John Mark Stidham, born October 11, 1960 in Dexter, Missouri, took his Heavenly Father’s hand bound for heaven on December 30, 2020 at St. Bernard’s Medical Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Mark was born to the late Olean Holland Stidham and Jimmy Lee Stidham, who survives.
On October 14, 1994 he was married to Debbie Miller Stidham in Dexter, Missouri.
Mark was a member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Dexter, Missouri, where he served as Elder, as well as in many other capacities. Mark loved God, his family, and the community of Dexter.
Mark was employed with IXL Manufacturing Co. in Bernie, Missouri, from the time he was a young man in a management position, working with the E.L., Bob, and Yvonne Keathley family, who treated him as a son of their own. Mark was employed by the Keathley family for several years, with the exception of a brief management position with Hudson/Tyson foods.
In May 1997 Mark began serving as Ward 3 Alderman in Dexter, a position he served in until being called upon to become the first City Administrator of Dexter in March of 2001. He served in that position until the time of his death. In his role as City Administrator, he oversaw the Police, Fire, Street, Water, Wastewater, and Park and Recreation departments. He also was adviser to the Airport and Library boards.
Mark served on several other state and local boards; including the Regional Homeland Security Oversite Committee, the Missouri Municipal League, the Transportation Advisory Counsel, City Managers Association, and the Endowment Trust for Three Rivers College. He was appointed by Governor Mike Parson to the Missouri 911 Board in 2020.
Survivors include his wife, Debbie Miller Stidham; sons, Brent (Lauren) Stidham and Jim Scherer; granddaughters, Lily and Holly Scherer; his father, Jim Stidham; step-mother, Carolyn Stidham; brothers, Danny Stidham, Ray (Debbie) Stidham, Randy (Lindsi) Stidham; sisters, Pat (Lawrence) Brashear, Sandra (Mike) Zelinski, Julie (Billy) Warren, Melanie (Phillip) Folts, and Karen (Greg) Stallings, along with many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Olean Stidham; wife, Velva Murphy Stidham; son, Jason Stidham; and a special aunt, Ann McCarley.
Visitation will be held Sunday, January 3, 2020 at the Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. with a Celebration of Life to follow. Interment will be at the Dexter Cemetery.
The family appreciates the many expressions of love and sympathy at Mark’s passing and would like convey to the public that masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be in place for the visitation and Celebration. The option of viewing virtually will be available on the Mathis Funeral Home website.
Memorial donations can be made to the Jason Stidham Memorial Scholarship, c/o Dexter Public Schools, Attention Laura Miller, 1031 Brown Pilot Lane, Dexter, Missouri 63841.
Jimmie Allen Fry Sr., son of the late Joseph Allen Fry and Juanita Harris Redman, was born on March 29, 1941 in Malden, Missouri, and departed this life on December 29, 2020, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 79 years.
Mr. Fry was a former commercial contractor and a resident of Bloomfield, Missouri. He enjoyed coin collecting, hunting and fishing.
On August 14, 1959, he was first united in marriage to Doris Ann Jackson. Mrs. Doris Fry preceded him in death on October 15, 1988. On September 3, 1994, in Bloomfield, Missouri, he was then united in marriage to Elsie Palmer. Mrs. Elsie Fry survives of their home in Bloomfield.
In addition to his wife, Elsie, he is survived by his son, Allen Fry and wife Brenda of Matthews, Missouri; by his daughter, Renee Lawrence of Essex, Missouri; by his step-son, Bill Keating and wife Crystal of Dexter, Missouri; by his brother, Johnnie Fry of Sikeston, Missouri; by his half-brother, Mike Fry of Morris, Illinois; by his sister, Joyce Daily of Miner, Missouri; by his half-sister, Melinda Katovich of Dallas, Texas; and by nine grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sons, Jimmie Fry Jr. and Ricky Fry; and by his half-sister, Michelle Fry.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, January 2, 2021 from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Chapel on Saturday, January 2, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. with Rev. Tim Russell and Terrell Daily officiating. Interment will follow in Hagy Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.
John A Prance, Jr., 72, of Dexter, Missouri passed away on Thursday, December 24, 2020 at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter, Missouri.
