Odessa Downing, daughter of the late Giles Vick and Ethel Erden Bond Ellis,was born in Holliday, Tennessee on January 30, 1927, and passed away at the Cypress Point Nursing Facility in Dexter, Missouri on October 15, 2011, at the age of 84 years, 8 months and 15 days.

She lived in St Louis, Missouri before moving to Dexter, Missouri in 1985. She worked in housekeeping at the Golden Living Center in Dexter.

Surviving are her son Lester Downing of Fults, Illinios; One sister Mary Ellen Massengill of Dexter, Missouri; Two grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by a son Carl Downing, one daughter Barbara Wild, five brothers, and four sisters.

Friends may visit on Monday, October 17, 2011, after 11 a.m., in the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter Missouri.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 17, 2011, at 1 p.m., in the Watkins & Sons Funeral Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with the Rev. Kenneth Biggs of Dexter, Missouri officiating.

Interment will be in the Dexter Cemetery in Dexter, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri in charge of arrangements.

Gary Don Dowdy, son of the late Kenneth Dowdy and Lavern Sadler Dowdy was born on November 27, 1947 in Dexter and died on October 14, 2011 in the Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter at the age of 63. 

Mr. Dowdy was a Veteran of the United States Army serving in the Vietnam War.  He was an engineer with Federal Mogul, a farmer, a member of the American Legion Post #59, a member of the Locomotion Car Club and a resident of Dexter.

On March 9, 1968 he was united in marriage to Ellen Sitton in Dexter.  Mrs. Dowdy survives of their residence in Dexter.

 Besides his wife he is survived by one son, Brian Dowdy of Sikeston; by one brother, Dale Dowdy of Bloomfield and by one sister, Judy LaPierre of Dexter.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Sunday, October 16, 2011 from 5 until 8 p.m.Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, October 17, 2011 at 2 p.m., in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Rev. David Jackson officiating.  Interment will follow in the Armstead Dowdy cemetery with full Military Honors.

Ronald Brown, son of Dorothy Hudgens Compton of Dexter and the late William Brown was born on July 9, 1950 at Parma and departed this life in the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center on October 13, 2011 at the age of 61.

Mr. Brown was a former Architect with Grojean Architects at Sikeston and a resident of Poplar Bluff.

He was united in marriage to Linda Powell Foote on April 28, 1990 at Puxico. Mrs. Brown preceded him in death on July 1, 2008.

Besides his mother, he is survived by two sons and daughter-in-laws, Mike and Kim Brown of Cape Girardeau and Ronnie and Laurie Brown of St. Louis: by two brothers, Gary Brown and Darrell Brown both of Dexter: by two sisters, Sharon Brandt and Sandy Miller, both of Poplar Bluff: by five grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 5 until 8 p.m., Monday, October 17, 2011. Funeral services will be conducted at 2p.m.,Tuesday, October 18, 2011 in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery.

Odell Nathaniel Wyatt, son of the late Theophilus Wyatt and Martha Redman Wyatt, was born on November 2, 1949 at Gideon and departed this life in the emergency room of the Missouri Southern Healthcare at Dexter on October 13, 2011 at the age of 61.

Mr. Wyatt was a member of the Kingdom Hall Of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Produce Manager and Maintenance Supervisor at the Dexter Save-A-Lot and a resident of Dexter.

He was united in marriage to Joanna Burris on February 10, 1974 at Kennett.  Mrs. Wyatt survives of the home in Dexter.

Besides his wife, he is survived by one son, Eric Wyatt of Springfield: by two daughters, Amber Wyatt of Watervliet, New York and Kecia Wyatt of Dexter: by two brothers, Claude Wyatt of Ste. Genevieve and Bill Wyatt of Temple, Georgia: by three sisters, Joyce Sharp of Kennett, Sherry Carlson of Mobile, Alabama and Darlene Geisler of Union.
    

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Ted Wyatt.

A memorial service will be conducted at 3 p.m., Sunday, October 16, 2011 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Dexter with Elder Allen Laszewski officiating.  Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter in charge of arrangements.

George Barks, son on Maggie Mae Shelton Howell and the late Henry Barks was born on January 13, 1942 in Charleston, Missouri and departed this life on Wednesday  October 12, 2011 at his residence in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 69 years.

Mr. Barks was a former owner and operator of Barks Excavating and Landscaping in Dexter.

On August 17, 1962 he was united in marriage to Lola Akridge in Essex, Missouri. Mrs. Barks survives of the home in Dexter.

Besides his wife, Lola Barks and mother, Maggie Mae Howell both of Dexter, other survivors include two daughters, Deanna Lynne Myers and husband Jeff of Dexter and Tina Michelle Norman and husband Drew also of Dexter; by two brothers, Jerry Wayne Barks and Danny Bruce Barks both of Dexter; three sisters, Henrietta Jones of Olathe, Kansas, Peggy Laird of Wappapello, Missouri, and Rosie Robertson of Dexter; by four grandchildren, Matthew Myers, Courtney Norman, Zachary Lesley and Jordan Myers; also by three step-grandchildren, Ashlie Norman, Kayla Norman and Hanna Norman.

Besides his father, he was preceded in death by his step-father, Wilson Howell; by one brother, Ronald Barks and by two sisters, Elizabeth Ann Barks and Betty Tanner.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 5 until 8 p.m., Friday October 14, 2011. Funeral services will be held on Saturday October 15, 2011 at 11 a.m., in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter with Rev. Kenneth Biggs officiating.  Interment will follow in the Armstead Dowdy Cemetery near Dexter.