William Lawrence "Bill" Burge of Puxico, Missouri, son of the late Arlie Angus and Elsie (Harris) Burge was born on December 9, 1941, in St. Louis, Missouri, and went to be with the Lord on July 31, 2023, at his home at the age of 81 years 7 months, and 21 days.
He lived in Southeast Missouri for the last fifty years, but had lived in other areas like St. Louis, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Bill was a member of the Providence Missionary Baptist Church of Puxico where he served as a trustee. Bill graduated from Puxico High School in 1959. Bill enjoyed fishing, hunting, racing cars, an avid race car fan. Bill was a long time resident manager of the Watkins And Sons Funeral Service in Puxico and Co-owner of Burge Irrigation and Well Drilling Company for many years but his true enjoyment was spending time with his family, friends and spoiling his grandchildren
Bill married the love of his life Nelda Hensen on October 21, 1961.
Bill is survived by his wife of the home; two sons, David (Melissa) Burge of Cape Girardeau; Scott (Kelly) Burge of Puxico; one brother, Floyd (Valiene) Burge of Poplar Bluff; one sister, Barbara Boone of Leesburg, Florida; three grandchildren, Taylor (Madison) Burge of Puxico; Petty Officer 2nd Class Colby Burge of Whibbey Island, Washington NAS and Brooke Burge of Kansas City; one great-grandchild, Cole Burge of Puxico and another on the way; as well as a host of family and friends.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers and two sisters; Kenneth Brantley, Arlie Burge, Phyllis Kinnaman and Judy Arnold.
Visitation will be from 5:00 PM. until 8:00 P.M. on Friday, August 4, 2023, with the funeral service to follow on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 11:00 A.M at the Watkins And Sons Funeral Chapel In Puxico, Missouri, with Pastors Larry Tucker of Sikeston, Missouri, and Don Adams of Matthews, Missouri, officiating.
Interment will follow at the Puxico Cemetery in Puxico, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Providence Baptist Church at 11718 Hy PP in Puxico, Missouri, in care of Steve Riney.
James William (Bill) McClure of Puxico, Missouri, the son of the late John James Thomas and Ruby Mae (Barnes) McClure, was born near Mingo, Missouri, on March 16, 1944, and passed from this life peacefully at his home in Puxico on July 27, 2023, at the age of 79.
Bill lived in the Southeast Missouri area the majority of his life. Bill was a proud U.S. Army Veteran, a member of the First Baptist Church of Puxico, held a Bachelor's Degree in education and was a retired school teacher from Poplar Bluff Schools. He was a former member of the School Board and served on the Berry-Glenn Historical Museum board. Bill enjoyed golfing, rabbit hunting, traveling, watching westerns and listening to music. He always enjoyed keeping his yard looking nice. Most important to him was spending time with his family, especially spoiling those grandkids.
Bill married Diane Holloway on August 26, 1972, in Puxico, Missouri.
Bill is survived by his wife (Diane) of the home; one son, Ryan (Mahala) McClure of Scott City, Missouri; two daughters, Amanda (Brandon) McMillan and Jacquelyn (Dustin) Hodges all of Puxico; one brother, Larry McClure (Little John) of Puxico ; one sister, Beverly McClure of Puxico; six grandchildren, Parker Hodges, Grant McMillan, Luke McMIllan, Griffin Hodges, Ruby Jean Hodges and Oaklen McClure; as well as a host of family and friends.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ruby; two brothers, David and Johnny Franklin McClure; one sister, Joyce Coleman.
Visitation will be held on Monday, July 31, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel In Puxico, Missouri, with funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 1, 2023, with Pastor Marshall Link officiating.
Interment will follow at the Puxico Cemetery in Puxico, Missouri, with Watkins And Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to the Berry-Glen Historical Museum in honor of Bill McClure.
Brenda Marie Smith, daughter of the late George Wright and Clara Spitzer Wright was born on December 16, 1949, in Sikeston, Missouri, and departed this life on July 18, 2023, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, at the age of 73.
