George Bruce Bowen, son of the late Georgia Ruth Hartlein was born on June 20, 1951 in Parma, Missouri and departed this life on September 3, 2023 at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 72.
He was a veteran of the United States Navy and was a resident of Bloomfield. He worked in maintenance at a Tyson Farm. He enjoyed western movies, riding around in his truck and talking with his family on the phone.
On June 18, 1988 he was united in marriage to Michelle Eubanks in Bloomfield, Missouri. Mrs. Bowen survives of their home in Bloomfield.
Other than by his wife he is survived by his step-son, William Darby of Morley, Missouri ; by his father and mother-in-law, Willis and Brenda Eubanks of Bloomfield, Missouri; by two granddaughters, Tori and Daisy Darby; by his brothers, Eddie Vaughn (Michelle) of Canalou, Missouri, Ron Vaughn of Mathews, Missouri, Don Vaughn (Cathy) of Dexter, Missouri, Gary Vaughn (Tina Geve) of Doniphan, Missouri, Jerry Vaughn (Kitti) of Leesville, Louisiana, David Richardson of Oran, Missouri, Robert Richardson (Tonya) of Hayti, Missouri, and Amos Richardson of Lilburn, Missouri; by his sisters, Becky Richardson (David) of Ashtabula, Ohio, Patricia Richardson of Canalou, Missouri, Lisa Richardson of Benton, Missouri, Linda Stanton (Leonard) of Oran, Missouri, and Ruthie Vozar (Paul) of Fresno, California; and by many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Kenneth Lambert officiating.
Interment will follow in the Gravel Hill cemetery.
Betty Sue Whitley, daughter of the late Chester Bess and Mickey Louise Cook Bess was born on February 2, 1955 in Advance, Missouri and departed this life on September 2, 2023 at the Southeast Health of Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 68.
Mrs. Whitley had worked at the Brown Shoe factory, and for the Dexter school district. She was a member of the First Pentecostal Church in Dexter. She loved her children and grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them. She loved to serve in different areas of her church, and loved serving God. She also enjoyed being outside fishing and camping.
On January 26, 1973 she was united in marriage to Mike Whitley in Essex, Missouri. Mr. Whitley survives of their home in Dexter.
Other than by her husband, she is survived by her son, Adam Whitley and wife Devon of Raeford, North Carolina; by her daughters, Nicole Cook and husband Chad of Tiffin, Ohio and Amber Wilkerson and husband Daniel of Dexter, Missouri; by two brothers, Don Bess of Dexter, Missouri, and Kenneth Bess of Bloomfield, Missouri; by four sisters, Bonnie Jaco of Marble Hill, Missouri, Brenda O’Connell of Dexter, Missouri, Janet Bracken of Bloomfield, Missouri, and Shelia Bess of Dexter, Missouri; and by six grandchildren, Jadon Cook, Gracelynn Cook, Logan Wilkerson, Luke Wilkerson, Loryn Wilkerson and Lenora Wilkerson.
Other than by her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Jackie Bess; by one sister in infancy; and by two grandchildren, Ava Wilkerson and Evelyn Whitley.
Visitation will be conducted on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with Brother Jeff Wells officiating.
Interment will follow in the Dexter cemetery.
Gayle Henson was born on March 11, 1936, in Lavalle, MO to Ben and Gertie Henson. Gayle departed this life on September 1, 2023, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center at the age of eighty-seven.
Gayle resided in Dexter, MO since the 1960's. She never married and lived with her sister and brother-in-law Ruth and Ike Griffey. Gayle was known for generosity and hard work ethic. She loved cooking, gardening, crocheting, and making doll house-size crafts from scrap tin. Through the years Gayle helped care for horses, cows, pigs, chickens, dogs, and cats. She loved being outside fishing, hunting deer, picking wild blackberries and polk, also going to the sale barn. She was always looking for a good bargain and most of the time found one.
Gayle was preceded in death by her parents and many siblings. She was also preceded in death by two nephews, Roger "Butch" Griffey and Terry Griffey.
Gayle is survived by one nephew Roy Don Griffey of Wappapelo, Rene Henson of Michigan; three great nieces Paula Griffey White of Wappapelo, and Angie Seabuagh (Matt Seabaugh) of Sikeston, MO, and Jessie Glander of Michigan; two great nephews Andrew Webster (Mindy Webster) of Kennett, MO, Chris Webster of Kennett, MO. Gayle is also survived by three great great nephews Ethan Kirkley of White Hall AR, JJ Seabaugh of Sikeston, MO, Raiden Webster of Kennett; two great great neices Ariel Webster and Tayzie Webster of Kennett, MO.
Through the years Gayle would find joy in assisting children with school supplies and attending her nieces' and nephews'
sports and activities.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday September 5th, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Sadler Chapel Cemetery. Rev. Jason Whitson of Boekerton Baptist Church in Portageville, MO will be officiating.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Shelia Elaine Brown, daughter of the late Freddie Leroy Kenshalo and Betty Sue Houltzhouser Kenshalo, was born on June 28, 1960, in Morehouse, Missouri, and lost her year-long battle with cancer on August 30, 2023, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 63 years.
Mrs. Brown was a former railroad transportation van driver. She attended the Bernie General Baptist Church in Bernie, Missouri and was a resident of Dexter, Missouri.
On February 14, 2004, in Scott City, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Richard Brown Jr. Mr. Brown preceded her in death on July 6, 2022.
She is survived by her son, Kelly Cagle of Dexter, Missouri; by her daughter, Brandy Cagle of Dexter, Missouri; and by four grandchildren, Payson Rose Cagle, Addisynn Tipton, Rylan Cagle, and Stetsen Collins.
Other than by her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Michael Kenshalo; and by three sisters, Terry Cobb, Brenda Williams, and Betty Fowler.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Steve Fitzpatrick officiating. Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
John Kester, son of the late Arthur Kester and Jessie Lee Cunningham Kester, was born on November 16, 1951, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and departed this life surrounded by his family on August 29, 2023, at Winchester Nursing Center in Bernie, Missouri, at the age of 71 years.
Mr. Kester was a former employee of Federal Mogul and Brown Shoe Company in Bernie and Charleston, Missouri. He enjoyed fishing and loved classic cars and RC Planes.
He is survived by two sons, Terry Kester and wife Rosetta of Dexter, Missouri and Phillip Kester of Bernie, Missouri; by two sisters, Judy Bryant and Donna Robinson both of Dexter, Missouri, and by six grandchildren, Zach Kester, Toby Kester, Warren Kester, Kaitlynne Raymond, Kenadie Simmons, and Kannon Whitney.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Crystal Kester Whitney; by his brother, Dale Kester, and by his sister, Maria Teets.
A memorial service is being planned for a later date.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
