Frances Joanne Pulliam was born on August 21, 1926 on the family farm near Grandview, IA, the fifth of eleven children born to Irma (Schafer) and Glenn Buster. She passed away at her home near Bernie, Mo, on September 26, 2023.
Frances attended Green Valley rural school and was a 1944 graduate of Muscatine High School. She achieved her dream of becoming a Registered Nurse in 1948 when she graduated from St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Rochester, MN. She continued her education by attending Drake University and the University of Missouri and proudly served in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during and after WWII.
Frances was married to George Edwin Pulliam for 62 years until his death in 2016. They were the proud parents of a son, Joseph Edwin, daughter-in-law Adaina, and a daughter, Sarah Beth, all of Bernie, MO. She adored her grandchildren, Joe Ryan (Marti) and Adam (Kaleigh) and her great-grandchildren, Katie (Kenny), Allie, Hayden, Hali, and Tucker
Frances’ husband often said that she was not happy unless she was helping others and that commitment to service was the center of her personal and professional life. Frances was an active member of the Bernie United Methodist Church, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, and participating in the United Methodist Women. In 2017, she was named United Methodist Woman of the Year for the southeast region of Missouri. Frances also served as a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader and was instrumental in establishing and coordinating the Meals on Wheels Program in Bernie for many years. She participated in numerous other volunteer activities in the community and was twice named Citizen of the Year in Bernie for her service to the community.
Caring for others as a Registered Nurse always held a special place in Frances’ heart. After completing nurse’s training and her service in the Cadet Nurse Corps, she worked at hospitals in CO, MN, and IA before moving to Missouri, where she initially worked at the Sikeston Hospital and the VA Hospital in Poplar Bluff. After taking time out to raise her family, she returned to work at the Missouri Delta Community Hospital in Sikeston, retiring as the House Manager many years later. She was an active member of the Missouri Nurses Association and received the Outstanding Member Award for the 8th District in 1989. She was also honored in 2017 with a Missouri House of Representatives Resolution recognizing her lifelong contributions to the profession of nursing.
Frances firmly believed everyone should have the opportunity to access quality health care in their communities and was instrumental in helping to establish the Stoddard County Public Health Center, serving for several years on its Board of Directors. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Dexter Hospital, the Center for Family Resources, and the Stoddard County Mental Health Board. Helping establish a medical and dental clinic in her hometown of Bernie as a member of the SEMO Health Network Board of Directors was one of her proudest achievements and the building is dedicated in her honor.
In addition to her family, faith, nursing, and community work, Frances loved her home on the family farm, always tending to a large vegetable garden and raising beautiful flowers. She could doctor a farm animal as easily as a person and chop cotton, haul hay, and drive a tractor with the best of them. She was well-known for cooking, canning, and preserving every food known to man with her pickles, catsup, juices, and jellies happily devoured by family and friends.
Whether it was delivering a meal, answering a late-night call for nursing assistance in the community, or advocating on Capitol Hill for the health care needs of Southeast Missouri, Frances’ genuine compassion for all mankind and her willingness to work for what was right touched many lives. We will be forever grateful for the legacy of love she left to our family and take great comfort in knowing our mothers never really leave us
Besides her children and grandchildren, Frances is survived by two sisters, Kay Schillig and Iva Marie Buster of Iowa City, IA, and one brother, George Buster, of Winfield, IA. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by sisters Allene Forbes, Gla Rolig, Ruth and Glenna Buster, and brothers Donald, Gene, and Larry Buster.
Friends may call at the Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie on Sunday, October 1, 2023 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Funeral services will be held in the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie on Monday morning, October 2, 2023 starting at 10:00 AM, with Rev. Susan Marner-Sides and Rev. Ron Dunavin officiating. Interment will follow at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri. Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie is assisting with all arrangements.
Frances would ask that you donate your time to a worthy cause or consider making a memorial gift to:
Stoddard County Meals on Wheels
23 West Stoddard Street
Dexter, MO 63841
Or
Stoddard County Children’s Home
P.O. Box 164
Dexter, MO 63841
Michael Craft, son of the late Leon Craft and Flossie Lee Turner Craft, was born on January 14, 1964, in Bernie, Missouri, and departed this life on September 22, 2023, at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti, Missouri, and the age of 59 years.
Mr. Craft was the owner of a tree trimming business and a resident of Kennett, Missouri. He enjoyed fishing.
He is survived by his wife, Loretta Craft, of Kennett, Missouri; by five brothers, David Craft of Dexter, Missouri, Billy Craft of Bernie, Missouri, Danny Craft of Campbell, Missouri, Robert Craft of Bernie, Missouri, and Keith Craft of Dexter, Missouri; by five sisters, Linda Strickland of Bernie, Missouri, Patricia Riddell of Campbell, Missouri, Marilyn Rushing of Dexter, Missouri, Marlene Craft of Bernie, Missouri, and Kayeela Sugg of Dexter, Missouri; and by five step-children and multiple grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, September 25, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Monday, September 25, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. with Ivan Mekan officiating.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
After a lengthy battle with cancer, our beloved wife, mother, Nana, great-grandma & sister, Debra Ann Swafford, passed away on September 22, 2023. Debbie, as she was known to friends & family, passed away at Delta South Nursing & Rehabilitation in Sikeston, Missouri, surrounded by family & loved ones. Debbie left us with a legacy of kindness, love and quiet strength as well as many treasured memories.
Debbie was born to Wayne Benson and Betty Menz Keesee in Arnold, Missouri on August 12, 1956, the second of four siblings. The family moved from Arnold to Commerce, MO and Debbie graduated from Kelly High School in 1974. In high school she was drum majorette and enjoyed twirling, a skill which she passed on to her daughters. After high school, Debbie became a licensed insurance agent and worked for Davis & Byrd Insurance in Sikeston, MO for seven years. From her first marriage, she was blessed with a daughter, Carrie Ann Miller (Haynes), born in 1977.
