James “Jim” Dwight Blunt, son of the late Dwight Blunt and Helen Snider Blunt, was born on October 17, 1946, in Rural Essex, Missouri, and departed this life on March 23, 2025, at his residence in Essex, Missouri, at the age of 78 years.
Mr. Blunt was a Veteran of the United States Army and a former farmer. He was an avid reader and enjoyed talking politics with his son-in-law, and he loved watching his children’s sporting events.
On January 19, 1968, in Kaiserslautern, Germany, he was united in marriage to Aud Ramstetter. Mrs. Blunt survives of their home in Essex.
Along with his wife, he is survived by his son, Anthony “Tony” Dwight Blunt of Lynchberg, Virginia; by his daughter, Terri Blunt Smith and husband Eddie of Holcomb, Missouri; by his sister, Judi Mitchell of Chesapeake, Virginia, by his sister-in-law, Thelma Blunt of Essex, Missouri; by two brothers-in-law, Thor Ramstetter and wife Erika and Asbjörn Ramstetter and wife Doris; by five grandchildren, Jayde Blunt and husband Jon Archer, Ian Dwight Blunt, Matt Smith and wife Misty, Josh Smith and wife Lindsay, and Andy Smith; by eight great grandchildren; and by many extended family and friends.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Curtis “Bud” Blunt; by his sister, Norma Williams, by his daughter-in-law, Tammy Blunt, by his sister-in-law, Liv Provence; and by three brothers-in-law, Robert Williams, Kenneth Mitchell, and Paul Provence.
Memorials may be made to St. Joe General Baptist Church, 17537 State Hwy FF, Bloomfield, MO 63825 or VNA Hospice, PO Box 768, Kennett, MO 63857.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. A memorial service will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Mildred “Midge” Jean Sandage, daughter of the late Gail Winfred King and Hazel Ann Phelps King, was born on November 18, 1936, and departed this life on March 23, 2025, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 88 years.
Mrs. Sandage retired as head cook from Bloomfield Public Schools in Bloomfield, Missouri, and was a resident of Dexter, Missouri.
She was united in marriage to Guy Edward Sandage. Mr. Sandage preceded her in death November 12, 1989.
She is survived by two daughters, Jackie McKuin and husband Aaron of Dexter, Missouri, and Cheryl Legrand of Branson, Missouri; by two daughters-in-law, Cheryl Sandage of Dexter, Missouri and Betty Sandage of Eagle Lake, Florida; by eleven grandchildren, Garrett McKuin, Zachory Sandage, Colby Sandage, Jordan Sandage, Haley Sandage, Jessie Sandage, Jason Sandage, Christy Houchins, Krystal Simpson, Tammy Cate, and Jeffrey Massey; and by twenty-one great grandchildren and thirteen great-great grandchildren.
Other than by her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Judy Massey; by two sons, Samuel Sandage and Gary Sandage; by her sister, Bernice Allen; by four brothers, William “Bill” King, Gail King, Dyral King, and Donald King; and by two sons-in-law, Joe Massey and Robert Legrand.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. with David Morse officiating. Interment will follow in the Bloomfield City Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Marlene Sue Parker, daughter of the late Alvin Marcus Sheubrook and Arbutus Johnson Sheubrook, was born on December 2, 1952, in Charleston, West Virginia, and departed this life on March 22, 2025, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 72 years.
Mrs. Parker was a former clerk with the United States Postal Service and a resident of Dexter, Missouri. She enjoyed working in her garden.
On October 30, 1978, in Dexter, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Roy Mitchell Parker. Mr. Parker preceded her in death on August 24, 2017.
She is survived by two sons, Verl Jason Cato and wife Jyl of Dexter, Missouri and Darren Parker of North Carolina; by two daughters, Beverly Cookson and husband Robert of Dexter, Missouri, and Amy Tipton and husband Jarrod of Campbell, Missouri; by nine grandchildren, Maranda Cato, Arielle Coyner, Aaron Cookson, Jared Cookson, Jaxson Tipton, Elecia Parker, Jonathan Parker, Sean Parker, and Desiree Parker; and by her great-grandchild, Gianni Parker Yanez.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Randy Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in Hagy Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Louise Abbott, daughter of the late Herbert Jarrell and Evelyn Hutchcraft Jarrell, was born on April 26, 1937, in Dudley, Missouri, and departed this life on March 18, 2025, at her daughter’s residence in Carrollton, Georgia, at the age of 87 years.
Mrs. Abbott was a former cook for Dexter High School in Dexter, Missouri, and a member of Dudley Community Church in Dudley, Missouri.
On July 28, 1956, in Maplewood, Missouri, she was united in marriage to William Abbot. Mr. Abbott preceded her in death on January 5, 2016.
She is survived by her daughter, Vicki Holmes and husband Wayne of Carrollton, Georgia; by two brothers, TL Jarrell and Dean Jarrell both of Dudley, Missouri; by three sisters, Dorothy Kinworthy and Janice Patterson both of Dexter, Missouri, and Melba Dorock of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; by two grandchildren, Kristina Lashbrook and husband Devon and Amy Abbott, and by her great grandchild, Rylan Lashbrook.
Other than by her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Rick Abbott, and by her brother, JC Jarrell.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, March 24, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Monday, March 24, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Lynn Ash officiating. Interment will follow in Dudley Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Nancy Jean Skillings Buttry, a loving and joyful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away on March 17, 2025, at age 81 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
She was born on August 29, 1943, in Waynesville, Missouri, to parents Dr. Vernon Skillings and Zelma “Jackie” Abbott Skillings.
Nancy lived most of her life in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and Puxico, Missouri, where she graduated from Puxico High School in 1961. She married Larry Buttry in Dyersburg, Tennessee, on November 3, 1961, and they were married for 50 years until his death on October 9, 2012.
She loved music and the arts, and she studied both at Three Rivers Community College and Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO), where she graduated in 1977. She was a talented watercolor artist, and during her life she worked as an art teacher and volunteered at the Margaret Harwell Art Museum in Poplar Bluff.
Nancy was very involved in her church and local community. She was a long-time member of the Puxico First United Methodist Church, and she served faithfully as the pianist and organist for many years. She was an active member of the SEMO Sassy Lassies of the Red Hat Society, where her friends knew her as “Queen Mother Nancy.” As a sales representative for Avon, she passionately shared and delivered products to friends and neighbors for over 25 years. She also enjoyed playing cards and showing love to her cats.
Everyone who met Nancy noticed her friendliness and contagious joy. She never met a stranger, and she shared love, care, and laughs with everyone in her life.
Nancy is survived by her two sons and their spouses, Alan & Cheryl Buttry of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and Stephen & Valerie Buttry of Plano, Texas; five grandchildren, Joey Clark, Michelle & Joseph Massey, Robert Clark, Jacob Buttry, and Matthew Buttry; and six great-grandchildren, Ashton Clark, Kenzie Clark, Kennedy Clark, Grace Massey, Sam Massey, and Lilly Massey. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Vernon Skillings and Zelma “Jackie” Abbott Skillings, and by her husband, Larry Buttry.
A memorial service will be held at Watkins Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri, on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 12pm. Visitation will precede the service at 10am, and burial will follow the service at 1pm.