John, son of the late John Albert Prance, Sr. and Velma Maxine Waltrip Prance, was born on March 31, 1948 near Clarkton, Missouri.
On November 28, 1968, he was united in marriage to Suzanne Smith Prance in Campbell, Missouri. He is survived by his wife Suzie, his daughter Julie Mangum and her husband Stacy of Dexter, Missouri. His son J.R. Prance and wife Katrina of Bloomfield, Missouri, by seven grandchildren Abby Mangum Nepean and her husband Trenton of Columbia, Missouri, Nate Mangum, Libby Mangum, Clay Prance, Blaine Prance, Adeline Prance and Levi Prance. His children and grandchildren were the light of his life. He is also survived by one sister Connie Prance Hampton and her Husband Bill of Deland, Florida.
He was a member of the Dexter church of Christ.
John moved his family to Dexter, Missouri in 1976 and embraced the community wholeheartedly. He had the heart of a servant and was always willing to volunteer and help in any capacity needed for his church or community. He was a member of the Stoddard County Civil Defense Unit (later called Emergency Management) and spent countless hours watching the skies in stormy weather to help protect the community. He never met a stranger and lived his life according to his father’s philosophy that “if you can’t joke and cut up in this life, the world would be a dull place to live.”
John proudly served his country as a member of the United States Air Force and was a Vietnam Veteran. He will be laid to rest at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri on Monday, December 28, 2020. Due to the covid pandemic no service is planned at this time and a public memorial service will be announced at a later date with full military honors.
Memorial donations may be made to the following: Children’s Home, Inc. 5515 Walcott Rd., Paragould, AR 72450; Bootheel Youth Camp, 21200 CR 525, Bloomfield, MO 63825; or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN.
Jeannie Kay Henson, daughter of the late Ivan and Mavis Tanner Britton was born on March 12, 1966 in Bloomfield, Missouri and departed this life on December 23, 2020 in her residence in Bloomfield at the age of 54.
Mrs. Henson had worked at Town and Country in Bloomfield and also at U.S. Poly in Dexter. She loved her family and spent the majority of her time loving and caring for them. She was a resident of Bloomfield.
On January 18, 1986 she was united in marriage to Harold Henson in Aquilla. Mr. Henson survives of their residence in Bloomfield.
Besides her husband she is survived by one son, Aron and wife Megan Henson of Bloomfield; by two daughters, Amy and husband Bobby Haas of Bloomfield, and Shelly and husband Zack Graham of Essex; by seven grandchildren, Collin James Henson, Amari Kay Tilley, Gary Gene Tilley, Charles Allen Graham, Colton Dwayne Haas, Riley Shae Haas and Kashton Ames Haas; by three brothers, Gary Britton, Steve Britton and Kevin Britton all of Sikeston, Missouri; by one sister, June Cochran of Sikeston, Missouri and by many loving brother in laws and sister in laws, extended family and friends.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, David Tanner and Billy Britton.
Visitation will be conducted on Monday, December 28, 2020 from Noon until 2:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted on Monday, December 28, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with Rev. Terry Berry officiating. Interment will follow at the Gravel Hill cemetery.
Ruby Eve Davis, daughter of the late James Davis and Maggie Wiseman Davis was born on July 7, 1917 in Broseley, Missouri and departed this life on December 23, 2020 at The Springs of Jonesboro nursing home in Jonesboro, Arkansas at the age of 103 years
Mrs. Davis was a member of the Dexter Church of Christ, a former resident of Dexter and Bloomfield and currently residing in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
On January 6, 1940 she was united in marriage to Robert F. Davis in Gray Ridge, Missouri. He preceded her in death on October 12, 1992.
She is survived by three sons, James Davis and wife Jane of Whitehall, Arkansas, Larry Davis and wife Gwen of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Richard Davis of Little Rock, Arkansas; by ten grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren.
Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Jack Irving; and by her brother James Davis Jr.
Visitation will be conducted on Saturday, December 26, 2020 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Graveside services will then be conducted on Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. in the Hagy Cemetery with Lloyd Davis officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Dexter Humane Society.
