had also been involved with the Bernie Jaycee’s.

After retiring from farming in 1987, he bought (in his words) the prettiest bike he could find.  He rode it to all of the lower 48 state capitols; up the eastern coast to the northern tip of Newfoundland; up the western coast to Prince George, Canada; and down south into Mexico. In so doing, he fulfilled his motorcycle dream.

Orlando was a faithful and long-time member of the Bernie United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his children, Rhonda McGuire & husband Jim and Steven Botsch, all of Bernie; by one grandson, Jeremy McGuire & wife Kristi; by great grandchildren, Jescie & fiancé Cameron, Dylan and Breanna.

He was preceded in death other than by his parents and his wife, by his three older brothers, Ernest, Erwin and Dennis.

Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Monday, December 3, 2018 from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. 

Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday Morning, December 4, 2018 in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie at 11:00 A.M. 

Rev. Dave Fowler officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery with Full Military Honors. 

Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.