Bob Girtman of Clarkton, son of the late Donald Gene and Nadine Girtman, was born in Lilbourn, Missouri on October 12, 1958, and passed away at the Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau on December 21, 2018, at the age of 60 years, 2 months and 9 days.

Bob had lived in St. Louis and moved to Clarkton in 2005. He had worked manufacturing windows and enjoyed riding his motorcycle.

He was first married to Linda Sue Rose, who survives of St. Louis. He later married Donna Sue Cole, who survives of Clarkton.

Surviving are three daughters and husbands, Laticia & Wesley Ussery of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Melissa Girtman of Brookville, Florida, Victoria and Jimmy Carpenter of Festus, Missouri; one son, Bobby Girtman of Clarkton, Missouri; one step-daughter, Marie Jones of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; three grandchildren, Kaitlin Manees, Kyle Manees, Sierra Cousins, two step-grandchildren, Marissa & Beth Jones; two brothers, Billy Corbitt and Giacomo Ghianni; six sisters, Roxanne Cash, Teresa Buckner, Tina Corbitt, Shawntell Million, Janice Hernandez and Sue Wells. Other family and friends also survive.

Friends may visit at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 26, 2018, after 12:00 p.m. until time for Services at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service in charge of arrangements.

Edward Hill of Bell City, Missouri, son of the late Edmond William and Minnie Asher Hill, was born in Potosi, Missouri on February 10, 1935, passed away at his daughter's home in Richland, Missouri on December 14, 2018, at the age of 83 years, 10 months and 4 days.

Edward had lived in St. Louis and Dexter before moving to Bell City in 1994. He was a veteran of the U. S. Navy and had been a truck driver. He enjoyed fishing, watching birds and going to the casino.

He was married to Juanita Hubbard and to this union two children were born.

Surviving are two daughters and husbands, Janet & David Cox of Ponce De Leon, Florida, Kelly & Jerry Hill of Richland, Missouri; two granddaughters and husbands; Stacy & Chris Simmering of Ft. Walton, Florida, Jodie & Jim Lacy of Bell City, Missouri; six great grandchildren, Devin, Macie, Jordyn, Bo, Zack, and Riley; one sister, Irene Kitchell of Navarre, Florida. Numerous relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by one sister, Evelyn Kitchell.

Visitation was held on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 after 11:00 a.m. at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield.  Services were held at 1:00 p.m., with Keith Kinder of Sikeston officiating.

Interment followed in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with full military honors. Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home of Bloomfield in charge of arrangements.

Donald Eugene Wethington, son of the late Hudson Wethington and Bertha Condict Wethington was born on May 12, 1943 in Essex, Missouri and departed this life on December 22, 2018 at his home in Bloomfield at the age of 75.  Don died suddenly of a heart attack while he was out working in the yard.

After graduating from Grayridge High School in 1961, he served in the United States Navy until 1965.  When he left the Navy he said he was going to go back to Missouri, work for Southwestern Bell Telephone, and marry his “Glory”. And that’s what he did, just like he always did what he said he would do.  He worked at Southwestern Bell Telephone for 33 years, starting as a lineman and ending as a manager.  He retired in 1999 and has spent the last 19 years “going places” with his wife and kids and grandkids.

On April 30, 1966 he was united in Holy Matrimony with his sweetheart, Gloria Rainwater Wethington, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter.  Mrs. Wethington survives of their home in Bloomfield.  Little did he know, he was also going to join the Roman Catholic Church.  Mr. Wethington was a parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter where he served as lector and extraordinary minister of the Eucharist.  He had celebrated Christmas Midnight Mass for 52 years in a row. This year he will be there on the other side.

