Juanita Rankins, daughter of the late James O’Neal and Jenny Hibbard O’Neal, was born on November 11, 1926 in Pocahontas, Arkansas and departed this life on April 22, 2013 at her residence in Gray Ridge, Missouri at the age of 86 years.
Mrs. Rankins was a member of the Gray Ridge General Baptist Church, a homemaker and a longtime resident of Gray Ridge.
On April 3, 1948, she was united in marriage to James William “Jay” Rankins in Piggott, Arkansas. Mr. Rankins preceded her in death on December 16, 1984.
She is survived by two daughters, Marilyn Jiles of Gray Ridge, Missouri and Carolyn Corlew and her husband, Randy, of Essex, Missouri; by one brother, Glen O’Neal, of Jackson, Tennessee; by two sisters, Faye Wheeler of Flint, Michigan and Opal Smith of Jackson, Tennessee; by four grandchildren, James Keith Jiles of Gray Ridge, Clinton Randall Corlew and his wife, Jamie, of Essex, Cristi Jo Comfort and her husband, Jason, of Dexter, and Jeffrey O’Neal Corlew and his wife, Lindsey, of Charleston; and by six great-grandchildren, Maci Jo Comfort, Lila Beth Corlew, Cali Celeste Comfort, Chaney Grace Corlew, Jase Holden Comfort and Brooks Caroline Corlew.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by seven brothers and three sisters.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M.
Graveside services will be conducted on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. at Triplett Cemetery.
James A. Johnson, son of the late J. W. Johnson and Minnie Pearl Holloway Johnson, was born on February 25, 1925, in Egypt, Arkansas and departed this life on April 21, 2013, at Gideon Care Center in Gideon, Missouri, at the age of 88.
Mr. Johnson was a member of the North Side Baptist Church in Bernie and a resident of Gideon formally of Bernie, Missouri. He was a Veteran of the United States Army and was employed by United Phone Company in Bernie as a repairman.
On February 1, 1947, he was united in marriage to Ida Ozella Hampton in Weona, Arkansas. Mrs. Johnson preceded him in death on August 29, 2002.
He is survived by one son, Jim Johnson and his wife, Rhonda, of Dexter, Missouri; by two sisters, Tressie Parker of California and Bonnie Alvis of Arkansas; by two grandchildren, Misty Johnson of Dexter and Sara McKay of Hope Arkansas; and by two great-grandchildren, William Silas McKay and Ellasyn Marie McKay.
In addition to his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by one brother, J. L. Johnson and one sister, Margrette Miller.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie on Tuesday, April 23, 2013, from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at 4:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Tim Ingles officiating. Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery.
Robert Lee Johnson Sr.,son of the late Adrian and Theresa Proffer Stevens Johnson was born on February 26, 1929 in Galveston, Texas. He lost his battle with cancer on April 20, 2013 at the age of 84 years.
He was united in marriage to Vivian Perry Putnam on May 5, 2006. Mrs. Johnson survives of their residence.
On February 25, 1950 he was united in marriage to Patricia Louise Owens, she preceded him in death on August 26, 2005 after 55 years of marriage.
Bob currently served on the Bernie Housing Board, had served as a Bernie Alderman, and taught auto body class at Bernie High School in 1969. He was a self-employed business-man, and served as Bernie Fire Chief from 1972-1979. He was a member of the Bernie CB Club and was known as Blue Streak. He was a member of the Corner Gospel Fellowship Church and was a Veteran of the United States Navy.
Besides his wife he is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Robert Lee Johnson Jr. and wife Regina of Bernie; by two daughters and sons-in-law, Rebecca Joann Edmonds and husband Allen of Bernie and Brenda J. Buchanan and husband Rick of Dexter; by two sisters, Ruth Hill of Springfield, Missouri and Delores Wetzel of St. Charles, Missouri; by two step-sons, Gary Putnam and Larry Putnam of Dexter; by seven grandchildren and eight grandchildren and by numerous other family and friends.
He was also preceded in death by three brothers, Ethridge Stevens, Sterling Woodrow Johnson and William Eugene Johnson.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 from 10:00 A.M. until Noon. Funeral services will then be conducted on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at NOON in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Don Wells officiating. Interment will follow in the Bernie cemetery with full military honors.
Bayleigh Jane Chamberlain, daughter of John and Lisa Bruce Chamberlain of Herculaneum, Missouri was born on August 21, 1995 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and passed away on April 15, 2013 at the Mercy Hospital in St. Louis at the age of 17.
Bayleigh Jane was a member of the United Pentecostal Church in Festus, Embrace Student Ministries and Sheaves for Christ. She was a resident of Herculaneum, Missouri.
Besides her parents she is survived by three brothers, Brock Chamberlain of Zalma, Missouri, Kurt Chamberlain of Springfield, Missouri and Austin Chamberlain of St. Louis, Missouri; by two sisters, Kristen Chamberlain and Taylor Chamberlain both of Herculaneum, Missouri; by her maternal grandparents, Don Bruce of Dexter and Cheryl and Mike Beuth of Bloomfield.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Cathy “Nanny” Bruce and by her paternal grandparents, “Mimaw” Shirley Jane Chamberlain and Rod Chamberlain.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, April 18, 2013 from 9:00A.M. until 10:30 A.M. Funeral services will then be conducted on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 10:30 A.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral chapel with Rev. Arnold Mangus officiating.
Interment will follow in the Walker cemetery near Bloomfield.
She was born on December 16, 1938, on the family farm south of Dexter, daughter of Geneva Bailey and Louie Norman. Mrs. Stevens and her sister, Jane, were raised by their mother and Harris “Doc” Zengerle in Dexter, where she attended public schools and was a 1956 graduate of Dexter High School.
She and the love of her life, Troy Lee Stevens, were married August 28, 1959, in Dexter. She and Troy moved to Cape Girardeau in 1962, where they raised three children. Mr. Stevens preceded her in death on December 29, 1993.
Survivors include a son, two daughters and their spouses, Mark (Glenda) Stevens of Garden Ridge, Texas, Sheri (Joseph) Johnson of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Cindy (Frank) Given of Argyle, Texas; seven grandchildren, Anna Alexandria and Lauren Louise Stevens, Mary Caroline, Trystan Troy, Emily Kingston, Victoria Elizabeth and Jackson Henry Given; in addition, a sister, Jane Hertzog of Greenwood, Missouri; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Lou was an avid gardener and golfer, volunteered as a Brownie and Girl Scout Leader and was on the Heritage Ball Committee. She loved fishing on Kentucky Lake, canning preserves with “The Aunts” and being a true friend to so many while living in Cape Girardeau. She returned to Dexter in 1995 and was a member of the Dexter Elks Lodge #2439. Lou was a devoted mother and wife to her family and will be missed by all who knew her.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, April 19, 2013, from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.
A memorial service will be conducted on Thursday, April 18, 2013, at 3:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Steve Easterwood officiating.
Interment will follow in the Sadler Chapel Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the American Heart Association or a charity of your choice.
