Ray Dewayne Reed, son of the late Author T. Read and Faye Pauline Tompkins Read was born on July 31, 1944, in Campbell, Missouri and departed this life on December 30, 2023, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Emergency Department in Poplar Bluff, Missouri at the age of 79.
Ray had retired from Brown Shoe in Bernie where he had worked as the foreman. He had also worked in the coal yard, operating dozers for Associated Electric in New Madrid, Missouri. He enjoyed woodworking and collecting sports cards. He loved taking care of his three rat terriers; Scooter, Buffy and Toby.
On April 3, 1963, he was united in marriage to Ruth Hurley in Malden, Missouri. Mrs. Reed survives of their home in Puxico, Missouri.
Along with his wife, he is survived by one son, Shawn Reed and wife Holly of Puxico, Missouri; and by three grandchildren, Brooke Reed, Isabella Reed, and Piper Reed.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Roger Read.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie, Missouri. Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie, Missouri. Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery with Krag Runzi officiating.
Frances McLard, daughter of the late Franklin McLard and Rubie Tankersley McLard, was born on November 16, 1942, in St. Louis, Missouri, and departed this life on December 27, 2023, at Heartland Care and Rehab in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 81 years.
Ms. McLard was a former resident of Dexter, Missouri and had attended Risen Church in Dexter.
She is survived by three sisters, Ruth Worley of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Elizabeth Burns of Dexter, Missouri, and Pat Miller of Dexter, Missouri.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Michael McLard, Ed McLard, Mitchell McLard, and JR McLard.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Graveside services will then be conducted at Walker Cemetery on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Madison Vanvacter, daughter of Andrew and Ashley Wilson, was born on July 17, 2008, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and departed this life on December 27, 2023, at Southeast Health of Stoddard County in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 15 years.
Madison was a student at Richland Schools in Essex, Missouri, and a resident of Essex. She loved listening to music, especially Jason Aldean, and she loved watching TV, Peppa Pig was her favorite show.
She is survived by her parents, Andrew and Ashley Wilson of Essex, Missouri; by her father, Bradley Vanvacter of Piedmont, Missouri; by two sisters, Marissa Vanvacter and Maci Vanvacter both of Essex, Missouri; by her maternal grandmother, Janet Patterson of Bloomfield, Missouri; by her paternal grandparents, Allen and Tonya Wilson of Aid, Missouri; by her maternal great-grandmother, Betty Horn of Bloomfield, Missouri; by her paternal great-grandmother, Sandra Kildow of Essex, Missouri; by her uncle, Tim Grigery of Bloomfield, Missouri; and by several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Terry Patterson.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Kyle Mitchell officiating. Interment will follow in the Old Essex Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Mary Evelyn Kent, daughter of the late Nora Clark and Vernie Holmes, departed this world into her heavenly home on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at the age of 92, knowing she was loved and will be missed by many.
Mary was born December 5, 1931, in Dyersburg Tennessee. On July 12, 1947, Mary was united in marriage to her school sweetheart, Homer Lee Kent. They resided in Peach Orchard, Missouri until 1950 when they moved to Logansport, Indiana. In 1962, life brought them to Malden, Missouri where they resided until moving to their home in Dexter, Missouri in 1994. After arriving to Missouri, this couple answered their calling from God and helped to build several of the Pentecostal churches across Southeast Missouri.
She leaves behind one daughter, Patricia Rodgers (and late husband Thomas) of Dexter; three granddaughters, Heather (Logan) Hairston of Dexter, Candice (James) Burleson of Malden, Missouri and Kristina Stone of Sikeston; two grandsons, Jack Schmerber of Dexter and David Jones of Bertrand; eleven great grandchildren, Prestyn, Kaylar, and Jayce Tidwell, James and Deklyn Hairston, Sierra (Devon) Green of Advance, Trinity Stone, of Sikeston, Hallie Skelton (Trevor Samons) of Dexter, Bentley Stayton and Christian Arment of Malden, and Wyatt Smelt, of Dexter; and four great great grandchildren, Maleigha, Kamber , Kaison, and Rowan Green of Advance. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and lots of friends who loved her tremendously. Mary was proceeded in death by her parents, her loving husband of 73 years, Homer, one son, Lee Roy Kent, one sister, Joann Osborn, and three brothers, Shorty, Billy, and Robert Holmes.
Mary was a homemaker, who valued the power of prayer and loved her family more than words could describe. She had a one-of-a-kind personality, a true heart of gold, and a smile that shined. If you were loved by Mary, you knew what true, unconditional love really was. If you knew Mary, you knew that she had the heart of a child wherever she went. She loved playing with the kids anywhere she went, even in her later years, she still believed she could do whatever the kids did. She enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, making sugar cookies with her grandchildren, and being able to serve God in ways she felt called. Mary was a member of the First Pentecostal Church of Dexter.
Family and friends may call at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden, Missouri on Wednesday, December 27th. Visitation will be for close family from 10:00am-11:00am, then with friends from 11:00am-1:00pm. Funeral with Bro. Jeff Wells officiating will follow at 1:00pm in the chapel. Interment will follow at the Dexter Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please contact Jackson Florist in Dexter, Mo.
Caleb Howard Sparks, the son of Jeremy Sparks of Paragould, Arkansas and Brandi Mannis and husband Mathew of Whitney, Texas was born on November 15, 2005 in Jonesboro, Arkansas and departed this life on December 15, 2023 in Paragould,
Arkansas at the age of 18.
Caleb was a current senior at Greene County Tech High School in Paragould. He enjoyed being outside, when he was skateboarding, skating, riding dirt bikes and camping, and especially with his dad. He loved his family deeply, and they loved him. Caleb also loved building his first home with his grandfather, Dean Kirby.
Caleb is survived by his father, Jeremy Sparks of Paragould, Arkansas; by his mother and stepfather, Brandi Mannis and Mathew of Whitney, Texas; by his sister, McKenzie June Moore of Arkansas; by his fiance’ Aderionna Burnett of Paragould, Arkansas; by his maternal grandparents, Britt and Donna Lorino of Osceola, Arkansas, and Doug and Kelly Smith of Cave City, Arkansas; by his paternal grandparents, Jimmy and Marie Sparks of Paragould, Arkansas; by his grandparents Harold “Dean” Kirby and Bonnie Thompson of Paragould, Arkansas; by his aunt’s, Spencer and husband Chase Rowen of West Virginia,
and Jasmine Sparks of Jonesboro, Arkansas; and by his uncle’s, Nathan Sparks of Hickory Flat, Mississippi, Hunter and wife Whitney Bowers of Paragould, Arkansas; and by many extended family and friends who will forever cherish their memories
they made with Caleb.
He was preceded in death by his uncle, Charles Wayne Kirby; by great grandparents, Hettie and Leo Houchin; Bud and Reddie Smith; and Wayne and Charlotte Hamilton.
A memorial service will be conducted on Friday, December 29, 2023 with Visitation at 1pm and Memorial Service at 2pm. Services will be held at Finch Baptist Church in Paragould, Arkansas with Pastor Marty Ezell officiating.
