Donald C. Durham, son of the late Arthur Leroy Durham and Goldie Loveless Durham, was born on November 10, 1938, in Elk Township, Stoddard County, Missouri, and departed this life on September 17, 2022, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 83 years.
Mr. Durham had worked for Hester’s Packing Company from 1956 to 1972 and for Cotton Belt Railroad from 1972 to 2002, where his co-workers called him “dumplin”. He was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Dexter, Missouri, and a resident of Bernie, Missouri. He enjoyed deer hunting and taking care of his fish pond, and he loved mowing yards and spending time with his grandkids, and riding his John Deere Gator. Don was known to give the boots off his feet for individuals in need.
On May 9, 1956, in Tunica, Mississippi, he was united in marriage to Marlin Hillyard. Mrs. Durham survives of their home in Bernie.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Beckie Combs and husband Randall of Alton, Missouri; by his son, Jan McGowan of Bernie, Missouri; by his brother, Kenneth Durham and wife Sharon of Bernie, Missouri; by four sisters, Beatrice Mae Baldwin of Fenton, Missouri, Jenny Parmley of Fenton, Missouri, Mildred Adams and husband Paul of McKinney, Texas, and Mary Lou Giddings of Dexter, Missouri; by four grandchildren, Jeremy Don McGowan and wife Myra, Joshua McGowan and wife Tara, Ashley Stiles and husband Brett, and Austin Combs; and by nine great-grandchildren, Hailey Pipkins and husband Jaden, Jaden McGowan and wife Saelem, Mallory Rodgers, Karsten McGowan, Oakleigh McGowan, Sophia Combs, Audrey Stiles, Hendrick Stiles, and Madison Stiles.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Diana McGowan; by two great-grandchildren, Paxton McGowan and Josten McGowan; and by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, W.C. and Mamie Hillyard.
Visitation will be held at the First Assembly of God Church in Dexter on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted at the First Assembly of God on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Dale Jones, Rev. Ed Shirrell, Rev. Loyd Maddox and Rev. Richard Harris officiating.
Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery in Bernie, Missouri.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Barbara A. Jones, daughter of the late Ezra Hodge and Exa Steele Hodge, was born on February 8, 1937, in Blytheville, Arkansas, and departed this life on September 16, 2022, at her residence in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 85 years.
Mrs. Jones was a former hostess and manager at Hickory Log in Dexter and the former manager of Dexter BarBQ in Sikeston, retiring after 12 years of service. She was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church in Dexter. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, and working in her yard
In 1972, in Dexter, Missouri, she was united in marriage to James E. Jones. Mr. Jones preceded her in death on September 16, 2012.
She is survived by her daughter, Heather Driskill and husband Shawn of Sterlington, Louisiana; by her brother, Harold Hodge of Michigan; and by her grand-dog, Oliver.
Other than by her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Gerald Hodge.
Graveside services were conducted at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield on Monday, September 19, 2022.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter assisted with arrangements.
Dorothy Jean Caldwell, daughter of the late Paul Culbertson and Bessie Swallows Culbertson, was born on February 21, 1936, in rural Dexter, Missouri, and departed this life on September 16, 2022, at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 86 years.
Mrs. Caldwell was a former clerk for Meyers Rexall Drug and Weber Ben Franklin in Dexter, Missouri.
On June 22, 1963, in Bloomfield, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Jimmie Caldwell. Mr. Caldwell preceded her in death on April 19, 1998.
She is survived by her brother, Rufus Culbertson of Dexter, Missouri; by her nephew, Reed Culbertson of Dexter, Missouri; and by her great-nephew, Ross Culbertson of Dexter, Missouri.
Other than by her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Paul Dean Culbertson; and by her sister, Marlene Creg.
Graveside services will be conducted at Sadler Chapel Cemetery on Monday, September 19, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Sheila Claudette Hester, was born October 26, 1936 in Essex, Missouri, and departed this life on August 31, 2022, in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 85 years.
Sheila was a homemaker most of her life but worked as a nurse’s assistant for a few years at a Poplar Bluff, Missouri medical facility.
She was widowed and is survived by her children, Mike Cannon, Tammy Cannon, Donna Cannon, and Lorie Cannon; by her grandchildren, Lorin McClung and Holden McClung; and by her brother, Glen Lankford.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bryan and Evelyn Lankford, by her son, Scott Parker, by her sister, Ruth Stuckey, and by her brother, Jim Lankford.
Visitation will be held at the Essex United Methodist Church in Essex, Missouri, on Friday, September 16, 2022, from 10:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
A memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in the Old Essex Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Jamie Ruth Gilooly, daughter of the late Franklin Edwards and Shirley Beckham Edwards, was born on July 20, 1950, and departed this life on September 9, 2022, at her residence in Jackson, Missouri, at the age of 72 years.
Mrs. Gilooly was a homemaker.
On August 3, 1968, in Dexter, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Delbert Gilooly. Mr. Gilooly preceded her in death on January 13, 2013.
She is survived by her daughter, Kristin Parker and husband Stanley of Jackson, Missouri; and by four grandchildren, Blake Wells, Mara Golden, Nick Golden, and Gage Parker.
Other than by her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Darron Gilooly; by her brother, Phillip Edwards, and by her sister, Janelle Edwards.
Graveside services will be conducted at Dexter Cemetery on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at 12:00 p.m.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
