Jerry Lee Hopkins of Puxico, Missouri, the son of the late Bob and Margie Bernice (Alford) Hopkins was born in Stoddard County, Missouri, on June 10, 1950, and passed from this life in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, on August 29, 2023, at the age of 73 years.
Jerry lived in the Southeast Missouri area a huge majority of his life but had also resided in Buckeye, Arizona for about 20 years. Jerry was of the Christian Faith. He enjoyed being a truck driver, fishing, and spending time with family and friends. Jerry was especially fond of and played an important role in raising his grandchildren.
He is survived by one son, Ken Cannon of Puxico; one daughter, Traci Fritch of Wappapello; five grandchildren, Troy (Carlissa) Dempsey of Wappapello; Samantha Dempsey of Puxico; Angela (Brandon) Howell of Wappapello; Desiree Cannon of Poplar Bluff; Kenny Cannon of Phoenix, Arizona; three brothers, Bobby Hopkins of Dexter; Dennis Hopkins of Bloomfield; Charles Hopkins of St. Charles; five sisters, Mary Conner of Bernie; Jelane Hickson of Circle City; Sue Bratcher of Matthews; Sherry Branum of St. Louis; and Darlene Case of Dudley; fifteen great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews as well as a host of family and friends.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Carl, Keith and James Hopkins; one sister, Sheila Garvey.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 2, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel In Dexter, Missouri, with a Memorial service to follow with Pastor Jeff Linson of Puxico officiating and Watkins and Sons of Dexter in charge of all arrangements.
Gwendolyn Iris McGarrity, daughter of the late Francis Boone and Beulah Hughes Boone was born on July 24, 1922, in Portageville, Missouri and departed this life on September 3, 2023, at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 101.
Gwendolyn had managed Ben Franklin stores in Missouri and Arkansas. In 1949 her and her husband, Leon started Dexter Queen. They owned and operated Dexter Queen together for thirty-two years. She started the first al-anon meetings in Dexter and ran those meetings for thirty-three years.
On November 7, 1943, she was united in marriage to Leon McGarrity in Blytheville, Arkansas. Mr. McGarrity preceded her in death on August 30, 2011.
She is survived by her granddaughter, Theresa Wilson and husband Curtis of Dexter, Missouri; and by two great-grandchildren, Tyler Wilson and wife Logan, and Makenna Wilson.
Other than by her husband and parents she was preceded in death by her daughter, Delores Gibson; by two brothers, Peck Boone, and Bob Boone; and by her sister, Phyllis Walton.
A grave-side service will be conducted on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Dexter cemetery with Mike Watkins officiating.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting the family with arrangements.
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.
