Joyce Hardin, daughter of the late Walter McCarver and Jenny Mae Yarbrough McCarver, was born on June 3, 1937 in Steele, Missouri, and departed this life on January 3, 2021 at her residence in Dudley, Missouri at the age of 83 years.
Mrs. Hardin was a former employee of First Missouri State Bank in Fisk, Missouri, working as a teller and bookkeeper. She lived the Christian faith and enjoyed gardening, birdwatching, and flowers, cooking and canning, and her favorite color was brown.
On March 6, 1956, in Chicago, Illinois, she was united in marriage to Bob Hardin. Mr. Hardin survives of their home in Dudley.
In addition to her husband, Bob, she is survived by three sons, Steve Hardin and wife Melana of Dexter, Missouri, David Hardin of Dudley, Missouri and Jim Hardin of Kansas City, Missouri; and by two grandchildren, Lauren Burke and Matthew Hardin.
She was preceded in death by her parents; by her daughter, Joyce Ann Hardin, in infancy; and by two sisters.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Jim Clark officiating. Interment will follow in Dudley Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.
Bertie Cook, daughter of the late James Duffey and Minnie Morris Duffey, was born on July 8, 1925 in Brownwood, Missouri, and departed this life on January 2, 2021 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, at the age of 95 years.
Mrs. Cook was the former owner of a beauty shop. She was a member of First General Baptist Church in Bloomfield, Missouri and a resident of Bloomfield.
On April 29, 1944 in Piggott, Arkansas, she was united in marriage to J. P. Cook. Mr. Cook preceded her in death on January 27, 2004.
She is survived by several nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents, by two brothers, Raymond Duffey and Aymond Duffey; and by four sisters, Lucille Wright, Melba Borneman, Inez Henley, and Georgia Henrey.
Graveside services will be conducted at Walker Cemetery in Bloomfield on Friday, January 8, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Blake Brown officiating.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.
Sammy Joe Davis, son of the late Hubert Davis and Patricia Ann Romine Davis, was born on April 15, 1957 in Watseka, Illinois, and departed this life on January 2, 2021 at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 63 years.
Mr. Davis was a former employee of Riddles Lumber Company.
He is survived by four sisters, Cindy Hicks of Bloomfield, Missouri, Susan Davis-Rohde of Leroy, Illinois, Lee Ann Ennen of Champagne, Illinois, and Pauline Abbott of Waynesville, Illinois.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.
Leota Pauline Larson, daughter of the late William Francis Daniel and Marie Rose Brunn Daniel, was born on July 3, 1941 in Vandervoort, Arkansas, and departed this life on January 1, 2021 at Winchester Nursing Center in Bernie, Missouri, at the age of 79 years old.
She was united in marriage to Leonard E. Larson, Jr. on August 5, 1961 in Vandervoort, Arkansas. He preceded her in death in 2002.
Mrs. Larson worked in the insurance business for many years in offices in Dexter and Bernie. After retirement she volunteered for Meals on Wheels, and enjoyed going to bingo and out to eat with her friends. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Dexter.
Survivors include one daughter, Ramona Ann Lemons (Chris); granddaughter, Jessica Lambert (Michael); and grandson, Douglas Lemons; two brothers, Douglas Daniel and Jimmy Daniel (Fern); and two sisters, Bertha Watkins and Phyllis Fernandez (Jose).
Due to Covid, there will be a graveside service at the Caroline Dowdy Cemetery on Monday, January 4, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Justin Sponaugle officiating.
The Larson family requests that everyone wear a mask and practice social distancing at the graveside service.
Memorial may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, 1002 Saddle Spur Road, Dexter, Missouri 63841.
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.
