Judy Ruth (Burge) Arnold, 75, of Puxico, MO, and formerly of Poplar Bluff, MO, passed away on Friday, March 26th, 2021, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, MO. Her death was sudden and unexpected.
She was born on September 23, 1945, to Arlie A. and Elsie (Harris) Burge in Osage County, MO. She was the youngest of seven children. She was raised in Puxico, MO, where she attended and graduated from Puxico High School in 1963. She attended Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO, where she obtained her Master of Science degree in Social Work. She was an active member of the Tri Delta sorority during her college years. After graduation, she began her career working for the State of Missouri at the Division of Family Services (DFS). She was well respected and admired by her co-workers. After 37 years, she retired as the area supervisor III for the Children’s Division in 2002. During her retirement she enjoyed traveling, visiting with family/friends, going to casinos, antique treasure hunting and estate auctions. She also loved decorating and participated in several open houses for Christmas tours and most recently organized the drive through Christmas tour in Puxico in 2020. She was very active in her community and was a member of the board for the Puxico Library. She attended the Puxico Christian Church.
On September 1st, 1973, she married her true love, Robert E. “Bob” Arnold, at the First Christian Church in Puxico, MO. She became an instant (step)mother to three children; Tony, Bobby and Cheri. Bob and Judy enjoyed many happy years together until he preceded her in death on January 16, 2000. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Arlie and Elsie Burge; two brothers, Kenneth Brantley and Arlie Burge; one sister, Phyllis Kinnaman; two nieces, Patricia Hon and Brenda Kinnaman.
Ms. Arnold is survived by two sons, Tony E. Arnold (Debbie) of Poplar Bluff, MO, and Robert L. “Bobby” Arnold (Janice) of Whitewater, MO; one daughter, Cheri L. Morgan of Poplar Bluff, MO; six grandchildren, Ashley Cochran (Josh) of Poplar Bluff, Courtney Thrasher (Andy) of Bay, AR., Brandon Arnold (Samantha) of Whitewater, MO, Whitney Bradley (Donnie) of Chaffee, MO, Jade McKnight (Bri) of Poplar Bluff and Tristan Morgan of Poplar Bluff; and five great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Alexis Cochran of Poplar Bluff, Oliver and MacKenzie Bradley of Chaffee, and Lawson Thrasher of Bay, AR.
She is also survived by two brothers and sister-in-laws, Bill and Nelda Burge of Puxico, MO, and Floyd and Valjeane Burge of Poplar Bluff, MO; one sister, Barbara Boone of Leesburg, FL; several beloved nieces and nephews, Paul Ludwig, Pam Hubbert (Perry) and Kelley Kirkpatrick (David) all of Pulaski, TN, Lynne Wasson (Tommy) of St. Paul, AR., Anne Woker, and Art Kinnaman (Kim) of Little Rock, AR., Paula Gratton (Tom) and Laura Burge of St. Louis, MO, Brad Wallace (Kim) of Farmington, MO, Gina Harris (Lonnie) of Waco, TX, Boyd Wallace (Whitney) of Dallas, TX, David Burge (Melissa) of Cape Girardeau, MO, Scott Burge (Kelly) of Puxico, MO, Misty Wiseman (Michael) and Aaron Burge all of Poplar Bluff, MO; and several great and great-great nieces and nephews.
She was very social and also leaves behind several special friends, Patricia Burge and Dee Dee Vance both of Poplar Bluff, MO, Chuck and Shirley Fann and Michael Brown of East Prairie, MO, Art and Sandra Norris, Robin Pastori, Lola Fowler, Pansy Barnfield, and Peter and Maryann Coutavas all of Puxico, MO, and Steve Brown of Sanibel Island, FL.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, MO. Visitation for immediate family will be from 9-10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 31st, at the funeral home. Public visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. with services immediately after at 12 p.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Brown Chapel Cemetery in Broseley, MO. Her nephew, Art Kinnaman, will deliver the eulogy and conduct the service and her niece Kelley Kirkpatrick will provide music. Pallbearers are grandsons Brandon Arnold and Tristan Morgan, grandson-in-law Andy Thrasher, nephews Scott Burge, Aaron Burge, and Lonnie Underberg. Honorary pallbearers are nephews David Burge and Michael Wiseman. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name may be made to the Puxico Library.
Lois Jean Rutledge daughter of the late Rev. Charlie Bell and Hazel Thomas Bell, was born in Luxora, Arkansas on October 19, 1939 and departed this life at her residence in Rural Parma, Missouri on March 31, 2021 at the age of 81.
Mrs. Rutledge had worked at JC Penny in Sikeston, Missouri and was a Homemaker. She was a member of Mt. Olive MB Church at LaForge/New Madrid, Missouri.
She was united in marriage to Johnnie Myles Rutledge in New Madrid, Missouri on June 29, 1974. Mr. Rutledge survives in their home in Rural Parma, Missouri.
Other survivors include one son, Sean Rutledge & wife Lashun of Parma, Missouri; by one brother William Albert Bell & wife Vera of New Madrid, Missouri; by one sister Charlene Kelly & husband James of Chicago, Illinois; by one grandson, Myles Thomas Rutledge; also by other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death other than by her parents, by one brother, James Sylvester Bell; by two sisters, Ozella Johnson and Mary Helen Johnson; by one grandson, Thomas Joe Rutledge.
Friends may call at Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 from 10:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Chapel at 12:00 P.M. Interment will follow in the Macedonia Cemetery in Malden, Missouri.
Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie in charge of all arrangements.
Larry McMunn, son of the late Vester C. “Blackie” McMunn and Lura Boyd McMunn, was born on November 11, 1936 in St. Louis, Missouri, and departed this life on March 30, 2021, at his home in Dexter, Missouri, surrounded by his loved ones, at the age of 84 years.
