Christine Delores Norden, daughter of the late Virgil Bennett and Annie Moring Bennett, was born in Bernie, Missouri on October 22, 1931 and departed this life at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on March 1, 2019 at the age of 87.

Mrs. Norden was a homemaker and a member of  Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Malden, Missouri and a resident of Bernie.

She was united in marriage to Emery J. “E.J.” Norden in Piggott, Arkansas on February 16, 1950.  Mr. Norden preceded his wife in death on February 22, 1985.

Survivors include one son, Michael J. Norden & wife Donna of Bernie, Missouri; by one daughter, Catherine Ann Norden of Bernie, Missouri; by three grandchildren, Michael Norden Jr. & wife Robin, Marcus Norden and Tracie Cobb & husband Jeromy; by five Great-grandchildren, Eric Norden & wife Page, Brennen Norden, Aiden Norden, Ashley Weathers & Emery ”E.J.” Walls; by four Step-Great-grandchildren, Blakely Bradshaw, Rhyan Cobb, Darrik Cobb and Jayden Cobb; by one sister, Carolyn Buckley & husband Jerry Wayne of Malden, Missouri; also by other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death other than by her parents and her husband, by two brothers, Danny Bennett and Connie Bennett; by one sister, Evelyn Holtzhouser.

Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Monday, March 4, 2019 from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 P.M.   

Funeral services will then be conducted at 2:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Allen Laszewski officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery. 

Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Lee Roy Barker, son of the late Pearl Barker was born on June 5, 1933 in Bloomfield, Missouri and departed this life on February 26, 2019 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 85 years.

Mr. Barker was a truck driver and was a resident of Dexter.

On December 22, 1957, he was united in marriage to Ineva Ragsdel.  Mrs. Barker survives of the home in Dexter.

Besides his wife, Ineva, he is survived by four sons: Tyrus Barker of Matthews, Missouri, Mike Barker of Dexter, Missouri, Karl Barker of Big Springs, Texas and Greg Barker of Tampa, Florida; by thirteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, March 2, 2019 from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm. 

Funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 pm in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Saturday, March 2, 2019 with Rev. Tim Russell officiating. 

Interment will be in the Dexter Cemetery.

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

Rev. Lester Clayton, son of the late Norman Woodruff and Opal McElrath Woodruff was born on May 25, 1938 in Newport, Arkansas and departed this life on February 26, 2019 at his residence in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 80 years.

Mr. Clayton was a member of the Liberty Hill General Baptist Church where he was the former Minister. He also pastored various other General Baptist Churches in the area.  He had formerly worked for County Wide Insurance as an Insurance Agent for many years.

On September 2, 1961, he was united in marriage to Beverly Pettit in Flint, Michigan.  Mrs. Clayton survives of the home in Dexter.

Besides his wife, Beverly, he is survived by one son, Larry Clayton and wife Lisa of Gallatin, Tennessee; one daughter, Sherry Orr of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; one brother, James Clayton of Hillsboro, Missouri; one sister, Ann Horton of North Little Rock, Arkansas; six grandchildren, Amber Hewell, Megan Pendarvis, Kyle Fleming, Grace Fleming, Russell Orr and Rylee Orr; by fourteen great-grandchildren and many other family and friends.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Betty Clayton.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, March 1, 2019 from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. 

Funeral services will then be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on March 1, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Ron Williams and Rev. Joe Payne officiating.

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

Memorials may be made to:

18 Fore-Life, c/o Scott Kruse, 705 Laurie Circle, Dexter, Missouri 63841.

Memorial Fund

John Irvin / John Brehmer, c/o Mark Guethle, 720 Saddle Spur, Dexter, Missouri

Lee Roy Barker, son of the late Pearl Barker was born on June 5, 1933 in Bloomfield, Missouri and departed this life on February 26, 2019 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 85 years.

Mr. Barker was a truck driver and was a resident of Dexter.

On December 22, 1957, he was united in marriage to Ineva Ragsdel.  Mrs. Barker survives of the home in Dexter.

Besides his wife, Ineva, he is survived by four sons: Tyrus Barker of Matthews, Missouri, Mike Barker of Dexter, Missouri, Karl Barker of Big Springs, Texas and Greg Barker of Tampa, Florida; by thirteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, March 2, 2019 from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm. 

Funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 pm in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Saturday, March 2, 2019 with Rev. Tim Russell officiating. 

Interment will be in the Dexter Cemetery.

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

 

Dr. John D. Minton, son of the late Ray Shipman and Ruth Cook Shipman, was born on February 16, 1940 in Malden, Missouri and departed this life on February 25, 2019 at the age of 79 years.

Dr. Minton was a hometown dentist serving our community for forty years.  He was known for commitment to excellence, his fairness and his generosity.  He honored and valued all of his patients, and those relationships went beyond the dental chair.  After he learned cranial-sacral therapy, he was able to help many patients improve their quality of life.  

Dr. Minton was more than just a dentist; he was also a talented artist.  He had many artistic interests; he enjoyed watercolor painting, photography, and wood carving.  In addition to his creative pursuits, he walked on the wild side by learning how to sail and how to fly.  After obtaining his Master’s in History his took his passion for history to the classroom by teaching at a local community college.  He was an avid student with wide-ranging interests, and books were his constant companions. Learning brought him great joy, and he shared his extensive knowledge with enthusiasm.  

On June 5, 1966, he was united in marriage to Julia Ann Leverich in Caitlin, Illinoi.  Mrs. Minton preceded him in death on March 18, 2008. He is survived by: two daughters, Tina Bess (Dain) of Dexter, Missouri and Traci Minton, who currently resides in Connecticut; two brothers, Paul Minton of West Virginia and Charles Shipmas of Dexter, Missouri; by three sisters, Jean Silver of Nashville, Tennessee, Meredith Gray of Nashville, Tennessee, and Carol Rainey (Palastine) of Texas; by two granddaughters, Cassidy Paige Bess and Sydney Ann Bess, and many other relatives and friends.  Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by one brother, Roy Minton.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, February 28, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.  The funeral service will be conducted at 12:00 noon in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on February 28, 2019 with Greg Mathis as speaker.  Interment will follow in Chalk Bluff Cemetery.  Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.

 In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: 18 Fore Life, ℅ Scott Kruse, 705 Laurie Circle, Dexter, Missouri 63841