Gail Renae Gillespie-Conway passed away Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at her residence in Dexter, Missouri. Gail was born in Arlington, Texas, September 3, 1959, the third child of Dale and Wava Gillespie.
As a military family they moved several times across the United States and finally Gail graduated from high school in Sumter, South Carolina. After a tour in the United States Navy, she attended school at Oklahoma State Tech studying commercial art.
On December 14, 2021, she was united in marriage to Steve Conway in Dallas, Texas.
Besides her husband, she is survived by her father, Dale (Dorothy) Gillespie of Bloomfield, Missouri; by two brothers, Rodney (Karin) Gillespie of Gastonia, North Carolina, and Kyle (Brenda) Gillespie of rural Dexter, Missouri; and by her sister-in-law, Jane Gillespie of Charlotte, North Carolina.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Wava (2006) and her brother, Bruce (2021).
After suffering a 45-year fight with Crohn's’ disease, it took her life at age 62. Her wishes are that any memorial donations be given to the Crones Foundation in the study and hopeful cure of this dreaded disease. Crones Foundation, 733 Third Avenue, Suite 510, New York, NY 10017
A graveside service will be held at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield on Monday, January 31, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Alvin Smyth Jr., lifelong resident of Dexter, departed this life on January 21, 2022, at Capetown Assisted Living in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 97 years.
Alvin, the son of the late Alvin Smyth Sr. and Sarah Manion Smyth, was born on December 29, 1924, in Pyletown, Missouri. He graduated from Dexter High School. In June 1944, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served as an Engineer Electrician onboard the U.S.S. Prevail minesweeper in the South Pacific for 2 years during WWII.
After returning from the Navy, he attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Following graduation, he returned to Dexter and farmed as well as taught Ag classes in the Bloomfield School District. He left Bloomfield to work for Doane Agricultural Services for 15 years and in 1964 he was transferred to the southern region in Memphis, Tennessee.
Missing his Missouri home, he returned with his wife and three daughters to Dexter. He attained his Real Estate Broker and General Real Estate Appraiser Licenses and he opened Alvin Smyth Realty, Inc. During this time, he also acquired several rental properties which he still owned.
Alvin served on the Dexter Memorial Hospital Board for several years. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Dexter.
Alvin enjoyed hunting and fishing with his many friends, spending time at lake homes at Wappapello and Kentucky Lakes and his condo in Perdido Key, Florida. But most importantly he loved spending time with family and friends.
On September 10, 1949, in Dexter, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Hilda Baker. Mrs. Smyth preceded him in death on January 6, 2006.
He is survived by three daughters, Vicki Waldrup (Butch) of Kansas City, Missouri, Beverly Good of Hayden, Colorado, and Susan Richmond (Ron) of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; by his brother, Michael Smyth (Beverly) of Meridian, Idaho, by eight grandchildren, by three great-grandchildren, and many special friends.
Other than by his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, John Smyth and Jim Smyth (Ann); and by two sisters, Mary Ellen Sisler (Jim) and Malinda Allen (Kenneth).
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, February 10, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, February 10, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. with Mark Snider officiating.
Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Memorials may be made to 18 Fore Life, c/o Scott Kruse, 705 Laurie Circle, Dexter, Missouri 63841 or the Stoddard County Children’s Home, PO Box 164, Dexter, Missouri 63841.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Curtis Durrell Cooper of Gray Ridge Missouri, son of the late Charles Edward and Mae (Bradshaw) Cooper born on February 18th, 1936 near Sturdivant, Missouri passed away on January 21, 2022 in Sikeston, Missouri at the age of 86 years.
He lived in the Stoddard County area most of his life. Curtis enjoyed working outside in the woods, working as a saw mill operator for many years. Curtis was of the Christian faith.
Curtis is survived by his girlfriend and long time partner, Edna Elles of Dexter, Missouri; one son and two daughters; several grandchildren and many great grandchildren, as well as a host of family and friends.
Curtis was preceded in death by his parents, 4 brothers, and 6 sisters.
Graveside Funeral service and burial will be held at 2:00 P.M on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at Rock Point Cemetery near Swinton Missouri, with Brother James Malloy officiating and Watkins and Sons Funeral Home of Dexter in charge of all arrangements.
Watkins and Sons Funeral Service info@watkinsfuneralhome.com or phone 573-624-3548
John J. (Jack) Wells, Jr. 79 of Dexter, Missouri passed away on Tuesday, January 18, 2022. He was born on November 20, 1942, the son of the late John J. Wells, Sr. and Kathryn (Bock) Wells.
He moved to Dexter after living in Antioch, Illinois for most of his life. A 1956 graduate of St. Peter Catholic Grammar School and 1960 graduate of Antioch Township High School. He proudly served in the United States Army from 1964-1966 serving in Korea. Jack worked for many years in the construction business.
He is survived by his brother Timothy (Denise) Wells of Antioch, Illinois; by nephews and nieces, Jeffrey (Diane) Henning, Keely Wells, Jason (Heather) Folbrick, Lori (Jack) Romine, Timothy (Gina) Henning, Betsy (Darrell) Wells; by great-nephews and nieces, Katy, Michaela, Kyle, Max, MacKenzie, Olivia, Jackson, Timothy, and Mary Grace; and by special friends, Luanne Free and Shelby Thornton. Also, a special thank you to Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter and Preferred Hospice.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Terrence Wells, by sisters, Patricia Folbrick and Virginia Henning; and by his beloved companion Sandra Richmond.
Private Inurnment was conducted at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with full military honors.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Tracie Marie Mason was born May 4, 1972 in Sikeston, Missouri to the late Donald Troy Mason Sr. and Donna Lee Yaeger. She departed this life on January 6, 2022 at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, OK.
Tracie was a loving mother, sister, and friend. She loved to cook meals for anyone that she could. She was taken from us to early and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Tracie is survived by her son Chance Mason of Chickasha, OK, two brothers Donald Troy Mason Jr., (Bethany) of Oklahoma and Floyd Mason of Bell City, Missouri. Also by two sisters Ambie Brewer of Clinton, Arkansas and Ramona Mason of Greenville, Missouri, several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
A private memorial service will be planned at a later date in Missouri.
