Carmen Sue Hulehan Love was born December 28, 1941, to Horace and Deloma
Hulehan in Sikeston, Missouri and departed this life peacefully on March 9, 2023, at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri after a brief illness.
Carmen graduated from Sikeston High School in 1959 and had many fond memories of the Red Peppers, journalism activities, and an active life in the First Baptist youth group which was led by her beloved uncle. She had a reputation as a rule follower that continued as an adult much to her husband’s chagrin, earning her the nickname “Sunday School Sue”. After high school she followed her big brother Jerome to the University of Missouri in Columbia graduating with a degree in elementary education. After meeting a cute farm boy from Parma, MO at Mizzou, she rushed through college in three years to hurry and marry him.
She was joined in marriage to Tom Love on August 19, 1962, at First Baptist Church in Sikeston, Missouri where she was married by that same beloved uncle, Homer Stallings, who had led her in church youth group. Tom became the love of her life and they enjoyed 60 years of marriage together. After a “luxurious” honeymoon and fine dining at the Jolly Cone in Van Buren, MO, their years of fun together began.
Life soon became an adventure of travel for Tom and Carmen as they followed Tom’s career in the Marine Corps from Quantico, Virginia, Pensacola, Florida, Milton, Florida, and finally Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina. These travels for two kids who had never ventured far from Missouri instilled a passion for travel to see this beautiful country that lasted literally until Carmen’s death. After Tom’s discharge from the Marine Corp, they decided they wanted to raise their two young daughters, Tommie and Tracy, in a small town and after a brief stop in Sikeston they put down roots in Dexter, Missouri in 1967. Tom settled in agricultural lending and after taking off from teaching for a few years to raise her preschool children, Carmen began a long 30-year career teaching elementary education in Bernie, Missouri. Teaching was never just a job to Carmen, it was a passion to instill motivation and a love for learning to all who were in her class. This love for teaching flowed into every aspect of her life including three decades of teaching Sunday school at First Baptist Church in Dexter as well as instilling a desire for knowledge to her children and grandchildren.
Carmen was very active in many facets of the community as well, including commissioner of youth softball, helping to initiate Relay for Life after her battle with cancer, years volunteering with cancer support groups, teaching Reach for Recovery classes, grief support classes, as well as support groups for grandparents who were raising their grandchildren. In 2001, she was awarded Dexter Citizen of the year in honor of her countless hours of volunteer work and was inducted into the Bernie Schools Teacher Hall of Fame.
Carmen’s greatest joys, however, came from raising her family and later being Grandma and Gaga to four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She and Tom would put four little boys in a motorhome and set out for two weeks every summer to travel through 49 states, just as they had previously done with their daughters. This forever impacted them and left them all with a sense of adventure and hunger for knowledge. Carmen also remained faithful in her church service for over 50 years of attendance at her beloved First Baptist Church of Dexter and later at Trinity United Methodist Church in Bloomfield.
In addition to her parents, Carmen was preceded in death by her sisters Bonita Johnson and Glenda Gayle Hulehan and big brother Jerome Hulehan. She is survived by her husband Tom Love; siblings: Wayne Hulehan of Alexandria, Virginia; Sandy Hulehan of Pensacola, Florida; Rita Chapman and husband Mark of Pensacola. She is also survived by her two daughters Tommie Love-Moellering and husband Rob of O’Fallon, MO, Tracy Hedrick and husband Alan of Dexter, and much-loved bonus daughter Eliana (OJ) Alvarez of Buenos Aires, Argentina, her grandchildren Zach (Erin) Hedrick, Morgan (Tamela) Hedrick, Nathan (Rabia) Durfee, Matthew (Molly) Durfee, Alicia Moellering and Jessica Moellering; Cherished in-laws Maxine Hedrick, Renee and Pierre Sauvaget. She is also survived by her most recent passions, her two great-grandchildren Russell Thomas Hedrick and Evelyn Love Hedrick. By nieces and nephews, Brad, Chad, Marti, Todd, Evan, Janie, Karen, Mark and Alan who loved her dearly and countless friends and former students.