Besides his wife he is survived by three daughters, Lisa Pulley and husband Tim of Bloomfield, Tara Halcomb and husband Tim of Fordland, Missouri and Sharon Slayton and husband Steve of Fairdealing, Missouri; by one step-son, Jay Yourch and wife Kim of Raleigh, North Carolina; by one brother, M.B. Wethington; by one sister, Linda Curtis; by eleven grandchildren, Matthew and wife Cassy Pulley, Megan and husband Aron Henson, Michael and wife Rebecca Pulley, Mason Pulley, Briget Cooper, Brittany and husband Jeff Micke, Courtney Slayton, Derek Slayton, Abby Slayton, Kathryn Yourch, and Andrew Yourch; and by five great-grandchildren, Emmitt Pulley, Asher Pulley, Amelia Pulley, Collin Henson and Baby Micke; one brother- and six sisters-in-law; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews; and by lots and lots and lots of “adopted” sons and daughters who learned from him what a Daddy’s love looks like and feels like.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by seven siblings, Glenn, Paul and Polly (Clanton), Russ, Fred, Elzie, and David Wethington; and by one grandchild, Mackenzie Pulley.

Friends may call at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter on Wednesday, December 26, 2018 from 9:30 A.M. until 10:30 A.M. 

Funeral Mass will then be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father William Hennecke officiating.  Interment will follow at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with full Military Honors.

Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.

David Lee Bruce, son of the late John Henry (J.H.) Bruce and Anna Myrtle Daniel Bruce was born on April 9, 1962 in Tennessee and departed this life on December 16, 2018 in the emergency room at the Southeast Health of Stoddard County in Dexter at the age of 56 years.

Mr. Bruce worked in the maintenance department at Southeast Health of Stoddard County for many years and was a member of the Dexter Elks Lodge in Dexter.  He was a resident of Bloomfield, Missouri.

Survivors include: two brothers, John Bruce of Bloomfield and Keith Bruce (Marrianne) of Dexter; by four sisters, Diane Hanner (Robert) of Bloomfield, Martha Rowland (Terry) of Fisk, Dorothy Beyer of Dexter and Sarah Fluty of Louisa, Kentucky and by many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Wanda Jane Bruce.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, December 21, 2018 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. 

Funeral service will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Friday, December 21, 2018 at 1:00 PM. 

Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter in charge of all arrangements.

Gladys Ruth Smithson, daughter of the late James T. Holland and Laura (Bollenbacher) Holland was born on November 16, 1923 in Ripley County, Missouri and departed this life on December 13, 2018 at Oak Tree Villas in Jefferson City, Missouri at the age of 95 years.

On June 7, 1942, she was united in marriage to Charles Smithson in Doniphan, Missouri.  He preceded her in death on March 30, 1997.

Gladys attended Doniphan High School and later received her GED. For many years she was a homemaker. Over the years, she held various jobs but her favorite was secretary at Dexter High School in the 1960’s where she enjoyed engaging with the students.

She was an active member of the Dexter Church of Christ where she loved teaching bible classes to young people. For many years, she also taught World Bible School correspondence lessons to students in Africa. Throughout her life she had a personal walk with God and left us a legacy of faith.

She lived in Missouri most of her life except for a short period during World War II when she lived in Long Beach, California while Charles served in the Navy. She resided in Dexter for over 40 years until her recent move to Jefferson City.

She loved to read and listen to music, especially gospel and country. She was a joyful cook and shared many home-cooked meals with family, friends, neighbors and those in need.

She was treasured and loved beyond words and lives forever in our hearts. She was warm and giving and lived to help others.  She entertained us with her favorite family stories and lots of laughter. We will always cherish these memories.

Survivors include one daughter, Charlotte Gooch (James) of Jefferson City, Missouri; two grandchildren, Ben Reeser (Becky) and Chris Gooch (Monica); two step-grandchildren, Lauri Ashlock and Jimmy Gooch (Lanette); two great-grandchildren (Paige and Ava) and four step-great-grandchildren (Hailey, Caleb, Sam and Abby); and one sister, Beulah Brewer.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Melissa Reeser; four brothers, Ray, Virgil, Glenn and Ernest Holland; two sisters, Jewel Freeman and Lola Lynxwiler.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 from 10:00 to 11:00 am.  Funeral service will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at 11:00 am with Don Bahr officiating.  Interment will follow at the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Doniphan, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Children’s Home, Inc., 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, AR 72450.