Shirla Jean Rathjen Howard daughter of the late Fred Rathjen and Melba Noland Rathjen was born on June 27, 1935 in Gouldbusk, Texas and departed this life on June 17, 2015 at the Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County at the age of 79.

Mrs. Howard was an avid Democrat; she was a board member of the Missouri Federated Democratic Woman’s Club, served as secretary for the State Democratic Party and had received the Bess Truman Award.

She got her start in the Democratic Party by helping Lyndon B. Johnson during his Presidential campaign in Texas. After attending Sam Houston University she was employed at MD Anderson in their lab. Her family will remember her as a ladies lady, witty, with a passion for animals, reading, genealogy, history and photography.

She was united in marriage to Jerry Thomas Howard on July 14, 1973 in Thayer, Missouri. Mr. Howard survives of their home in Dexter.

Besides her husband she is survived by two sons, Dr. Michael Penney and wife Karen of Poplar Bluff and WPH McFaddin IV of Hardy, Arkansas; by one daughter, Erin Diane Penney-Wooden and husband Jeff of Willard, Missouri; by one step-son, John Trevor Howard and wife Leanna of St. Louis, Missouri; by one step-daughter, Eliza Jane Winfrey and husband Alan of Memphis, Tennessee; by six grandchildren, P.J. McFaddin, Cody McFaddin, Brody McFaddin, Jagger McFaddin, Michael Penney Jr. and Caroline Penney and by four step-grandchildren, Adam Winfrey, Tyler Winfrey, Joseph Howard and Amelia Howard.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Sunday, June 21, 2015 from Noon until 2:00 P.M.

Funeral services will then be conducted on Sunday, June 21, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Dr. Barry Winders officiating.

A private grave-side service will be conducted at a later date.

Ruby Jane Allen, 66 of Puxico, Missouri died June 15, 2015 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in Saint Louis, Missouri. She was surrounded by those closest to her at the end of a battle with cancer.

Born on January 31, 1949 in Piggott, Arkansas to L. D. And Ruby Eskew. She and her two sisters, Joyce and Janet were raised lovingly, taught the values of hard work, compassion and commitment. The family moved to Puxico in 1962. They farmed, raised cattle and became ingrained in a close knit community which remained dear to her heart. Jane's mother was a beautician and she became one as well.

She married Elbert M. Fox in 1968 and gave birth to one son, Jefferson Fox in 1972. The marriage did not endure that mutual love for their son and granddaughters allowed them to remain friends all of her life.

On February 20, 1976 Jane married Michael Ellsworth Allen of Puxico, Missouri and together they had one daughter Kelly Renée Allen (Marconyak). she also loved dearly my son, Douglas Allen from a previous marriage. The two devoted their lives to each other and raisin their children well. They traveled extensively while Mike worked as a pilot for the United States Army, returning to Puxico in 1997.

Jane was an avid volunteer, sports enthusiast, active member of Brown General Baptist Church and caregiver both professionally and privately. She worked at Pinelawn residential care in Puxico until her own mother's care became her primary duty. She came to the rescue of those in need. She learned the candle at both ends. She loved deeply and she forgave. She was outgoing and made lifelong friends everywhere she went. She stayed in touch with those people and truly appreciated every opportunity to be with them. She was a best friend to many.

She is survived by her mother, Ruby Eskew, her husband Michael Alan; her son Jefferson (Sharon) Fox; her daughter Kelly (Jaison) Marconyak; her stepson Doug (Bernice) Allen; grandchildren, Andie and Zie Fox, Lucy and Kelson Marconyak, Grace and Rebecca Allen and her sister Joyce Stahl.

She is preceded in death by her father, L.D. Eskew and her sister Janet Mason, she love them both dearly.

Friends may call upon the family at the Morgan Sifford funeral home on Friday June 19, 2015. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, June 20, 2015 at 11:00 AM at the Brown General Baptist Church with the Reverend Ray Placher and John Buttry officiating.

Burial will be in the Brown General Baptist Church cemetery adjacent to the church.

Bobby Lee Brown was born October 28, 1925, Bobby Lee Brown was raised on Crowleys Ridge.

In 1944 he married the love of his life, Jacqueline Jones. He enlisted in the Army air Corps becoming a pilot and later a test pilot. Upon returning from World War II, he and Jackie raised their family on the farm in Dexter, Missouri.

Later he became an Agri-Executive with MFA. Through his devotion to God and community, Bob served as lay minister and later as an elder and a member of the Missouri Synod in the Presbyterian Church.
Upon retiring to Lake Wappapello, he and Jackie join the united Methodist church, founding the churches food pantry supporting those in need.

Born of love of family, he was taking home through perfect love on June 15, 2015.

Bob is preceded in death by his wife, Jacqueline Brown and sister, Vivian Adkins.

He is survived by his brother, Jerry Brown and wife Beverly of Dexter; his daughter Barbara Lynn Lettington and her husband Harold of Wappapello; cousins, Jim Adkins and wife Geri and Judy Gregory; and grandchildren, Amy Elise Tanner and husband John of Memphis, Tennessee, and Brady Devlin Tanner and wife Alyssa of Memphis, Tennessee.

In Lieu of flowers, the family request donations to be made to the food pantry at the united Methodist Church in Wappapello, Missouri.

Visitation will begin Friday at The Morgan Sifford funeral home beginning at 10:00 AM and the funeral service will follow at 11 AM.

Officiating the service will be Reverend Catherine Bryant. Interment will be in the Smith Stevenson Cemetery near Pyletown, Missouri.

Elzora Robey, daughter of the late John Davenport and Mamie Ellis Davenport, was born on July 18, 1926 in Bertrand, Missouri and departed this life on January 24, 2015 at North Village Park Care Center in Moberly, Missouri at the age of 88.

Mrs. Robey had worked in nursing and was a former resident of Dexter.

On September 11, 1944, she was united in marriage to Tom Robey in Corning, Arkansas.  Mr. Robey preceded her in death on February 4, 2000.

She is survived by one son, Thomas Robey and wife Martha of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; by one daughter, Alma Wilson and husband Earl of Cairo, Missouri; by four granddaughters, Kim Scott, Michelle Eads, Celeste Weast and Scottie Fox; by three grandsons, Matthew Eads, Max Schiltz and Jesse Schiltz; by eighteen great-grandchildren; by one great-great-grandson; and by one brother-in-law, Bill Robey and wife Janette of St. Louis.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one daughter and son-in-law, Lou Ella and Leslie Schisler; by two brothers, G. W. Davenport and James Davenport; by twelve sisters, Beatrice Moody, Louise Strickland, Lorene Stancil, Edna Berry, Pauline Davenport, Alla Mae Davenport, Roxie Beyerbach, Nora Lou Taylor, Dorothy Russell, Jo Alma Comstock, Mary Lucille Davenport and Melba Jean Davenport; and by two grandchildren.

A graveside service will be conducted on Sunday, June 28, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. at Walker Cemetery in rural Bloomfield.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.