Earl W. Dunning, son of the late Albert W. Dunning and Etheal P. Austin Dunning, was born on July 10, 1925 in Frisbee, Missouri, and departed this life on June 22, 2020 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, at the age of 94 years.
Mr. Dunning owned and operated a Mobile Station in Dexter, Missouri for 18 years and he was a former employee of the Swift Company. He was of the General Baptist faith and a resident of Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
He was united in marriage to Vela Lance on May 27, 1946 in Gideon, Missouri.
He is survived by his wife, Vela Dunning of Poplar Bluff, by his daughter, Vianne Clark and husband Gary of Poplar Bluff; by two grandsons, Jimmy Wayne Young and Carl Clinton; and by three great-grandchildren.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers; and by two sisters.
Funeral services will be conducted at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, June 26, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
Donna Kay Whitley, daughter of the late Robert Miller and Patricia Sullivan Hart, was born on October 7, 1964 in Hayti, Missouri, and departed this life on June 19, 2020 at Southeast Health of Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 56 years.
Mrs. Whitley was a homemaker and of the Pentecostal Faith. She was a resident of Bloomfield, Missouri.
She was united in marriage to Michael D. Whitley Sr on September 5, 1984 in Portageville, Missouri. Mr. Whitley preceded her in death on September 8, 2014.
She is survived by five sons, Michael Whitley Jr of Lilbourn, Missouri, Matthew Miller of Bloomfield, Missouri, Brian Whitley of Rutherford, Tennessee, Jessie Whitley of Milan, Tennessee, and Michael Joseph Whitley of Trenton, Tennessee; by two daughters, Katie Whitley of Dexter, Missouri and Jennifer Cross of Bradford, Tennessee; by one brother, Sanford Miller of Marston, Missouri; by four sisters, Lynn Cunningham of Cunn, Illinois, Deborah Pettigrew of Wardell, Missouri, Sandra Williamson of Essex, Missouri, and Theresa Miller of Portageville, Missouri; and by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Heather Whitley; by one granddaughter, Sierra Cross; by her niece Hailey Miller; by her nephew, Donnie Pettigrew; and by three brothers, Bobby Lee Miller, Michael Miller, and Robert Dale Miller.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.
Funeral services will then be conducted on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Doddie Townsend officiating.
Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
Maxine Simmons, daughter of the late Ed and Pearle Albertson Goode was born on January 26, 1919 in Big Ridge, Missouri and passed away on June 19, 2020 in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 101.
Maxine had been a member of the First Baptist Church in Parma, where she served faithfully as a Sunday School Teacher for forty years. She enjoyed crocheting, quilting, and gardening. As a dedicated woman of God, she enjoyed setting an example of a Christian life for her family and friends to see.
On July 8, 1935 she was united in marriage to William Simmons in Bloomfield, Missouri. Mr. Simmons preceded her in death on July 1, 1990.
She is survived by her daughter, Shirley Harris and husband Roy of Dexter, Missouri; by one son, Gary Simmons of Malden, Missouri; by nine grandchildren; by sixteen great-grandchildren; and by eleven great-great-grandchildren.
Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Mary Lou Payne; by two sons, Jerry Lee Simmons and Larry Wayne Simmons; and by one sister, Wanda Goode.
A private service will be conducted on Thursday, June 25, 2020 for immediate family only, at the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with Rev. Tim Russell officiating. Interment will follow at the Garden of Memories in Sikeston, Missouri.
Maxine enjoyed flowers, she also enjoyed helping those in need, if you would like to make a memorial contribution, the family suggests Hope International, 601 South Walnut Street, Bernie, Missouri 63822.
Robert Edward Kennedy was the son of Paul Edward Kennedy and Joyce Lorene Edwards Kennedy, he was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on October 7, 1969 and departed this life at Southeast Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on June 19, 2020 at the age of 50.
Mr. Kennedy was a veteran of The United State Navy. He was a Salesman, loved being around people, an adventurer and loved to travel. He was a member of the Lions Club of Bernie, He was also the Bernie EMA Director and a member of the Bernie Fire Department. He was of Baptist Faith.
He was united in marriage to Peggy Sue McClure in Advance, Missouri on June 29, 1996. Mrs. Kennedy survives in their home in Bernie, Missouri.
Other survivors include his parents, Paul & Joyce Kennedy of Bernie, Missouri; by one son, Mitchell Tilley & Kendall of Puxico, Missouri; by three daughters, Lexie Rea-Anne Kennedy of Atoka, Tennessee, Amanda Graser & husband Dennis of Bloomfield, Missouri and Melinda Tilley & husband Alex of Redstone, Colorado; by one brother, Rick Kennedy & wife Paulette of Bernie, Missouri; by five sisters, Donna Norden & husband Mike of Bernie, Missouri, Rhonda Rinker & husband Dave of Valle Mines, Missouri, Joynell Williams & husband Terry of Bunker, Missouri, Beverly Adams & husband Bob of Malden, Missouri and Kim Blake & husband Lannie of Campbell, Missouri; by eight grandchildren; also by other relatives and many friends.
Friends may call at Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Chapel on Wednesday morning, June 24, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. With Rev. Dale Holman officiating.
Interment will follow in Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with Full Military Honors.
Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie, Missouri in charge of all arrangements.
William “Bill” Ray Francis Sr., son of the late Joe Francis and Mable Joseph Francis, was born on March 31, 1938 in Pontiac, Michigan, and departed this life on June 17, 2020 at Bethesda Dilworth Skilled Nursing in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of 82 years.
Mr. Francis was a veteran of the United States Army Reserves and the United States Air Force. He owned and operated a motorcycle shop and auto body repair shop; and he was an auto body repairman and mechanic. In later years, he loved working on boats.
He was united in marriage to Joyce Lee Creed in 1958, together they had five children and a lifetime companionship.
He is survived by his daughter, Joy Shaw of Edwardsville, Illinois; by four sons, William “Bill” Francis Jr. of St. Louis, Missouri, Richard Francis of St. Charles, Missouri, Steven Francis of St. Charles, Missouri, and Kenny Francis of St. Louis, Missouri; by his brother, Don Francis of Jacksonville, Florida; by his sister, Ruth Avery of Essex, Missouri; by fifteen grandchildren; and by seventeen great-grandchildren.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Vernon Francis.
Friends may call at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, June 22, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Chapel on Monday, June 22, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow in the Essex Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Stoddard County Honor Guard, PO Box 323, Bloomfield, Missouri 63825 or Stray Rescue of St. Louis, 2320 Pine Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