Mr. McMunn was a former technician in the foundry at Federal Mogul, retiring after 38 years of service.
On October 4, 1986, in rural Essex, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Sue Gibson. Mrs. McMunn survives of their home in Dexter.
In addition to his wife, Sue, he is survived by his daughter, Kelly Adams of Dexter; by three sons, Shea McMunn of Dexter, Earl Gibson of Virginia Beach, Virginia and Michael Gibson of Dexter; by two brothers, Carroll McMunn and wife Carolyn of Houston, Texas and David “Bubby” McMunn and wife Christy of Malden, Missouri; by four sisters, Phyllis Bollinger of Dexter, Missouri, Judy Blackwood and husband Don of Halls, Tennessee; LaDenna Wells and husband Chuck of Little Rock, Arkansas, and LaDonna Bennett and husband Bill of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; by four grandchildren, Lauren Neuhaus and husband Daniel, Jordi Flores and husband Jesse, and Madi Sadler and husband Nathan, all of Dexter, Missouri, and Brandon Gibson and wife Katie of Louisville, Kentucky; and by eleven great-grandchildren, Chloe Neuhaus, Owen Miller, McKendree Neuhaus, Jace Hueckel, Cade Poe, Audree Flores, Beau Flores, Knox Flores, Sophia Gibson, Luke Sadler, and Mack Sadler; and by many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by, his daughter, Tammy McMunn in infancy, by his son-in-law, Michael Adams, and by his brother-in-law, Jim Bollinger.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, April 2, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted on Saturday, April 3, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Mike Burk officiating. Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.
Wanda Louise Gough, daughter of the late Thomas and Treasa Whitehead, was born on September 22, 1927 in Dexter, Missouri, and departed this life on March 29, 2021 in Michigan, at the age of 93 years.
Graveside services will be held at Bernie Cemetery in Bernie, Missouri on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Tim Russell officiating.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Virginia Pierce Reed, daughter of the late Jesse Davis Pierce and Mary Alice Gamm Pierce, was born in Blytheville, Arkansas, on January 10, 1931 and departed this life on March 28, 2021 at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 89 years. Her life was not always easy, having been born one of thirteen kids to a farmer and Baptist minister. She met ever trial with grace and faith throughout the years.
She would attend an ice cream social with her sister where she would meet the love of her life Wafe B. Reed. They would be united in marriage on June 2, 1950 in her parents’ home in Blytheville, Arkansas. In union they had three children.
She was an adept homemaker while raising three children and later worked for four years in a shoe factory in Dexter. At night she would sew and make her children clothes. She was always ready to tackle something new. Virginia would begin a job as a secretary for the attorney, Claude Arnold which she would leave to accept a job as a secretary for the Dexter Public Schools for 26 years before retiring.
Virginia had a love for music which she sang for funerals at both Rainey and Watkins funeral homes, sang for many weddings, and also participated in the First Baptist Church choir for many years, and she also participated in the pageant at First Baptist Church for fifteen years in Dexter where she was a member.
Virginia was a secretary to MSTA (Missouri State Teachers Association) for three years, secretary to Chalk Bluff Cemetery up until her passing and board member for several years. She was a member and secretary to RTA (Retired Teachers Association) for three years. She also held offices as President and benevolence chairman for a few years for her Sunday school class, the Mary Magdalene class at First Baptist Church. Virginia also worked the Stoddard County elections for many years and served in a supervisory capacity.
Virginia along with her husband worked along with the county extension agents for eight years and would eventually organize a 4-H club, which would be named, “Town and Country” to join together kids from town as well as the country. They taught cooking, cattle, swine, sewing, horsemanship, breads, gardening, bicycles and numerous other classes in the homes. All of their children would be awarded trips to Washington, D.C. through the organization.
As an accomplished quilter, Virginia was a member of the Heartland Quilt Guild in Dexter and served as President, Historian and Reporter through the years. Her many beautiful quilts will remain heirlooms for years to come.
Virginia is survived by one son, Dale Reed (Judy) of Ellsinore, Missouri; one daughter, Terrie Reed Weaver of Tomball, Texas; by her grandchildren, Dennis Reed of Old Monroe, Missouri, Desirae Weaver (Brandon) of Brighton, Colorado, Andrea Weaver of Thornton, Colorado, Justin Lewis (Megan) of Oak Park, Illinois and Holly Lewis of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; and by two great-grandchildren, Jack and Kate Lewis.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wafe B. Reed; son, Wayne Reed; granddaughter, Monica Lynn Reed; parents, Jesse D. Pierce and Mary Alice Gamm Pierce; brothers, James Russell Pierce, Paris, Arkansas, James Elvin Hood, Dinuba, California, Jesse Burette Pierce, Diamondale, Michigan, Dewey Lee Pierce, Pocahontas, Arkansas, Wilburn Ray Pierce, St. Louis, Missouri, and Franklin Delano Pierce, Bolingbrook, Illinois; sisters, Geneva Pierce Hamilton, Owasso, Oklahoma, Reba Lois Eslinger, Spooner, Wisconsin, Veleta Pierce Stutts, Dexter, Missouri, and Betty Pierce Braun, Dexter, Missouri.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri on Friday, April 2, 2021 from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Chapel on Friday, April 2, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Greg McGhee officiating.
Interment will follow in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery, south of Dexter, Missouri.
Memorials may be made to Chalk Bluff Cemetery, c/o Louella Layton, PO Box 727, Dexter, Missouri 63841 or First Baptist Church, 11 W Castor Street, Dexter, Missouri 63841 or Ben Kruse 18 Fore Life, c/o Scott Kruse, 705 Laurie Circle, Dexter, Missouri 63841 or American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, Illinois 60674.
