Eleanor Jean Becking, daughter of the late Howard Bowman and Gertrude Lawrence Bowman, was born on November 3, 1938, in Chickasha, Oklahoma, and departed this life on August 11, 2021, at Ridgeview Nursing Center in Malden, Missouri, at the age of 82 years.
Mrs. Becking was a former 5th grade teacher in the Bernie Public School System. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Bernie.
On June 22, 1973, in Lawton, Oklahoma, she was united in marriage to Larry Becking. Mr. Becking preceded her in death on December 22, 2018.
She is survived by her son, Mark Becking of St. Louis, Missouri; by two daughters, Jennifer Becking of Dexter, Missouri; and Mary Ann Carter and husband Bill of Gainesville, Florida; by her brother, John Lawrence Bowman of Edmond, Oklahoma; by three grandchildren, Victor Miller, Zachary Renfro, and Daniel Becking and wife Paige; and by three great-grandchildren, Blair Becking, Sam Miller, and Emma Miller.
Other than by her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Patricia Ethlyce Mills.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie is assisting with arrangements.
Brother Kenneth Wayne Biggs of Dexter, Missouri was born to the late Raymond Abner and Thelma Ruth Ann Feeler Biggs on June 23, 1940 in Henryville, Indiana and passed away on August 11, 2021 in his home surrounded by his family, at the age of 81 years.
Brother Kenneth had been a resident of Dexter, Missouri the last 28 years while he was the Pastor of the First General Baptist Church. He was the President of the Ministerial Alliance, he was a board member for the Stoddard County Gospel Mission and a Chaplain for Hospice. He was in the Ministry for 54 years. At the age of 62, he and his wife Doris, took in their first foster child and later adopting 2 additional children.
Brother Kenneth married Doris Mae Elkins on June 26, 1964 in Memphis, Indiana.
Surviving Kenneth is his wife Doris Biggs; three sons Ken Biggs (Kris) of Mauckport, Indiana, Michael Blankenship of Dexter, Missouri and Trevor Biggs of Dexter, Missouri; two daughters Cyndra Biggs of Dexter, Missouri and LaKesha Biggs of Dexter, Missouri; two grandchildren Kristen Lanoue of Memphis, Indiana and Kelsey Biggs of Austin, Indiana; four great grandchildren Cheyenne, Aspen, Rylee and Killian Lanoue; two sisters Marilyn Coats of Salem, Indiana and Janice Coats of Austin, Indiana. Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Thelma Biggs; three brothers Morris Biggs, Michael Biggs and Keith Biggs and one sister Phyllis Sheets. A host of family and friends also survive.
Visitation will be held on Friday August 13, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday August 14, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the First General Baptist Church in Dexter, Missouri.
Services will be Saturday August 14, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at the First General Baptist Church in Dexter, Missouri with Rev. Dean Williams officiating.
Interment will be at a later date with Watkins and Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri in charge of arrangements.
Tracy Rena Stender, daughter of the late Jim Buck Mason and Barbara Trout Mason was born on October 6, 1969 in Dexter, Missouri and departed this life on August 10, 2021 at the Saint Bernard’s Hospital in Jonesboro, Arkansas at the age of 51.
Tracy was the founder of the Showers of Blessings ministry and was a member of the Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter.
She was united in marriage to Pat Stender on July 15, 2005 in Powe, Missouri. Mr. Stender survives of their home in Bernie.
Other than by her husband, Pat, she is survived by four sons, Aaron Parson and wife Tori of Reed Springs, Missouri, Austin Parson and wife Lexi of Colombia, Missouri, Brayden Stender and Zyler Stender both of Powe, Missouri; by one daughter, Rachael Mason and husband Tim of Dexter, Missouri; by one step son, Shawn Stender of Bloomfield, Missouri; by one step daughter, Natasha Stender of Dudley, Missouri; two brothers, James Calvert of Louisiana and Danny Mason of Bernie, Missouri and by twenty-three grandchildren.
Visitation will be conducted on Monday, August 16, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie. Funeral services will then be conducted on Monday, August 14, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie with Rev. Tim Russell officiating. Interment will follow at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Gloria Kay Bell, daughter of the late Leon Marcus and Mary Ruth Schrader Marcus, was born on November 21, 1949, and departed this life on August 10, 2021 at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 71 years.
Mrs. Bell was a former LPN and a resident of Bloomfield.
On May 25, 1981, in Mississippi, she was united in marriage to Bill Bell. Mr. Bell preceded her in death on November 7, 2020.
She is survived by two sons, Bryan King and Scott King both of Essex, Missouri; by two grandchildren, Ashley Blevins and Briar King; and by three great-grandchildren, Beau Blevins, Sloan Blevins, and Blakely King.
Besides her parents, she is also preceded in death by one brother, Gaylord Leon Marcus.
Visitation will be conducted on Friday, August 13, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral Services will then be conducted on Friday, August 13, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter.
Karen Lee Tippen, daughter of the late Elmore Keely “E.K.” Cunningham and Reba Bowden Cunningham, was born on May 20, 1945, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri and departed this life on August 9, 2021, at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 76.
Mrs. Tippen was a retired band and choir director at Parma Schools and had also worked as a secretary at D and J Plumbing. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Dexter where she had served the church through her gift of music and playing the piano. She had also been a member of the Dexter Altrusa Club and was a resident of Dexter.
She was united in marriage to Donald Tippen on September 10, 1987, in Dexter, Missouri. Mr. Tippen preceded her in death on June 7, 2010.
She is survived by two daughters, Jamie Whitaker and husband Joey of Elkhart, Indiana and Dawn Dowdy and husband Ryan of Dexter, Missouri; by four grandchildren, Chad Grubbs, Amanda Turlin, Jessica Lesley, and Michaela Shafer; and by five great-grandchildren, Liam Shafer, Levi Shafer, Lillian Elliott, Lukah Johnson and Izzy Brooks.
Visitation will be conducted on Thursday, August 12, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. in the Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will then be conducted on Thursday, August 12, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter. Interment will follow at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Memorials may be made to 18 Fore Life, c/o Scott Kruse, 705 Laurie Circle, Dexter, Missouri 63841.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
