Jerry Dean Noyes, son of the late Lincoln James Noyes and Bessie Bowman Noyes, was born on July 17, 1937 in Parma, Missouri and departed this life on December 17, 2015 at Golden Living Center in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 78.
Mr. Noyes was a member of the New Life Pentecostal Church in Bernie. He was a former lineworker for General Motors in Kansas City, Missouri and was a resident of Dexter, formerly of Bernie.
He is survived by one niece, Yolanda Murphy of Florida; and by several cousins, Harvey Noyes, Frank Noyes, Carol Meadows, Pam Niederstadt, and David Noyes.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers in infancy and by two sisters, Faye Noyes and Dixie Murphy.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. on Monday, December 21, 2015.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, December 21, 2015 in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie with Rev. Frank Noyes officiating.
Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie, Missouri.
Mamie Elizabeth “Libby” McNew, daughter of the late Clyde Vincent and Mamie Etta Passley Vincent, was born on August 4, 1952 in Wyatt, Missouri and departed this life on December 18, 2015 at SoutheastHEALTH in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 63.
Mrs. McNew was a resident of Dexter and had worked as a Certified Nurse’s Aide at Green Meadows Retirement Home in Sikeston, Missouri and was a homemaker.
On November 26, 1983, she was united in marriage to John Benton McNew in Dexter, Missouri. Mr. McNew survives of the home.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Paula Seachrist and Vicki Foster, both of Dexter, Missouri; by one brother, Luther Ray Vincent of Dexter, Missouri; by two sisters, Paula Carlene Grubbs of Dexter, Missouri and Pearl Marie Morlan of Corning, Arkansas; and by eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Robert Dale Foster; by one brother, Clyde Vincent; and by two sisters, Margie Sue Thurston and Faye Vincent.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, December 21, 2015 from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Monday, December 21, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. with Rev. James Hagy officiating.
Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Former Missouri state representative and Mississippi County court judge, Frederick William "Fred" DeField, age 90, died Monday, December 14, 2015, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.
Fred was a native to Southeast Missouri, born June 1, 1925 in Bertrand, Missouri to the late Edward David and Etna Hay DeField. Though successful in every career he pursued, most notably in politics, Fred was best known for his humor, spirit of adventure, and ability to tell a story that could quiet a room. He often told his grandchildren about his days of train hopping as a youth, riding the rails with the vagabonds in order to sign up to serve his country in the Navy. Though he was turned away for being underage (a few times), Fred’s stubborn persistence to serve—a trait that defined his political success and passion for public service for over fifty years—eventually triumphed. During the dark days of World War 2, he joined the Navy at only 17 years old.
Initially assigned to a naval infantry brigade, Lion 4, he was later attached to a mine warfare detachment producing sea mines to drop off the coast of Japan. After an explosion at the mine facility killed 33 men and obliterated the facility, Fred was given an engineering assignment on the Island of Tinian. During his tenure on Tinian he personally saw both the Enola Gay and Boxcar leave and return on their assignment to drop the atomic bombs on Japan.
On January 1, 1946 while still on Tinian over 100 Japanese soldiers, who had just learned that the war was over, came down from the mountains and surrendered to the first American soldier they saw - Fred DeField. The surrender, however, was interrupting Fred’s New Year’s festivities, so he promptly directed them on to headquarters. The incident was written up in the Stars and Stripes newsletter.
After Tinian, Fred was assigned to the Estes, the command ship of the Iwo Jima campaign. During his tenure on the Estes, the ship was assigned to the Atomic energy commission for atomic testing in the Pacific, taking part in over 10 atomic testings culminating in the testing of the first hydrogen bomb.
Later, Fred served on the Estes as it was docked in Saigon in the early days of the Vietnam campaign. In 1961, he played a role in the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba by taking a landing craft from Key West to Cuba and landing Cuban mercenaries on the beach in Cuba.
In 1968, Fred completed a life-long dream of entering politics. That year he ran for and was elected representative of the 160th district of Missouri (which encompassed Charleston and East Prairie). He served 12 years in that position until his appointment as Missouri Director of Farmers Home Administration, a U.S. government agency dedicated to extending credit for agriculture and rural development.
After Fred’s tenure at Farmers Home, he returned back to Charleston where he was elected Presiding Judge of the County Court. He served in that position for 3 terms. His passion for politics kept him active in the Democratic party for years.
In addition to being the great patriarch of the DeField family, he was selected Charleston’s Man of the Year in 2010 for his leadership in the Charleston community. As leader of Boy Scout Troop #33 for a number of years, Fred mentored hundreds of young boys in their transition from youth to manhood. Many of which refer to him as a father today. Ever the adventurer, Fred enjoyed traveling with his family, particularly to national historic sites and National Parks. Fred loved working on his farm in southern Illinois, which kept him active to the end.
