Ollie Clinton Ozbun, Jr. went home to Jesus on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at age 85 at the Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He was surrounded by family as he peacefully passed away after a short hospital stay. We are heartbroken to lose him but know he is in Heaven.
“Junior” was born to Ollie Clinton, Sr. and Dora Mae (Woods) Ozbun on April 27, 1937 in Bono, Arkansas.
Junior met his wife, Virginia Shrum, in 1950 at Allen Island school in Senath, Missouri. They married September 5, 1958 (recently celebrating their 64th wedding anniversary) and went on to have four children: Sandra Ozbun; Clint (Lisa) Ozbun of Doniphan, Missouri; Dana (John) Stillwagon of Bolivar; and Leanne (Garry) Brady of Dexter. In 1969, the family moved from Senath to Doniphan.
In addition to being a dedicated and loving father, Junior also loved time with family and watching his children and grandchildren play sports. He enjoyed fishing, especially the years on Lake Okeechobee, gardening, as well as singing and playing the guitar. He could ‘fix’ or build nearly anything you could think of and would ‘calculate’ in his head quicker than most with a calculator. Throughout Junior’s adult life, he held an unwavering faith in God, which he shared with those who surrounded him.
Junior worked at several jobs throughout his life which included: cutting timber and floating cypress logs in chest high water in Senath, working for a refrigeration company in St. Louis, harvesting wheat for a few years from Texas to Montana, and for over 45 years until he retired, he owned/operated Ozbun’s Garage & Auto Parts in Doniphan.
Junior joins his daughter Sandra in Heaven. He was also preceded in death by his parents and his siblings: Dan (Wanda) Ozbun; Barbara (James) Moore; Donald (Shirley) Ozbun; Cleo (Teddi) Ozbun.
He is survived by his brothers: Eugene (Margaret) Ozbun and Richard (Beverly) Ozbun, both of Senath. Junior is also survived by his grandchildren: Rachel (Josh) Tesreau of Owensboro, Kentucky; Amy (Zack) Spink of Pocahontas, Arkansas; Bradley (Angela) Stillwagon of Kansas City; Conner (Madalyn) Stillwagon of Springfield; Jennifer Stillwagon of Bolivar; Destiny (Jake) Durham of Haughton, Louisiana; and Kerigan Brady of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
He is survived by his great-grandchildren: Jackson Durham of Haughton, Louisiana; Delaney Spink of Pocahontas, Arkansas; Isaac Stillwagon of Springfield; Delaney Durham (due in October 2022); Baby Stillwagon (due in March 2023). He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Services will be held, Saturday, September 24, at First Baptist Church, Doniphan, Missouri by Edwards Funeral Home. Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Celebration of Life service at 1:00 p.m officiated by Monty Flanigan. Burial will follow at Doniphan Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
Arkansas State University, Baptist Collegiate Ministry, P.O. Box 730, State University, AR 72467 Attn: Sandy Ozbun Christian Speaker Fund
Norma Lee Murdock, 83, of Doniphan, Missouri passed away, September 20, 2022 in the Current River Nursing Center. She was born June 25, 1939 at Naylor, Missouri to the late Benjamin and Zada "Carnell" Fowler.
On January 4, 1974 She was married to Jim Murdock at Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He survives.
Also surviving; Her children, Diane Sluhan and husband Gary of Fenton, Missouri, Angel Belanger of Doniphan, Missouri, Tony Murdock and wife Dana of Naylor, Missouri, Steve Murdock and wife Sheila of Dexter, Missouri, as well as eleven grandchildren and several great grandchildren and great great great grandchildren also survive.
She is preceded in death by her parents as well as two sons, Michael Woods and Kim Murdock. and one sister, Joyce Armour.
She was the Owner and operator of Norma's Hairstyles and enjoyed going to flea markets, yards sales, arts and crafts and spending time with her family and doing hair.
There will a graveside service for Norma, September 25, 2022 starting at 2:00 p.m. in the Naylor Memorial Cemetery, at Naylor, Missouri.
