Maxine B. Shell was born in Brownwood, Missouri on July 5, 1929, to the late Oscar and Thelma Speer. Mrs. Shell departed this life on August 9, 2023, at Southeast Health in Dexter, Missouri surrounded by her family at the age of 94 years, 1 month, and 4 days.
On July 5, 1946, she was married to Lester C. Shell. To this union was born three children, Brenda (Ray) Dowdy, Angela (Ken) Keirsey, and David (Tammy) Shell.
Mrs. Shell is survived by her two daughters, Brenda and Angela; by her sister, Wanda Null; and by her brother, Doyle Speer. Also surviving her are grandchildren Geren (Jason) Long, Kaylan (Dickie) Dockins, Drew (Lindsey) Keirsey, Hannah (Alex Kabler) Keirsey, Nate (Erica Brunner) Keirsey, Jonathan (Melissa Mansfield) Shell, and Megan McConchie.
In addition to her children and grandchildren, she is survived by her great grandchildren; Carly Long, Sadie Long, Liza Rae Dockins, Lydia Dockins, Max Dockins, Case Dockins, Duke Dockins, Hadley Keirsey, Nolan Keirsey, Elam Keirsey, Abbott Keirsey, Amelia Shell, Zeke Shell, Jed Shell, Jaydon McConchie, and Emmy McConchie.
Other than by her husband and parents, Mrs. Shell was preceded in death by her son, David Shell, by her great granddaughter, Libby Dockins, by her sisters, Lillian Bagby, Bea Hindman, and Rita Blanton; and by her brothers, Virgil Speer, Hershel Speer, Hassel Speer, and Sonny Speer.
Mrs. Shell was a person of deep faith, a prayer warrior, and a member of First Baptist Church in Dexter for more than 73 years. She enjoyed reading, gardening, antiquing, decorating, and sewing. She loved gospel music and a good western movie.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, August 14, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Monday, August 14, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Lawrence K. Beatty, son of the late Lawrence Beatty and Marguerite Pyatt Beatty was born on August 9, 1950 in Moses Lake, Washington and departed this life on August 4, 2023 at his residence in Bloomfield, Missouri at the age of 72.
Lawrence was a Veteran of the United States Navy and Air National Guard. He enjoyed being in the outdoors, hunting and camping. He retired from the Florissant, Missouri Fire Department.
On October 21, 1973 he was united in marriage to Nancy Day in St. Louis, Missouri. Mrs. Beatty survives of their residence in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Other than by his wife he is survived by one son, Lawrence Beatty of Bloomfield, Missouri; by two daughters, Lori Beatty of Moscow Mills, Missouri and Kari Jines and husband Cody of Bloomfield, Missouri; by two grandchildren, Blake Edwards and Harper Jines; and by two sisters, Cheri Hood of Pataskala, Ohio and Marlene Davison of St. Peters, Missouri.
Other than by his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Kenneth Beatty and Mark Beatty.
Visitation will be held on Friday, August 11, 2023 from Noon until 2:00 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Funeral services will then be conducted on Friday, August 11, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter, Missouri.
Memorial contributions in Mr. Beatty’s memory can be made to, The Backstoppers, P.O. Box 795168, St. Louis, Missouri 63179-0700.
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.
