On July 17, 1946 she and Billy Bennett united in marriage in the Assembly of God church, To this union was born four children, Cynthia, Stephen, Vivian and Eddie.
She lived her early life in rural Stoddard County attending Acorn Ridge and Bloomfield schools and finishing high school at Normandy high school in St. Louis with the class of 1944.
She spent most of her adult life in Puxico where she had been a member of the Life Chapel Assembly of God. She also lived in Dodge City, Kansas, Cape Girardeau and Advance Missouri and was a member of Advance First Assembly of God.
She worked in retail sales and in nursing homes.
She is survived by her children, Cynthia Keene (Dave) of Brownwood, Missouri, Stephen Bennett (Bambi) of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, reverend Eddie Bennett (Debbie) Park Hills, Missouri; One brother Carrol Green of Overland Park, Kansas; One sister, Cheryl Gilgas (Ralph); nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren and seven great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, one son, Bradley Reddick and one great-grandson Benjamin Bennett.
Visitation will be Wednesday, September 30, at 6 PM in the Morgan Sifford funeral home Chapel and the funeral will be conducted Thursday, October 1, 2015 at 11 AM also in the chapel. Interment will follow in the Puxico city Cemetery.
Howard Newton Hopkins, son of the late Rube Hopkins and Carrie Glenn Hopkins was born on December 21, 1931 near Bloomfield and departed this life in the Crowley Ridge Care Center at Dexter on September 26, 2015 at the age of 83.
Mr. Hopkins was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Bloomfield, where he had drove the church bus, was a veteran of the United States Army serving in the Korean War, had served eight years in the United States Army Reserve, was a farmer and resident of Bloomfield.
He was united in marriage to Arlene Potter Hopkins on February 25, 1967 at Bloomfield. Mrs. Hopkins survives of the home in Bloomfield.
Besides his wife, he is survived by three step-children and their spouses, Lannis and Earl Hancock of House Springs, Gail and Lynnie Cookson Puxico and Mark Hopkins and Lorayni Weiche of Kingman, Arizona: by eight grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Robert Hopkins and by one sister, Ruby Hopkins Launius.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from Noon-2:00 P.M., Thursday, October 1, 2015.
Funeral services will then be conducted at 2:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Ron Dunavin officiating.,
Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield.
Ola Kelley, daughter of the late John Hill and Etta Lou Ann Wiley Hill was born on May 20, 1923 in Morrilton, Arkansas and departed this life on September 28, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Health Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri at the age of 92 years.
Mrs. Kelley was a retired employee of Richland Public School, 60 year member of the Essex Church of Christ, and a resident of Essex, Missouri. Mrs. Kelley loved to cook and spend time with her children and grandchildren.
On December 23, 1939 she was united in marriage to James Norman Kelley in Sikeston, Missouri. Mr. Kelley preceded her in death on July 3, 2003.
Survivors include two sons, Billy Kelley and Allen Kelley both of Essex, Missouri; by four daughters, Judy Armstrong of Clarksville, Tennessee, Paula Byrd of Sikeston, Missouri, Pam Woosley and Regina Kelley Martin of Essex, Missouri; one sister Emagine Dollar of Sikeston, Missouri; by ten grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and many great-great-grandchildren; also by a special niece, Larita Ulmar of Sikeston, Missouri
Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Jerry Kelley; by three brothers and by three sisters.
Gravesides service will be conducted on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 in the Essex Cemetery with Pastor Herman Morris officiating.
Interment will follow in the Essex Cemetery.
Wanda's family moved from Risco to Puxico when she was in the 8th grade, and she graduated from Puxico High School in 1946.
Wanda was united in marriage to Gerald E. Jackson on May 18, 1946, in Piggott, Arkansas. She was very much involved in their farming and dairy operation in Aid, MO while also working as a seamstress at Elder's Manufacturing in Bloomfield and Dexter for over twenty years.
Upon retiring from farming, she and Gerald moved to Dexter in 1991.
Wanda was a former member of the Liberty Hill General Baptist Church, Aid, MO and a current member of the Risen Church in Dexter, MO.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Gerald, of 69 years. Also surviving is her daughter, Barbara Duckworth (Clinton), Dexter, MO; her sons, Ken Jackson (Jamie), Dexter, MO, and Mark Jackson (Kim), Bloomfield, MO; nine grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, Blanche Lee, Higginsville, MO.
Wanda was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Winfred Woolard and Raymond Woolard; and a son, Ron Jackson.
Wanda was devoted in raising their four children, attending activities of her grandchildren, and supporting her church. She took great pride in cultivating large gardens and sharing her delicious fried chicken, cheeseburgers with home-grown tomatoes and onions, and homemade pies with her family and friends.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Sunday, September 27, 2015 from NOON until 2:00 P.M.
Funeral services will follow on Sunday at 2:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in the Harper Cemetery in Aid, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Stoddard County Children's Home in Bloomfield, MO, the Dexter Oaks Nutrition Center in Dexter, MO or the charity of your choice.
Freda Jennings, daughter of the late Pera and Bertie Bollinger Hickerson, was born near Bell City, Missouri on November 12, 1913, and passed away at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter, Missouri on September 24, 2015, at the age of 101 years,
10 months and 12 days.
She had lived in the Bloomfield area all of her life. She was a charter member of the
First General Baptist Church in Bloomfield.
On November 30, 1930, she was married to Charles A. Jennings in Illinois. He preceded her in death on September 4, 1997.
Surviving are two daughters and husbands, Shirley & Judson Hutchison of Bloomfield, Brenda & Steve Torbet of Sikeston; two sons and wives, Ray & Margaret Jennings of Cape Girardeau, Larry & Betty Jennings of Sherman, Texas; 9 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren, 13 great great grandchildren; and one half-brother, Joe Thomas Jennings of St. Louis, Missouri. Other relatives and friends also survive.
She was preceded in death by one son, Charles Willis Jennings, one grandson, Randall Hutchison, one granddaughter, Cynthia Bergner, two brothers and four sisters.
Friends may visit on Saturday, September 26, 2015, after 10:00 a.m. at the Bloomfield General Baptist Church in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Funeral services will be on Saturday, September 26, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bloomfield General Baptist Church in Bloomfield with the Rev. Ronnie Stevens of Bloomfield officiating.
Interment will follow at the Walker Cemetery in Bloomfield 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
