Steven Wayne Childers II, son of Steven Childers and Traci Lang Childers, was born on January 23, 2000, in Ft. Carson, Colorado, and departed this life on October 11, 2023, in Morehouse, Missouri, at the age of 23 years.
Steven was an officer with the Missouri Department of Corrections in Charleston, Missouri. He attended Westwood Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, Missouri and was a resident of Malden, Missouri.
Steven accepted Jesus Christ as his savior when he was 14. He graduated in 2023 from Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida, where he was a member of the PCC Campus Church. While in college, he was a leader of the Pickens Bible Club, he played on the Collegians Softball Team, was a moderator for the PCC Memes Page, authored a travel blog for local eateries, and was a member of the Florida Young Republicans. He had a great appreciation for civil war history, renaissance fairs, and politics. He enjoyed watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball and Kansas City Chiefs football. He loved funny memes and playing jokes on his friends and family.
He is survived by his parents, Steven and Traci Childers of Malden, Missouri; by two sisters, Leah Childers and fiancé Jase Anderson of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Amber Childers of Bloomfield, Missouri; by his maternal grandmother, Beverly O’Daniell of Bloomfield, Missouri; by his nephew, Nathan Copeland of Bloomfield, Missouri; and by his best friend, Jarrod Van Gundy, and by several aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Stephanie Childers; by his paternal grandfather, James Childers; by his maternal grandfather, Allen Lang; by his paternal grandmother and step-grandfather, Wilma and Paul Johnson; by his maternal step-grandfather, JR O’Daniell; and by his cousin, Katelyn Lang.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie on Saturday, October 14, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Dennis Ulrey officiating. Interment will follow in the Gravel Hill Cemetery in Saint Francis, Arkansas.
Mathis Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
Donald Ray Denny, son of the late Ernest Denny and Vivian Tanner Denny, was born on January 6, 1936, in Leora, Missouri, and departed this life on October 9, 2023, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 87 years.
Mr. Denny was a former owner of IGA Grocery Stores, he had also worked in a suit factory and sold cars. He was a member of Brown Chapel Church in Puxico, Missouri and a resident of Puxico. He enjoyed raising chickens, fishing, carving and wood burning ducks and more.
On June 9, 1956, in Puxico, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Betty Dillin. Mrs. Denny preceded him in death on February 11, 2014.
He is survived by his son, Byron Denny of Puxico, Missouri; by his daughter, Donna Hayes of Puxico, Missouri; by four grandchildren, Sunshine House, Katie Lovett, Bobbi Jo Dontrich, and Jessica Benson; and by seven great-grandchildren, Tonya Burns, Anthony Dontrich, Vivian Dontrich, Lanie Benson, Sadie Lovett, Lydia Copeland, and Trinity House.
Other than by his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Denzel “Dink” Denny and Carroll Denny.
Visitation will be held at Brown Chapel Church in Puxico, Missouri on Saturday, October 14, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted at Brown Chapel Church on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. with Rev. Ray Placher officiating. Interment will follow in the Puxico City Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
James Larry Thompson, son of the late Ira V. Thompson and Joy G. Neeley Johnson, was born on March 2, 1945, in Memphis, Tennessee, and departed this life on October 8, 2023, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of 78 years.
Mr. Thompson lived a life of public service as a Veteran of the Missouri National Guard, a former trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a former Missouri State Fire Marshal, and a retired criminal justice instructor with Three Rivers Community College. He was a member of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Dexter, Missouri, and a resident of Dexter. Thompson served on the Regional Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors, the Dexter Municipal Airport Board of Directors, and the Dexter Public Safety Board of Communications.
He also enjoyed being a part of the Experimental Aircraft Association. He was a Volunteer Emergency Operations Officer and used the US Army’s (MARS) Community truck. His other pastimes involved duck hunting, HAM radios, flying, and helping municipalities with their radio systems. In Vaughn Wright’s later years, he also assisted Vaughn in officiating funerals.
On July 8, 1967, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Martha Ann “Marty” Stanley. Mrs. Thompson preceded him in death on December 13, 2021.
He is survived by his son, Jon Thompson, and wife Deidre of Dexter, Missouri, by his daughter, Stephanie Maintz, and husband Scott of Jackson, Missouri; and by three grandchildren, Mattie Thompson, Preston Thompson, and Ann Marie Long.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, October 12, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Dexter Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Charles Gaskins, son of the late Frank Gaskins and Pauline Pritchett Gaskins, was born on August 7, 1942, in Steele, Missouri, and departed this life on October 5, 2023, in Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 81 years.
Mr. Gaskins was a veteran of the United States Navy. He had worked in construction and was a resident of Bloomfield, Missouri.
On July 20, 1985, in Bernie, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Shirley Ann Bolin. Mrs. Gaskins survives of their home in Bloomfield.
Along with his wife, he is survived by two sons, Charles Gaskins II of Bloomfield, Missouri, and Gary Gaskins of Granite City, Illinois; by two sisters, Debbie Asher of Eldon, Missouri, and Sherrie Yates of Bono, Arkansas, and by seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Frank Gaskins; and by three sisters, Joyce Sims, Gloria Ring, and Glenda Martin.
No services are planned.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Marilyn Darlene Southerland of Moscow Mills, Missouri, the daughter of the late Andrew Bud and Eunez Goldie (Lasley) Pullum was born in Stoddard County, Missouri, on June 2, 1949, and passed from this life on October 4, 2023, at the age of 74 years.
Marilyn lived in the Southeast Missouri area the majority of her life. She also resided in Wentzville and Moscow Mills area. She loved spending time with family especially spoiling her grandchildren.
Marilyn married Larry Gene Southerland in Essex, Missouri, on July 14, 1968, and remained married until the time of his passing on July 18, 2019.
She is survived by two sons, Duke Southerland and Tony (Stacy) Pearman of Moscow Mills, Missouri; one brother, Hermann Pullum of Dexter, Missouri; one sister, Judy Riffley of Wright City, Missouri; two close personal friends, Jerry and Glenda; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchild; as well as a host of family and friends.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents; one daughter, Christina Jarrell; two brothers, Jeffery and Leonard Pullum; two sisters, Francis and Eunez.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, from 10:00 a.m until 12:00 p.m. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel In Dexter, Missouri, with the funeral service to follow with Sister Julie Jackson officiating.
Interment will follow at the Caroline Dowdy Cemetery in Dexter, Missouri, with Watkins And Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.
