Martha Mae Palmer, daughter of the late Leslie Spence Day and Ethelyn Dillingham Day was born on January 1, 1928 in Rural Dexter and went to be with Jesus on January 23, 2015 at the Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau at the age of 87.
She was born a New Year’s baby in the year of 1928. She liked to say that it was so cold that night the calves’ tails froze off. She was raised in a Christ centered home in Dexter and she remained in her beliefs in Christ and the love of small town bonds. Mrs. Palmer graduated valedictorian of her class. Mrs. Palmer met her husband on a Greyhound bus while traveling to college. It was love at first sight that lasted sixty-eight years of holy matrimony.
Mrs. Palmer had many interests during her lifetime. She loved working in her flower gardens and yard, cooking, crocheting, sewing, and loved preparing home cooked meals for her family and friends. She loved traveling with her husband as snowbirds and living the RV life as well as visiting her family in Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee.
Mrs. Palmer was a child of the most high God, and a lover of the scripture Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. She learned about the love of Christ Jesus early on in the First United Methodist Church and she remained in this faith, where for many years, she dedicated her life to the children’s choir, the bell choir, United Methodist Women, and making sure her children all came to know and love our Heavenly Father. She shared her faith with many loving friends and family members. She later joined the Second General Baptist Church, now called The Risen Church in Dexter, where she found comfort in the message, and being washed in the blood of Jesus Christ.
On September 17, 1946 she was united in marriage to Dr. Leonard Palmer in Dexter. Dr. Palmer survives of their home in Dexter.
Besides her husband she is survived by her three children, Linda Palmer Cox of Dexter, Len and wife Marty Palmer of Crystal River, Florida and Pam and husband Cary Ivins of Hermosa, South Dakota; by three grandchildren, Leonard Palmer III, Bart Cox and Amanda Agnitsch; by eight great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; and by many faithful friends and relatives.
Besides her parents she was preceded in death by one sister, Barbara Jane Tardiff and by one grandchild, John Jeffrey Cox.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, January 26, 2015 from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, January 26, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Steve Tippen officiating.
Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
Fred Wethington, son of the late Hudson and Bertha Condict Wethington was born on November 9, 1932 in Clines Island and departed this life on January 21, 2015 at his residence in Bloomfield at the age of 82.
Mr. Wethington was a Veteran of the United States Navy serving in the Korean War. After a four-year tour in the Navy, Fred and Shirley moved back to Essex, where Fred was a partner with Shirley’s stepfather in a farming operation.
After he quit farming, they moved to Bloomfield, where they owned and operated two businesses: “Wethington Tire” and “Wethington Lime and Fertilizer”. Fred was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Bloomfield.
On January 21, 1956 Fred was united in marriage to Shirley Bennett in Hernando, Mississippi. Mrs. Wethington survives of their home in Bloomfield.
Besides his wife he is survived by two sons and daughters in law, Tom and Tonya Wethington of Bloomfield and Mark and Billy Wethington of Bloomfield; by three brothers, David Wethington of Arlington, Texas, Don Wethington of Bloomfield, M.B. Wethington of Sikeston; by one sister, Linda Curtis of Dexter and by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Besides his parents he was preceded in death by four brothers, Glen Wethington, Paul Wethington, Russ Wethington, and Elzie Wethington, and by one sister Pauline Clanton.
A graveside memorial service will be conducted on Friday, January 23, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with Rev. Alice Fowler officiating.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
Betty Doris Edwards, daughter of the late Everett and Verdie Trammell, was born on October 7, 1931 in Dexter and departed this life on January 17, 2015 at Golden Living Center in Bloomfield at the age of 83.
Mrs. Edwards was a member of the St. Joe General Baptist Church in Bloomfield. She had worked as a CNA at the Bloomfield Convalescent Home and was a resident of Bloomfield.
On March 18, 1950, she was united in marriage to Ernest Edwards, Jr. in Piggott, Arkansas. Mr. Edwards preceded her in death on December 19, 1999.
She is survived by one son, Calvin Edwards and wife Johnna of Bloomfield; by one daughter, Debbie Massey and husband John of Bloomfield; by one brother, Byron Trammell of Washington State; by two sisters, Patty Dean of Portland, Oregon and Thelma Haynes of Doe Run, Missouri; and by five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Rose Ella Parks.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, January 24, 2015 from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
A memorial service will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. with Rev. Greg Stevens officiating.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that all donations be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 60 East 56th Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10022. Envelopes will be provided at the funeral home.
Chris Huls, son of Bonnie Lea Adkins Huls of Dexter and the late Cecil F. Huls, was born on March 13, 1960 in St. Louis, Missouri and departed this life on January 19, 2015 at his residence in Dexter at the age of 54.
Mr. Huls worked for Mid-South Paint and Drywall in Dexter for nineteen years. He was an avid fisherman, hunter and outdoorsman.
On September 28, 1991, he was united in marriage to Kelly Davis in Dexter. Mrs. Huls survives of the home.
In addition to his wife and mother, he is survived by two daughters, Hannah Diane Huls and Halli Marie Huls, both of Dexter; and by one sister, Millie Pruett of Monroe, Wisconsin.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, January 22, 2015 from 5:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Friday, January 23, 3015 at 10:00 A.M. with Rev. Greg McGhee officiating.
Interment will follow in Triplett Cemetery
Donald lived in Essex most of his life. He had worked at Tyson's Food and retired from there in 2003.
On January 4, 1975, he was married to Vera March in Essex, Missouri. She survives in the home.
Surviving are his wife, Vera Sanders of Essex, Missouri; four sons, David March of Dexter, Missouri, Donald Volz of Essex, Missouri, Timothy Sanders of Sikeston, Missouri, and Chad Sanders of East Prairie, Missouri; two daughters, Chastity Walley of Essex, Missouri and Brittany Johnson of Bell City, Missouri; twenty grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and two brothers, Doyle and Roy Sanders of Essex, Missouri. Many other relatives and friends also survive.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, James Sanders, Charles Sanders, and Elmer Junior Sanders; and five sisters, Martha DeSmyther, Wilma Alberson, Mildred William, Geraldine Duncan, and Anna Sanders.
Friends may call on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.
Services will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2015, at 11:00 AM at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter with Pastor James Malloy of Essex, Missouri, officiating. Interment will be in the Essex Cemetery in Essex, Missouri, with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri, in charge of arrangements.
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
