Dona Sue Tanner, daughter of the late James Lewis Gilbert and Jessie Bane Gilbert, was born on March 2, 1942 in Pascola, Missouri and departed this life on December 26, 2019 at her residence in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 77 years.
Mrs. Tanner was a former employee of Arvin Automotive, retiring after 22 years of service. She was a member of the Dexter Church of Christ.
On November 8, 1958, in New Madrid, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Walter Harold Tanner. Mr. Tanner preceded her in death on May 9, 1990.
She is survived by her son, Timothy Harold Tanner and wife Rachel of Union, Kentucky; by her daughter, Paula Aline Pfeffer and husband Mike of Dexter, Missouri; by three brothers, Leonard Gilbert of Naylor, Missouri, Larry Gilbert of Essex, Missouri, and Dean Gilbert of Naylor, Missouri; by five sisters, Lorene Wiggins of Wauchula, Florida, Jessie Tanner of Dexter, Missouri, Mary Mitchem of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Jeanette Bewley of Russellville, Arkansas and Betty Conway of Salem, Missouri; by six grandchildren, Timothy Shane Tanner and wife Julie, Amy Nicole Tanner, Aron Pfeffer and wife Susan, Eric Pfeffer and wife Morgan, Zakri Tanner, and Tiffany Tanner; and by nineteen great-grandchildren.
Other than by her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Roger Dale Tanner, by two brothers, Wesley Gilbert and Lee Gilbert; by her sister, Levaughn Allen.
Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Sunday, December 29, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Monday, December 30, 2019 at 10:00 a.m with Jeremy Tucker officiating. Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Church of Christ Children’s Homes, Inc., 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, Arkansas 72450 or the Bootheel Youth Camp, 21200 County Road 525, Bloomfield, Missouri 63825.
Doris Mae Gaylord, was born on March 6, 1925 in Essex, Missouri and departed this life on December 25, 2019 in Dexter, Missouri at the age 94.
After graduating from Gray Ridge school, Doris got her teaching certificate and taught at Marco School for a year and a half. She married Woodrow Gaylord on September 14, 1945 in Piggott, Arkansas and enjoyed 64 years of marriage life. The balance of her work life involved a short stint at the shoe factory in Sikeston (which she hated), working as an aide at Richland schools, and she finished up her professional life working at the Bank of Bloomfield in Essex. Doris retired in her mid-fifties when Woodrow retired, because she didn’t want to miss out on their crappie fishing trips.
Doris and Woodrow lived on the family farm in rural Essex and raised three kids. Doris’s joys in life were family first (she especially enjoyed the time spent with the grandkids and one great-granddaughter), singing at church (she was a member of Risen Church in Dexter, Missouri), working in her flower beds, fishing at the lake, wintering in Florida, long walks with friends, and many gatherings with close friends spent playing cards and celebrating special occasions (especially the New Year’s Eve Party). Doris was a devoted servant to the Lord and a loving Wife to Woodrow, Mom to Michael, Stan, and Sheila, Grandma to Chad and Monica, and Great Grandma to Lena. She was loved by all and will be missed dearly.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Everett and Ora Coffey; by her husband, Woodrow Gaylord; by her sister, Macel Gibson; by her brothers, Lloyd Coffey, Ted Coffey, and Dale Coffey; and by her daughter-in-law, Deb Gaylord.
She is survived by her children, Michael Gaylord, Stan Gaylord, and Shelia Kingsley; by her grandchildren, Chad Gaylord & Monica Reagan; by her great-granddaughter, Lena Reagan; by her brother Jim Coffey; and by her sister, Helen “Coop” Erickson.
Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, December 28, 2019 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Saturday, December 28, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. with Rev. Tim Russell officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Risen Church Building Fund, 15 East St. Francis Street, Dexter, Missouri 63841 or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
Phyllis Marie (Traw) Rushing, 72, died on December 24, 2019 at her home in Sikeston, Missouri. She was born on February 13, 1947, in Essex, Missouri, to the late Eugene and Marie (Holland) Traw. She was a long-time resident of Dexter, Missouri, Pulaski, Tennessee, and Sikeston, Missouri.
Mrs. Rushing was employed for many years by Southeast Missouri Transportation Service, where she met and married her husband, William D. Rushing, who preceded her in death. She is also preceded in death by her sister, Helen Louise McCain and her grandson, Caleb Rushing of Forisell, Missouri.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Ronald E. Burch Jr. and Martha of Sikeston, Missouri; by two step-sons, William M. Rushing of Dexter, Missouri and Robert R. Rushing of Lamar, Missouri; by two sisters, Reda Wilson and Fay Hubbert, both of Sikeston, Missouri; by her brother and sister-in-law, Larry Traw and Diane of Sikeston, Missouri; by two grandsons, Shawn Furgerson and Aaron Burch; by many nieces, nephews and friends; and by one dear high school best friend, Sharon Giesler of Bloomfield, Missouri.
A Memorial Service will be conducted at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri on Friday, January 3, 2020 at 11:00 a.m.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
Verneese C. Walls, daughter of the late Vernon Cox and Martha Causey Cox, was born in McNairy County, Tennessee on December 28, 1929 and departed this life at Winchester Place in Bernie, Missouri on December 22, 2019 at the age of 89.
Mrs. Walls was a homemaker and was a member of First Baptist Church and New Covenant Crusade both of Dexter.
She was united in marriage to Lloyd G. Walls in Florence, Alabama on November 20, 1963. Mr. Walls preceded his wife in death on January 5, 1980.
Other survivors include one daughter, Cindy Perkins & husband Tyler of Bernie, Missouri; by three grandchildren, Dylan Perkins, Garrett Perkins & wife Amber and Evan Perkins; by one Great-grandson, Simon Elias Perkins; by one brother, Dennis Cox & wife Margaret of Dexter, Missouri; also by other relatives and friends.
Graveside services will be conducted on Thursday, December 26, 2019 at Chalk Bluff Cemetery, Rural Dexter, Missouri starting at 3:00 P.M.
Interment will follow. Memorials may be made to Stoddard County Children’s Home or 18 Fore Life.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie in charge of all arrangements.
Gayle Meritt, daughter of the late Clarence Ott and Pearl Kifer Ott, was born on March 26, 1938 in Rural Bernie, Missouri and departed this life on December 22, 2019 at her residence in Essex, Missouri at the age of 81 years.
Mrs. Meritt was a member of the Olive Branch General Baptist Church and a Homemaker.
On July 25, 1958, in Circle City, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Tom Meritt. Mr. Meritt survives of their home in Essex.
In addition to her husband, Tom, she is survived by her son, Darin Meritt and wife Leslie of Dexter; by her sister-in-law, Joan Peters of Dexter; by her granddaughter, Victoria Meritt; by her caregiver and friend, Denise Hill; and by several nieces, nephews, relatives and close friends.
Other than by her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Geraldine Norman.
A Graveside Service will be conducted at Chalk Bluff Cemetery on Saturday, December 28, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Dudley Hamilton officiating.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
