Maggy Bess, daughter of the late Nolan Travis and Virginia Williams Thomason, was born in Harrell, Arkansas, on November 28, 1944, and passed away at her home in Puxico, Missouri on December 12, 2014, at the age of 70.

Maggy had lived in Florida for 10 years and returned to Puxico where she has lived the past 18 years. She was a member of the Christian Church and most enjoyed spending time with her family. She worked for Mel's Diner in Puxico as a cashier.

Surviving are two daughters, Bami (Michelle Kennedy) Parsons of Clearwater, Florida, Cindy (Randy) Martin of Puxico, Missouri; one grandson, Jarrett Martin of Puxico, one granddaughter, Jacie Parsons of Clearwater, Florida; three brothers, James (Wanda) Thomason and Royce (Shelby)  Thomason both of Malden, Missouri and Ronnie (Nola) Thomason of Bernie, Missouri; one sister, Alice (Larry) Smith of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Other relatives and friends also survive.

Friends may visit Saturday, December 20, 2014, after 11:00 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 20, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri with Bro. Art Norris of Puxico, Missouri officiating.

Interment will be in the Rock Point Cemetery near Swinton, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Puxico in charge of arrangements.

The family requests memorials be made to the Stoddard County Children's Home, PO Box 164, Dexter, MO  63841.

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

Wilma Ping of St. Louis, daughter of the late Steven and Jewell Riles Baker, was born in Portageville, Missouri on November 27, 1932, and passed away at the Brookview Nursing Home in Maryland Heights, Missouri on December 14, 2014, at the age of 82 years and 17 days.

She had lived in the St. Louis area for many years where worked and retired after many years of service for Southwestern Bell and AT&T.

Surviving are one son, David Wright of St. Louis, Missouri; two grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. Many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister.

Friends may visit on Wednesday, December 17, 2014, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 18, 2014, at 11:00 am at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield, Missouri.

Interment with be in the Bloomfield Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home of Bloomfield in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
CHILES-COOPER FUNERAL HOME
573-568-4500  -  chilescooper@nwcable.net

Joseph E. “Shorty” Kestner, son of the late Joseph Kestner and Birdie Scates Kestner, was born on February 4, 1927 in Dudley, Missouri and departed this life on December 8, 2014 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff at the age of 87.

Mr. Kestner was a member of the Pleasant Grove Church in Dexter and was a resident of Dexter.  He retired from the Missouri Pacific Railroad and was a veteran of the United States Navy.

On September 30, 1950, he was united in marriage to Jo Ann Griffin in Piggott, Arkansas.   Mrs. Kestner preceded him in death on October 20, 2006.

He is survived by one daughter, Debbie Kestner of Dexter; by one son, Michael Douglas Kestner of Honolulu, Hawaii; by one granddaughter, Ceceli Moon and by one great-grandson, Joseph Greer.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Henry P. Kestner and Franklin “Carl” Kestner.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, December 22, 2014 from 12:00 Noon to 2:00 P.M. 

Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Monday, December 22, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. with Bishop Ronnie Webb officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Dudley Cemetery.

Wylie DeJournett, son of the late Marshall and Mary Annis DeJournett, was born in Essex, Missouri on August 14, 1927, and passed away at the Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter on December 15, 2014, at the age of 87 years, 4 months and 1 day.

Mr. DeJournett had worked for Sam Scism Motors in Park Hills, Missouri for 25 years and worked for Scism Motors in Bloomfield for seven years. He was a veteran of the U. S. Army and had served in the Army Engineers during WWII.

On August 23, 1947, he was married to Dorothy Jean McCollum in Piggott, Arkansas.

Surviving are his wife, Dorothy DeJournett of Dexter, Missouri; one daughter and fiance', Sheri DeJournett and Randy Shelton of Dexter Missouri; and one sister, Kathleen Givens of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by seven brothers, Lloyd, Cletus, Woodrow, Clemmer, Cleo, Milo and Marvin DeJournett.

Friends may visit on Wednesday, December 17, 2014, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Graveside funeral services will be held Thursday, December 18, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with the Rev. Kenneth Biggs of Dexter, Missouri officiating.

Interment with be in the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in 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

J. C. Bissel, son of the late Guy and Minnie Ross Bissel, was born on May 25, 1928, in Newport, Arkansas and passed away at the Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau on December 14, 2014, at the age of 86 years, 6 months and 19 days.

He had been a resident of Southeast Missouri all his life, living in Portageville, Sikeston and New Madrid before making his home in Parma many years ago. He had worked as a farm hand and at Noranda.

He is survived by one son, Jeff Bissel of  Dexter, Missouri; one daughter, Jamie Tindle of Lilbourn, Missouri; his best friend, Carolyn J. Hillis of Parma, Missouri and one sister, Hazel Swindel of Lilbourn. Many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by one brother, Earl Bissel and two sisters, Ella Mae Bissel and Dora Bissel.

Friends may visit Tuesday, December 16, 2014, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Parma, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 17, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Parma, Missouri with the Rev. Frank Townsend of Parma, Missouri officiating.

Interment with be in the Bernie Cemetery in Bernie, 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