Clarence Jacob Dieter, 80, died Tuesday, July 9, 2019 in his home in St. Augustine after a fierce battle with multiple myeloma. Family and friends knew him as either Sonny, Dee, or Jake.

He leaves his wife of 46 years, Alexandra (Boggs) Dieter; his daughters, Jennifer Dieter, Michelle Brandt, and Margaret Hoffman; two sisters, Patricia Iannaci and Irene Huey; seven grandchildren; and many close family and friends.

Born and raised in Dexter, Missouri, Jake was the son of Lillian (Litzler) Dieter and Clarence Jacob Dieter, who died two months before his birth. He was educated in a one-room schoolhouse through the 8th grade and graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1961 with a degree in Sociology. He then went on to join the Navy where he trained as a pilot and flew sea planes during the Vietnam War. After 5 years in the Navy, he went to work for Pan American Airlines. It was at Pan Am where he met his wife, Alix, a Flight Attendant for the airline. Jake flew for Pan Am for 25 years and eventually retired from Delta Airlines in 2000.

Jake had a deep love of family, fishing, playing bridge, building rock walls, and playing softball.  Last fall, his team won the 80+ bracket at the World Championship in Las Vegas where Jake was named tournament MVP. He was still playing senior softball earlier this year. He lived life to the fullest and always maintained a positive outlook. Jake was the first to lend a hand in any situation. He was involved in every community in which he lived and was loved by so many.  As a close family friend said, “It’s hard to imagine a world without Jake Dieter”.

Jake will be buried in his hometown of Dexter, Missouri on Saturday, August 10th. There will be a public viewing at Sacred Heart Catholic Church from 12:30 p.m. to 1:25 p.m., followed by the funeral mass at 1:30 p.m. 

As Jake was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan, his family will attend a game in St. Louis on Friday, August 9th at 7:15 p.m. (CST) and encourages anyone interested to join them at the game or watch it on TV in Jake’s honor. A celebration of life will be held in Bend, Oregon on Saturday, August 17th at the Sunrise Village Lodge from 2 - 4 p.m. A celebration in St. Augustine, Florida will take place at a date and time to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund or the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, details below.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

1235 South Clark Street

Suite 910

Arlington, VA 22202

www.vvmf.org/Support-VVMF

or

Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

P.O. Box 414238

Boston, MA 02241-4238

https://donate.themmrf.org/Donate

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

Beulah Mercer, daughter of the late Ollie Lee Richardson and Mary Idell Lee Richardson, was born on July 3, 1937 in Fletcher, Arkansas and departed this life on July 10, 2019 at Hunter Acres Caring Center in Sikeston, Missouri at the age of 82 years.

Mrs. Mercer was a former supervisor for Paramount Headwear and she was a personal caregiver for the elderly for Caring Hearts.  She attended the First Assembly of God Church in Dexter and was a resident of Dexter.

On October 1, 1956, she was united in marriage to Jerry Mercer. 

She is survived by her daughter, Debra Robinson and husband Paul of Dexter, Missouri; by two brothers, Phil Richardson of Poplar Bluff, Missouri and Leonard Richardson of Blytheville, Arkansas; by one grandson, Jay Roberts of Jackson, Tennessee; and by one great-grandson, Jacob.

Other than by her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Conrad Richardson, Herbert Richardson and Ernie Richardson; and by two sisters, Louise Chesser and Wilma Dych.

A memorial service will be conducted at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Sunday, July 14, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Jamie Jones officiating. 

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

Carol Crosser Blue died on July 9, 2019 at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  She was 93.  Carol was born November 7, 1925, the daughter of Katharine Buck Crosser and John Crosser.  She was married to William Keith Blue.  Carol was educated in the Bloomfield Schools, Missouri University and Southeast Missouri State University.  Prior to moving to Cape Girardeau, she resided in Bloomfield.

In her youth, Carol was employed in the family business, Buck Store Company.  She was a substitute teacher in Bloomfield from 1954 until 1961 when she began her career with the Division of Family Service.  She retired as a District Manager of Children’s Services.  Following her retirement in 1986, she served eight years in Bloomfield city government serving as alderman (Mayor Pro Tem), and as Mayor.  She served on the Stoddard County 911 Advisory Board, and the Stoddard County Solid Waste Management Committee.  She was named Woman of the Year by the Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce as a result of her efforts in emergency management, having been instrumental in arranging the street names and house numbers systematically, providing educational seminars on earthquake preparedness, and preparing the city’s Emergency Management Plan.  She spent many hours serving the schools, the community and various charitable organizations as a volunteer.

