Mr. Shanks celebration of life and funeral service will be Thursday morning, April 16, 2015, at 11 a.m., at the First Baptist Church of Bloomfield.
His family will receive friends at the church at 9:00 a.m., until service time. Rev. Jim Matthews will officiate with Rev. Jerry Darby assisting. Burial will follow at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Mr. Shanks was a World War II veteran and served under General Patton's 3rd Army.
He married his love of over 69 years, Connie Fesmire, on December 22, 1945, in Blytheville, Arkansas.
Mr. Shanks retired from SEMO Electric as a lineman. He was a longtime faithful and active member of the First Baptist Church in Bloomfield. He was an active member of the American Legion in Bloomfield. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and gardening. His grandchildren affectionately called him Papaw while his great grandchildren lovingly called him Old Papaw. His life was his family and he always had the time to teach them to fish.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Maudie Jane Page Shanks; three sisters, Catherine Boswell, Billie Whittle, and Marray Jo Rakestraw of Sikeston, Missouri.
John is survived by his wife, Connie Shanks of Bloomfield; a daughter and son-in-law, Brenda and Tony Burdine of Bloomfiled; a son and daughter-in-law, John and Mary Shanks of San Antonio, Texas; six grandchildren, Anthony Shanks of Akron, Ohio, Beth Bradford of Flower Mound, Texas, Shelley Prevost of Chattanooga, Tennessee, T.J. Burdine of Franklin, Tennessee, John Jeffery Shanks of San Antonio, Texas, and Mary Jane Shanks of San Antonio, Texas; thirteen great grandchildren; one brother, Charles "Chick" Shanks of Sikeston, Missouri; and one sister, Wanda Ford of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Many other relatives and friends also survive.
The Shanks family would like to thank the staff of 4 Oaks Hospice of Dexter, his doctor, Dr. Joyce Reed and her nurse Kay for all the loving care shown to their father, and also to Watkins & Sons Funeral Service Staff in Dexter for all of their loving kindness.
Pallbearers will be Mr. Shanks' grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may also be made in loving memory of John Shanks to First Baptist Church of Bloomfield.
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Geraldine L. Pyle, daughter of the late Lloyal Cooper and Dawsey McMillion Cooper was born on March 10, 1929 in rural Bernie, Missouri and departed this life on April 10, 2015 at the Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 86 years.
Mrs. Pyle was a member of the Bernie Church of Christ. She retired from Elders Manufacturing in Dexter and was a resident of Dexter.
On January 2, 1946 she was united in marriage to Charley “Pete” Pyle in Malden, Missouri. Mr. Pyle preceded her in death on September 17, 2007.
Survivors include two sons, Junior Ray Pyle and Michael D. Pyle of Dexter; two daughters, Etta Jean Ross and Karen Forkum of Dexter; by four brothers, Travis Cooper of Bernie, Missouri, Billie Cooper of Dexter, Ardie Cooper of Junction City, Kansas, and Roger Cooper of Bernie; by four sisters, Darlene McGowen and Betty Thurston both of Bernie, Cora Coker of Republic, Missouri, and Janet Wood of Malden, Missouri; by thirteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.
Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Rev. Don Cooper; one sister, Gloriaetta Beaird; and by one granddaughter, Michelle Bollinger.
Friends may call from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Monday April 13, 2015 at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.
Funeral service will be conducted on Tuesday April 14, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter with Brother Stan Dauck and Rev. Floyd Pyle officiating.
Interment will follow at the Chalk Bluff Cemetery in Dexter.
She had lived in Bloomfield most of her life.
In 1948 she was married to Edward Dallas McRoy. He preceded her in death on November 16, 2011.
Surviving are one son and daughter in law, Dallas and Linda McRoy of Bloomfield; two daughters, Teresa Barnes and Darlene Bowling both of Bloomfield; six grandchildren, Jimmy Wilson of Dexter, Brian Bowling, Corey McRoy and Mellisa Gigaroa all of Bloomfield, Kelsey Collins of New Milford, Connecticut and Christy Hutchison of Bernie; one granddaughter in law, Amby Barnes of Bloomfield; and nine great grandchildren; two brothers, Ralph Becraft of Carlisle, Illinois, Larry Becraft of St. Louis, Missouri; four sisters, Mary Beyer of Bloomfield, Martha Espey of Carlisle, Illinois, Marilyn Gilliam and Sheila Sandage both of Dexter. Other relatives and friends also survive.
She was preceded in death by a grandson, Billy Barnes, one great-grandson, Jeremy Tyre Wilson; one sister, Rev. Patricia Sue Smith; and two brothers, Donnie and James Rodney Becraft.
Friends may visit on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, after 11:30 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Graveside services will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the Walker Cemetery near Bloomfield with Andy Gilliam officiating with interment to follow with Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home of Bloomfield, Missouri in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home - Bloomfield
573 568 4500
He had lived in Michigan form many years and moved to Parma 25 years ago. He had worked as a line supervisor at a corrugated box manufacturing plant.
In 1957 he was married to Irene Baxter in Tennessee. She preceded him in death on June 12, 1978. He was a veteran of the U. S. Army and served during the Korean Conflict.
Surviving are one son, George Suiter of Parma, Missouri; three daughters, Tammy Martin, Cindy Payne and Mary Mims all of Parma, Missouri; eight grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; one brother, Joe Suiter; one sister, Martha Madgalene; six nieces, and seven nephews. Many other relatives and friends also survive.
He was preceded in death by one son, Michael Young; one brother, Joe Edward Suiter; and one sister, Martha Mitchell.
Friends may call on Monday April 13, 2015, after 9:30 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Services will be held on Monday, April 13, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter with Dr. Eddie Hollis of Vienna, Illinois officiating.
Interment will be in the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Parma, Missouri, in charge of arrangements.
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
George W. Flanigan, son of the late Oak Flanigan and Effie Fite Flanigan, was born on September 10, 1925 in Carbondale, Illinois and departed this life on April 8, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Hospital in Poplar Bluff at the age of 89.
Mr. Flanigan was a member of the Friendship Baptist Church in Dexter. He had worked as a truck driver and was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving in World War II and the Korean War.
On September 2, 1976, he was united in marriage to Berneice Souders in Sikeston, Missouri. Mrs. Flanigan survives of the home.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Mike Flanigan and his wife Dana of Marion, Illinois and Keith Flanigan and his wife Bunny of Tovey, Illinois; by one step-son, Albert Cottonaro and his wife Jean Ann of Lake Egypt, Illinois; by one brother, Jake Flanigan of Carbondale, Illinois; by one granddaughter, Patty Dawson and her husband Matt; and by two great-grandchildren, Dakota and Dillon Dawson.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Earl Flanigan.
A graveside service will be conducted at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield on Monday, April 13. 2015 at 10:00 A.M. with Rev. Lonny Mittag officiating.
Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery with full military honors. Arrangement are being handled by the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73123-1718.
