Bonnie Sue Cannell, daughter of the late Quenten Cross and Lois Carl Cross Goza, was born on October 11, 1955, in Dexter, Missouri, and departed this life on January 26, 2022, at Southeast Health, in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 66 years.
Mrs. Cannell was a minister for Faith Fellowship Bible Way Ministry in Dexter, Missouri and was a resident of Dexter. She was very charitable and would help take care of anyone in need. She enjoyed camping and fishing, and she loved her family.
On December 24, 2006, in Dexter, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Dan Cannell. Mr. Cannell survives of their home in Dexter.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her brother Johnny Monroe of Wappapello; by three sisters, Ester Rogers and Laura Barnes both of Poplar Bluff, and Dolores Long of Dexter.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, January 28, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted at Faith Fellowship Bible Way Ministry in Dexter on Saturday, January 29, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Gladys Cordelia Hillis, daughter of the late James Edward Cochran and Hazel Odessa Moore, departed this life on January 26, 2022, at Southeast Health in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 80 years.
Gladys was born on February 8, 1941, in the town of Cordele in Crisp County, Georgia. She lived many of her childhood years in Savannah, Georgia where she attended Savannah High School. Later she would attend Draughons Junior College.
On June 11, 1969, she was united in marriage to Bruce R Hillis in Americus, Georgia, and had three sons, J Darren Hillis born in Americus and Keith Edward Hillis and Kevin Franklin Hillis born in Dallas, Texas. After several years in Texas Gladys moved to Dexter, Missouri, where all three sons graduated Dexter High School.
Gladys was an avid bowler and loved spending time with friends bowling in leagues in Dexter and Sikeston, Missouri. She served many years as a volunteer and board member of the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center in Sikeston, Missouri. In 2012 Gladys retired after 16 years of service from the Stoddard County Juvenile Detention Center.
Gladys enjoyed spending time watching her children and grandchildren in their school activities and loved cheering at their sporting events. Gladys had great compassion for animals and never met a stray cat or dog that wasn’t taken in and given love, food and shelter.
She is survived by sons, Darren Hillis of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Keith Hillis of Dexter, Missouri, and Kevin Hillis and his wife Erin of Springfield, Missouri, by four grandchildren, Rhylan Grace Hillis, Haden Gray Hillis, Kylie Danae McBride, and Kinsley Aileen Hillis, two great grandchildren, many cousins, and friends.
Besides her parents she was preceded in death by one sister, Shirley Beasley of Stone Mountain, Georgia and one brother Ronny Beckworth of Social Circle, Georgia and one special friend, Rob Henley of Sikeston, Missouri.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, January 31, 2022, from 4:00 pm until 6:00pm.
A graveside funeral service will be conducted in Cordele, Georgia at a later date where Gladys will be laid to rest next to her mother in the Arabi-Antioch Cemetery.
Memorials can be made to the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center, 300 Floyd Drive, Sikeston, Missouri 63801.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Benjiman P Vardell (Benny) of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, son of the late Brady B and Hazel M Vardell born on July 24, 1947 in Puxico, Missouri and passed away on January 26, 2022 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri of cardiac arrest at the age of 74 years.
Benjiman was a railroad engineer and a rancher until his retirement in 2008.
Benjiman is survived by two sisters Linda Vardell of Baldwin, Missouri and Kim (Bob) Lee of Puxico, Missouri; two nephews Stan (Lori) Vardell of Jonesboro, Arkansas and Tony (Ashley) Lee of Jackson, Missouri; three nieces Vicki (Brian) Stewart of Texarkana, Arkansas, Lisa (Callum) Reavey of Piedmont, Missouri and Amanda (Charlie) Kayser of Addis, Louisiana. He was preceded in death by his parents Brady and Hazel Vardell, two brothers Urah Vardell of Texarkana, Arkansas and Jarrell Vardell; one niece Amber Lee of Puxico, Missouri. A host of family and friends also survive.
Visitation will be held on Friday January 28, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday January 29, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri with Rev. Callum Reavey of Piedmont, Missouri officiating and Watkins and Sons Funeral Home of Puxico in charge of all arrangements.
Bruce Gillespie, 65, passed away Monday, June 21, 2021, due to unexpected and unrelated complications following a stem cell transplant at Atrium's Carolinas Medical Center-Main in Charlotte, NC.
Bruce was born in Mt. Clemens, MI; the oldest child of Dale and Wava Gillespie. As a military family, they moved frequently during his childhood, and he eventually graduated from high school in Myrtle Beach, SC in 1974. Bruce then found his home and career in Charlotte, NC, where he thrived for more than 40 years in the commercial printing business. Bruce retired in 2019 after co-owning and operating City Graphics for 28 years.
He was a man of few words, but his actions spoke volumes for his character. He was trusted and respected in the business community, had an incredible work ethic, and was very loyal and dedicated to his family and friends. Bruce was mechanically gifted, a creative cook, and loved to be outside in the great outdoors. He enjoyed canoeing the NC rivers and streams with his brother Rodney, and recently took up working with stained glass again.
Bruce is survived by his wife Jane of Charlotte and daughter (his stem cell donor!) Anna of Washington, DC; his father Dale Gillespie (Dorothy) of Bloomfield, MO; brother Rodney (Karin) of Gastonia, NC; sister Gail of Dexter, MO; brother Kyle (Brenda) of Dexter, MO; father-in-law Rich Underwood of Rock Hill, SC, nephews Tyler (Danielle), Zack and Will; nieces Brooke, Rachel and Alex, and many dear friends.
His mother Wava preceded him in death in 2006.
For any who wish to honor Bruce's memory, please consider registering to be a bone marrow donor at bethematch.org or donating to aspca.com.
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.
