Betty Ruth McNew, daughter of the late William Kitchen and Laura Brown Kitchen, was born on May 5, 1946 in Morehouse, Missouri, and departed this life on June 14, 2021 at her residence in Bloomfield, Missouri, at the age of 75 years.
Mrs. McNew was a homemaker and seamstress. She was a past member of the United Pentecostal Church in Morehouse. She enjoyed sewing and she loved to dote on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
On September 26, 1966, in Morehouse, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Terry McNew. Mr. McNew survives of their home in Bloomfield.
In addition to her husband, Terry, she is survived by two sons, Terry McNew (Paula) of Sikeston, Missouri, and David Shaun McNew of Bloomfield, Missouri; by two daughters, Teresa Callow (David) of Merigold, Mississippi, and Rebecca Breeden of Bloomfield, Missouri; by her brother, Herbert Kitchen of Sikeston, Missouri; by her sister, Diana Wilson of Sikeston, Missouri; by eight grandchildren, Ashleigh Petty, Davey Callow, Logan Callow, Seth Callow, Lauren McNew, Joshua Breeden, Megan McNew, and Carolyn Rose Spraggs; and by nine great-grandchildren, Bella Maldonado, Colton Breeden, Ella Breeden, Amelia Breeden, Eva Callow, Wyatt Callow, Tala Spraggs, Paislee McNew, and Braylan McNew.
Other than by her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Donald Kitchen, Billy Kitchen, and Lloyd Kitchen; by her sister, Sue Laminack; and by her granddaughter, Kailey Callow.
A memorial service will be held at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Wendell Lee “Smitty” Smith, son of the late Otto Lee Smith and Kathryn Viola Owens Smith, was born in Bernie, Missouri, on February 4, 1930, and departed this life at his residence in Bernie, Missouri, on June 12, 2021, at the age of 91.
Mr. Smith served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War; he was the owner and operator of Smitty’s Pool Room in Bernie for 50 years, retiring at the age of 78. He was of Baptist Faith.
He was united in marriage to Wanda Jean Stephens in Piggott, Arkansas, on December 22, 1951. Mrs. Smith survives in their home in Bernie.
Other survivors include one son, Roger Lee Smith & wife Edna of Bernie, Missouri; by one daughter, Kathi Jean Masters & husband Clifford of Colorado Springs, Colorado; by three grandchildren, Jared Lee Smith & wife Nia, Dacia LeAnn Masters, and Dana Elizabeth Smith & husband Kent; by two great-grandchildren, Anna Chippindale, and Lauryn Smith; also by other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death other than by his parents, by three brothers, William “Bud” Smith, Larry Smith, and Denny Smith.
Friends may call at Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Thursday, June 17, 2021, from 10:30 A.M. until 1:30 P.M.
Funeral services will then be conducted at 1:30 P.M. with Rev. Gary Gilbert officiating.
Interment will follow in Bernie Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie in charge of all arrangements.
John Wayne Tatum, son of the late John and Mary Lucille Blackwell Tatum, was born January 19, 1956, in Anniston, Missouri and departed this life on June 11, 2021 at his home in Anniston at the age of 65 years.
John Wayne was self-employed truck driver for many years before going to drive for Edwards Transportation in East Prairie until his health forced him to retire.
He is survived by two sons, Johnny Tatum of East Prairie; Joshua and (Brittany) Tatum of Anniston; two daughters, Tara Tatum (Tre Hammontree) of East Prairie Missouri, and Sarah (Josh) Mobley of Sikeston, Missouri; one brother, Charles Allen (Nancy)Tatum of Charleston, Mo; two sisters, Delores Hutson of Red Oak, Texas and Mary Ann (Dennis) Rolwing of Cleveland, Mo.; seven grandchildren, Emily, Saylor and Storey Hutchason, Stryker and Lettie Mobley, Grae Tatum and Ivy Tatum.
Pallbearers will be J.C. Coke, Josh Mobley, Tyler Branam, David Sterling, Keith Edwards and Tre Hammontree.
Visitation will be conducted Monday June 14, 2021, from 11 a.m. until time of funeral service at 2 p.m. at First General Baptist Church in East Prairie with Brother Martin Lucas officiating.
Interment will follow at Anniston Cemetery in Anniston, Missouri.
Brenda Johnson, 59 of Puxico, Missouri passed away June 13, 2021. She was born to the late Mertice Johnson and Rosa Lee Lacovoli on August 18, 1961 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Brenda worked as an aide at the Puxico Nursing Home. She was of the Christian faith.
Brenda is survived by her two sons Christopher Baker of Puxico, Missouri; Darrell Johnson of Bell City, Missouri; long time companion William Baker; five grandchildren; three sisters Vicki Johnson, Annette Johnson, and Lucial Johnson Bryant; two brothers Nick Johnson and Mike Johnson. A host of family and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by her mother.
No services planned at this time.
Watkins and Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.
Larry Jones, son of the late James Mack Jones and Dorothy Pearl Ivey, was born on March 18, 1950, in Decaturville, Tennessee, and departed this life on June 9, 2021, at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 71 years.
Mr. Jones was a Veteran of the United States Navy. He was an outdoorsman, who loved to hunt and fish. He liked trading and selling anything on wheels including vehicles and campers.
He is survived by his son, Christopher Brian Jones of Dexter, Missouri; by two daughters, Melissa Renee Jones of Dexter, Missouri, and Jamie Lynne Jones of Naylor, Missouri; one sister, Barbara James Vaughn of Pikeville, Tennessee; by eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Other than by his parents he was preceded in death by one sister, Brenda Kay Jones; by one brother, Michael Keith Jones and by one grandson, Devin Christopher Jones.
Visitation will be conducted on Sunday, June 13, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter.
Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, June 14, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Rev. Tim Russell officiating.
Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with full military honors.
