Fannie Ethel Brigman Averett, daughter of the late Sullivan and Fannie Brigman, was born on October 15, 1931, in East Prairie, Missouri and departed this life on Monday, March 29, 2021, in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 89. Fannie was the youngest of six siblings: Mary Dawson, Harold Brigman, Dorothy Sailors, Ruth Sailors, and Kathryn Anderson. Fannie was united in marriage to Kenneth William Averett, Jr. on December 9, 1951, in Piggott, Arkansas. Fannie was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Averett, parents, siblings, son-in-law Alan Robinson, grandson Brent Robinson, and granddaughter Chelsea Averett.
Survivors include her four children: Jane Smith and husband Leon, Jeanie Robinson, Marty Averett and wife Lynne, and Kim Monteer and husband, Jay. She is survived by seven grandchildren: Summer McGowan and husband Todd, Dawn Smathers and husband Daniel, Gabriel Smith and wife Brooke, Jordan Averett and wife Candace, Colton Averett, Hunter Collins, and Morgan Monteer. Fannie was survived by eight great-grandchildren: Alexis Smith, Jarred Swindell, Karsyn Smith, Jeanna Smathers, Brant Smathers, Francesca Averett, Ellessandra Averett, and Griffin Averett.
Fannie was blessed with a lifetime of love and happiness, and her Christian faith was very important to her. Fannie, along with her husband, Kenneth, owned and operated the Allis-Chalmers Implement Dealership in Dexter, Missouri for 28 years. Fannie was a long time member of the Dexter Church of Christ. She also volunteered with the hospital auxiliary for many years. Fannie was an avid card player; she and her husband spent many nights playing cards with family and friends and passed along the tradition to their children and grandchildren. She was a very devoted St. Louis Cardinals fan and never missed a game. She loved to go dancing and would often be found dancing the Jitterbug in the living room with her husband Kenny. Fannie was full of personality and the loudest whisperer you ever met. You rarely had to wonder where you stood with Fannie because she would tell you. She loved to spend time with her family and could frequently be heard bragging on their accomplishments, sharing their photos, and telling others how proud she was of them.
Friends and family may call Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Visitation will be held from 12:30pm to 2:30pm. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30pm with the Stan Dauck officiating. Interment will follow in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery.
The Averett family requests everyone wear a mask for the funeral services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials or donations can be made to Bootheel Youth Camp, P.O. Box 457, Dexter, Missouri 63841; Stoddard County Children’s Home, 208 S. Prairie, Bloomfield, MO 63825; or Meals on Wheels, 23 W. Stoddard Street, Dexter, MO 63841.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.
Judy Ruth (Burge) Arnold, 75, of Puxico, MO, and formerly of Poplar Bluff, MO, passed away on Friday, March 26th, 2021, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, MO. Her death was sudden and unexpected.
She was born on September 23, 1945, to Arlie A. and Elsie (Harris) Burge in Osage County, MO. She was the youngest of seven children. She was raised in Puxico, MO, where she attended and graduated from Puxico High School in 1963. She attended Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO, where she obtained her Master of Science degree in Social Work. She was an active member of the Tri Delta sorority during her college years. After graduation, she began her career working for the State of Missouri at the Division of Family Services (DFS). She was well respected and admired by her co-workers. After 37 years, she retired as the area supervisor III for the Children’s Division in 2002. During her retirement she enjoyed traveling, visiting with family/friends, going to casinos, antique treasure hunting and estate auctions. She also loved decorating and participated in several open houses for Christmas tours and most recently organized the drive through Christmas tour in Puxico in 2020. She was very active in her community and was a member of the board for the Puxico Library. She attended the Puxico Christian Church.
On September 1st, 1973, she married her true love, Robert E. “Bob” Arnold, at the First Christian Church in Puxico, MO. She became an instant (step)mother to three children; Tony, Bobby and Cheri. Bob and Judy enjoyed many happy years together until he preceded her in death on January 16, 2000. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Arlie and Elsie Burge; two brothers, Kenneth Brantley and Arlie Burge; one sister, Phyllis Kinnaman; two nieces, Patricia Hon and Brenda Kinnaman.
Ms. Arnold is survived by two sons, Tony E. Arnold (Debbie) of Poplar Bluff, MO, and Robert L. “Bobby” Arnold (Janice) of Whitewater, MO; one daughter, Cheri L. Morgan of Poplar Bluff, MO; six grandchildren, Ashley Cochran (Josh) of Poplar Bluff, Courtney Thrasher (Andy) of Bay, AR., Brandon Arnold (Samantha) of Whitewater, MO, Whitney Bradley (Donnie) of Chaffee, MO, Jade McKnight (Bri) of Poplar Bluff and Tristan Morgan of Poplar Bluff; and five great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Alexis Cochran of Poplar Bluff, Oliver and MacKenzie Bradley of Chaffee, and Lawson Thrasher of Bay, AR.
