Dorothy Lee Gillespie, daughter of the late James H. Fulkerson and Beulah Alma Robertson Fulkerson, was born on January 23, 1927, near Sikeston, Missouri, and passed away peacefully in her home in Bloomfield, Missouri, on February 12, 2024, at the age of 97.

Dorothy was a beautician for 14 years and also worked at the Missouri Driver’s License office in Bloomfield. The job she loved was at Ms. Gail’s Day Care, working there for several years and lovingly known as Ms. Dorothy. She lived in the Bloomfield Community all her life and was a dedicated member of the Bloomfield First General Baptist Church until failing health. She will forever be known for her coconut crème pies and being a great cook. Her family was the sunshine of her life, and she enjoyed nothing more than having them around her table with an abundance of food and desserts. She loved watching her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren play sports. She was an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan and loved anything Mickey Mouse. Most of all she loved Jesus.

She is survived by her husband, Dale Gillespie of Bloomfield, Missouri; by her son, Dennis (Phyllis) Gillespie of Nolensville, Tennessee; by her daughter, Angie (Bob) Barnfield of Bloomfield, Missouri; by three grandchildren, Christian (Mendy) Bell of Dexter, Missouri, Dr. Ryan (Kristen) Gillespie of Nashville, Tennessee, and Dr. Leslie (Skye) Marthaler of Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania; by six great-grandchildren, Carson Bell, Clayton Bell, Cameron Bell, Olivia Gillespie, Hazel Gillespie, and Magnus Marthaler; and by her sister, Beulah Eaton of Bloomfield, Missouri.

Other than by her parents, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Pearl Stone, Opal Williams, Alma Lewis, and three brothers, Jim Fulkerson, J.W. Fulkerson, and Glenn Fulkerson.

Memorials may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105, 18 Fore Life, c/o Scott Kruse, 705 Laurie Circle, Dexter MO 63841, VNA Hospice of SEMO, PO Box 768, Kennett MO 63857, or the Alzheimer’s Association, 11433 Olde Cabin Road, Ste 100, St. Louis MO 63141.

The family could not have gone through this journey without the VNA Hospice Team. Thank you for loving and caring for our loved one.

A private family service will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, February 17, 2024. Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.

Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.

Theodore G. “Ted” Matthes, son of the late Theodore R. Matthes and Ruby Fraser Matthes, was born on June 1, 1942, in DeSoto, Missouri, and departed this life on February 10, 2024, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, after a short illness.

Mr. Matthes was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in Vietnam. He was a member of Crossroads Methodist Church in Dexter, Missouri.

He is survived by his wife, Vicki Minton Matthes of Dexter, Missouri; by two daughters, Kate Parsons of Dexter, Missouri, and Jessica Matthes (Caleb Bartlett) of Maryland Heights, Missouri; by his son, Stephen Matthes of Messina, New York; by two grandchildren, Rhys Parsons of Dexter, Missouri, and Mackenzie Matthes of Messina, New York; and by his sister, Barbara Thompson (Charles) of Ladue, Missouri.

Graveside services will be conducted at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield on Friday, February 16, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. with full military honors. A reception at Crossroads Methodist Church in Dexter will immediately follow.

Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.

Ricky Lane Roper, 63, of Bloomfield, MO, passed away February 9, 2024, at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter. He was born March 12, 1960, in Advance, the son of Bonnie Bloyce and Mary Sue Howard Roper.

For 35 years, Ricky worked as a heavy equipment operator. In the early years of his career, he worked alongside his brothers, Ronnie, Larry, Eddie, and cousin, Tony, building houses and working construction. Later, he moved on to working as a heavy equipment operator. His knowledge and work ethic helped create and build Roper Excavating in Bloomfield, with his sons. 

Ricky was a tried-and-true cowboy. He lived his life and raised his family in the cowboy way. One of his most proud accomplishments was winning “The Snowy River Race” at the National Chuck Wagon Finals in Clinton, AR, on his horse Chip. He enjoyed hunting on horseback. He spent time tinkering with ponies and carts. He had a special interest in teaching his grandchildren to ride horses. Arrowhead hunting and camping had been a lifelong hobbies. Ricky always enjoyed having jacked up trucks/toys. 

He was a dedicated husband, father, and Papa. He was the type of man who had too many friends to count. Ricky was quick witted, always having something to say. Usually cracking a joke at just the right times, always making everyone around him laugh.

Ricky and Letitia Gail Parker were united in marriage on January 19, 2010, at Bloomfield and she survives of the home.

Survivors include: wife, Letitia Roper; three sons, Josey (Justine) Roper of Essex, Brandon (Chelsea) Roper of Bloomfield, and Blake (Jessica) Roper of Bloomfield; a daughter, Brittney (Blake) Clark of Dexter; three step-children, Morgan (Josh) Sifford of Bloomfield, Cole (Whitney) McClard of Bloomfield and Dalton (Shelby) McClard of Oran; three brothers, Ronnie Roper of Dexter, Larry Roper of Advance, and Eddie Roper of Advance; two sisters, Barbara Phillips of Advance and Trish Stoker of Advance; 13 grandchildren, Kasen Clark, Karleigh Musgrave, Mila Clark, Van Bolt, Dax Roper, Wyatt Golden, Waylon Roper, Hank Roper, Tripp McClard, Tuck McClard, Taylor McClard, Della McClard, and Clara Sifford; and Tonya Roper, who he shared three children.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 14, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance. A funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. at the chapel with Rev. Jamie Jones. Burial will be held at Rock Point Cemetery near Bloomfield, with a cowboy sendoff.