1st SGT Norman T.S. Baird Jr. passed away surrounded by family and friends at the Missouri Veteran’s Home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on February 11, 2025. Norman was born August 1, 1947, to the late Norman T.S. Baird Sr. and Carrie Ross Baird of San Antonio, Texas.
Mr. Baird was a decorated Veteran who served 22 years in the United States Army to include four tours of duty in Vietnam. After retiring, he went on to earn a degree in Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas and he was a member of the Patterson Masonic Lodge No. 1177 in San Antonio, Texas.
Norman is survived by his wife, Toni Richmond Baird; by his son, Norman T.S. Baird III “Trey” and wife Julia; by his grandson, Richardo Baird; by his brother, Arnett Baird and wife Ann; by his sister, Linda Baird Hansen; and by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends in Texas who affectionately call him “Tommy”
Services will be held at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield at a later date with Chaplain Eric Laffoon officiating.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
J.L. Learue was born on December 20, 1931, in Matthews, Missouri, to the late Walker Herman and Lilly (Clayton) Learue, and passed away on February 9, 2025, in Wappapello, Missouri at the age of 93
J.L. was a member of the United States Navy until his retirement in 1969, and spent the majority of his life in Southeast Missouri, apart from his time in the Navy. He was a life long member of the VFW, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, shooting pool, and bowling.
On April 4, 1988, J.L. Learue and Patricia Martin were united in marriage in Morley, Missouri, and she preceded him in death on February 1, 2018.
Surviving family include his son, Richard (Alice) