Shirley Ruth Tate, daughter of the late Ivan B. McNew, Sr. and Lydia (Merriman) McNew, was born on October 2, 1936 in St. Louis, Missouri and entered Heaven on August 21, 2019 at the age of 82. She was residing at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri at the time of her death.
Shirley was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Dexter, a member of Eastern Star, served as a Cub Scout Den Mother, and a was a long-time resident of Dexter.
She grew up as part of a loving family in Morehouse, Missouri, where she graduated from high school in 1954. She then moved to St. Louis where she landed her first job with the Reinholdt & Gardner brokerage firm. Shirley’s next career opportunity was working in Sikeston with Southwestern Bell Telephone as a switch-board operator. This path led her to meet the love of her life, and she was united in marriage to Jim Tate on March 30, 1958 in Hernando, Mississippi. The two “love birds” started a wonderful journey in life together, living in numerous towns across Missouri and Kansas as Jim followed his profession in the insurance industry. They eventually established permanent roots in Dexter which became the hometown they loved. Shirley was the “anchor” of the family raising their three children and she found her true calling as a care provider for family and friends. She loved cooking, sewing, tackling complex cross-word puzzles, reading, and spending endless hours spoiling not only her own children, but also her many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Shirley mastered the “gift of gab” and enjoyed hosting her friends and family in casual social gatherings “fueled” by a good cup of coffee and a slice of homemade pie. She possessed an incredible memory, and up to the day she died could artfully recount detailed stories of the life events and birthdates of all family members and friends.
Shirley is survived by her daughter, Kathy Tate of Columbia; two sons, Kevin (wife Genie) of Broken Arrow, Okla. and Keith (wife Lucy) of Overland Park, Kansas; a brother-in-law, Ron Tate (Linda) of St. Louis; a brother-in-law Charlie King of Oklahoma; one sister-in-law, Liz McNew of Morehouse; five grandchildren, Matthew Tate (Amanda), Mark Tate (Madison), Zach Tate, John Paul (Raven) and Logan Paul; eight great grandchildren, Nehemiah, Noah, Isaiah, Abigail, Hezekiah, Wyatt, Trystan and Jocelyn. In addition, she will be missed by many cousins including Mary Kilmer of Sikeston; nephews Alan King (Sandy); Jimmy Parker (Elishia Baker); Corey McNew (Shannon); Steve Deppe (Brenda); Craig Tate (Julie); nieces Joni Kroeger (Steve); Sydney Daniels (Timmy); Shannon King (Randy).
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Jim; one granddaughter, Emily Tate; two sisters, Phyllis Parker and Audrey King; one brother, I.B. McNew, Jr.; three nieces, Becky King, Rachel King, and Janice Tate.
Shirley’s family wishes to thank her many friends in the Dexter community who have loved and cared for her over the years. You will always be considered part of our family!
Visitation will take place at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, August 26, 2019 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Monday, August 26, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Dr. Tom Bass officiating. Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield where she will be laid to rest with her loving husband Jim.
Memorials may be made in Shirley’s name to the First Presbyterian Church, 201 S Locust Street, Dexter MO 63841 or Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64145.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
Donald “DJ” Morris, son of Donald Morris and the late Debbie Cochran Morris, was born on June 1, 1994 in Gainesville, Missouri and departed this life on August 18, 2019 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri at the age of 25 years.
Mr. Morris was a construction worker for Ron Owens construction.
He is survived by his father, Donald Morris of Dexter; by his son, Elliott Morris of Dexter; by his sister, Mary Morris of Dexter; by two brothers, Frank Morris of Dexter and John Schatte of Monet, Missouri.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
Tommy Lee Hankins was born in Dexter, Missouri on January 29, 1955 and passed away at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center on August 15, 2019 at the age of 64.
He is preceded in death by his father Tommy Joe Hankins and his mother Rose Connie Lee Layton Hankins.
