Bettie Sue Nugent, affectionately known as “Ms. Bettie” by many in the Dexter area, passed unexpectedly into the arms of her Lord and Savior on July 27, 2022, at the family home located on Moore Street where she had resided since 1971.
Born August 17, 1940, in Jonesboro, Arkansas to A.B. “Beryl” and Necie Marlar Clayton, Bettie spent most of her childhood in Jonesboro and graduated from Jonesboro Arkansas High School in 1958 in the top ten of her class. Before graduation, she met A.J. Nugent and was smitten. As life and love are never simple, her parents forbid her to see him for “he is far too old for you.” Bettie, with a stubborn streak and a mind of her own, disobeyed her parents and would sneak out to see A.J.
Following graduation, Bettie attended Arkansas State University where she was a member of Beta Sigma Phi and played the flute in the marching band. Although Bettie had multiple other suitors, the love story continued against her parents’ wishes. Prior to completing her second year at ASU, Bettie and A.J. were married on February 18, 1961, all the while her father complaining about the cost of a $200 wedding dress being ridiculous. The newlyweds were a striking couple.
There were many adventures over the coming years as Bettie worked for Bell Telephone as a connecting operator and Dr. Jibben’s office. Bettie had not learned to drive and A.J. would drive her to work each day. Eventually, those car rides would turn into Bettie complaining that she couldn’t go anywhere – not even the grocery store – without him. She demanded A.J. teach her to drive. Getting her driver’s license was one of Bettie’s proudest accomplishments.
Bettie loved to dance! She and A.J. would get dressed up and drag their kids to square-dancing every weekend. Her kids do not remember those evenings fondly. Bettie even talked A.J. into Disco dancing lessons once – they didn’t stick!
Bettie was an amazing cook, a gift which was passed down from her mother. She fed everybody within ten feet of her. A continual source of aggravation for Bettie was that she was forced to cook for A.J.’s family the weekend of their wedding and never could get those biscuits just right. She sold many of her cakes and pies for special occasions. The family joke is that her cooking is why Jay got married – his mother bribed his future wife with an apple crumb cake and kept her around with a yearly strawberry pie on her birthday. Bettie was a collector of cookbooks and tried thousands of recipes over the years.
Bettie was also a teacher at the Small Wonders daycare before becoming the cook in addition to teaching for the Small Wonders daycare at the Baptist Church for many years. Hordes of children were loved and fed by “Ms. Bettie” during her time there and prior to that at her own in-home daycare.
Bettie had a love for plants and flowers which she inherited from her father. She would grow her own herbs and spices for her cooking. Three separate times she gave Crystal a start of chives and all three times Crystal couldn’t keep them alive. Besides caring for her family, nothing put a smile on her face like a blooming flower that she could love and care for.
Bettie had an amazing smile and an infectious laugh. Let’s not forget opinionated…anybody want to talk politics? She was happiest when surrounded by her family and friends. Her dry sense of humor made frequent appearances. Everyone who knew her could probably tell you something witty that had come out of her mouth when least expected.
Bettie was a member of the Red Hats Society and the Altrusa Club for many years. In addition, she and A.J. were active in the church and taught the Senior Youth group together for a time. Health concerns eventually no longer allowed Bettie to attend services in person, but her faith never faltered. No doubt when she closed her eyes on earth and opened her eyes in paradise, the face of the Savior was the first thing she saw.
Left behind to cherish her memory are her loving husband of 61+ years A.J., son Jay (Crystal), and daughter, Lesley (Paul Schock). Grandma Bettie loved her grandchildren with all her heart and those children will always know what a wonderful woman she was: Lilly, Haylee, Caleb, and Clay as well as grand-dogs Benji and Francesca. She will be missed greatly by the family cats that she had been adamant they would not keep before they purred their way right into her heart: Ginny, Harry, Luna, and Smudge. Bettie taught us all how to live well and love much. Our lives will never be the same.
Visitation will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Dexter on Monday, August 1, 2022, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Larry Lawman officiating.
Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri. Pallbearers will be Jay Nugent, Paul Schock, Scott Kruse, Larry White, Alan Hedrick, and Brian Becker. Honorary Pallbearers are Crystal Nugent, Kathy White, Adrienne White, Jim and Jamie Cook, Marilyn Nugent, Pat Ockel, Debbie Ockel, Judy and Bill Perkins, and Phyllis Hudson.
Memorial may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital; Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation; Humane Society of Southeast Missouri; Stoddard County Children’s Home; Arkansas State University; Siteman Cancer Center; or Vanderbilt University’s Department of Otolaryngology.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Sophia Harrison, daughter of the late Rube Bevill and Grace Bryant Bevill, was born on July 19, 1930, in Gosnell, Arkansas, and departed this life on July 27, 2022, at her residence in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 92 years.
While in high school, Sophia met the love of her life, Glin Harrison. They were united in marriage on February 20, 1949, in Keiser, Arkansas, and were happily married for sixty-seven years until Mr. Harrison preceded her in death on November 12, 2016.
Mrs. Harrison was a housewife and assisted her husband on the family farm, keeping the books and helping with various farm chores.
Sophia loved playing basketball, in 1948, she was the all-county basketball player for her high school in Arkansas. She enjoyed watching Cardinal baseball in the summer and fall and the NBA during the winter. She loved to travel with her siblings, traveling around the United States, visiting nearly every continental state and Canada.
