Gary Leon Zimmerman, son of the late Basil Zimmerman and Vera Juanita Inman Schoolcraft, was born on January 6, 1956, in San Marcos, Texas, and departed this life on November 1, 2021, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, at the age of 65 years. He was a resident of Puxico, Missouri.
Gary was a Veteran of the United States Air Force, stationed in Japan for 6 years. There he worked on military communications infrastructure. After his military service, he began a career in telecommunications, working his way up from lineman to a telecommunications executive with Southwestern Bell and AT&T.
In November 1995, Gary and two other individuals founded the pioneering internet company Savvis, Inc. based in St. Louis, Missouri. Gary built out the national network as head of engineering, which at the time was unique and revolutionary to the industry. Savvis grew to be one of the nation’s primary internet service providers, with 2,440 employees and sold to CenturyLink in 2011 for over $2.5 billion.
Gary concluded his telecommunications career with Verizon and retired to his farm near Puxico, Missouri to be with his daughter and grandchildren.
On August 22, 1980, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, he was united in marriage to Susan Lynan Nance. Gary loved and cared for others deeply and this was displayed by his years of love and personal care of Lynan in their home as she suffered through the final stages of early on-set Alzheimer's. Mrs. Zimmerman preceded him in death on December 19, 2016.
Gary selflessly devoted himself to his family and friends. There has never been a greater Papaw and if you ever had the pleasure of meeting him you called him friend.
He is survived by his daughter, Jen Oliver and husband Russ of Puxico, Missouri; by his son, Bryan Sink of Puxico, Missouri; by his sister, Jeanie King of Ash, North Carolina; and by three grandchildren, Emma, Jackson, and Chloe.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, November 8, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.
A memorial service will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Monday, November 8, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Russ Oliver officiating.
Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Rodney Ogden, son of Willie E. Ogden and the late Wanda Shuppard Ogden, was born on December 4, 1952, in Pierce County, Washington, and departed this life on October 24, 2021, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Missouri, at the age of 68 years.
Mr. Ogden was a Veteran of the United States Air Force and a former airplane mechanic. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in East Prairie.
He is survived by his father, Willie Ogden of Rogersville, Tennessee; by his brother, Mark Ogden of Wrightwood, California, by his sister, Shelly Ogden of Kingman, Kansas; and by seven children.
A memorial service will be held on November 10, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in East Prairie, Missouri.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Harry E. Taylor passed away peacefully on October 26th, 2021 at Cypress Point in Dexter, MO. He was 107 years old. Harry was born at home, on the banks of the St. Francis River in Fisk, MO on November 12th, 1913 to Alice (Lee) and Zachary Taylor.
He was one of nine children. Harry loved to share stories about his experiences as a young man struggling to find work during the Great Depression, hopping freight trains and traveling around in search of work.
He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps to earn money and traveled across the West working as a firefighter, digging potatoes, crushing limestone, picking apples, and doing construction work so that he could send money back home. After the Depression, he worked as a gandy dancer for the Missouri Pacific Railroad.
In 1940, Harry moved to Toledo, OH seeking a good paying job. He was hired by Spicer Manufacturing Corporation, which later became the Dana Corporation, as a gear cutter. In 1941, he met and married Evelyn McGowin. They raised three children together: Alice Orzehowski (Ron Chvala) of Toledo, OH; Larry Taylor (Judy) of Gardner, KS; and Timothy Taylor of Toledo, OH. While living in Toledo,
Harry and Evelyn were members of Redeemer Lutheran Church where Harry served as an usher and church councilman. He also served as a Boy Scout Leader, president of the Dorr Street Exchange Club, and was a proud member of the Masonic Lodge for 72 years.
Harry retired from Dana in 1978, and he and Evelyn moved to Dudley, MO in 1983. Over the years, Harry and Evelyn helped countless people, generously supporting family, friends, and neighbors. They purchased groceries and clothing for neighbors in need, generously supported their church, and contributed to several grandchildren’s educations.
