Gracie Smith, daughter of the late Henry Welch and Pearl Hopper Welch, was born on August 30, 1937, in Connels Point, Arkansas, and departed this life on October 23, 2024, at Prairie View Skilled Nursing in Bloomfield, Missouri, at the age of 87 years.
Mrs. Smith was a former bookkeeper for her husband’s farm, and she was a resident of Dexter. She enjoyed taking care of her home, being with her children and grandchildren, and family get togethers.
On June 15, 1952, in Clarendon, Arkansas, she was united in marriage to Carl Smith. Mr. Smith preceded her in death on September 26, 2011.
She is survived by two sons, Gene Smith and wife Janet of Dexter, Missouri, and Carl Smith Jr. and wife Marie of Jacksonville, Florida; by her daughter, Wanda Barker and husband Robert of Dexter, Missouri; by her brother, Johnny Welch of Memphis, Tennessee; by her sister, Mary Welch of Louisiana; and by thirteen grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Other than by her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Robert L. Smith in infancy; by two brothers, Henry “Shorty” Welch, and Lee Welch; and by five sisters, Mae Rowland, Nell Tyner, Mable Welch, Naomi Pryor, and Virginia Sevyors.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Chalk Bluff Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Linda Price, daughter of the late Delmar Price and Emma Louise Price, was born on March 26, 1953, in Dexter, Missouri, and departed this life on October 22, 2024, at Mercy Hospital Southeast in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 71 years.
Ms. Price had worked for the International Hat Factory, Elder Manufacturing, and WW Wood and she was a resident of Dexter, Missouri. She was a volunteer for the Stoddard County Food Bank and enjoyed gardening, canning, sewing, and crocheting.
She is survived by her son, Jeffrey Bowling and wife Ramona of Bloomfield, Missouri; by her daughter, Sherri Phillips and husband Jeremy of Dexter, Missouri; by her step-son, Cody Harris of Dexter, Missouri; and by two grandchildren, Emily Bowling and Lucas Phillips.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, October 25, 2024, from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, October 25, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Triplett Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
David Orvel Keller, 76, of Centralia, formerly of Dexter, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 18, 2024, at home.
He was born September 26, 1948, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, the son of Orvel Samuel Keller and Margaret “Olevia” (Gregory) Keller. In 1966, David married Wanda Lee (Maxwell) Keller Eason. David and Wanda’s union of 25 years brought two children into the world. He later married Audrey Hyten Bates in 1993, and they were married 30 years.
David is survived by his two children, Christie (Keller)Krieg and husband Carl of Centralia and Sam Keller and fiancée Danielle Downey of Marble Hill, Missouri; and his four grandchildren, Aaron Krieg and fiancé Rachel Langfelder of Springfield, Illinois, Dustin Krieg of Goodyear, Arizona, Lindzie Krieg and fiancé Jayden Regnier of Centralia, and Samuel Keller of Springfield, Missouri; and 3 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, half-sister, Delorise Keller in 1936 and a step-son, Wesley Bates.
David lived in Dexter, Missouri most of his life. He was the past owner of Keller Heating and Cooling, a Bus Driver & custodial of maintenance for the Bernie School District in Bernie, Missouri, and later retired from Tyson Foods after 20 years.
David had a passion for serving in the Masonic Lodge. He was a 52-year member and a 32nd Degree with the Grand Lodge #573 of Missouri located in Bernie, Missouri. He was an avid reader, enjoyed traveling and camping, and spending time with his family.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, November 1, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. A Masonic Rites Ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m. with a Celebration of Life Service following at 6:00 p.m. Burial will follow in Dexter Cemetery on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
Memorial donations may be made in David’s Honor to 18 FORE Life, c/o Scott Kruse 705 Laurie Circle, Dexter, Missouri 63841 or SSM Health Hospice, c/o Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home, 235 North Sycamore Street, Centralia, Illinois 62801.
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Johnny Duke, a beloved resident of Bloomfield, Missouri. He was born on February 13, 1950, in Puxico, Missouri, to the late Ertle and Roana (White) Duke. Johnny departed this life on October 19, 2024, at the age of 74 years, 8 months, and 6 days.
Johnny lived in Southeast Missouri his whole life, where he worked in shipping at Tyson's until his well-deserved retirement.
He is survived by his daughter, Monica Duke, of Bloomfield, Missouri, and his two grandchildren, Veronica Simpson of Fairdealing, Missouri, and Jonathan Simpson of Bloomfield, Missouri. Johnny's loving spirit and kind heart will be missed by all who knew him.
Johnny was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2024, beginning at 11 A.M. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
The funeral service will follow at 1 P.M. on the same day at the funeral home, with burial to take place at the Bernie Cemetery in Bernie, Missouri.
Arrangements are being handled by Watkins and Sons Funeral Service.
Bonnie Lucille Musgrave, daughter of the late Melvin Brown and Marie Palmer Brown, was born on January 17, 1931, in Bernie, Missouri, and departed this life on October 21, 2024, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, at the age of 93 years.
Mrs. Musgrave was a former employee of Elder Manufacturing in Dexter, Missouri and was a resident of Dexter. She enjoyed helping her husband with his gravel business, babysitting, painting, flowers, quilting and antiquing.
On May 29, 1948, in Piggott, Arkansas, she was united in marriage to John Wyatt Musgrave, Jr. Mr. Musgrave preceded her in death on January 6, 2008.
She is survived by two daughters, Barbara Karmas and husband Mike of Dexter, Missouri and Dana Hux of Essex, Missouri; by three sons-in-law, Dale Rogers of Dexter, Missouri, Allen Jackson of Village Ridge, Illinois, and Stephen Cantrell of Bloomfield, Missouri; by her brother, Larry Brown of Bernie, Missouri; by her sister, Betty Dalton of Michigan; and by fourteen grandchildren, twenty-seven great grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren.
Other than by her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by four daughters, DeAnna Rogers, Rose Jackson, Debbie Cantrell, and Paulette Musgrave; by her brother, Bill Brown; and by three great-great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield on Friday, October 25, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
