Bonnie Jo Meritt was born in Charter Oak, Missouri, on May 10, 1926, to Terry Cunningham “T. C.” Faughn and Mary Magdalene “Maggie” Ralph Faughn. She passed from this life on August 12, 2022, while in the tender loving care of the folks at Winchester Assisted Living in Bernie. She had resided there and at Central Gardens in Dexter for several years, after having moved from her own home in Dexter.
She joins her beloved husband Roy “Poss” Meritt, who died in 1969. Bonnie will be laid to rest at his side in the Dexter Cemetery. In addition to her parents, she also rejoins brothers Mendel Sexton, John Faughn, and Philip Faughn, along with her sister, Glenadair “Lady” Gromer. Only one sister, Betty Overbey of Turlock, CA, survives to remember how the Faughn family, like many others, survived the Great Depression and World War II as hardscrabble sharecroppers to become known later as the “Greatest Generation.” For much of that time, the Faughns lived in a cabin on the Floodway “ditch dump,” barely surviving yet always thriving on grueling work and through extraordinary resourcefulness.
Bonnie and her siblings had to carefully walk over the Floodway’s railroad trestle on their way to attend school in Charter Oak, with the youngest child always being carried on the shoulders of the eldest. Upon earning her eighth grade diploma, Bonnie went on to graduate from Gray Ridge High School with the Class of 1946. That summer, she and “Poss” settled into married life, while she completed two college courses that would enable her to begin her teaching career at West Charter Oak, where she taught the ABCs,123s, geography, science, history, music, art, and physical education to children in Grades 1-8. Throughout those years, she also found time to direct countless plays, raise funds at box suppers, and organize sporting events for her students. All this time, she continued her own education through college classes at night and during summer sessions.
During the consolidation of the county schools in the 1950s, Mrs. Meritt was reassigned to the elementary building at Gray Ridge, where she taught third grade. When the Gray Ridge and Essex school districts became Richland R-1 in the early 1960s, she moved her classroom to the new campus located between the two communities. In 1966, she earned her long-sought B. S. in Education from Arkansas State and continued to work at Richland until her retirement in 1988 after 42 years as a teacher. During her long career, she also taught night classes for adults who were seeking to further their education and earn diplomas. Like all elementary teachers, Mrs. Meritt received lots of presents from her students throughout the years, delighting in each gift and proudly displaying them for all to see. Some of these gifts were costly, some not, but it was a slightly-wilted flower picked by a little boy and planted in a tin can decorated in foil that she would fondly recall long after that boy had grown to be a man. Although Bonnie was never blessed with children of her own, she considered her students to be hers, enjoying their visits and taking immense pride in their accomplishments.
After her husband’s death, she moved from Gray Ridge to Essex and then to Dexter, making friends of neighbors and enjoying decorating each of her houses and yards along the way. Always known as a “snappy” dresser in her stylish clothing and high heels, she liked her “paint and powder.” Bonnie leaves a much-loved group of nieces and nephews including Linda Dowdy of Dexter, John “Skip” Faughn of Lake Havasu, AZ; Keith Overbey of Grass Valley, CA; Terry Gromer of Malden; and Carrie Hines of Turlock, CA. Known as “Aunt Jew Jew” to this group, she played an important role in their lives and cherished each of them, their children, and their children’s children.
For the last decades of her life, Bonnie was blessed with the devotion of Dr. Leslie Williams, who provided her with love and companionship every day until his death in 2021. Her family wishes to thank each and every one of the folks at Central Gardens, Winchester Assisted Living and Elara Caring Hospice, who provided her with outstanding TLC during the last few years and up until the final moments of her long life. She would want you to know that your work is important and much-appreciated.
A gathering of friends and friends will begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, August 16, at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. The service will follow at 10 a.m. with Rev. Gary Gilbert officiating.
Effie Eloise Conner, daughter of the late Alva and Ruby Causey, was born on December 13, 1932, in rural Essex, Missouri, and departed this life on August 13, 2022, at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 89 years.
Mrs. Conner was a member of the Hopewell General Baptist Church and had attended the First Baptist Church in Dexter. She volunteered as a pink lady at Missouri Delta Hospital in Sikeston for 20 years. She was a member of the Essex Eastern Star. After graduating Essex High School, she attended cosmetology school and opened a beauty shop with her sister Louise for a couple of years. She enjoyed working alongside her husband W.L. on their family farm. She also enjoyed fishing, gardening, working outside, playing cards, cross stitching and making quilts. She was a wonderful Mom and MawMaw.
On January 17, 1953, she was united in marriage to William Loyd “Dub” Conner. Mr. Conner preceded her in death on August 28, 2017.
