Darlene J. Ross, the daughter of Lewis James Rogers and Doris Hazel (Beach) Rogers, was born on March 17, 1931 in Saginaw, Michigan and died on October 21, 2017 at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center, Dexter, MO at the age of 86. She was a resident of Dexter, MO. 

On March 27, 1948 she married Delmer R. Barks near Lowndes, MO. To this union, God answered her prayers, blessing her with three children Doris, Delmer and Kevin.

On February 18, 1983 Darlene married Donald E. Ross at Dexter, MO and two daughters were added to her love; Sherri Ross and Mary Ross.

Darlene was a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and baptized into the Kingdom of God on September 27, 1952 by Bro. Lewis Rogers near Shook, MO. She was a member of the Community Church of Christ near Lowndes, MO and the Ladies Club of the church. She was also a member of the Missouri State Teachers Association, Missouri Speech & Hearing Association, Missouri Retired Teachers Association and the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.

She received her B.S. Degree in Education and M.A. Degree in Speech Pathology from SEMO University, Cape Girardeau, MO. She was a teacher and speech pathologist for 36-years and a consultant for 5-years. She was named in “Who’s Who of Child Development Professionals” and also named in the 1976-77 edition of “Notable Americans”. 

Darlene was a genuine lady and a helper, supporter and encourager to all the lives she touched with her love, smile and kind words.

She is survived by her loving and devoted husband Don Ross of the home; one daughter, Doris Jane McAnally and her husband Larry of East Benard, Texas; two sons, Delmer R. Barks and his wife Debbie of Lowndes, MO and Kevin L. Barks and his wife Tera of Dexter, MO; two step-daughters, Mary (Ross) Williamson and her husband Chris of Bloomfield, MO and Sherri (Ross) Fowler of Dexter, MO. She is survived by 14-Grandchildren: Susan Renee Talas, Christopher Wayne McAnally, D. Ryan Barks, Phillip E. Barks, Jamie Hyslop, Glen Rodgers, Nicholas Barks, Chelsea Barks, Tasha Rodgers, Jessie Cobb, Nathan McDonald, Brandon McDonald, Dustin Fowler and Kodie Dement; and 21 Great-Grandchildren.

She is also survived by one brother, Jack W. Rogers and his wife Geraldine A. (Peterman) of Lowndes, MO; one sister, Lottie J. Meese of Advance, MO and one sister-in-law, Ellare J. (Hollingsworth) Rogers of Lowndes, MO.

She was preceded in death by her parents; six brothers and three sisters: Russell J. McLean, Charles E. Rogers, Sherman C. Rogers, Dorothy M. Billingsley, Leona M. Chubb, Lewis J. Rogers, Jr., Annabel V. Schearer, Richard L. Rogers and Arthur J. Rogers.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home, Dexter, MO.

Visitation and funeral service will be at the Community Church of Christ, Hwy Rte. “P”, Lowndes, MO on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 with visitation from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM and the funeral service following at 11:00 AM.

Interment will be at the Community Church of Christ Cemetery.

Officiating will be Bro. Jack Rogers, Bro. Dale Rogers and Bro. Jeremy Rogers.

A fellowship luncheon will be served at the church immediately following the service. Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home, Dexter, MO. is in charge of all arrangements.

Melba Ruth Christian of Dexter, was born March 23, 1936, to Bluford Roy and Maggie Lena Dillard Warren in Randolf, Mississippi and passed away at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter on October 20, 2017, at the age of 81 years, 6 months and 27 days.

She had lived in the Essex and Dexter area all of her adult life.

On January 15,1953, she married Lotes Lee Christian, in Piggott, Arkansas. He preceded her in death on January 5, 1995.

Surviving are four daughters, Sandra Davison, of  Dexter,  Vicky Eaves of Bloomfield, Johnny Eaves of Bernie, and Betty & Bill Fischer  of Dexter, Carolyn & Ron Temples of Dudley; four sons, Carl Christian, Bobby & Donna Christian, and Paul Christian all of Dexter; Gary Christian of Sikeston;  18 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; 1 great great granddaughter;  two  brothers Grover Warren of Randolf, Mississippi, and Trubert Warren, of Houlka, Mississippi. Other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by  two brothers David and Douglas Warren, three sisters Ora Lee Clements, Martha Jo Christian, and Doris Palmer.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 24, 2017, after 11:00 a.m. until time for services at 1:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter with Rev. Dennis Ward of Poplar Bluff officiating.

Interment will be in the  Hagy Cemetery in Dexter, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.

Pansy Worley, daughter of the late Audie Strop and Maggie Pry Strop was born on October 12, 1925 at Bloomfield and departed this life in the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center at Dexter on October 20, 2017 at the age of 92.

Mrs. Worley was a member of Sweet Prospect General Baptist Church in Dexter, a former CNA at Dexter Memorial Hospital and a resident of Dexter. 

She was united in marriage to Norval Worley on December 1, 1979 at Bloomfield.  Mr. Worley survives of the home in Dexter. 

Besides her husband, she is survived by one son, Herman Mills of Glendale, Arizona: by one step-son, Charles Worley of Pampa, Texas: by one step-daughter, Lee Hufford of Poplar Bluff: by fourteen grandchildren, thirty-seven great-grandchildren and eleven great-great-grandchildren. 

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Shirley Scherer: by one grandson, Aaron Rogers: by one step-son, Gene Worley: by one step-daughter, Leesa Hughes: by her brother, Don Strop and one sister, Lucy Volze.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 9:30 A.M. until 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, October 24, 2017. 

Funeral services will then be conducted at 11:00 A.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Rick Roberts officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield. 

James Michael McCord, son of the late James McCord and Dorothy Harvath McCord was born on March 15, 1956 in St. Louis, Missouri and departed this life on October 20, 2017 at Southeast Health Care of Stoddard County at the age of 61.

Mr. McCord was a Truck Driver and a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

He was united in marriage to Denise Salbert on February 3, 1978 in Warren, Michigan.  Mrs. McCord survives of the home in Dexter.

Besides his wife, other survivors include one son, Jeremy McCord of Dexter and by one daughter, Jamie Hedrick of Park Hills, Missouri; by two sisters who reside in Illinois; by four grandchildren; also by two great-grandchildren. 

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home Monday, October 23, 2017 from 11:00 until 1:00 P.M.

Funeral services will then be conducted at 1:00 P.M. with Rev. Dean Williams officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery.

Joyce Johnson of Poplar Bluff, daughter of the late Leffie Ernest and Martha Louise Lincoln Ward, was born in Wappapello, Missouri on May 5,1943, and passed away at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff on October 18, 2017, at the age of 74 years, 5 months and 13 days.

She had lived in the Poplar Bluff area for over twenty years. She was a housewife, loved to play bingo and enjoyed bowling. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff.

On December 13, 1963, she married James "Jim" Michael Johnson in San Luis Obispo, California.

Surviving are her husband, Jim Johnson of Poplar Bluff; one son, James Johnson of Kiev, Ukraine; one brother, Carroll Ward of Puxico, and one sister, Barbara Lafferty of Alton, Illinois. Other relatives and many friends also survive. She was preceded in death by one son, Jonathan Michael Johnson, one grandson Jonathan Michael Johnson.

Graveside Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Puxico Cemetery in Puxico, Missouri.

Interment will follow in the Puxico Cemetery in Puxico, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Puxico, Missouri in charge of arrangements.