Brenda had retired as the dietary supervisor at the Missouri Delta Medical Center, she was a former resident of Sikeston, Missouri currently living in Dexter, Missouri. She loved her family and close friends and would put her life on hold to do anything for them.
She is survived by two sons, Sonny Copeland Jr and wife Melissa of Buchheit, Arizona, and Danny Copeland and wife Kelly of Sikeston, Missouri; by two daughters, Debbie Marie Hamlett of Dexter, Missouri, and Holly Butrum and husband Corey of La Center, Kentucky; by two special friends, Jennie Holland and Darrin Gammons of Sikeston, Missouri; by three brothers, Wayne Wright of Bloomfield, Missouri, Mike Wright of Apache Junction, Arizona, and Howard Wright of Florence, Arizona; by two sisters, Sandy McMackin of Morehouse, Missouri and Helen Fuller of Carrier Mills, Illinois; by seventeen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren, three of which she helped raise: Carson Patterson, Aubree Patterson and Arizona Patterson.
Other than by her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Bobby Wright and Charles Wright.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri on Sunday, August 6, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
A memorial service will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Chapel on Sunday, August 6, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. with Rev. Tim Russell officiating.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Floyd Stitz son of the late Lenhart Stitz and Rebecca Gribble Stitz was born on December 23, 1937 in Marmaduke, Arkansas, and departed this life on July 21, 2023 at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 85.
Mr. Stitz was a Veteran of the United States Marine Corp, and was a resident of Dexter, Missouri. He spent over three decades working at ArvinMeritor (Faurecia). He spent a lot of his spare time making ribbon crosses and giving those away to anyone he met. He enjoyed bird watching and identifying different trees and flowers. Spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren was the highlight of his day.
Mr. Stitz was united in marriage to Bonnie Sue Cantrell on November 5, 1961 in Fisk, Missouri. Mrs. Stitz preceded him in death on November 4, 2017.
He is survived by one son, Robert Stitz of Bloomfield, Missouri; by two brothers, Alvie Stitz of Wappapello, Missouri, and Danny Stitz of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; by two sisters, Anna Statler of Benton, Missouri and Carolyn Melson of Doniphan, Missouri; by six grandchildren, Jessica Loveless, Kelly Waldrup, Emily Green, Zachary Rainey, Kyle Rainey and Hailey Rainey and by ten great-grandchildren, Kloe Green, Landrey Green, Liam Rainey, Trevor Kinder, Liam Loveless, Tatiana Loveless, Maya Loveless, Valerie Rainey, Savannah Rainey, and Harmony Waldrup.
Other than by his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Rainey; by two brothers, Leonard “Bill” Stitz and G.W. Stitz; and by one sister, Alice Edwards.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri. Funeral services will then be conducted on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel with Jamie Jones officiating. Interment will follow at the Walker cemetery near Bloomfield.
Ralph Nickell Jr., son of the late Elvis Ralph Nickell and Ruby Probst Nickell, was born on December 26, 1944, in Sikeston, Missouri, and departed this life on July 24, 2023, at his residence in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 78 years.
Mr. Nickell was a member of the Missouri National Guard and a former line worker for Superior Essex Wire and Cable in Sikeston, Missouri. He enjoyed fishing and bird hunting.
On May 8, 1971, in West Alton, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Betty Boschert. Mrs. Nickell survives of their home in Dexter.
Along with his wife, he is survived by his son, Jacob Nickell of Dexter, Missouri; by two daughters, Carrie Greene and husband Darrin of Memphis, Indiana, and Jamie Ivie of Springfield, Missouri; by his brother, Larry Nickell of Sikeston, Missouri; by five grandchildren, Aaron Ivie, Emma Ivie, Denise Sallee and husband Scott, William Greene, and Elizabeth Green; and by his great-grandchild, Arlo Ivie.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Jim Nickell.
No services are planned.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