Eloise is survived by her son, Dale Conner of Ellsinore, Missouri; by two daughters, Diana and husband Larry Mayberry of Dexter, Missouri, and Karen Ninos of Littleton, Colorado; by her son-in-law, Dale Hardin of Parma, Missouri; by her sister, Louise Francis of Dexter, Missouri; by ten grandchildren, Jamie Dawn Kuykendall and husband Jeremy, Matthew Mayberry and wife Katie, Jeremy Conner, Sarah Lawfield and husband Jarrett, Marissa Mills and husband Matt, Casey White and husband Trey, Jessica Hunter and husband John, Alexis Payne and husband Jamie, Cody Conner and wife Lorna and John Michael Ninos; and by twenty great-grandchildren, Hayden Conner, Lanie Grey Mills, Conner Kuykendall, Hannah Rose Conner, Drew White, Lindy Lawfield, Cain Kuykendall, Emerson Hunter, Hudson White, Barrett Mills, Sawyer Mayberry, Bristol Lawfield, Sophia Payne, Johnny Hunter, Sylvia Mayberry, William Lawfield, Caroline Payne, Grace Payne, Elle Conner, and Clark Conner.
Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Linda Hardin; and by her daughter-in-law, Beverly Conner.
Memorials may be made to the Stoddard County Children’s Home, PO Box 164, Dexter, Missouri 63841.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, August 15, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at 1:00 p.m.
Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Ancel Dewayne “Bud” McKuin, son of the late Archie McKuin and Lois Heigle, was born on November 25, 1941, in Morrilton, Arkansas, and departed this life on August 12, 2022, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 80 years.
Mr. McKuin was a Veteran of the United States Army. He was a former farmer for McKuin Farms and the former owner of McKuin Trucking. He was a member of the Bernie Church of Christ and a resident of Bernie, Missouri. He enjoyed golfing, and training and barrel racing quarter horses. He was a former baseball coach and a former basketball coach for a traveling all-star team. Bud loved playing with his great-grandchildren, working in his garden and helping Traci with the barn.
On December 18, 1965, in Bernie, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Donna Goins. Mrs. McKuin survives of their home in Bernie.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Mark Allen McKuin of Bernie, Missouri; by his daughter, Traci LeAnne McKuin Suiter of Bernie, Missouri; by two sisters, Patricia Pickrell of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and Kathy Sturgess and husband Doug of Sikeston, Missouri; by three grandchildren, Bayleigh Suiter, Marcus Suiter, and Karlie Giandelone; and by four great-grandchildren, Hendryx Goode, Oakley Suiter, Grayson Psalm Giandelone, and to be born in the near future, Tatum Suiter.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Phillip Lee McKuin.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie on Monday, August 15, 2022, from 10:30 p.m. until 12:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted on Monday, August 15, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. with Stan Dauck officiating.
Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie is assisting with arrangements.
Pedro Javier Orocio, son of Martimiano Orocio and Cirila Nieto Orocio, was born in Carmen, Mexico on March 24, 1977 and departed this life at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County, Dexter, Missouri on August 8, 2022 at the age of 45.
Mr. Orocio was a farm laborer and a resident of Bernie.
Survivors include his parents, Martimiano Orocio and Cirila Nieto; by two sons, Pedro Jr. Orocio and Daniel Orocio; by three daughters, Leslie Orocio, Yaritca Orocio and Jaqueline Orocio; by three brothers, Rene Orocio, Claudio Orocio and Gonzalo Orocio; by two sisters, Lourdes Orocio and Dominga Orocio; also by other relatives and friends.
Friends may call at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Kennett, Missouri on Thursday, August 11, 2022 from 10:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted at 12:00 P.M. in the St. Cecilia Catholic Church.
Interment will be in New Brunswick, New Jersey at a later date.
Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie is assisting with arrangements.
Bobby G. Strickland, son of the late John Strickland and Mildred Teel Strickland, was born on May 24, 1958, in Gideon, Missouri, and departed this life on August 7, 2022, at his residence in Puxico, Missouri, at the age of 64 years.
Mr. Strickland was a Veteran of the United States Army. He was a self-employed, over the road truck driver and he drove for JB Hunt and he attended the First Baptist Church in Gideon, Missouri. Bobby enjoyed fishing, camping, and big family reunions, and he liked to tinker with things.
On November 1, 1980, in Dexter, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Linda Craft. Mrs. Strickland survives of their home in Puxico.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Gary Craft and wife Teresa of Senath, Missouri, and Anson Strickland and wife Stephanie of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; by two daughters, Tonya Amerson and husband Keith of Clark, Missouri, and Tisha Craft of Kennett, Missouri; by his brother, Kenny Strickland of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; by eleven grandchildren, Aaron Matney, Dalton Matney, Kelsey Amerson, Hannah Lohman and husband Ryan, Sydney Craft, Logan Hoard, Jayden Strickland, Kinlee Strickland, Dyson Stickland, Dalton Williams, and Culley Williams; and by four great-grandchildren, Freya Matney, Roper Matney, Kamden Lohman, and William Lohman.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Marvin Strickland, Donald Strickland, and Terry Strickland; and by his sister, Karen Winchester.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, August 12, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, August 12, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.
Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
