Marilyn Downs of Malden, was born on May 1, 1963 in Essex, Missouri to the late James Allen & Ruby Ross Allen. She departed this life on Monday, April 9, 2018 at the Malden Nursing & Rehab Center in Malden , Missouri at the age of 54 years 11 months and 8 day.

Marily Downs was a homemaker. She was a member of the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Malden. Marilyn was united in marriage to Robert Downs in January 1994 in Malden, Missouri.  He preceded her in death on January 27, 2018.

Her survivors include:

Daughters: Michelle Allen of Malden, Christuma Rena Allen of Malden & Shantika Lanay Jones of Malden.

7 Grandchildren: Khylen Joshua Smith, Kahlil A’mir Allen, Zyme’Aris Kirese Jones, JahMyis Khylil Cannon, Kaliyah LaShay White, London Marie White & Izaiah Lee Holland.

Brothers: Willie Allen of Malden, Johnny Reed of Poplar Bluff & Harry Allen of  Parma.

Sisters: Mary Evans & husband, James of Malden, Ruby Allen of Springfield, Virgie Allen of Malden, Anna Turner of Springfield, Roberta Allen of Hayti and Eirgie Allen of Cape.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her  parents & sister: Christine Allen.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 15, 2018 from 1-2 P.M. at the Landess Funeral Home Chapel in Malden. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 P.M. 

Interment will be in the Macedonia Cemetery in Malden, Missouri.

Landess Funeral Home of Malden in charge of the arrangements.

Charlotte Faye Taylor, 79, of Dexter, passed away April 10, 2018 at the Advance Nursing Center.  Charlotte was born July 6, 1938 at Lilbourn, MO, the daughter of John Brown and Edith Bell Coffee Middleton.

Charlotte owned and operated Taylor Grocery in Lilbourn for 30 years.  She had been a member of the Leora Baptist Church. 

Charlotte was a loving and caring mother and Nana.  Her entire life revolved around her daughters and all of her grandchildren.  She enjoyed babysitting all of her grandchildren over the years. 

Charlotte and Jimmy Lon Taylor were united in marriage on December 23, 1955 at Tupelo, MS and he preceded her in death on November 13, 1976.

Loving survivors include: two daughters, Patricia Ann Gaines of Advance and Tonya Kay (Tony) Roper of Dexter; three brothers, Gary “Pig” Middleton of Advance, Barry (Robyn) Middleton of Advance and Brad (Debbi) Middleton of Advance; four grandchildren, Brody (Rebecca) Roper of Dexter, Kristen Bein of Advance, Ashley Bein of Eureka, MO and Macy Roper of Dexter; and two great-grandchildren, Kynley Faye Worthy and Taten Ray Roper.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a brother, JR (Doris) Middleton and a sister, Patricia Bess.

Visitation will be held on Friday April 13, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance. 

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the chapel.  Burial will follow at Morgan Memorial Park in Advance.

Danny Ray Stroup, Sr.  of Malden, was born on September 19, 1950 in Tiptonville, Tennessee to the late Edwin Joel Stroup & Ethel Baxter Stroup. He departed this life on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at the  Saint Francis Medial Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 67 years 6 months and 15 days.

Danny Ray Stroup, Sr. had been a hand grinder for A1 tools in Malden and  he was of the Missionary Baptist faith. Danny was united in marriage to Carolyn Elsworth Stroup on November 23, 1970 in Bernie, Missouri.  She survives of the home in Malden.

His other survivors include: 3 Sons: Danny Stroup, Jr. of Poplar Bluff, Steven Stroup and Kevin Stroup of Malden. 2 Grandchildren: Kristen Stroup of Jonesboro, Arkansas and Andrew Stroup of Dexter, Missouri. Several nieces & nephews.

He was preceded in death by his  parents and 2 sisters:  Irene Suiter and Norma Rickman.

Visitation were held Friday, April 6, 2018 from 11 A.M.-1 P.M. at the Landess Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services followed at 1:00 P.M. in the Landess Funeral Home Chapel in Malden with  Reverend Roger Fowler officiating.

Interment will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden.

Landess Funeral Home of Malden in charge of the arrangements.

Ophelia “Mandy” Thornton, daughter of the late Stanford Wilson and Mandy Jones Wilson, was born in Boyle, Mississippi on August 31, 1943 and departed this life at her home in Parma, Missouri on April 9, 2018 at the age of 74.

Ms. Thornton was a homemaker and was a member of Jubilee  House of Prayer in Sikeston, Missouri.

Survivors include one son, Simeon Thornton of Sikeston, Missouri; by seven daughters, Barbara Johnson & husband Leon of Parma, Missouri, Cynthia Holmes & husband Eddie of Columbia, Missouri, Leslie Johnson of Parma, Missouri, Loretta Thornton of Sikeston, Missouri, April Lee & husband Laverne of Sikeston, Missouri, Brandy Hamlin & husband Joel of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Terry Thornton of Sikeston, Missouri; by five sisters, Nelvia Rainey of Parma, Missouri, Estelle Smith of Detroit, Michigan, Annie Johns of Malden, Missouri, Beatrice Johnson of Malden, Missouri and Robbie Bills & husband Dallas of Fruitland, Missouri; by twenty three grandchildren and twenty four great-grandchildren; also by other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death other than by her parents,by one daughter, Regina Williams;  by two brothers, Willie Moore and Henry Wilson; by one sister, Clara Sullivan; by one grandson.

Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Saturday, April 14, 2018 from 11:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M.  Funeral services will then be conducted on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 12:00 Noon in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel.   Interment will follow in the Stanfield Cemetery, Clarkton, Missouri.  Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Muriel Bleakley Brown was born at Mill Shoals, Illinois, on November 22, 1913 and passed away on April 8, 2018 at The Baptist Home in Ironton, Missouri at the age of 104 years.  She was the daughter of the late Virgil and Lucy Hughes Bleakley.

Mrs. Brown was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church in Bloomfield where she taught Sunday School in the Primary Department for many years.  She loved children and she had many friends.

She became the bride of Lester C. Brown of Bernie on April 2, 1933, at Piggott, Arkansas.  He died on May 1, 1972.  They were the owners of Brown Auto Parts in Bloomfield for 24 years.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Charles Lester Brown, three sisters and five brothers.

She is survived by nephew Jack Bleakley; by nieces Diana Orr, and Anne Jenkins.  Other relatives also survive.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, April 12, 2018 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM. 

Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday at 3:00 PM with Mike Williams and Bobby Thrower officiating.

Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter in charge of all arrangements.