She is survived by three daughters, Teresa Mick and husband Mike of Doniphan, Missouri; Connie Mays and husband Wayne of Dexter, Missouri, and Glinda Almond and husband Terryl of Dexter, Missouri; by three grandchildren, Scott Moore, Rachel Lidle, and Rebekah Sims; by ten great-grandchildren, Hanna McDonald, Paige Adams, Adi Moore, Sophia Moore, Brooklyn Brown, Harrison Lidle, Harper Sims, Deacon Sims, Conner Campbell, and Colton Moore; and by seven great-great grandchildren, Carson Moore, Ziadyn McDonald, Zayla McDonald, Jayda Shafer, Bowie Campbell, and coming soon, Zoey Moore, and Layna Conner.
Other than by her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two grandsons, David Glin Moore, and Hugh Michael Mick; and by five brothers, and five sisters.
Memorial may be made to 18 Fore Life, c/o Scott Kruse, 705 Laurie Circle, Dexter, Missouri 63841 or Elara Caring Hospice, 1614 W Business 60, Suite A-1, Dexter, Missouri 63841.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Sunday, July 31, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Sunday, July 31, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Terryl Almond officiating. Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Deborah “Debbie” Lynn Temples, 71 of Dexter Missouri, passed away on Saturday, July 23, 2022. Debbie was born on October 29, 1950, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to parents Cinda Miller Temples of Dexter Missouri and Alvin “Jim” Lee Temples, Sr. (deceased).
Debbie was a beloved sister to Rebecca “Becky” Kyle and Alvin Lee Temples, Jr. (deceased).
Before his untimely death, Jim would escort Debbie to the farm and show her the baby cows, which was always a delight to see. She was especially fond of the time her dad spent with her riding horses.
Debbie was an avid shopper and never passed up an opportunity to hit the aisles wherever she was. She made many friends over the years and was especially loved by all of her “boyfriends”.
Debbie lived in the Boucher Street and Walnut Street groups homes for over 25 years. During that time, she stayed active with ARC activities, including participation in Special Olympics events, enjoyed attending dances, and listening to her prized records. George Jones, Elvis Presley, and Charley Pride were a few of her favorites.
She loved visiting her family on the weekends. They often attended church together and she talked to mom every day on the phone. Besides eating out, Debbie loved to cook steak or fry fish with her brother.
Debbie spent the last 15 years of her life in an assisted living apartment and was lovingly cared for by the staff of Crossroads ISL. Her caregivers were like a second family to her, and she was cared for with dignity in her home until her death.
The family would like to give special thanks to Paula Farmer, co-owner of Crossroads ISL that oversaw Debbie’s care. They provided her, not only with practical life services, but countless activities and experiences that enriched her life and those of countless others.
Please direct donations to the Missouri Special Olympics, 305 Special Olympics Drive, Jefferson City, Missouri 65101 or the Stoddard County ARC, PO Box 444, Dexter, Missouri 63841
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, July 29, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, July 29, 2022, at 11:00 a.m.
Interment will follow in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Verna Ruth Spore, daughter of the late Hazel Foster Jackson and Robert Hill Jackson, was born on October 19, 1928, in Dexter, Missouri, and departed this life on July 23, 2022, at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 93 years.
After graduating from Dexter High School, Ruth moved to Michigan where she worked in the automotive industry. On November 6, 1948, she and Maurice Spore were united in marriage. In late 1951, the moved to Oakland, California. After several years, they returned to Dexter where Ruth worked for Elder Manufacturing. In 1964, Maurice was promoted to general manager for Sears, and they moved to Memphis, Tennessee
While in Memphis, Ruth worked as a production supervisor for RCA and as an administrative assistant for N. Hunt Moore and Associates and Southern Systems, both engineering firms. In 1978, she and Maurice moved back to Dexter where she worked in the packing and shipping department of Elder Manufacturing.
Throughout her career, her greatest joy and sense of accomplishments were being a wife and mother.
Ruth was an active member of New Bethel General Baptist Church where she served as a deacon’s wife, in the care and compassion ministry, and teaching youth. Her kind, loving and caring spirit was evident in everything she did, and she was a mentor to many.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Hazel Jackson, her loving husband, two brothers, Robert and Bryant Jackson, and a sister, Mary Phillips.
She is survived by her son, Everette (Janet) Spore of Gleason, Tennessee, two grandchildren, Jason Spore of McDonough, Georgia, and Natalie Spore of Henderson, Nevada, and many nieces and nephews. Her wit, sense of humor, and storytelling provided a source of entertainment for those who were close to her. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, July 30, 2022, from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Steve Tippen officiating.
Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield on Monday, August 1, 2022, at 11:00 a.m.
Memorials may be made to New Bethel General Baptist Church,15626 State Hwy AF, Dexter, Missouri 63841
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Larry Eugene Walpole, son of the late Archie Sanders Walpole and Ivogene Coln Walpole, was born on March 10, 1946, in Kennett, Missouri, and departed this life on July 23, 2022, at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of 76 years.
Mr. Walpole was a Veteran of the United States Army, serving in Vietnam. After leaving the military, he worked for Monarch Seed then he and his wife purchased Walpole’s Auto Parts in Bloomfield, Missouri and worked it together for 18 years. He was a member of the Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce, the VFW, and the American Legion, he was appointed to the Stoddard County Health Department Board of Directors, he was a volunteer fire fighter in Bloomfield, he was on the Bloomfield Police Department auxiliary, and he was a resident of Bloomfield, Missouri. Larry enjoyed coaching baseball and working with the Boy Scouts.
On April 29, 1966, in Bloomfield, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Mary Cowgur. Mrs. Walpole survives of their home in Bloomfield.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children and five grandchildren.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Billy Walpole, by his brother, Archie Walpole, and by his sister, Pamela Walpole.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Ray Rowland officiating.
Interment will follow in the North Antioch Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