Carolyn L. Reece, daughter of the late Victor J. Reece and Janet B. White Reece, was born in Powe, Missouri on January 25, 1948 and departed this life at her residence in Bernie, Missouri on March 9, 2023 at the age of 75.
Ms. Reece served in the United States Army. Later she worked at Unilever Ice Cream Factory in Sikeston, Missouri.
She was survived by six brothers, Paul Reece of the State of Texas, James Reece of Doniphan, Missouri; by Junior Reece and Bobby Reece both of Bernie, Missouri, Roger Reece and Ronnie Reece both of Malden, Missouri; by one sister, Linda Blevins of Williamsville, Missouri; by nieces and nephews; also by other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death other than by her parents, by two sisters, Betty Meadows and Joyce Garrett.
Friends may call at Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Monday, March 13, 2023 from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 P.M.
Funeral services will then be conducted at 2:00 P.M. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie with Rev. Tony Allen officiating.
Interment will follow in Stephens Chapel Cemetery in Rural Malden, Missouri with Full Military Honors. Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie is assisting with arrangements.
Ayana Sky Robinson, the daughter of Frank Robinson of Hayti, Missouri and Harley Dean of Bernie, Missouri was born on June 22, 2022, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri and departed this life on February 28, 2023, at the Southeast Health of Stoddard County at the age of 8 months and 6 days.
Ayana was only with us for a short time, but she made a big impact on our lives and will always hold a spot in our hearts
Other than by her parents, she is survived by her maternal grandparents, Billy and Anna Sanders of Bernie, Missouri; by three aunts, one uncle and many cousins.
“Fly High Love Bug”
Christopher Lee Dawson, son of Phil Dawson and Penny Carson Dawson, was born in Kennett, Missouri on December 10, 1976. And departed this life Hilton Head, South Carolina of on March 1, 2023 at the age of 46.
Mr. Dawson was a Retired Disabled Veteran of the United States Army. He was a resident of Bluffton, South Carolina.
He was united in marriage to Scarlett Ann Ayers in Piggott, Arkansas on May 15, 2002. Mrs. Dawson and daughter Emma survives in their home in Bluffton, South Carolina.
Other survivors include his parents, Phil & Penny Dawson of Bernie; one daughter, Emma Ann Dawson of Bluffton, South Carolina; by one brother, Terry Dawson & wife Catrina of Dexter, Missouri; by three sisters, Tommie Ellenburg & husband Allan of Bernie, Missouri, Toni Hill & husband Jeremy of Bloomfield, Missouri and Loni Dawson of Caruthersville, Missouri; also by other relatives and many friends.
Friends may call at Mathis Funeral Home in BERNIE, Missouri on Monday, March 6, 2023 from 10:30 A.M. until 1:30 P.M. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Chapel at 1:30 P.M. with Rev. Jeff Clark officiating. Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery with full military honors.
Donations may be made to:
Folds of Honor
Department 13
Tulsa, Ok 74182
Donation Forms are found at
Foldsofhonor.org & Mathis Funeral Home
Folds of Honor is a educational scholarship for veterans children.
Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie is assisting with arrangements.
Henry Wayne DeGroot, son of the late Henry E. DeGroot and Alma May Shular DeGroot, was born on December 12, 1948, in Holcomb, Missouri, and departed this life on February 28, 2023, at his residence in Bloomfield, Missouri, at the age of 74 years.
Mr. DeGroot was a former supervisor for J W Githens Company in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He enjoyed going to deer camp with his friends, watching Rizzoli & Isles and NCIS, and eating Little Debbie snack cakes. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and his dog “Happy”.
On February 11, 1995, in Broseley, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Goldie Tidwell. Mrs. DeGroot survives of their home in Bloomfield.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Cynthia DeGroot of Bloomfield, Missouri; by his step-daughter, Beverly Tidwell of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; by his step-son, Donnie Tidwell of Qulin, Missouri; by his brother, Gary DeGroot and wife Carolyn of Gordonville, Missouri; by two grandchildren, Michaela Tidwell of Poplar Bluff, Missouri and Angel Garver of Qulin, Missouri; and by his great-granddaughter, Joplin.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-son, Timothy Smith.
A gathering of friends will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, March 4, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
