Dr. Robert Hugh Isbell, son of the late Rev. J. Edgar Isbell and Caroline Zimmerman Isbell was born on March 28, 1932 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and departed this life on September 4, 2023 at the Southeast Health Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 91.
Dr. Isbell was a veteran of the United States Army and served in the Korean War. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Dexter and was a retired dentist after practicing for over four decades. He was a member and past president of the Southeast Dental Association, a past board member of the Dexter Board of Education, and a past board member of the Dexter Library board. He enjoyed fishing, playing bridge, researching genealogy, watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball, and drinking coffee in the morning with his guys.
On October 12, 1963, he was united in marriage to Jean Coffey in Dexter, Missouri. Mrs. Isbell survives of their home in Dexter.
Other than by his wife he is survived by his two daughters, Rhonda Cummins and husband Greg of St. Louis, Missouri, and April Schneider and husband Mark of Jonesboro, Arkansas; by one brother, Bill Isbell of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; by one sister, Barbara Wolz of Houston, Texas; by three grandchildren, Jake Cummins, Justin Cummins and Megan Cummins; and by many nieces and nephews.
Other than by his parents he was preceded in death by one brother, Jack Isbell; and by one sister, Ruth Ann Carlin.
Visitation will be held on Friday, September 8, 2023 from 12:30p.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri. A Celebration of Life service will then be conducted on Friday, September 8, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Fred Leist officiating.
Memorials may be made to 18 Fore Life, c/o Scott Kruse, 705 Laurie Circle, Dexter, Missouri 63841; or to the Keller Public Library, 402 West Grant St, Dexter, Missouri 63841. Envelopes will be provided at the funeral home.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting the family with arrangements.
Jerry Lee Hopkins of Puxico, Missouri, the son of the late Bob and Margie Bernice (Alford) Hopkins was born in Stoddard County, Missouri, on June 10, 1950, and passed from this life in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, on August 29, 2023, at the age of 73 years.
Jerry lived in the Southeast Missouri area a huge majority of his life but had also resided in Buckeye, Arizona for about 20 years. Jerry was of the Christian Faith. He enjoyed being a truck driver, fishing, and spending time with family and friends. Jerry was especially fond of and played an important role in raising his grandchildren.
He is survived by one son, Ken Cannon of Puxico; one daughter, Traci Fritch of Wappapello; five grandchildren, Troy (Carlissa) Dempsey of Wappapello; Samantha Dempsey of Puxico; Angela (Brandon) Howell of Wappapello; Desiree Cannon of Poplar Bluff; Kenny Cannon of Phoenix, Arizona; three brothers, Bobby Hopkins of Dexter; Dennis Hopkins of Bloomfield; Charles Hopkins of St. Charles; five sisters, Mary Conner of Bernie; Jelane Hickson of Circle City; Sue Bratcher of Matthews; Sherry Branum of St. Louis; and Darlene Case of Dudley; fifteen great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews as well as a host of family and friends.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Carl, Keith and James Hopkins; one sister, Sheila Garvey.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 2, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel In Dexter, Missouri, with a Memorial service to follow with Pastor Jeff Linson of Puxico officiating and Watkins and Sons of Dexter in charge of all arrangements.
Gwendolyn Iris McGarrity, daughter of the late Francis Boone and Beulah Hughes Boone was born on July 24, 1922, in Portageville, Missouri and departed this life on September 3, 2023, at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 101.
Gwendolyn had managed Ben Franklin stores in Missouri and Arkansas. In 1949 her and her husband, Leon started Dexter Queen. They owned and operated Dexter Queen together for thirty-two years. She started the first al-anon meetings in Dexter and ran those meetings for thirty-three years.
On November 7, 1943, she was united in marriage to Leon McGarrity in Blytheville, Arkansas. Mr. McGarrity preceded her in death on August 30, 2011.
She is survived by her granddaughter, Theresa Wilson and husband Curtis of Dexter, Missouri; and by two great-grandchildren, Tyler Wilson and wife Logan, and Makenna Wilson.
Other than by her husband and parents she was preceded in death by her daughter, Delores Gibson; by two brothers, Peck Boone, and Bob Boone; and by her sister, Phyllis Walton.
A grave-side service will be conducted on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Dexter cemetery with Mike Watkins officiating.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting the family with arrangements.
George Bruce Bowen, son of the late Georgia Ruth Hartlein was born on June 20, 1951 in Parma, Missouri and departed this life on September 3, 2023 at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 72.
He was a veteran of the United States Navy and was a resident of Bloomfield. He worked in maintenance at a Tyson Farm. He enjoyed western movies, riding around in his truck and talking with his family on the phone.
On June 18, 1988 he was united in marriage to Michelle Eubanks in Bloomfield, Missouri. Mrs. Bowen survives of their home in Bloomfield.
Other than by his wife he is survived by his step-son, William Darby of Morley, Missouri ; by his father and mother-in-law, Willis and Brenda Eubanks of Bloomfield, Missouri; by two granddaughters, Tori and Daisy Darby; by his brothers, Eddie Vaughn (Michelle) of Canalou, Missouri, Ron Vaughn of Mathews, Missouri, Don Vaughn (Cathy) of Dexter, Missouri, Gary Vaughn (Tina Geve) of Doniphan, Missouri, Jerry Vaughn (Kitti) of Leesville, Louisiana, David Richardson of Oran, Missouri, Robert Richardson (Tonya) of Hayti, Missouri, and Amos Richardson of Lilburn, Missouri; by his sisters, Becky Richardson (David) of Ashtabula, Ohio, Patricia Richardson of Canalou, Missouri, Lisa Richardson of Benton, Missouri, Linda Stanton (Leonard) of Oran, Missouri, and Ruthie Vozar (Paul) of Fresno, California; and by many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Kenneth Lambert officiating.
Interment will follow in the Gravel Hill cemetery.
Betty Sue Whitley, daughter of the late Chester Bess and Mickey Louise Cook Bess was born on February 2, 1955 in Advance, Missouri and departed this life on September 2, 2023 at the Southeast Health of Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 68.
Mrs. Whitley had worked at the Brown Shoe factory, and for the Dexter school district. She was a member of the First Pentecostal Church in Dexter. She loved her children and grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them. She loved to serve in different areas of her church, and loved serving God. She also enjoyed being outside fishing and camping.
On January 26, 1973 she was united in marriage to Mike Whitley in Essex, Missouri. Mr. Whitley survives of their home in Dexter.
Other than by her husband, she is survived by her son, Adam Whitley and wife Devon of Raeford, North Carolina; by her daughters, Nicole Cook and husband Chad of Tiffin, Ohio and Amber Wilkerson and husband Daniel of Dexter, Missouri; by two brothers, Don Bess of Dexter, Missouri, and Kenneth Bess of Bloomfield, Missouri; by four sisters, Bonnie Jaco of Marble Hill, Missouri, Brenda O’Connell of Dexter, Missouri, Janet Bracken of Bloomfield, Missouri, and Shelia Bess of Dexter, Missouri; and by six grandchildren, Jadon Cook, Gracelynn Cook, Logan Wilkerson, Luke Wilkerson, Loryn Wilkerson and Lenora Wilkerson.
Other than by her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Jackie Bess; by one sister in infancy; and by two grandchildren, Ava Wilkerson and Evelyn Whitley.
Visitation will be conducted on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with Brother Jeff Wells officiating.
Interment will follow in the Dexter cemetery.
