Tom Sweeney, son of Mary Beatrice Nunn Sweeney and the late Nelson Sweeney, was born in Lexington, Kentucky on April 1, 1951, and passed away at his home in Dexter, Missouri on June 10, 2016, at the age of 65 years, 2 months and 9 days.
Mr. Sweeney had lived most of his life in Dexter. He had worked as a car detailer and driver for Bud Shell Ford in Dexter. He was of the Methodist Faith.
Surviving are his mother Mary Sweeney of Dexter, two brothers, Bill Sweeney and Gary Sweeney both of Dexter. One sister, Linda Mahmoudi of Dexter. Other relatives and many friends also survive.
Friends may visit on Monday, June 13, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Graveside funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter, Missouri.
Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri in charge of arrangements.
Bonnie Birchfield, age, 67of Broseley, MO, died Wednesday June 8, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born January 7, 1949 to the late Fieldin Floyd and Dorothy (Rice) Sandlin, Sr.
On May 30, 1968 she married Thomas Birchfield. He survives. She is also survived by two daughters: Tina Loyd and husband Dennis Jr. of Campbell, MO and Samantha Wagner and husband Nickloas of Puxico, MO; two sons: Robert Birchfield of Broseley and Thomas Birchfield and wife Melissa of Qulin, MO; four brothers: Raymond Sandlin of Poplar Bluff, Larry Sandlin Bloomfield, MO, Calvin Sandlin and wife Christine of Dexter, MO and Melvin Sandlin of Broseley, MO; four sisters: Ollie Gaultney and husband Truman of South Carolina, Melba Bryant and husband John of Dudley, Faye Gee and husband Charlie of Dexter, and Rebecca Rhodes and husband Tony of Fisk, one sister-in-law: Verna Sandlin of Qulin: 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Mrs. Birchfield was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers: Fieldin Floyd Jr., Lorenzo and Lloyd Sandlin.
Visitation will begin at 12:30 pm on Thursday, June 16, 2016 at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk.
Funeral services will follow at 1:30 pm in the funeral home chapel.
Burial will be in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield. Condolences; www.whitesandersfuneralhome.com.
White-Sanders Funeral Home-Fisk
717 1st. Street
Fisk, Missouri 63940
Percy Darrell Clippard of Dexter, Missouri passed away on June 10, 2016 surrounded by his loving family. Percy was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri April 8, 1930 to Curt and Corrine Clippard who preceded him in death as did his younger sister Pat.
On August 12, 1956 he was united in marriage to Caryl Ulen in rural Dexter. They were married for fifty-nine loving years. Mrs. Clippard survives of the home; his sister Pansy Howell of Franklin, Tennessee as well as sons, John Ulen of Knoxville, Tennessee and Mark and his wife Beth Clippard of Springfield, Missouri; by one daughter, Sandra Stone of Dexter, Missouri; by eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
He was a starting forward for the 1948 Pickneyville, IL High School Champion Basketball Team which he followed by becoming a 3 sport letterman at Southeast Missouri State University. During his 4 years at SEMO and for 4 years after graduation he served in the United States Naval Reserve, attaining the rank of Petty Officer First Class.
In 1952, he was recruited by T.S. Hill Superintendent for Dexter Schools to become the head varsity basketball coach, and Industrial Arts teacher, his teams compiled a winning record of 132-32. Several of his former players went on to play college sports and become successful coaches in their own right and that was always a source of pride for “Coach Clippard.”
After 6 seasons of coaching and teaching in the Dexter school system, Percy was recruited by Ed McClary to begin the next phase of his professional life as a State Farm Insurance Agent. He retired in 1991, after 34 years, building one of the largest agencies in the Missouri-Kansas Region, garnering several company awards, including being the featured agent in the company publication “The Reflector” in 1972 with an article titled “He makes, Like a Good Neighbor, more than a slogan.” He and Caryl were fortunate enough to travel the world on many State Farm incentive trips with friends from all over the company. He always said, the best part of his professional career “was the people he worked with and served.”