In Cape Girardeau, Carol was president of the Chateau Girardeau Resident’s Council, chairman of the Chateau’s Foundation Advisory Committee, and served on the Board of Directors of the Chateau.  As a volunteer, she took care of the birds in the Health Center and Assisted Living aviaries.  She helped with the care of Buddy, the Health Center’s Golden Retriever.  She was a member of the Quest Club.

Carol is survived by her daughter, Bonnie Blue and by two grandchildren, David Worley and Elizabeth Worley. 

Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, July 13, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. 

Memorial services will then be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Saturday, July 13, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Sue Welborn officiating.  Burial will be in the Bloomfield Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Chateau Girardeau Foundation, 3120 Independence Street, Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63703 or the Stars and Stripes Museum, 17377 Stars and Stripes Way, Bloomfield, MO 63825.

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

Betty Ruth (Evans) Dixon, daughter of the late Louis Wiley Evans and Laura Geneva (Davis) Evans of Bloomfield, Missouri, was born on September 20, 1941, in Dexter.  She entered eternal life with our God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ on July 3, 2019.  She passed at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis at the age of 77, surrounded by her family, held with love, and lifted in prayer as she ascended to Heaven.

Mrs. Dixon devoted her life to serving God, loving her family, serving and helping those in need, and giving smiles to all she met.  She was a devoted member of the Cape County Cowboy Church in Oak Ridge, Missouri, where she found many friends and celebrated her Christian faith.

After her graduation from Bloomfield High School, she attended the Missouri Baptist School of Nursing.  She became a Registered Nurse and lifelong health care professional, further enabled by Emergency Medical Technician training.  Her love of others, caring soul, and medical expertise allowed her to provide health care, education, and loving support to many throughout southeast Missouri.  Mrs. Dixon’s professional experiences included service as the district nurse for the Richland School District in Essex, and as the plant nurse for Procter and Gamble in Cape Girardeau.

She was a passionate lifelong learner, always immersing herself in history and reading.  Travel and discovery were her passions, and she was always ready for long road trips with no specific destination.  She couldn’t pass a national or state park without stopping to enjoy the trees, wildlife, quiet, and a picnic.  When not traveling with her soul mate and husband, she was best remembered sitting on her back porch, giving pats to a basset hound at her feet.

Mrs. Dixon was united in marriage, love, and faith to Kenneth Dixon, formerly of Dexter, Missouri, in West Plains, Missouri, on December 26, 1959.  He preceded her in death on September 28, 2017, and is now reunited with her in Heaven.  She is survived by two loving children, who regarded their mother as a romantic soul, enabler of dreams, and lifelong protector of her family:  Kendra and her husband Tim Ward of Jackson, and Kevin and his wife Laurie (Dockins) Dixon of Chesterfield, Missouri.  Her family celebrates her beautiful life, giving heart, gentle nature, and a lifetime of wonderful memories.

She had five grandchildren, who adored her and were embraced by her love:  Brittany (Ward) Mathis, Justin Ward, Evan Ward, Sydney Dixon, and Olivia Dixon.  In addition to her grandchildren, she enjoyed giving warm smiles and long hugs to three great-grandchildren:  Harper Mathis, Blake Mathis and Gabriel Ward.

Mrs. Dixon is survived by her brother, Robert Evans of Pasadena, California, and her sister Barbara Evans of Bloomfield, Missouri.  She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Bob Dixon, of Springfield, Missouri.  She was a loving daughter-in-law to the late Clyde and Mae (McKee) Dixon of Dexter, and sister-in-law to the late Clyde Dixon and Darrell Dixon of Dexter.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, July 8, from 12:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M.  A Celebration of Life service will begin at 2:00 P.M. with Rev. Jim Matthews officiating.  Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.

The family requests memorials be made to the American Lung Association, which can be reached via www.lung.org, and the Cape County Cowboy Church, 220 Orchid Lane, Oak Ridge, Missouri 63769.

Dorothy M. Pullam, of Aurora, Colorado, formerly of Dexter, was born in Bloomfield, on December 21, 1933 and passed away at her home in Aurora, Colorado on June 27, 2019, at the age of 85 years, 6 months and 6 days.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 5, 2019 after 10 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter until time of services at 1 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel with the Rev. Mike Kohlbaker of Dexter officiating.

Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service in charge of arrangements.