Vercie Dunivan Cooper of Bloomfield, daughter of the late William Lesley and Georgia Maybelle Page Dunivan, was born near Zadock, Missouri on February 1, 1924, passed away at the Bloomfield Nursing Center on October 2, 2018, at the age of 94 years, 8 months and 1 day.

Vercie had lived in this area most of her life. She had worked as a licensed General Baptist minister, was a beautician and a member of the Oak Ridge General Baptist Church. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, singing and quilting.

On August 15, 1940, she was married to Vernon Robert Cooper near Swinton, Missouri. He preceded her in death on March 7, 2002.

Surviving are three daughters & husband, Linda Sue & Ronnie McRoy and Velma White all of Bloomfield, Janet Abernathy of Advance; three sons and wives, Milford Cooper, Larry & Nancy Cooper all of Bloomfield, Rev. Gary & Rhonda Cooper of Advance; nine grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; one brother, Billy Joe Dunivan of Advance; one sister, Joyce Lewis of Imperial, Missouri. Other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Mildred Louise McClain, three brothers, Chester, Lester and Edison Dunivan; one sister, Lois Coleman.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 4, 2018 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 5, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield with the Rev. Gary Cooper of Advance officiating.

Interment will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery near Aquilla with Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home of Bloomfield in charge of arrangements.

Mary Watson, daughter of the late Charles Elmer Bowman and Dorothy Ing Bowman was born on July 9, 1951 in rural Ash Hill Township and departed this life on October 4, 2018 at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 67 years.

Mrs. Watson was a welder for Arvin for 40 years and was a resident of Bernie, Missouri.

On December 1, 1979 in Zalma, Missouri she was united in marriage to Billy F. Watson.  Mr. Watson preceded her in death on September 7, 2016.

Survivors include; four sons, Mike Watson of Odessa, Missouri, Billy A. Watson of Qulin, Missouri, Charles Jackson of Bloomfield, Missouri and Jamie Watson of Qulin, Missouri; by two daughters Michelle “Missy” Jackson of Qulin, Missouri and Renee Stafford of Farmington, Missouri; by six brothers, Jimmy Bowman, Harold Bowman and Richard Bowman of Advance, Missouri, Roger Bowman and Tommy Bowman of Zalma, Missouri and Kenny Bowman of Yukon, Oklahoma; she has several grandkids and great-grandkids.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie on Sunday, October 7, 2018 from 2:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. 

A memorial service will be conducted at 4:00p.m. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie.  

Carol Sue Whitchurch, daughter of the late Walter W. Davis and Wanda Lee Taylor Davis was born on April 12, 1947 in New Madrid County, Mo.  She completed her earthly journey on October 1, 2018 at her residence in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Mrs. Whitchurch worked for the State of Oklahoma as well as the State of Missouri.  She worked with special needs clients and retired from Southeast Missouri Department of Mental Health in Poplar Bluff after 19 years of service.

She is survived by her brother, David Lee Davis and wife Cathy of Reyno, Ar; granddaughter, Ashley Nichole Stuart and husband Steven of Indiana; by two grandsons, Mark Aaron Mathis and Tyler Mathis of Sikeston, Mo; by two great-grandsons, Gabriel Ashton and Gage Michael of Indiana; as well as many uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews that are left to miss her.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence R. Whitchurch; son, Mark Lee Mathis; brothers, William Earl Davis, Walter Eugene Davis; sisters, Gloria Dean Davis, Phyllis Mae Robinett, Jo Ann VanGilder; plus many, many family members to meet her at Heaven’s door.

Special thanks to all of the medical staff that treated her with kindness and love.  We would also like to say thank you to her friends and neighbors, Dorothy Campbell, Amanda Mayberry, Doyle Starkey and the Howdeshell family.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, October 5, 2018 from 9:00 to 10:30 AM. 

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 AM at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter on Friday. 

Interment will follow at the Hagy Cemetery.

Joshua Heath Monroe, son of David Monroe and Diana Winstead Monroe both of Sikeston, was born on August 20, 1984 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and departed this life on September 30, 2018 at his residence in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 34.

Josh owned Monroe’s Landscaping and Lawn Care in Sikeston Missouri. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Bloomfield and a man who never met a stranger.  He was a fun loving dad, a hard worker, family man and enjoyed being outside. The love of music is what led him to his greatest love on this earth, Stephanie. Together they had two beautiful sons, Jiles and Mylan, who were the light of Josh's life. Josh will be remembered for his infectious laughter, his love of the outdoors, and his unending love for his sons.

On February 6, 2010 he was united in marriage to Stephanie Swindell in Bloomfield, Missouri. Mrs. Monroe survives of the home.

Besides his wife and parents, he is survived by; two sons, Jiles Monroe and Mylan Monroe of Dexter; two brothers, Matt Monroe of Mayfield, Kentucky and Dustin Monroe of O’Fallon, Missouri; three sisters, Molly Jewell of Natural Dam, Arkansas, Chrissy Earley of Paducah, Kentucky and Jennifer Ludditt of Fenton, Missouri; by his maternal grandparents, Shirley and Richard Winstead of Paducah, Kentucky; and by many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Ed Monroe and Lola Monroe. 

Friends may call the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, October 4, 2018 from 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

Funeral Services will be conducted at 1:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Rev. Alice Fowler officiating.

Interment will follow in the Bloomfield Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family requests all memorials be made to the Monroe Benefit Account c/o Bank of Advance, P.O. Box 829, Dexter, Missouri 63841.

Patricia C. Watkins of Puxico, formerly of Essex, daughter of the late Cecil Monroe and Myrtle Asher Chism, was born in Charter Oak, Missouri on September 26, 1946, and passed away at the Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter on September 28, 2018, at the age of 72 years and 2 days.

Pat had lived in Essex before moving to Puxico three years ago. She had worked thirty plus years as a teacher at DAEOC Head Start, and was a member of the Harvest Assembly Church in Essex, after moving to Puxico she attended Duck Creek Baptist Church. Her heart's focus was Christ, friends and family.

On May 31, 1963, she was married to Leon Watkins in Catron, Missouri. He preceded her in death on May 28, 2018.

Surviving are two daughters, Diana Devore of Swinton, Mellody Wheetley of Puxico; adopted son & wife, Buck & Jessica Cruse of Puxico; five grandchildren & spouses, Jennifer & Mark Newell and Jessica Steele all of Dexter, Roger & Taylor Cochran II of Cape Girardeau, Alanna Newman of Poplar Bluff, Hunter Wheetley of Puxico; ten great grandchildren, Austin, Makaila, Amberly, Kaidence, Tia, Landon, Sam, Jaclyn, Sara Kate and Adeline; two brothers, Stan Chism of Copperas Cove, Texas, Billy Dial of Demopolis, Alabama; one sister Jean Ann Wilson of Gray Ridge, Missouri. Other relatives and many friends also survive. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by one son, Lanny Watkins.

Friends may visit on Sunday, September 30, 2018, after 1:00 p.m. until time of services at 3:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter with Bro. Buck Cruse of Puxico officiating.

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