Lester James Abbott, Sr, son of the late Lloyd Abbott and Hazel Edwards Abbott was born on June 19, 1942 in Neelyville, Missouri and departed this life on March 1, 2017 at the Missouri State Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau at the age of 74.
Mr. Abbott was a Gunnery Sergeant in the United States Marine Corp RET. and a residence of Essex.
He was united in marriage to Rosa Villegas in Oceanside, California on December 14, 1972. Mrs. Abbott survives of the home in Essex, Missouri.
Besides his wife, he is survived by one son, Lester James Abbott, Jr (Heather) of Beaver, West Virginia; by two daughters, Rosa Marcella Collyer (Rich) of Windsor, Connecticut and Amy Boyden (Scott) of Colchester, Connecticut; by two brothers, Henry J. Abbott of Melford, Oregon and Gary Abbott of Malden, Missouri; by three sisters, Mary Hill of Powe, Missouri , Wanda Hill of Bernie, Missouri and Agnes McCoy of Clarkton, Missouri; by ten grandchildren, Elizabeth Abbott, Joshua Abbott, Mackenzie Collyer, Peyton Marie Collyer, Chase Collyer, Delaney Collyer, Stephanie Hendrickson, Victoria Sheily Boyden, Glenda Boyden and Rosie Boyden; by several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 5:00 P. M. until 8:00 P. M., Monday March 6, 2017.
Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday March 7th, 2017 at 10:00 A. M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter.
Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Velma Pearl Kestner, daughter of the late Charles R. Hurt and Nora Gibson Hurt, was born on May 31, 1924 in Naylor, Missouri and passed away on March 3, 2017 at the Cypress Point Nursing Facility in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 92.
Mrs. Kestner had previously worked at an ammunition plant in St. Louis, Missouri, Brown Shoe Company in Dexter and was a homemaker at her residence in Dudley.
On December 29, 1950, she was united in marriage to Henry P. Kestner. Mr. Kestner preceded her in death on November8, 2013.
Survivors include one son, Henry D. Kestner and his wife, Linda of Dexter; by two grandchildren, Suzanne Kelley and her husband, T.J., Andrew Kestner and his wife, Elisha; by two great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Kelley and Ally Kelley; by two step-great-grandchildren, Kaileb Hill and his wife, Brandy, and Shellbie Hill and by one step-great-great-grandson, Bryson Hill.
Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two sons, John Howard Kestner and Joseph Robert Kestner; by two sisters, Mabel Hurt and Nellie Abbott, and by five brothers, Dow Hurt, Howard Hurt, Donald Hurt, Homer Hurt and Tommy Hurt.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Sunday, March 5, 2017 from 1:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M.
Funeral services will then be conducted on Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 2:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Danny Collins officiating.
Interment will follow in the Dudley Cemetery.
Joyce Jane Flowers, daughter of the late Kenneth William Averett, Sr. and Gussie Westerfield Averett, was born on August 8, 1934, in Hammond, IN and departed this life at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, MO on March 5, 2017 at 82.
She graduated from Canalou High School in 1951, and then married her childhood sweetheart Billy Carl Flowers on December 19, 1953 in Hernando, MS.
To this union, three sons were born; Stanley Carl Flowers (wife Sue), Timothy Lynn Flowers (wife Kimberly), and Robert Kevin Flowers (wife Kelly) all of Dexter. “Nana” counted her greatest blessing in her six grandchildren: Clayton Flowers (wife Chelsie), Aleshia Flowers Eftink (husband Nathan), Delaney Flowers, Owen Flowers (finance’ Amanda), Ethan Flowers, and Alana McRoy; and her three great-grandchildren: Leighton Flowers, Brianna McRoy and Bryson McRoy. She is also survived by one brother, Mike Averett (wife Rene’) of St. Charles, IL; one sister-in-law Fannie Averett of Dexter; loving nieces, nephews and cousins; many dear friends; and her church family.
Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Anastasia Flowers and two brothers, Kenny Averett, Jr. and Larry Joe Averett.
She co-owned Flowers’ Fish Farms with her husband, but her true calling was selling real estate in Stoddard County and the surrounding area for nearly 40 years. For much of that time, she was the owner/broker of her own real estate office (American Realty, Century 21, and Flowers’ Realty) in Dexter. Mrs. Flowers was a Christian, member of the Dexter Church of Christ, a charter member of the Crowley’s Ridge Daughters of the American Revolution, The Stoddard County Republican Club, and served on the Stoddard County Realty Board.
Visitation will be at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Funeral service will be conducted at the Dexter Church of Christ on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at 10:00 AM, with interment following in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery south of Dexter.
Memorial donations can be made to the Bootheel Youth Camp, C/O Laura Tessens, 201 Adams Drive, Dexter, MO 63841 or the Chalk Bluff Cemetery, PO Box 727, Dexter, MO 63841.
Marvin E. Edwards of Rogers, Arkansas, son of the late Ozzie G. and Mayme Missouri Glenn Edwards , was born on December 4, 1929 and passed away on March 4, 2017, at Circle of Life Hospice Center in Bentonville, Arkansas at the age of 87 years, 3 months and 1 day.
Marvin had lived in Dexter most of his life before moving to Rogers Arkansas. He was a truck driver for many years before retiring. He also was a veteran of the U.S. Army where he was a recipient of the purple heart in the Korean war.
On May 7, 2004, he was married to Mona Proffer in Dexter, Missouri.
Surviving are his wife, Mona Edwards of Rogers Arkansas; two daughters, Diane Berry of Neelyville, Missouri; Denise Nelson of Abilene Texas; one son, David Edwards of Farmington, Missouri; eight grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; and one sister, Elvie Rodriguez of St. Louis Missouri; one brother, James Edwards of Wright City, Missouri. Other relatives and many friends also survive.
Friends may call on Wednesday, March 8, 2017, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Elks services will be at 7:00 p.m.Friends my also visit Thursday morning March 9, 2017 before going to the Cemetery.
Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri in charge of arrangements.
Patsy Shelton, daughter of the late Everett Schrader and Thelma Chatman Schrader was born in Bernie, Missouri on August 1, 1935 and departed this life in Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on March 4, 2017 at the age of 81.
Mrs. Shelton was a homemaker and a member of the Bernie Church of Christ.
She was united in marriage to James Edgar “Jim” Shelton in Hernando, Mississippi on November 25, 1957. He preceded his wife in death on May 12, 1995.
Survivors include two sons, Michael Shelton & wife Diane of Malden, Missouri and Timothy Shelton and wife Kelli of Bernie, Missouri; by five grandchildren, Brandon Shelton, Tyler Shelton, Tabitha Shelton, Marcus Lentz and Eric Lynch; by six great-grandchildren; by two brothers, Jim Schrader of Brownsville, Texas, Gary Schrader of San Antonio, Texas; by one sister, Shirley Becking of Flint, Michigan; also by other relatives and friends.
Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 P.M.
Funeral services will then conducted at 2:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Stan Dauck officiating.
Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