Harry loved to play checkers and the guitar and purchased musical instruments for anyone in the family who was interested in learning to play.
Harry is survived by his three children, his youngest brother Kenneth (Ruth) of Broseley, MO, 9 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, 15 great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank his special niece Deborah Madison, friend Sue Tippen, Kay Seiler of Elara Care Hospice, and the staff at Cypress Point for their kind and loving care.
Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 6th at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk, Missouri.
Funeral services will follow at 11:00 AM in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Steve Tippen officiating.
Burial will take place at Dudley Cemetery in Dudley, Missouri.
Condolences: www.whitesandersfuneralhome.com
Morris Karnes, son of the late Lester and Fannie Turner Karnes was born on January 4, 1951 in rural Bell City, Missouri and departed this life on October 28, 2021 at the Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 70.
Coach Karnes was a member of the Bernie Church of Christ. He was a retired school teacher and coach. He ran a successful lawn care business and had been in charge of Bernie City Cemetery since 2012.
He was blessed with a great baseball career in which he was an NAIA All American Baseball player at Oklahoma Christian College, followed by a great career in education. He was able to have a positive impact on students from Scott County Central, Nell Holcomb, Twin Rivers, Richland, and Bernie Schools. A two-time Hall of Famer, being inducted into the Oklahoma Christian Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994, and the Bernie Schools Hall of Fame in 2021, highlight his professional life.
His favorite Bible verse was Galatians 6:9, which tells us “And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap our reward, if we do not lose heart.” He spent his life serving others and “doing good.” Whether it was his career in education, raising money and working on the Bernie baseball field, opening the gym on Sunday nights for students and community members, providing lawn care to the community and Bernie Cemetery, or providing for his family. He always served others without wanting or needing recognition or acknowledgement. He played such a positive role in the lives of his family and the students and community members he served. Most importantly, he served the Lord, and we are thankful we were blessed to have him in our lives.
On March 19, 1972 he was united in marriage to Beverly Ann Greenwood in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Mrs. Karnes survives of their residence in Bernie.
Other than by his wife, Beverly, he is survived by one son, Jason Karnes and wife Casey of Bloomfield, Missouri; by two daughters, Jennifer Brown of Bernie, Missouri and Kacie Cotta and husband Nick of Lebanon, Missouri; by two brothers, Ival Gene Karnes and wife Geraldine and Joe Karnes and wife Becky both of Sikeston, Missouri; by one sister, Debra Shelton and husband Gary of Searcy, Arkansas; by six grandchildren, Skyler Brown, Raigen Brown Conner Brown, Cason Karnes, Cooper Karnes and Sadie Cotta.
Visitation will be conducted on Monday, November 1, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie.
Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie. Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery.
Coach Karnes requested all memorials be made to the Bernie Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 605. Bernie, Missouri 63822 or 18 Fore Life, c/o Scott Kruse, 705 Laurie Circle, Dexter, Missouri 63841.
Douglas Michael Scott of Puxico, Missouri was born to the late Alvin and Mildred (Smith) Scott on May 17, 1955 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri and passed away on October 27, 2021 in Jonesboro, Arkansas at the age of 66 years.
Doug had been a resident of Puxico, Missouri most of his life. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Puxico, Missouri. He owned and operated Skot Kraft Woodworks building cabinets.
Surviving Doug is one son Nathan Scott of Puxico, Missouri; one daughter Christa Scott of Dexter, Missouri and one Aunt Marge Rittenhouse of Chesterfield, Missouri. Doug was preceded in death by his parents Alvin and Mildred Scott and one brother Barry Scott. A host of family and friends also survive.
Visitation will be held on Friday October 29, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel in Puxico, Missouri.
Funeral Services will be Saturday October 30, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel with Minister Justin Miller officiating.
Interment will follow in the Rock Hill Cemetery in Puxico, Missouri with Watkins and Sons Funeral Service of Puxico, Missouri in charge of arrangements.
