Donald Eugene Wethington, son of the late Hudson Wethington and Bertha Condict Wethington was born on May 12, 1943 in Essex, Missouri and departed this life on December 22, 2018 at his home in Bloomfield at the age of 75.  Don died suddenly of a heart attack while he was out working in the yard.

After graduating from Grayridge High School in 1961, he served in the United States Navy until 1965.  When he left the Navy he said he was going to go back to Missouri, work for Southwestern Bell Telephone, and marry his “Glory”. And that’s what he did, just like he always did what he said he would do.  He worked at Southwestern Bell Telephone for 33 years, starting as a lineman and ending as a manager.  He retired in 1999 and has spent the last 19 years “going places” with his wife and kids and grandkids.

On April 30, 1966 he was united in Holy Matrimony with his sweetheart, Gloria Rainwater Wethington, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter.  Mrs. Wethington survives of their home in Bloomfield.  Little did he know, he was also going to join the Roman Catholic Church.  Mr. Wethington was a parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter where he served as lector and extraordinary minister of the Eucharist.  He had celebrated Christmas Midnight Mass for 52 years in a row. This year he will be there on the other side.

Besides his wife he is survived by three daughters, Lisa Pulley and husband Tim of Bloomfield, Tara Halcomb and husband Tim of Fordland, Missouri and Sharon Slayton and husband Steve of Fairdealing, Missouri; by one step-son, Jay Yourch and wife Kim of Raleigh, North Carolina; by one brother, M.B. Wethington; by one sister, Linda Curtis; by eleven grandchildren, Matthew and wife Cassy Pulley, Megan and husband Aron Henson, Michael and wife Rebecca Pulley, Mason Pulley, Briget Cooper, Brittany and husband Jeff Micke, Courtney Slayton, Derek Slayton, Abby Slayton, Kathryn Yourch, and Andrew Yourch; and by five great-grandchildren, Emmitt Pulley, Asher Pulley, Amelia Pulley, Collin Henson and Baby Micke; one brother- and six sisters-in-law; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews; and by lots and lots and lots of “adopted” sons and daughters who learned from him what a Daddy’s love looks like and feels like.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by seven siblings, Glenn, Paul and Polly (Clanton), Russ, Fred, Elzie, and David Wethington; and by one grandchild, Mackenzie Pulley.

Friends may call at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter on Wednesday, December 26, 2018 from 9:30 A.M. until 10:30 A.M. 

Funeral Mass will then be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father William Hennecke officiating.  Interment will follow at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with full Military Honors.

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

David Lee Bruce, son of the late John Henry (J.H.) Bruce and Anna Myrtle Daniel Bruce was born on April 9, 1962 in Tennessee and departed this life on December 16, 2018 in the emergency room at the Southeast Health of Stoddard County in Dexter at the age of 56 years.

Mr. Bruce worked in the maintenance department at Southeast Health of Stoddard County for many years and was a member of the Dexter Elks Lodge in Dexter.  He was a resident of Bloomfield, Missouri.

Survivors include: two brothers, John Bruce of Bloomfield and Keith Bruce (Marrianne) of Dexter; by four sisters, Diane Hanner (Robert) of Bloomfield, Martha Rowland (Terry) of Fisk, Dorothy Beyer of Dexter and Sarah Fluty of Louisa, Kentucky and by many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Wanda Jane Bruce.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, December 21, 2018 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. 

Funeral service will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Friday, December 21, 2018 at 1:00 PM. 

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

Gladys Ruth Smithson, daughter of the late James T. Holland and Laura (Bollenbacher) Holland was born on November 16, 1923 in Ripley County, Missouri and departed this life on December 13, 2018 at Oak Tree Villas in Jefferson City, Missouri at the age of 95 years.

On June 7, 1942, she was united in marriage to Charles Smithson in Doniphan, Missouri.  He preceded her in death on March 30, 1997.

Gladys attended Doniphan High School and later received her GED. For many years she was a homemaker. Over the years, she held various jobs but her favorite was secretary at Dexter High School in the 1960’s where she enjoyed engaging with the students.

