Wanda Mae Baird born to the late Edward and Flossie (McCormick) Lacy on November 07, 1931 in Kennett, Missouri and passed away on July 28, 2021 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 89 years.
Wanda was married to Thomas Baird on September 12, 1950 until his death on April 27, 1978. She made beautiful quilts, the best chicken and dumplings and yeast rolls. She was a member of Southwest Church of the Nazarene where she taught and took the youth under her wing. She also attended the First Baptist Church of Essex until the time of her death. Wanda is survived by three sons David (Andrea) Baird of Colfax, Indiana, twins Larry Baird of Colfax, Indiana and Garry (Sheila) Baird of Dexter, Missouri; six daughters Diane (Roy) Poe of Aquilla, Missouri, Vicki Myer of Dexter, Missouri, Charlotte (Richard) Cochran of Morehouse, Missouri, Elsie Smothers of Puxico, Missouri, Carolyn (Michael) Castleberry of Cumberland, Tennessee and Cindy Baird of Cumberland, Tennessee; eleven grandchildren; twenty-seven great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; one brother John Lacy of Defiance, Missouri and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers Frank Lacy and Joe Lacy; one grandson Alex Myer and one great granddaughter Elizabeth Bruce. A host of family and friends also survive. Visitation will be held on Monday August 02, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday at 11:30 a.m. at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter with Brother Kraig Runzi of Puxico, Missouri officiating. Watkins and Sons Funeral Service in charge of arrangements.
Murel Allen Leek of Dexter, Missouri was born to the late Amos and Allie (Williams) Leek on September 05, 1934 in Moorehouse, Missouri and passed away on July 28, 2021 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri at the age of 86 years.
Murel had been a resident of Dexter, Missouri most of his life. He also lived in Michigan. He loved to go to the casino.
Murel was married to Glenda Thorne on July 03, 1953 in Flint, Michigan. She preceded him in death on October 30, 1998.
Surviving is his daughter Kay Holmes of Dexter, Missouri; two grandchildren Tammy Holmes of Dexter, Missouri and Joshua Holmes of Colorado Springs, Colorado; three great grandchildren Forrest Holmes of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Trop Hampton of Bernie, Missouri and Mitchell Hampton of Bernie, Missouri; one great great grandchild Sophia Hampton of Bernie, Missouri; one sister Betty Foust of Harvell, Missouri. Murel was preceded in death by several brothers and sisters and one great great granddaughter. A host of family and friends also survive.
Visitation will be held on Saturday July 31, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.
Funeral services to be held on Saturday July 31, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with Rev. Mike Williams of Dexter, Missouri officiating.
Interment will follow in the Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Poplar Bluff, Missouri with Watkins and Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.
James Monroe Vandergriff, son of the late Gilbert Monroe Vandergriff and Gladys Imogene Bird Vandergriff, was born in Malden, Missouri on July 9, 1943 and departed this life at St. Joseph Hospital in St. Charles, Missouri on July 24, 2021 at the age of 78.
Mr. Vandergriff was in the United States Army, having served in Vietnam War, he retired from the Military after serving 24 years.
He was a member of Starr Community Church of Fisk, Missouri and was a resident of Dexter.
He was united in marriage to Joyce Mae Blake in Lawton, Oklahoma on May 1, 1967. Mrs. Vandergriff survives in their home in Dexter.
Other survivors include one son, Brian K. Vandergriff of Malden, Missouri; by two sisters, Mary Lou Vandergriff Starnes and Janice Adams both of Malden, Missouri; by three granddaughters, Amber, Sadie and Casey; by other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri at 2:00 P.M. with full Military Honors.
Interment will follow. Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie in charge of all arrangements.
Estel M. Williamson, son of the late Roy Harry Williamson and Minnie Lee Crutcher Williamson, was born on September 21, 1924, in Essex, Missouri, and departed this life on July 26, 2021, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 96 years.
Mr. Williamson was a veteran of the United States Army, and he was a former farmer and truck driver. He was a member of the Assembly of God in Essex, Missouri, and a resident of Essex.
On January 15, 1951, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, he was united in marriage to Doris Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Williamson were married for 69 years. Mrs. Williamson preceded him in death on November 6, 2020.
He is survived by two sons, Bruce Williamson of Van Buren, and Brett Williamson and wife Ingrid of Essex; by three daughters, Kay and husband Ray Lassen of Doniphan, Ellen Williamson of Bloomfield, and Mary Ann Williamson of Kirkwood; by five grandchildren, Jonathan Williamson, Kendra (Dave) Haas, Jaime (Marcus) Davis, Rachel Darter, and Tasha Lassen; by thirteen great-grandchildren; and by several nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews, friends, and family.
Other than by his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Harry Williamson and Bill Williamson; by two sisters, Margy Dopps and Patsy Quattlebaum; and by his great-grandson, Owen Hawkins and his great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Williamson.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, July 31, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, July 31, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. James Malloy officiating.
Interment will follow in Essex Cemetery.
The Williamson family respectfully requests that everyone wear a mask to the visitation and funeral.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38101.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.
Nelvia Mae Rainey, daughter of the late McKinley Moore and Sanford and Mandy Jones Wilson, was born on April 15, 1931, in Boyle, Mississippi, and departed this life on July 22, 2021, at Portageville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, in Portageville, Missouri, at the age of 90 years.
Mrs. Rainey was a former employee of Bernie Public Schools in Bernie, Missouri. She was Assistant Pastor of Bread of Life Ministries and a resident of Parma, Missouri. She enjoyed reading, cooking, and she dearly loved her family.
On April 27, 1946, in Boyle, Mississippi, she was united in marriage to Nathaniel Rainey. Mr. Rainey preceded her in death on May 16, 2006.
She is survived by seven sons, Nathaniel Rainey (Laura) of Alton, Illinois, Willie Rainey (Catherine) of St. Louis, Missouri, McKinley Rainey (Madella) of Parma, Missouri, Sanford Rainey (Vicki) of Fort Madison, Iowa; Roscoe Rainey (Dorothy) of Parma, Missouri, Cornelius Rainey of Parma, Missouri and Lawrence Rainey (Angela) of Orlando, Florida; four daughters, Nelvia Donaldson of Parma, Missouri, Mandy Rainey (Glenn Smith) of Malden, Missouri; Alberta Johnson (Charles) of Parma, Missouri, and Michelle Higgs (Michael) of Palm Bay, Florida; by four sisters, Estelle Smith of Detroit, Michigan, Beatrice Johnson of Malden, Missouri, Annie Mae Johns of Malden, Missouri, and Robbie Bills of Jackson, Missouri; and by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
Other than by her husband and parents, she was also preceded in death by one son, Carl Rainey; by two brothers, Willie Moore and Henry Wilson; by two sisters, Clara Sullivan and Mandy Wilson; and by three grandchildren.
Private family only visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie on Thursday, July 29, 2021, starting at 11:00 a.m. Funeral services will be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. with Superintendent McKinley Moore and Pastor Carl Williams officiating. Interment will follow in the Stanfield Cemetery.
The Rainey family respectfully requests that everyone wear a mask.
Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie is assisting with arrangements.
