Gary Sandage former car hauler for Jack Cooper out of Wentzville, Mo.

His passions were yard selling (buying everything he didn’t need) and duck hunting (claiming ducks he never killed) and playing slots and poker that he never quite mastered how to win. But oh, how he loved it.  

The grand exit happened on Thursday November 15th, 2018 at his home surrounded by all his children and friends.  Gary was born January 7th, 1961 at Sikeston, Mo. to Guy and Mildred Sandage.

Though his time on this earth was too short for us, he made it worthwhile aggregating and prankster his family and friends.

After 2 years of trying to convince Betty Bell to marry him, it happened July 27th, 1979. He vowed they would be in it for the long haul. It was 40 years together. He skipped out before planting the 105 tulip bulbs or hanging up his clothes.

The most notable achievements happened on February 18th, 1982, July 19th 1984, and May 19th 1986 staying in the delivery room while I did all the work giving him three amazing sons.

His sons learned the joy of being a Sandage from the man whose laugh and snorting was contagious and some inappropriate times were included.

Years later two teenage girls came into his life (Jennifer and Mandii McCoy) he insisted we take them in our home. Those girls weren’t enough so two years he and I adopted a sibling brother and sister. Jesse and Haelie Sandage. Two years later we filled our house with one more boy (Chuck Bridges) and his two sisters (Beth and Katie Bridges).




His grandchildren were his passion, anything to get them stirred up, he loved. All 18 of them.
He is survived by me (Betty) and his mother (Mildred), his brother Sam (Cheryle) Sandage, his sisters, Jackie (Wayne) McKuin and Sherry Legrand and many nieces and nephews.


He said no flowers, no tears. Spend your time with your friends and family. Buy a round of something (he didn’t drink much); toast the duck hunting, yard selling, slot and poker playing great man, we loved you Gary Sandage.


Mark Allen Cox, son of the late Avra Harrison Cox and Evadean Ruby Colyer Troxell, was born on August 29, 1952 in Bloomfield, Missouri and departed this life on Friday, November 23, 2018 at his home in Puxico, Missouri at the age of 66 years.

         

He was a veteran of the United States Marines Corps and was a machine gunner in the Vietnam war. He attended college at Southeast Missouri University and pursued a career in the Oil Industry. Mark devoted 46 years of his life to this career. Taking him both state side and abroad.  Most recently, he was employed by Penn Virginia Oil, as an Oilfield Drilling Consultant, with pride.

         

On July 12, 1980, he was united in marriage to Tresa Lee in Dexter, Missouri. In their 38 years of marriage, they traveled near and far and raised three daughters. Mrs. Cox survives of the home. 

         

Other survivors include daughters, Deseree Owens and her husband Rodney of Bloomfield, Missouri, Michele Owens and her husband Michael of Puxico, Missouri and Susan Wilson and her husband Chip, of Las Vegas, Nevada; two sisters, Patty Shell and Peggy Kinder both of Dexter, Missouri: three brothers, James Dennis Troxell of Dexter, Missouri, Avra Cox Jr. and Jeff Cox both of Cape Girardeau, Missouri;  and six grandchildren, Brayden Dungan, Kara Owens, Rallen Owens, Adysen Shepard, Ty Owens and Charley Owens. He is also survived by a host of bonus grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. 

         

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother Michael Cox.

         

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Rainey Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri on Monday, November 26, 2018 from 4:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. 

Graveside services will be conducted on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 2:00p.m. at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery.

Holly Renee Kirkman, daughter of Steven Curtis Cobb and Joyce Kaye Patrick Boyer was born in Sikeston, Missouri on March 11, 1980 and departed this life in Bernie, Missouri on November 19, 2018 at the age of 38.

Ms. Kirkman was of Church of Christ faith and a resident of Bernie. 

Survivors include her father, Steven Curtis Cobb of Bernie, Missouri; by her mother, Joyce Kaye Boyer & husband Mike of Viburnum, Missouri; by one son, Ryder Dowdy of Dexter, Missouri; by one brother, Steve-o Cobb & wife Kim of Bernie, Missouri; by one sister, Sheri Patrick & husband Jorge Guzman of Dickinson, Texas; also by other relatives and friends.

Friends may call at Word of Faith Family Church in Rural Bernie, Missouri on Saturday, December 1, 2018 from 10:30 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. 

Memorial services will then be conducted at 1:00 P.M.   

Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Charge of all arrangements.

Merlin Davis Rushing of Essex, son of the late Jefferson Dunlap and Mavis Louise Henry Rushing, was born on July 1, 1941, in Matthews, Missouri and passed away at the Clearview Nursing Home in Sikeston on November 17, 2018 at the age of 77 years, 4 months and 16 days.

Merlin had lived in Houston, Texas before moving to Essex fifteen years ago. He was a retired carpenter and was a member of the Westwood Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff.

On October 18, 1962 he was married to Lela Mae Daniels in Bloomfield, Missouri.

Surviving are his wife, Lela Mae Rushing of Essex; two sons, Thomas Rushing of Newport, Arkansas, Steve Rushing of Horn Lake, Mississippi; two daughters, Catherine Helenhouse of Mokane, Missouri, Cynthia Crossno of Jonesboro, Arkansas; ten grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; two brothers, J. E. Rushing of St. Charles, Misouri, Richard Rushing of Salem, Arkansas; and one sister, Shirley Horn of East Bangor, Pennsylvania. Other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by one brother, Clyde Rushing.

Visitation was held on Monday, November 19, 2018, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.

Services was held Tuesday November 20, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. in the Watkins & Sons Chapel with the Rev. Larry Cockman of Doniphan officiating.

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

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimers Association, 225 N Michigan Ave., FL 17, Chicago, IL 60601.

Steven Ray Scott, son of Linda Drysdale Scott and the late Donald Ray Scott was born on February 25, 1969 in Charlotte, North Carolina and departed this life on November 11, 2018 in Butler County at the age of 49 years.

Mr. Scott was a truck driver and was a resident of Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

On July 7, 2014 he was united in marriage to Rochelle “Shelly” Scott.  Mrs. Scott survives of the home.

Besides his mother, he is survived by five sons, Michael Somers and Caleb Somers both of Poplar Bluff, Nathan Burmeister, Matthew Scott and Justin Scott both of Poplar Bluff; one daughter, Jesica Somers of Poplar Bluff; one sister, Jayme Caplinger of Bloomfield; two brothers, Derrick Scott and Brooks Scott of Bloomfield; four step-children, Samantha, Ana, Cody and Arriel; many grandchildren, nieces and nephews and Bruce Hartline and family of Puxico.

Visitation was held on Monday, November 19, 2018 for visitation was from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

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