He is survived by his loving wife Donna Hankins of 3 years. They were married in Puxico, Missouri on April 10, 2016.
He is lovingly remembered by his brother Eddie Joe Hankins and his wife Renee Hankins; by 1 niece Rachel Burton; by his daughter Jaime Fry and her husband Jimmie Fry Jr; by his son Bobby Hankins and his wife Amy Hankins; by 4 grandchildren: Tylar Phillips, Kyle Phillips, Destiny Fry, and Jennifer Hankins (unborn); 3 great-grandchildren: Carsan Phillips, Lydia Phillips, and Ryleigh Phillips; and many other friends and family.
A Memorial service will be held on Thursday August 22, 2019 from 4-8pm at Living Water Church in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Brenda Joy Burns, daughter of the late James Randolph Boone and Katherine Tucker Boone, was born on January 28, 1940 in Kennett, Missouri and departed this life on August 15, 2019 at her residence in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 79 years.
Mrs. Burns was a homemaker and was of the Nazarene faith.
On October 4, 1960, in Dexter, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Bobby G. Burns. Mr. Burns survives of their home in Dexter.
In addition to her husband Bobby, she is survived by her son, Terry Burns and wife Lisa of Crossville, Tennessee; by her daughter Robin Mitchell and husband David of McMinnville, Tennessee; by her sister, Phyllis Boone Southern of Sikeston, Missouri; by eleven grandchildren, Dusty Burns, Dalton Burns, Zayne Morgan, Zachary Burns, Nicole Burns, Alicia Essner, Tamara Koonce, Gabriel Koonce, Cazandra Koonce, Ashley Rutledge, and Josh Mitchell; and by seven great-grandchildren.
Other than by her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Michael Burns; and by two brothers, James Boone and Benny Boone.
Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, August 19, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Monday, August 19, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.
Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
Terry Wayne Townsend was born on 13 Jan 1940, to Claude Townsend and Mable (Way) Townsend. Terry passed away at his home near Zalma on August 15, 2019, at the age of 79 years, 7 months and 2 days.
Terry married Marcella Sue Fish on June 6, 1959. Over the course of the next 60 years they traveled extensively, visiting all 50 states—living in 10—as well as living in the countries of Turkey and Greenland.
Terry went to Kinder School and graduated from Puxico High School in 1957. He joined the Air Force shortly after graduation and became an Air Traffic Controller. After a 20-year Air Force career, he retired as a Master Air Traffic Controller. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Terry became a Flight Service Controller for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). While working at the Cape Girardeau Airport he attended SEMO University obtaining three years of credit toward a degree in teaching.
Through all their travels "home" was always the Puxico area, so Terry and Marcella moved back after retiring from the FAA. Terry was awarded numerous military citations, awards and letters of appreciation from the pilots he directed. He was a member of the Air Communicators & Air Traffic Controllers Association.
Surviving Terry are his wife Marcella Townsend of Zalma, daughter Lynnette (and Kent)Whitsel of Jackson, MO, son Michael (and Marla) Townsend of Puxico, MO, and daughter Jannette (and Steven) Lootens of Middle Grove, NY; five grandchildren, Jesse (and Joslyn) Townsend, Justin (and Jeannette) Townsend, Zachary (and Melissa) Whitsel, Daniel Lootens, and Amanda Lootens; and one great grandchild, Grayson Townsend. Terry is survived by his brother Bill (and Pat) Townsend of Bowling Green, KY and numerous other family members. Terry was preceded by his parents, and sister, Bonnie (and Bob) Hisaw.
As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to Fagan Cemetery, Brush Creek Cemetery, or Brown Cemetery in Terry’s memory. Terry was a member of Brush Creek Baptist Church.
Graveside funeral services with internment to follow will be held at 2:00 PM, August 20, 2019, at the Missouri State Veteran’s Cemetery in Bloomfield, MO with the Rev Ray Placher of Puxico, MO officiating.
