Gary E. Launius, son of the late Ervin “Nub” Launius and Ruby June Hopkins Launius, was born on September 24, 1944 in Bloomfield, Missouri and departed this life on December 28, 2015 at his residence in Bloomfield at the age of 71.
Mr. Launius had worked as the manager of three grocery stores, Big Star, Piggly Wiggly and Swindles in Dexter and Poplar Bluff and was a veteran of the United States Army serving during the Vietnam Era.
Gary had many hobbies in his life. He loved to hunt, fish and ride speed horses in his earlier years and was a member of the Big River Appaloosa Horse Association. He and his beloved horse, Popo, won many events and qualified for the world playoffs in 1977. He shared his love of horses, hunting and fishing with his family especially his grandkids, Kyle and Josey. He was their biggest fan whether at Kyle's baseball games or Josey's barrel races. Later he was known as the Watermelon King in Bloomfield. He enjoyed being out and meeting new people doing this until his health began to fail him. He always had a big smile and hat to boot.
On November 3, 1979, he was united in marriage to Elaine Robinson in Dexter, Missouri. Mrs. Launius survives of the home.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Rhonda and her husband Eric Causey and Cody Lynne and her husband Randy Marshall, all of Bloomfield, Missouri; by two brothers, Larry Launius and Glenn Launius, both of Dexter; by two sisters, Ann Edwards of Bloomfield and June Stoker of Dexter; and by two grandchildren, Kyle Causey and Josey McMillan
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Rebecca Elaine Robinson and by one brother, Gail Launius.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. with Rev. Ronnie Stevens officiating.
Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Edward D. Pry of Bloomfield, son of the late Edgar William and Dollie Steward Pry, was born in Flint, Michigan on September 20, 1929, and passed away at his home near Bloomfield, Missouri on December 25, 2015, at the age of 86 years, 3 months and 5 days.
He had lived in Michigan where he had worked as a meat cutter for the A & P Supermarkets and then was a car inspector with General Motors when he retired. He moved back to Bloomfield in 1989. He was a member of the Jehovah Witnesses and had served in the U. S. Army during the Korean Conflict.
On September 1, 1955, he married Melba Jean Gordon in Hernando, Mississippi.
Surviving are his wife, Melba J. Pry of Bloomfield, Missouri; four sons, Jerry Norman of Lansing, Michigan, Dennis L. Pry of Chadron, Nebraska, Steve Pry of Atlanta, Georgia, Kevin W. Pry of Chehalis, Washington; 6 grandchildren; and one great granddaughter. Other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bob Link and Richard Pry; and one sister, Marcella Bowman.
Friends may visit on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, after 10:00 a.m. at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Funeral services will be on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield.
Private interment will follow at the Oak Ridge Cemetery near Bloomfield with Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home of Bloomfield, Missouri in charge of arrangements.
Cassandra A. Breece, daughter of the late Arzie & Bertie Barnett Baldwin, was born in Charter Oak, Missouri on May 7, 1943, and passed away at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau on December 24, 2015, at the age of 72 years, 7 months and 7 days.
Mrs. Breece had lived most of her life in the Jackson, Missouri, area. She was a licensed beautician and was a member of the Methodist Church. She enjoyed collecting bears and loved flowers.
On July 18, 1959 she was married to Randal O. Breece in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Surviving are her husband, Randal O. Breece of Jackson, Missouri; one daughter & husband, Teresa Robin & Gene King of Jackson, Missouri; and two brothers, Bill Baldwin, Sr. of Charter Oak, Missouri and Rick Baldwin of Puxico, Missouri. Many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Christopher Randal and Eric Wayne Brown; five brothers, Albert, Arzie Jr., Rawleigh, Harold & Ron Baldwin; and two sisters, Pauline Pannebecker and Mary Swinger.
Friends may call from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 29, 2015, at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 29, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri with Rev. Ronnie Ledbetter of Essex officiating.
Interment will follow in the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri. Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri in charge of all arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the Larry B. Jones H.O.P.E. Campaign (Celebrating Healing, Optimism, Prayer and Example), 23875 ST HWY BB, Bloomfield, MO 63825 or your local animal shelter.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com.
Norma K. Hix, daughter of the late Charles Thomas and Minnie Hodge Glenn, was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on July 10, 1922 and passed away at St. Anthony Hospital in Alton, Illinois on December 25, 2015, at the age 93 years.
She was married to Roy Wilhelm. She later married Earl Cordell Hix he preceded her in death on November 26, 2007.
Norma worked for Kroger Grocery Stores for many years in the meat department. Norma was a member of the graduating class of 1939 at Puxico High School. She was a member of the Puxico United Methodist Church and enjoyed playing cards and was a member of Senior Services.
Surviving are one son and his wife, Ronnie and Bonne Wilhelm of Brighton, Illinois; one daughter and husband, Kathleen and Jerry Bechtold of Godfrey, Illinois; one grandson, Jimmy Wilhelm; one great grandson and wife, Vance E. and Kristen Wilhelm; one brother-in-law, Loy May of Elsah, Illinois and one sister-in-law, Betty Glenn of Danville, California. She is also survived by many close and loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one grandson, Robert Detloff, three brothers: Jesse, Charles "Tom" and John Glenn; six sisters, Gladys Law, Beulah Gossing, Wilma Turner, Wanda Chamberlin, Eulah Orrick and Janet May.
Friends may call on Wednesday December 30, 2015 from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri.
Funeral services will be Wednesday December 30, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Puxico, Missouri with Rev. Dennis Doublin of Puxico officiating.
Interment will follow in the Puxico City Cemetery in Puxico, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Puxico in charge of arrangements.
Watkins & Sons Funeral Services
www. watkinsfuneralhome. com
Weda Joyce Davis, daughter of the late L. B. Freeman and Muriel Patten Freeman, was born on August 7, 1936 in Spadra, Arkansas and departed this life on December 22, 2015 at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 79.
Mrs. Davis was a member of the Spadra Baptist Church in Spadra, Arkansas. She was a homemaker and a resident of Dexter.
On November 29, 1954, she was united in marriage to Charles Davis in Sikeston, Missouri. Mr. Davis survives of the home.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by three daughters, Teresa Hubbard of Davenport, Iowa, Patricia Chuculate of Hulbert, Oklahoma and Linda Griffith of Greenfield, Indiana; by one sister, Wanda Freeman of Hagarville, Arkansas; by eleven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Ricky Davis; by one daughter, Lisa Harmon, by one brother, Robert Freeman; and by one sister, Wilma Barber
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, December 26, 2015 from 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Saturday, December 26, 2015 at 10:30 A.M.
Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter.