On November 13, 1955 he married Dorothy Lee Bryant who preceded him in death on October 10, 2012.
He is survived by: his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Robert and Lynda DeField of Marathon, FL; daughter, Lee DeField Fraley of Sikeston; two grandsons: Rick Slaughter and his wife Tracy of Orlando, FL and Zach Fraley of Denver, CO; one granddaughter, Andrea DeField, Esq. of Miami, FL; and three great-granddaughters: McKenzie Slaughter of East Prairie, and Logan and Mikayla Slaughter of Orlando, FL; also of great help and comfort to him in his final years was his strong friendship with Sandy Harvey. Fred is survived also by his wonderful extended family and friends throughout Missouri.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by one son, Bryant DeField, one grandson, Scott Slaughter; three brothers, Edward DeField, Bruce DeField, and Gerald H. DeField; and one sister, Mildred Ruth DeField Gilmore.
Fred’s life was defined by service, humor, leadership, and congeniality - all qualities which will live on in the lives he touched and characters he molded.
Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, December 18, 2015 at the McMikle Funeral Home.
Visitation will resume at Noon, Saturday, December 19, 2015, and continue until the funeral hour at 1:00 p.m., at the United Methodist Church in Charleston. Rev. David Collum, pastor, will officiate.
Interment will follow at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery near Charleston with full military rites provided by the United States Navy and the Missouri Military Honors Program.
Pallbearers will be: George Gilmore, Marvin Gilmore, Bruce DeField, Dan DeField, G.W. Gilmore and Billy French.
The family requests memorials be made to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142 Memphis, TN 38101-9980
United Methodist Church P.O. Box 351 Charleston, MO 63834
He had lived in Puxico, Missouri for many years.
He had been a minister, pastoring at Walker General Baptist Church for fourteen years and at the Taylor General Baptist Church the past nineteen and a half years and was a member of the Calvary's Way Association. He had been an auctioneer and was a member of the Auctioneers Association in Missouri and Arkansas. He had a love for fishing, playing his guitar, gospel music and especially loved spending time with his family.
On March 10, 1961, he was married to Wilma Baker in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Surviving are his wife, Wilma Pennington of Puxico; one son, Jerry Lee, Jr. and Susan Pittman of Puxico, Missouri; four daughters, Belinda & William McCormick and Ella & Steve Sperino all of Puxico, Paula & Terry Hester and Mary Ashley & Justin Hockersmith all of Dexter; eleven grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; two brothers, Bill & Christine Pennington of Bloomfield, Jasper Pennington of Dexter; two sisters, Darlene Willard of Puxico and Deloris Phillips of Dexter.
Visitation will be held on Monday December 14, 2015, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.
Funeral services will be Tuesday December 15, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with Rev. Ray Placher of Puxico, Missouri officiating.
Interment will follow in the Walker Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.
Margaret Cox daughter of the late P.D. Allen and Ilah Oberbey Allen was born on June 21, 1926 in Lamar, Arkansas and departed this life on December 9, 2015 at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter at the age of 89.
Mrs. Cox was a member of the Dexter Church of Christ and a resident of Dexter. She had worked at the Collier Company as a licensed real estate agent before retiring.
On November 25, 1972 she was united in marriage to Paul Bland Cox in Dexter. Mr. Cox preceded her in death on August 22, 2011.
She is survived by one son, Ron and his wife Nora Hardin of Dexter; by three daughters, Carolyn and her husband Jim Bowling of Puxico, Patricia Burge of Poplar Bluff and Karen and her husband Gary Blocker of Poplar Bluff; by seven grandchildren, Tonya Pride, Scott and wife Jennifer Bowling, Misty and husband Michael Wiseman, Cory and wife Stacy Blocker, Justin Hardin, Emilee Young and Sarah Kingree; by sixteen great grandchildren; one great-great grandson; by one brother, Larry Allen of Las Vegas, Nevada; by one step-son, Ronald Lee Cox of Branson, Missouri and by one step-daughter, Connie and husband Willard Bean of Jefferson City, Missouri.
Besides her husband and parents she was preceded in death by three brothers, Harold Dean Allen, D.F. Allen and John Allen, and by one sister, Billie Jean Allen.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, December 12, 2015 from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Stan Dauck officiating.
Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family requests all memorials be made to the Stoddard County Children’s Home, P.O. Box 164, Dexter, Missouri 63841.