Vera Mae Swallows, daughter of the late Charles Winchester and Dora Mesey Winchester, was born on July 29, 1954, in St. Louis, Missouri, and departed this life on September 16, 2022, in Wappapello, Missouri at the age of 68 years.
Mrs. Swallows was a former employee of Unilever in Sikeston and a resident of Dexter, Missouri.
On December 29, 1995, in Matthews, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Allen Swallows. Mr. Swallows survives of their home in Dexter.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Travis Swallows of Dayton, Ohio, and Jeff Swallows of Dudley, Missouri; by her brother, Charlie Winchester of Marble Hill, Missouri; by three sisters, Vicky Cook of Whitewater, Missouri, Sharon Winchester of Jackson, Missouri, and Brenda Hinkebein of Benton, Kentucky; and by three grandchildren, Bradley Swallows, Alana Swallows, and Cole Swallows.
Other than by her parents, she was preceded in death by her grandson, Jeffery Allen Swallows; by two brothers, Gill Hopson, and Joe Winchester; and by four sisters, Bonnie Henry, Pat Drehre, Anita Bradley, and Carol McGraw.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, September 24, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Donald C. Durham, son of the late Arthur Leroy Durham and Goldie Loveless Durham, was born on November 10, 1938, in Elk Township, Stoddard County, Missouri, and departed this life on September 17, 2022, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 83 years.
Mr. Durham had worked for Hester’s Packing Company from 1956 to 1972 and for Cotton Belt Railroad from 1972 to 2002, where his co-workers called him “dumplin”. He was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Dexter, Missouri, and a resident of Bernie, Missouri. He enjoyed deer hunting and taking care of his fish pond, and he loved mowing yards and spending time with his grandkids, and riding his John Deere Gator. Don was known to give the boots off his feet for individuals in need.
On May 9, 1956, in Tunica, Mississippi, he was united in marriage to Marlin Hillyard. Mrs. Durham survives of their home in Bernie.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Beckie Combs and husband Randall of Alton, Missouri; by his son, Jan McGowan of Bernie, Missouri; by his brother, Kenneth Durham and wife Sharon of Bernie, Missouri; by four sisters, Beatrice Mae Baldwin of Fenton, Missouri, Jenny Parmley of Fenton, Missouri, Mildred Adams and husband Paul of McKinney, Texas, and Mary Lou Giddings of Dexter, Missouri; by four grandchildren, Jeremy Don McGowan and wife Myra, Joshua McGowan and wife Tara, Ashley Stiles and husband Brett, and Austin Combs; and by nine great-grandchildren, Hailey Pipkins and husband Jaden, Jaden McGowan and wife Saelem, Mallory Rodgers, Karsten McGowan, Oakleigh McGowan, Sophia Combs, Audrey Stiles, Hendrick Stiles, and Madison Stiles.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Diana McGowan; by two great-grandchildren, Paxton McGowan and Josten McGowan; and by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, W.C. and Mamie Hillyard.
Visitation will be held at the First Assembly of God Church in Dexter on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted at the First Assembly of God on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Dale Jones, Rev. Ed Shirrell, Rev. Loyd Maddox and Rev. Richard Harris officiating.
Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery in Bernie, Missouri.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Barbara A. Jones, daughter of the late Ezra Hodge and Exa Steele Hodge, was born on February 8, 1937, in Blytheville, Arkansas, and departed this life on September 16, 2022, at her residence in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 85 years.
Mrs. Jones was a former hostess and manager at Hickory Log in Dexter and the former manager of Dexter BarBQ in Sikeston, retiring after 12 years of service. She was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church in Dexter. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, and working in her yard
In 1972, in Dexter, Missouri, she was united in marriage to James E. Jones. Mr. Jones preceded her in death on September 16, 2012.
She is survived by her daughter, Heather Driskill and husband Shawn of Sterlington, Louisiana; by her brother, Harold Hodge of Michigan; and by her grand-dog, Oliver.
Other than by her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Gerald Hodge.
Graveside services were conducted at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield on Monday, September 19, 2022.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter assisted with arrangements.