She was an active member of the Dexter Church of Christ where she loved teaching bible classes to young people. For many years, she also taught World Bible School correspondence lessons to students in Africa. Throughout her life she had a personal walk with God and left us a legacy of faith.

She lived in Missouri most of her life except for a short period during World War II when she lived in Long Beach, California while Charles served in the Navy. She resided in Dexter for over 40 years until her recent move to Jefferson City.

She loved to read and listen to music, especially gospel and country. She was a joyful cook and shared many home-cooked meals with family, friends, neighbors and those in need.

She was treasured and loved beyond words and lives forever in our hearts. She was warm and giving and lived to help others.  She entertained us with her favorite family stories and lots of laughter. We will always cherish these memories.

Survivors include one daughter, Charlotte Gooch (James) of Jefferson City, Missouri; two grandchildren, Ben Reeser (Becky) and Chris Gooch (Monica); two step-grandchildren, Lauri Ashlock and Jimmy Gooch (Lanette); two great-grandchildren (Paige and Ava) and four step-great-grandchildren (Hailey, Caleb, Sam and Abby); and one sister, Beulah Brewer.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Melissa Reeser; four brothers, Ray, Virgil, Glenn and Ernest Holland; two sisters, Jewel Freeman and Lola Lynxwiler.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 from 10:00 to 11:00 am.  Funeral service will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at 11:00 am with Don Bahr officiating.  Interment will follow at the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Doniphan, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Children’s Home, Inc., 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, AR 72450.

Virginia Smith, daughter of the late Carl Robinson and Dorothy Pearl Harris Robinson was born on July 31, 1921 in rural Dexter, Missouri and departed this life on December 17, 2018 at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter at the age of 97 years.

Mrs. Smith was a former bookkeeper for Medler Davis Chevrolet and was a resident of Dexter.

On June 28, 1941, she was united in marriage to Jeff Smith in Kennett, Missouri.  Mr. Smith preceded her in death on October 26, 2011.

Survivors include: one nephew, Norman Robinson, Jr. (Laura) of Dexter; two nieces, Dorothy Ann Richard (Cotton) of Dexter and Carolyn Frank (Charles) of Dexter; by several other nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one brother, Norman Robinson, Sr., one sister, Nina Wilson and one nephew, Jimmy Dale Robinson.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM. 

Funeral service will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on December 19, 2018 at 2:00 PM with Rev. Joe Payne officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Mount Gilead Hills Cemetery in rural Bloomfield, Missouri.

Linda K. Walker Bradley, daughter of the late Charles Midgett and Edith Wallace Midgett was born on August 21, 1944 in Risco, Missouri and departed this life on December 15, 2018 at The Manor in Poplar Bluff at the age of 74.

Mrs. Bradley had worked at the International Hat Factory and attended the Okeena Assembly Church.  She enjoyed entertaining crowds with her singing.  She was a former resident of Dexter who currently lived in Kennett.

She was first united in marriage to Nolan Ray Walker on December 18, 1961.  Mr. Walker preceded her in death on October 31, 2011.  She was then married to Terry Ray Bradley.  Mr. Bradley survives of their home in Kennett. 

Besides her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Tracy Walker of Dyersburg, Tennessee and Holly Frymire and husband Steve of Wappapello, Missouri; by one brother, Terry Midgett of Risco, Missouri; by one sister, Sheila Haertling of Jackson, Missouri; by two step-daughters, Raelei Bradley of Kennett, Missouri and Terri Little of Gibson, Missouri; by three grandchildren, Niki Brashear, Alesha Powell and Hunter Frymire; by six great-grandchildren, Kilee Schott, Kashlee Schott, Kanton Schott, Bailey Brashear, Nolan Phillips and Harper Cooper and by two step-grandchildren, Milei Corrales and Arsyn Newman.

Besides her first husband and parents she was preceded in death by four brothers, Ronnie Midgett, Jimmy Midgett, Ricky Midgett and Doyle Wayne Midgett and by three sisters, Darlene Rowland, Zerlene Stafford and Carol Faye Midgett.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 from 11:30 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. 

Funeral services will then be conducted on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at 1:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Phillip Bartholomew officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Walker Cemetery near Bloomfield.