As a husband and father he led by example with his church, family and career. He served in many capacities in the First Baptist Church of Dexter, as a deacon, board president, member, etc. Giving back to the community was always a part of his life as such he served as the local Rotary Club President as well as the Dexter Chamber of Commerce President in 1967. He was awarded the Chamber’s highest honor as “Man of Year in 1969 and 1972” for his work in helping bring two industries to Dexter (Fram and Arvin) which employed hundreds of local and area residents. He was a Boy Scout Scoutmaster who instituted a system by which fathers and sons were each vested in the accomplishments of the troop and many of his scouts achieved the Eagle Scout award, all of these things were a great source of pride for him.
He will be missed by his family and friends who are thankful for a life well lived in Christ’s name. Memorials can be made to The Nova Center of Springfield, Missouri , the Dexter Public School System, First Baptist Church in Dexter, or to the Stoddard County Children’s Home.
Visitation will be conducted on Sunday, June 12, 2016 from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 13, 2016 at 1:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. George Nite officiating.
Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
Lester Caldwell of Wappapello, son of the late Grover Alvin and Sylvia Madeline Hyten Caldwell, was born in Puxico, Missouri on June 18, 1944, and passed away at his home in Wappapello, June 8, 2016, at the age of 71 years, 11 months and 22 days.
Mr. Caldwell had lived in St. Charles & O'Fallon, Missouri until moving to Wappapello in 2002, after retiring from McDonnell-Douglas Aerospace with 27 years of service. He was an active member of the Duck Creek Baptist Church near Puxico. He enjoyed camping, fishing, dutch oven cooking, deer hunting and traveling.
On March 24, 1997 he married Shirley Stevenson Schlater in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Surviving are his wife, Shirley Caldwell of Wappapello; son & wife, Tony & Marsha Caldwell of St. Charles; daughter & husband, Amy & Douglas Rusk of Salem; five grandchildren, Kendra & Malcolm Roach, Jacob & Justin Rusk, Amanda & Charles "C.J." Schlater; three great grandchildren, Bryant, Carson & Natalie Roach. Other relatives and many friends also survive.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Chester Carroll & Jimmie Alvin Caldwell, and one son, Bruce Schlater.
Friends may call on Friday, June 10, 2016, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Duck Creek Baptist Church near Puxico, Missouri with Rev. Buck Cruse of Puxico officiating.
Interment will follow in the Duck Creek Cemetery near Puxico, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Puxico, Missouri in charge of arrangements.
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Charles Earl Houart, Jr. of Dexter, son of the late Charles Earl, Sr. and Elsie Bond Houart, was born in Randles, Missouri on June 18, 1935, and passed away at the Southeast Healthcare Center of Stoddard County in Dexter, Missouri on June 7, 2016, at the age of 80 years, 11 months and 20 days.
Mr. Houart had lived in the Dexter area most of his life. He had worked on a river boat as a deck hand before he retired. He was a member of Grace Fellowship Church in Dexter.
Surviving are four daughters, Sherry Bader of Brighton, Tennessee, Kelly Baker of Puxico, Lee Ann Stanfill and Rena Hefner both of Advance; three sons, Marvin Bennett of Chaffee, Welsey Bennett of Missouri, Kerry Bennett of Advance; sixteen grandchildren; twenty-five great grandchildren; two sisters, Betty Lemons of Brunswick, Ohio, Jane Mobley of Doniphan: one brother, William Paul Houart of Fredericktown. Other relatives and many friends also survive. He was preceded in death by one son, Charles Dean Houart and two sisters, Billie Presley and Frances J. Mitchell.
Friends may visit on Friday, June 10, 2016 after 11:00 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 10, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter with Rev. Karen Hardin of Dexter and Rev. Darren Baker of Puxico officiating.
Interment will be at a later date with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri in charge of arrangements.
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