On May 22, 1981, Debbie was united in marriage to Norman Swafford at his residence in rural Bernie, MO. Through that marriage she became a loving stepmother to Noelle Dawn Swafford. Norman and Debbie created a loving family with their girls & spent 42 happily- married years traveling the United States, making happy memories.
Debbie joined Norman in Swafford Photographic Service, where she kept the business organized & kept Norm in line. For most of their 42 years together they photographed countless schools, dance studios, weddings and families. Debbie was beloved by the clients, teachers and students. Never far from each other’s sides, Debbie and Norm were also a team in his courtroom, where she became his court clerk. Norm’s first court clerk passed away and Debbie was asked to fill in for her, which she did…for 38 years, even working past Norm’s retirement as clerk for Judge Shannon Foster.
One of Debbie’s best friends described her perfectly when she said, “If you can’t get along with Debbie Swafford, you can’t get along with anyone.” Debbie was known for her kindness, her peaceful spirit and her love of cats, especially Fluffy, Muffin and Miss Kitty. She kept cat food in her car and was feeding ten cats around town until she could no longer drive. She had a true loving heart for animals and enjoyed sitting on her covered deck watching birds and drinking wine. Most of Norm & Debbie’s trips included rivers & waterfalls and the mountains, which she loved so much. Some of her happiest memories were visiting the Yule Log Cabin with her grandkids and enjoying nachos and wine at River Ridge. She loved her grandkids and her great- grandson & loved baking them her famous sugar cookies. Debbie was a talented cross-stitcher and she spent hours stitching with her daughters on vacations and at their homes. Debbie was absolutely beloved by her sons-in-law as well. Debbie was simply the best example of Christian faith and embodied treating others as she would want to be treated.
Debbie is survived by her husband, Norman & daughters Carrie (David) Haynes & Noelle (Chuck) Buttry. Other survivors include one sister, Connie (Eddie) Workman of Scott City, MO; two brothers, Rodney (Bridget) Benson of Kelso, MO; Stacy Benson of Scott City, MO; one aunt, Faye (Alan) Farrow of Fruitland, MO; six grandchildren, Ryder Buttry of Dallas, TX; Wyatt Buttry & Brooks Buttry of Fayetteville, AR; Hannah (Michael) Hale of Dexter, MO; Shelby Haynes of Walnut Ridge, AR; Madelyn Haynes of Dexter, MO; and one great-grandson, Memphis Hale, son of Michael & Hannah.
Debbie was preceded in death by her dad, Wayne Benson; her mom, Betty Keesee; and her stepfather, Glenn Keesee.
The family would like to thank Barry & Michelle Aycock, Jason Shelton, Shannon Foster, Delta South Care Center (especially Bobbie Young & Stephanie Markham), Crown Hospice and all of Debbie’s medical caregivers at Siteman Cancer Center, especially Dr. Daniel Morgensztern, M.D. & Mary Ellen Flanagan, NP, and countless friends and relatives.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. A memorial service will then be held in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Memorials may be made to wreathsacrossamerica.org or The Humane Society of Missouri.
William "Eddie" Edward Vanover of Puxico, Missouri, the son of the late Theral David Vanover and Rhonda Viana (Pratt) Vanover was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, on November 22, 1991, and passed from this life on September 21 2023, at the age of 31 years 9 months and 30 days.
William lived in the Southeast Missouri area his whole life. He worked as a farm manager, enjoyed hunting and fishing, and spending time with family and friends.
William married Katie Goodman in Scott City, Missouri, on October 17, 2020.
He is survived by his wife of the home; two sons, Seth Goodman and Hunter Goodman both of Puxico, Missouri; one daughter, Courtney Shepard of Puxico, Missouri; his mother and step-father, Rhonda and George Taylor of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; two sisters, Tonya Vanover of Puxico, Missouri and Wendy (Mark) O' Kelley of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; one nephew, Seth O'Kelley of Poplar Bluff, MIssouri; one niece, Tori Head of Puxico, Missouri; two uncles, Tom (Pettie) Buttry of O'Fallon, Missouri and Chris (Lisa) Pratt of Puxico, Missouri; two aunts, Kimmie Hendrix of Advance, Missouri, and Terri Worley of Puxico, Missouri; as well as a host of family and friends.
William was preceded in death by his father; maternal grandparents, Charlie and Joyce Pratt; paternal grandparents, RV and Trecie Vanover.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 24, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel In Puxico, Missouri, with funeral service at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Dusty Stroud officiating.
Interment will follow at the Puxico Cemetery in Puxico, Missouri, with Watkins And Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.
Daniel John Lewis, son of the late Lt. Colonel Glenn Lewis and Elizabeth Forsman Lewis was born on January 12, 1953, in Long Branch, New Jersey, and departed this life on September 20, 2023, at Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston, Missouri, at the age of 70 years.
Mr. Lewis worked in various careers throughout his life, including healthcare, selling insurance and computer repair. He attended New Salem Baptist Church in Marble Hill, Missouri and was a resident of Marble Hill. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, aviation, photography, hunting, dogs and nature. Dan always had a positive outlook on life and his smile always brightened up the room.
On October 6, 1989, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Theresa Hammock. Mrs. Lewis survives of their home in Marble Hill.
Along with his wife, he is survived by his son, Daniel Lewis Jr. of Houston, Texas; by his daughter, Valerie Lewis of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; and by two sisters, Stephanie Helms and Michelle Shanklin both of Desoto, Missouri.
A Celebration of Life service is being planned for a future date and will be held at New Salem Baptist Church in Marble Hill.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter assisted with arrangements.
