Yewell G. Lawrence, Loving husband of Sandra (nee Cowsert, deceased 2012) died peacefully in his home in Naples, FL on August 18, 2019 at age 87. He will be remembered for his keen intelligence, good character, and easy, self-deprecating sense of humor. Born in Dexter, MO on March 5, 1932 to Yewell Lawrence and Pearl White Lawrence, Yewell grew up in Bloomfield, MO with his parents and two sisters, Verna and Gerry.
He attended Missouri University after high school, enjoying new friends, accounting classes, and politics (he established Missouri University’s first Young Democrats Club). A lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team and a baseball player through his youth, Yewell joined Mizzou’s baseball team with the hope of becoming a professional first baseman after college. Learning of this aspiration, his father, a Missouri State Senator, informed his son that he was not a good enough ball player to make a living at it and encouraged him to concentrate on his studies instead. This was useful and timely advice given that a year later Senator Yewell Lawrence died in an automobile accident. Yewell soon understood that he must leave school and return to Bloomfield to manage his family’s business interests, among which were shares in the Bank of Bloomfield, a livestock feed store, and a drive-in theater. He had enjoyed learning to read a balance sheet in high school and found that he liked the challenges of building and operating a business. Years later, Yewell said that what motivated him to work hard was not his competitiveness; it was his “great fear of going broke.” In 1957 Yewell and his business partner and brother-in-law, Lehman Godwin, opened Monarch Feed Mills next to the railroad in east Dexter. Soon becoming one of the largest employers in Dexter, Monarch bought and sold grain and manufactured their own brands of livestock feed, shipping feed to livestock farmers in 5 states and opening a second manufacturing plant in Pocahontas, Arkansas. In recognition that the company’s success was substantially due to its excellent employees, Monarch implemented the first employee profit-sharing program in Stoddard County. Yewell and Lehman sold Monarch in 1981 after 24 years in business. At age 32, Yewell had also become the president of the Bank of Bloomfield. The bank expanded under his time as president, opening branches in Essex, MO and Marble Hill, MO. The sense of community responsibility was strong in Yewell. He was one of several community leaders who raised money to build the Dexter Hospital for the residents of Stoddard County when several voting initiatives had failed. He served on the hospital board for several years. Always a staunch advocate for education and the Dexter Public School system, he served on the Dexter School Board from November 1962 to March 1972.
Despite his work and community service, Yewell always made time for family and fun. Yewell said that he had returned home “to marry the prettiest girl in the county”, Sandra J. Cowsert. By 1960, Sandra and Yewell had their three children, Bud, Karen and Kelly and had made Dexter their home. A small aircraft pilot, Yewell flew his family on vacations every summer and was very proud when Sandra earned her pilot’s license, too. He and Sandra also shared an interest in sports and physical fitness. Both jogged regularly well before jogging was locally fashionable and both were accomplished tennis players and golfers. They were active members of the Stoddard County Country Club and, when it was relocated and renamed, the Hidden Trails Country Club. Love of golf and warm weather led Yewell and Sandra to spend winters in Naples, Florida. After Sandra’s death, Yewell moved to Naples full time in 2014, where he was everyone’s favorite restaurant customer and neighbor. Above his professional and civic life, he loved and valued his family. At his core a humble and dutiful man, it was for his wife, children and grandchildren that Yewell worked so hard, served so readily, and lived so honorably.
He is survived by his son Yewell (Bud) G. Lawrence, Jr. and spouse June Lawrence of Dexter, MO; daughters Karen E. Lawrence of Dexter, MO, and Kelly A. Lawrence of Fort Myers, FL; sister Geralene L. Harvey of Indianapolis, IN; brother-in-law Lehman Godwin spouse of sister Verna Dean, deceased; granddaughter Natalie Wolfe Adams and spouse Charles M. Adams of Dallas, TX; grandson Hunter Yewell Lawrence of Dexter, MO, step-granddaughter Bridgett L. Kielhofner and spouse Brandon of Kelso, MO.
Visitation service will take place at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, August 30, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Memorials may be made in honor of Yewell G. Lawrence to: Dexter Public School Foundation, c/o Laura Miller, 1031 Brown Pilot Ln, Dexter MO 63841.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
Velma M. Miller Reinisch, 93, entered into God’s Kingdom on Thursday, August 22, 2019. She was the daughter of the late Herman and Edith King. Velma was born June 2, 1926 in Zadock, Missouri and died peacefully at TJ Samson Hospital in Glasgow, Kentucky with her family by her side.
Mrs. Velma Reinisch lived most of her life in Dexter, Missouri and St. Louis, Missouri. She returned to Dexter, Missouri, after retiring from Elder Manufacturing. She was a member of the Second General Baptist Church in Dexter, Missouri.
Survivors include two brothers, Nerman King of Bloomfield, Missouri and Mike King (Annetta) of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; two children, daughter, Milda Lynch (Ron) of Glasgow, Kentucky and son, Larry Miller (Marsha) of Warrenton, Missouri; three grandchildren, Michele McKee Richardson (Tim) of Glasgow, Kentucky, Jeffrey Miller and Shayla Miller, both of Warrenton, Missouri; three great-grandchildren, Cody Richardson, Jacob Richardson and Alex Richardson, all of Glasgow, Kentucky; and many nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Herrell Miller and John Reinisch; by her siblings, Norman King, Oma King Cagle, Blanton King, Thurman King, Wilda Mae King Arms, and Herbert King; and by one grandson, Mitchel McKee.
Visitation will be held at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri on Monday, August 26, 2019.
Private family viewing from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and public visitation is 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., with the funeral starting at 10:30 a.m.
Brother Larry Miller will be officiating the service.
Interment will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery in rural Bloomfield, Missouri.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
Crystal Marie Brown, daughter of Gene Brown and Sandra Wells Brown, was born on May 17, 1979 in South Haven, Michigan and departed this life on August 20, 2019 near Fisk, Missouri at the age of 40 years.
Ms. Brown was a waitress for Penny’s Diner in Dexter, a member of Sweet Prospect General Baptist Church in Dexter, and a resident of Essex.
She is survived by her parents, Gene and Sandra Brown of Essex; by her son, Dalton Hart of Bloomfield; by her daughter Marlei Jones of Essex; and by her brother, Ronnie Brown of Essex.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Alvin and Mary Wells and by her paternal grandparents, Wiley Cleveland and Ardy Brown.
Friends may call at the Sweet Prospect General Baptist Church in Dexter on Friday, August 23, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted at the Sweet Prospect General Baptist Church on Friday, August 23, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Ray Rowland officiating. Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
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.
