Clarence Dale Smith, son of the late Louie Elbert Smith and Opal Snider Smith, was born in 1939 in Essex, Missouri, and departed this life on April 12, 2019, at the age of 79.


Mr. Smith grew up on his family farm in Essex, Missouri.  After graduating from Essex High School, he devoted his life to farming in Essex, Puxico, Dexter, and Dudley, Missouri.  Mr. Smith was a member of the First Baptist Church Dexter, Missouri, as well as a member of the Board of Directors at the Bank of Bloomfield/Mercantile Bank and the Southeast Co-op Board.  He enjoyed spending time duck hunting at the North Otter Slough Hunting Club in Dudley, Missouri.  Mr. Smith treasured the love of his family, the days farming beside his son, was generous to those in need, and lived life with the work ethic of a farmer.

On July 27, 1958, he married Linda Jean Hewitt in Essex, Missouri.  She survives at their home in Dexter, Missouri.

     Survivors include one daughter, Julie Smith Lancaster (Larry) of Dexter, Missouri; one son, Kip Colton Smith (Pamela) of Dexter, Missouri; by one sister, Wanda Smith Wethington, Essex, Missouri; also by three grandchildren, Lydia Lancaster, Columbus, OH, Ryan Lancaster (Allison), Fenton, Missouri, Sawyer Smith (Leeza Edmondson), Jackson, Mississippi/Columbia, Missouri, and two great grandchildren Charlotte and Gavin.  

He was preceded in death by one brother-in-law, Elzie Wethington.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, April 15, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Funeral services will then be conducted at the First Baptist Church in Dexter on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Mark Smith and Rev. Don Kennedy officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to 18 Fore Life, c/o Scott Kruse, 705 Laurie Circle, Dexter, Missouri 63841.

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

Larry “Buck” Lewis, son of the late Joseph Lewis and Christine Hester Lewis, was born on March 26, 1947 in Bloomfield, Missouri and departed this life on April 12, 2019 at his residence in Wappapello, Missouri, surrounded by family and friends, at the age of 72 years.

Mr. Lewis was a Veteran of the United States Army.  He served in Vietnam and Desert Storm; and he retired after 29 years, 9 months and 9 days as Sergeant Major.  He was a member of the Wappapello VFW Post #3416 and the VFW Riders; and he was very active in Veteran service organizations.

On March 12, 1965, in Circle City, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Carolyn Chafin.  

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Lewis of Wappapello, Missouri; by two daughters, Jo-Linda Lewis and Bonnie Lewis, both of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; by two brothers, Chuck Lewis of Granite City, Illinois and Joe Lewis of New Madrid, Missouri; by two sisters, Martha Howard of Greenville, Missouri and Charlotte Bohnenstiehl of Jerseyville, Illinois; by three grandchildren, Kayla and Shawn Burns and Joshua Lewis, all of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; and by two great-grandchildren, Carson Ryder Burns and Alena Grace Burns, both of Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers; Terry Overbey and Kenny Lewis and by his sister, Lena Jean Cloninger.  

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Funeral services will then be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Ben Higgins officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield.

Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charges of all arrangements.

Vivian L. Adams Ellsworth, daughter of the late Charles B. Adams and Sadie Ray Whitehead Adams, was born on December 5, 1924 in Powe, Missouri and departed this life on April 11, 2019 at Southeast Health in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 94 years.

Vivian was a member of Pleasant Grove Church in Pyletown.  She was a homemaker and farmer.

On February 23, 1946, she was united in marriage to Carol B. Ellsworth in Pontiac, Michigan.  Mr. Ellsworth preceded her in death on April 19, 1981.

She is survived by two sons, Ronald C. Ellsworth and Royce L. Ellsworth both of Dexter; by one brother, Steve Adams (Mary Carol) of Dexter; by one sister, Doris Britt of Clarkston, Michigan; by three grandchildren, Brad Ellsworth of Dexter, Chris Ellsworth of Bernie and Kelly Ellsworth of Tennessee; by five great-grandchildren, Taylor Ellsworth of Dexter, Madison Whitacre of Brosely, Shea Sootoo of Tennessee, Elaina Ford of Tennessee and Spencer Ellsworth of Bernie; and by two great-great-grandchildren, Layken Jones of Dexter and Nalani Whitacre of Brosley.

Beside her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Pete Adams, Tom Adams, Charles B. Adams and Ed Adams; and by two sisters, Louis Goans and Mavis Hall.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie on Sunday, April 14, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Funeral Services will then be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Sunday, April 14, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. with the Rev. Paul Pierce officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Pleasant Grove Church, 13798 State Hwy H, Dexter, Missouri 63841.

Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie is in charge of all arrangements.

William Elwood “Woody” McCoy, son of the late William Thomas McCoy and Lela Fay Bryant McCoy, was born on September 21, 1946 in Center Ridge, Arkansas and departed this life on April 8, 2019 at Southeast Health in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 72 years.

Mr. McCoy was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, serving in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967.  After leaving the military, he worked in construction and operated a road grader for Elk township.

He is survived by three sons, Bryon McCoy of Olive Branch, Mississippi, Tim McCoy of Collierville, Tennessee, and Brock McCoy of Memphis, Tennessee; by three sisters, Weatia Cannon of Sedalia, Missouri, Jeannine McCoy of Lubbock, Texas and Jan Powell of Dexter, Missouri; by ten grandchildren, by five great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Robert “Bob” Steele.

A graveside memorial service will be conducted on Friday, April 12, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri.

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

Ronnie Cates, son of the late George Cates and Helen Benes Cates, was born on December 29, 1944 in Houston, Texas and departed this life on April 9, 2019 at the Puxico Nursing and Rehab Center in Puxico, Missouri at the age of 74 years.

Ronnie was a farm worker for Cates Orchard.  He was a member of the Dudley Baptist Church in Dudley, Missouri.  He loved trains, highways and traveling.  He was excited about the future I-57 expansion to Little Rock, Arkansas.  His eyes lit up when he saw a map.

He is survived by three sisters, Patti Kinnamon and her husband Asa of Bloomfield, Missouri, Bessie McRoy of Dudley, Missouri, and Janet Johns and her husband Kevin of Dudley, Missouri.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Timothy Cates.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, April 12, 2019 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

Funeral services will then be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Friday, April 12, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Jay Scribner officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Memorials may be made to the Stoddard County Shelter Workshop, 1118 West Center Street, PO Box 505, Dexter, Missouri  63841

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