Brendan Wallis, son of Samantha Bartlett and step-father Richard Benjamin, was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on May 28, 2002, and passed away at his home in Parma, Missouri on May 28, 2013, at the age of 11 years.

Brendan had lived all of his life in Parma. He was a member of the Church of Christ and was a third grade student at the Lilbourn Public Schools. He enjoyed playing with his Xbox 360, his computer and playing with his beloved brother.

Surviving are his mother, Samantha Bartlett and step-father, Richard Benjamin of Parma; one brother, Marty Bartlett of Parma; his maternal grandparents, Tim & Lisa Bartlett of Parma; and his uncle, Adam Bartlett of Parma. Other family and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by his maternal great grandparents, Roy & Peggy Bartlett and Ira & Johnette Campbell, and an uncle, Marty Bartlett.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 30, 2013, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the First Baptist Church in Parma Missouri.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 31, 2013, at 1:00 pm at the First Baptist Church in Parma, Missouri with Bro. Jimmy Johnson of Portageville, Missouri officiating.

Interment will be in Mounds Cemetery near New Madrid, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Parma in charge of arrangements.

Ruth Verna Patton, daughter of the late Elmer Lincoln and Zola Jackson Lincoln, was born on December 4, 1919 in Dunklin County, Missouri and passed away on May 28, 2013 at her daughter’s home in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 93 years.

Mrs. Patton was a resident of Dexter, a member of the New Salem Baptist Church in Marble Hill, Missouri and a homemaker. 

She was first united in marriage to Dallas Williams.  Mr. Williams preceded her in death.  She was then united in marriage to Troy Patton and Mr. Patton preceded her in death.

She is survived by two sons, Val Willis Williams and his wife, Jenny, of Chaffee, Missouri and Jerry Williams and his wife, Anna, of Chaffee, Missouri; by one daughter, Karen Louise Hays and her husband, John, of Dexter, Missouri; by four stepchildren; by eight grandchildren; by eleven step-grandchildren; and by eight great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husbands and her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Dallas Willard Williams; by one brother, Bud Lincoln; by one sister, Pauline Crane; and by one grandchild, Todd Williams.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home on Thursday, May 30, 2013 from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. 

Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Rich Lee officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Stoddard County Children’s Home Memorial Tribute Fund, P. O. Box 164, Dexter, Missouri  63841.

Shawna Lane Godwin, daughter of Pam Gayle Kelley Woosley of Essex, Missouri and the late Walter Dale Lane, was born on March 31, 1967 in Sikeston, Missouri and passed away on May 26, 2013 at her residence in Waterloo, Illinois at the age of 46 years.

Shawna was a member of the Essex Church of Christ.  She was a former resident of Essex and had worked as a retail manager for Wal-Mart.

In addition to her mother, she is survived by three daughters, Ashlie Henry-Woodward and her husband, Cameron, of East Prairie, Missouri, Taylor Walls of Columbia, Missouri and Haylie Peridore of Waterloo, Illinois; by her maternal grandmother, Ola Kelley of Essex, Missouri; and by her companion, Mike Tinnin of Waterloo, Illinois.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. 

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Herman Morse officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Essex Cemetery.

Marie Mays, daughter of the late Aud Ezra Venable and Nellie Mae Stanfill Venable was born on July 30, 1931 in Bertrand, Missouri and passed away on May 26, 2013 at her residence near Bernie at the age of 81.

Mrs. Mays was a member of the Bernie Church of Christ; she was a former seamstress at the Gossard Garment Factory at Malden, a former telephone operator at Sikeston and a resident of rural Bernie.

She was united in marriage to Ottis Dee Mays on June 11, 1950 at Sikeston.  Mr. Mays preceded her in death on June 28, 1996.

Survivors include three sons and daughter-in-laws, Ronald and Sonja Mays of Bernie, Kevin and Robin Mays of Bernie and Jonathan and Ashley Mays of Paragould, Arkansas: by one daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and David Burleson of Dexter: by one brother, Jay Venable of Malden: by one sister, Aliene Wilson of Grandin: by seven grandchildren, Derek Mays, Cody Burleson, Jessica Camp, Paige Mays, Bailey Mays, Jordan Mays and Maggie Lou Mays: by three great-grandchildren, Kinley Frields, Riley Camp and Tyler Camp.

Besides her husband and parents, one daughter, Pam Pearce, preceded her in death.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M., Tuesday, May 28, 2013. 

Funeral services will then be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie with Stan Dauck officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Children’s Homes, 5515 Old Walcott Road, Paragould, Arkansas  72450-9983.

Norma L. Gough of Flint, Michigan, passed away Thursday, May 23, 2013 at Woodhaven Assisted Living in Flint at the age of 87 years.

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 P.M., Saturday, May 25, 2013 at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint, Michigan, with Pastor Chris Tenneriello officiating. 

Visitation will begin at 2:00 P.M. Saturday until the time of the service at the funeral home.

Surviving are three children, Phyllis Anders and husband, Thomas, Brenda Mentzer, Barbara Henry and husband, Andrew; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Clara Bagby and husband, Jerry and Helen Shipman, all of Dexter, Missouri. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin; son-in-law, Thomas Mentzer; and her parents.

Special thanks to the health partners that provided such wonderful care and Woodhaven Senior Community.

Your condolences may be shared with the family at www.swartzfunerahomeinc.com.