She is also survived by two brothers and sister-in-laws, Bill and Nelda Burge of Puxico, MO, and Floyd and Valjeane Burge of Poplar Bluff, MO; one sister, Barbara Boone of Leesburg, FL; several beloved nieces and nephews, Paul Ludwig, Pam Hubbert (Perry) and Kelley Kirkpatrick (David) all of Pulaski, TN, Lynne Wasson (Tommy) of St. Paul, AR., Anne Woker, and Art Kinnaman (Kim) of Little Rock, AR., Paula Gratton (Tom) and Laura Burge of St. Louis, MO, Brad Wallace (Kim) of Farmington, MO, Gina Harris (Lonnie) of Waco, TX, Boyd Wallace (Whitney) of Dallas, TX, David Burge (Melissa) of Cape Girardeau, MO, Scott Burge (Kelly) of Puxico, MO, Misty Wiseman (Michael) and Aaron Burge all of Poplar Bluff, MO; and several great and great-great nieces and nephews.
She was very social and also leaves behind several special friends, Patricia Burge and Dee Dee Vance both of Poplar Bluff, MO, Chuck and Shirley Fann and Michael Brown of East Prairie, MO, Art and Sandra Norris, Robin Pastori, Lola Fowler, Pansy Barnfield, and Peter and Maryann Coutavas all of Puxico, MO, and Steve Brown of Sanibel Island, FL.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, MO. Visitation for immediate family will be from 9-10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 31st, at the funeral home. Public visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. with services immediately after at 12 p.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Brown Chapel Cemetery in Broseley, MO. Her nephew, Art Kinnaman, will deliver the eulogy and conduct the service and her niece Kelley Kirkpatrick will provide music. Pallbearers are grandsons Brandon Arnold and Tristan Morgan, grandson-in-law Andy Thrasher, nephews Scott Burge, Aaron Burge, and Lonnie Underberg. Honorary pallbearers are nephews David Burge and Michael Wiseman. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name may be made to the Puxico Library.
Lois Jean Rutledge daughter of the late Rev. Charlie Bell and Hazel Thomas Bell, was born in Luxora, Arkansas on October 19, 1939 and departed this life at her residence in Rural Parma, Missouri on March 31, 2021 at the age of 81.
Mrs. Rutledge had worked at JC Penny in Sikeston, Missouri and was a Homemaker. She was a member of Mt. Olive MB Church at LaForge/New Madrid, Missouri.
She was united in marriage to Johnnie Myles Rutledge in New Madrid, Missouri on June 29, 1974. Mr. Rutledge survives in their home in Rural Parma, Missouri.
Other survivors include one son, Sean Rutledge & wife Lashun of Parma, Missouri; by one brother William Albert Bell & wife Vera of New Madrid, Missouri; by one sister Charlene Kelly & husband James of Chicago, Illinois; by one grandson, Myles Thomas Rutledge; also by other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death other than by her parents, by one brother, James Sylvester Bell; by two sisters, Ozella Johnson and Mary Helen Johnson; by one grandson, Thomas Joe Rutledge.
Friends may call at Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 from 10:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Chapel at 12:00 P.M. Interment will follow in the Macedonia Cemetery in Malden, Missouri.
Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie in charge of all arrangements.
Larry McMunn, son of the late Vester C. “Blackie” McMunn and Lura Boyd McMunn, was born on November 11, 1936 in St. Louis, Missouri, and departed this life on March 30, 2021, at his home in Dexter, Missouri, surrounded by his loved ones, at the age of 84 years.
Mr. McMunn was a former technician in the foundry at Federal Mogul, retiring after 38 years of service.
On October 4, 1986, in rural Essex, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Sue Gibson. Mrs. McMunn survives of their home in Dexter.
In addition to his wife, Sue, he is survived by his daughter, Kelly Adams of Dexter; by three sons, Shea McMunn of Dexter, Earl Gibson of Virginia Beach, Virginia and Michael Gibson of Dexter; by two brothers, Carroll McMunn and wife Carolyn of Houston, Texas and David “Bubby” McMunn and wife Christy of Malden, Missouri; by four sisters, Phyllis Bollinger of Dexter, Missouri, Judy Blackwood and husband Don of Halls, Tennessee; LaDenna Wells and husband Chuck of Little Rock, Arkansas, and LaDonna Bennett and husband Bill of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; by four grandchildren, Lauren Neuhaus and husband Daniel, Jordi Flores and husband Jesse, and Madi Sadler and husband Nathan, all of Dexter, Missouri, and Brandon Gibson and wife Katie of Louisville, Kentucky; and by eleven great-grandchildren, Chloe Neuhaus, Owen Miller, McKendree Neuhaus, Jace Hueckel, Cade Poe, Audree Flores, Beau Flores, Knox Flores, Sophia Gibson, Luke Sadler, and Mack Sadler; and by many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by, his daughter, Tammy McMunn in infancy, by his son-in-law, Michael Adams, and by his brother-in-law, Jim Bollinger.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, April 2, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted on Saturday, April 3, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Mike Burk officiating. Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.
Wanda Louise Gough, daughter of the late Thomas and Treasa Whitehead, was born on September 22, 1927 in Dexter, Missouri, and departed this life on March 29, 2021 in Michigan, at the age of 93 years.
Graveside services will be held at Bernie Cemetery in Bernie, Missouri on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Tim Russell officiating.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.
