Phyllis Dale Oliver of Cape Girardeau, Missouri was born on June 30, 1939 to the late Rufus and Freida (Collier) Crain in Bell City, Missouri, and passed away on April 1, 2025, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 85.

Phyllis lived in Southeast Missouri for the majority of her life, and enjoyed watching movies and television, especially mystery and crime shows, reading books, going to the VFW to dance, spending time with her kids and grandkids, shopping, jewelry, and shopping on Amazon. She enjoyed always looking her best, and she had a strong passion for her job at USPS in Cape Girardeau, Missouri until her retirement.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, her son, David Oliver, her brother, Carlon Crain, and her husband, Lloyd Oliver.

The funeral will be on Friday, April 11, 2025, beginning at 1 P.M. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri.

Watkins and Sons Funeral Service is handling all arrangements.

Darren Carl White, son of the late Donald Gene White and Cleta Mae Hausner White, was born on November 16, 1971, in Kennett, Missouri and departed this life on April 5, 2025, at the Mercy Hospital Stoddard in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 53.

Darren had worked as a car salesman at Allen Christian GMC in Dexter. He enjoyed life and loved fishing and deer hunting. He also enjoyed working with his hands and fixing things.

He is survived by his brother, Kevin White and wife Cris of Rogersville, Alabama; and by his sister, Robin White and husband Todd of Scottsville, Kentucky; by two nieces, Hannah Wilbourn and husband Jake of Madison, Alabama, and Ashleigh White of Madison, Alabama; by two nephews, Sam White and wife Katie of Alexandria, Virginia, and Will White and wife Summer of Madison, Alabama; by his great-niece, Molly White of Madison, Alabama, and by many extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald Gene White and Cleta Mae White.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri. A graveside memorial service will then be conducted on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at Sycamore Cemetery.

Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.

Corona Henrietta Bucher “Coonie” Essner, 93, passed away Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Born Sept. 18, 1931, in New Hamburg, daughter of the late Philip and Leocadia Dirnberger Bucher, she graduated from Benton High School. Her life was marked by unwavering dedication to her faith, family and community, as she served in various capacities throughout her life.

On May 24, 1952, she married Leon Andrew Essner, who preceded her in death on Oct. 19, 1973. She worked as a secretary at the St. Lawrence Rectory in New Hamburg. In 1985, she moved from the family farm in New Hamburg to Cape Girardeau where she was an active member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation. She worked at Cape LaCroix Apartments in Cape Girardeau, retiring after 25 years. In 2009, she returned to New Hamburg, where she was a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church and the St. Anne’s Sodality. She also served as a teacher for the St. Lawrence Parish School of Religion and in the church choir. She brought the first Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) conference team to the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, and she volunteered as a cook for many, many summers at Camp Re-NEW-all in Fredericktown, Missouri. Coonie was also active in the regional and Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and the Oran KC-ettes. She enjoyed visiting friends in nursing homes, giving rides to those in need and making time for her ladies’ groups which included the New Hamburg Homemakers Club, her Cursillo group, Scott County Historical Society, Red Hat Society and her friend group which met regularly over the past 50 years to celebrate their birthdays. A member of the St. Francis Auxiliary, she also volunteered for 20 years in the gift shop at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2018. When she completed her last day of service on Feb. 18, 2020, she had volunteered over 4,000 hours.

Known affectionately as “Nana” to her grandchildren, Coonie cherished her family, creating lasting memories through card games and her famous homemade pumpkin bread, which her grandchildren looked forward to receiving every Christmas along with their nylon pot scrubbers. She was always up for any adventure and there to listen and lend a hand when needed.

Survivors include: two sons and a daughter-in-law, Kenny and Debbie Essner of Dexter, Missouri, and Tim Essner of New Hamburg; daughter-in-law, Carla Essner of New Hamburg; one sister, Zita Nenninger of Hazelwood, Missouri; nine grandchildren, Kim (Brian) Ziegler of Kelso, Missouri; Nicole (Brian) Egli of Keller, Texas; Dustin (Amy) Essner of New Hamburg; Kari (James) Wilhelm of Kelso; Kent Essner of Dexter; Leonna (Dean) Heuring of New Hamburg; Michelle (Andy) Silman of Benton; Andrea (Pete) Sampanis of Vienna, Virginia; and Lisa (Jim) Eftink of New Hamburg; 21 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one son, Andrew Essner; daughter-in-law, Jeanne Essner; grandson, Mark Essner; and her siblings, Raymond Bucher, Monsignor Philip Bucher, Susie Seyer, Josepha Reinagel, Marietta Vandermierden, Veronica Westrich and Germaine Bucher.

Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, March 31, 2025, at St. Lawrence Parish Center in New Hamburg. A rosary will be recited at 4 p.m.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in New Hamburg with the Rev. Daniel Belken, pastor, officiating.

Burial will follow in the St. Lawrence Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be her great-grandsons: Drew Silman, Colton Essner, Braden Egli, Drake Wilhelm, Griffin Wilhelm and Rolen Heuring.

Honorary pallbearer will be her great-grandson, Tristan Sampanis.

Memorial contributions may be made to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation at glennon.org or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or stjude.org.

Barry Wayne Condict, son of the late Clifford Norman Condict and Velda Mae McGowan Condict was born in Bernie, Missouri on September 9, 1957 and departed this life at Gideon Care Center in Gideon, Missouri on March 31, 2025 at the age of 67.

Mr. Condict had worked at Legacy Fasteners in Poplar Bluff and was a resident of Bernie.

Survivors include two daughters, Natasha Kegley (Jeff McClain) and Taryn Johnson (Robert) all of Bernie, Missouri; by one brother, Clifford Condict Jr. (Teresa) of Bernie, Missouri; by three sisters, Judy Arnold of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Lela Smith (Bobby) and Susan Reif all of Bernie, Missouri; by three grandchildren, Landon & Lucas Kegley and Tristan Johnson; also by other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death other than by his parents, by one brother, Norman Condict.

Friends may call at Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Thursday, April 3, 2025 from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 pm. Memorial services will then be conducted on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 2:00 pm in the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie, Missouri.

Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie is assisting with arrangements.