Ella Mae Orr Bates, daughter of the late Henry Jefferson and Elizabelle Eddie Williams, was born in Morrilton, Arkansas on August 28, 1937, and passed away at her home in Sikeston, Missouri on March 1, 2014, at the age of 76 years, 6 months and 1 day.

Mrs. Bates had lived in Morehouse, Missouri since 1960. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Morehouse, Missouri and had worked as a waitress.

On June 9, 1956, she was married to George W. Orr in Hernando, Mississippi. He preceded her in death on November 6, 2005.

Surviving are 6 daughters, Janice McQueen of Copperas Cove, Texas, Brenda Kay Stinnett of Morehouse, Alice Fay conner of Poplar Bluff, Patricia Ann Carmack, Julia Marie Lutes and Rebecca Lynn Gregory all of Sikeston; three step-sons, Terry & Donald Gordon both of Sikeston, Scotty Gordon of Morehouse; 17 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; four brothers, Billy, Charles and Gary Williams all of Casa, Arkansas, Orvil Joe Williams of Perry, Arkansas; four sisters, Vivian McGee of Lepanto, Arkansas, Geraldine Watts of Perryville, Arkansas, Anna Lee Nix of Bigelow, Arkansas and Mary Ruth Wirth of West Memphis, Arkansas.

Other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by 3 grandsons, Edward Stinnett, Jr, Colton Guzman and James Michael Conner; one granddaughter, Baby Girl Lutes; one step-son, Dennis gordon and one brother, Woody Williams.

Friends may visit Wednesday, March 5, 2014, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Morehouse, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 6, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Morehouse, Missouri with the Rev. Randy Conn of Morley, Missouri officiating.

Interment with be in the New Morley Cemetery in Morley, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Morehouse in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
info@watkinsfuneralhome.com or phone 573 624 3548

Enoch Taylor, son of the late Ervin and Mary Absher Taylor, was born in Broseley, Missouri on September 13, 1932, and passed away at the Oakdale Care Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on February 28, 2014, at the age of 81 years, 5 months and 11 days.

He had lived in the Broseley and Qulin, Missouri area except when he moved to Geneva, Illinois and worked at Smith & Richardson Manufacturing as a machine operator and set-up man for over 34 years.

He was a member of the Qulin First Assembly of God Church and the past 13 months attended services by Temple Baptist Church at the nursing home.

On June 30, 1952, he was married to Arlene Morgan in Piggott, Arkansas.

Surviving are, his wife, Arlene Taylor of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; one brother, Perry Taylor of Greenville, Missouri.  Many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by one brother, Frank Taylor and one sister, Mildred Hendrix.

Friends may visit Wednesday, March 5, 2014, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 6, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with the Rev. Gerald Berger of Qulin officiating and Rev. Ernest Puckett of Malden assisting.

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

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
info@watkinsfuneralhome.com or phone 573 624 3548

Maxine Steward, daughter of the late Bland Gradon and Gertie Bell Menley Dennington, was born in Essex, Missouri on June 4, 1925, and passed away at her home in Malden on March 1, 2014, at the age of 88 years, 8 months and 25 days.

She had lived in the Essex, Parma, Dexter and Poplar Bluff areas before moving to Malden. She was a member of the Harviell Church of Christ.
On November 21, 1945, she was married to Joe Ellis Steward in Piggott, Arkansas. He preceded her in death on July 15, 1985.

Surviving are three sons and spouses, Terry & Bobbie Steward of Adairsville, Georgia, Gary Don Steward of Farmington, Missouri, Randy & Kathy Steward of Essex; three daughters, Rachel Fay Loyd of Malden, Sheila & the late David Wilson of Rome, Georgia, Angela & Clinton Vannasdale of Malden; nineteen grandchildren; forty-six great grandchildren; three great great grandchilden; three sisters, Mary Wells and Ruth Tippen both of Puxico, June Patterson of Bethel Springs, Tennessee; and one brother, James Dennington of Malden. Other relatives and friends also survive.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Robert Dennington.

Visitations will be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2014, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter.

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

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
info@watkinsfuneralhome.com or phone 573 624 3548

Opal I. Miller, daughter of the late Lonzo B. Wolpers and Mina Duncan Wolpers was born on July 7, 1928 in rural Dexter, Missouri and departed this life on February 27, 2014 at her residence in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 85 years.

Mrs. Miller was a former employee of the International Shoe Company in Dexter during her younger years, before she became a homemaker.  Her later years were devoted to taking loving care of her special needs daughter, Lisa.

On August 24, 1944 she was united in marriage to Cletis Miller in Essex, Missouri.  Mr. Miller preceded her in death on February 20, 2000.

Survivors include three daughters, Marilyn Cartwright of Bloomfield, Missouri, Janis Midgett and Lisa Miller both of Dexter; by four grandchildren, Marcia K. Enax, David Midgett Jr., Robert Midgett, and James Cartwright; by seven great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and by one sister Edna Anderson of Dexter.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Marcia Kay Miller;  by one granddaughter, Amy Elizabeth Cartwright; by two brothers, Eric Wolpers and Henry Wolpers;  by two sisters, Naomi Gilliam and Hattie Hill.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. Tuesday March 4, 2014. 

Funeral services will then be conducted on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at 1:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Rev. Jessie Barnhart officiating. 

Interment will follow at the Duncan Cemetery in Dexter.

Family has requested that all memorials can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, P. O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN  38101-9908.

 

Epiphany Nevaeh Umfress, daughter of Matt Umfress and Whitney Danielle Gooch, was born in St. Louis, Missouri on February 13, 2014, and passed away at Children's Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri on February 22, 2014, at the age of 9 days.

Surviving are her parents, Matt Umfress and Whitney Gooch of Poplar Bluff; two brothers, Ethan Michael Davis & Aydan Blake Umfress both of Poplar Bluff; one sister, Kaylie Mae Davis of Poplar Bluff; her maternal grandparents, Alice & Jose Rodriguez of Dexter; paternal grandparents, Debbie & Dale Umfress of Campbell; paternal great grandmother, Lola Calvert of Clarkton; two aunts, Lucinda Gooch of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Cheyenne Church of Dexter; seven uncles, Larry Umfress of Campbell, Marvin Kirkland of Butler, Pennsylvania, Johnathan & Donnie Monaco both of Modesto, California, Corey and Troy Martinez both of Dexter, Justin Gooch of Poplar Bluff.

Other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by two uncles, Jason William Gooch and Charles Adam Dickens.

Friends may visit Saturday, March 1, 2014, after 12:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 1, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with the Rev. Jack Allen of Clarkton, Missouri officiating.

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

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
info@watkinsfuneralhome.com or phone 573 624 3548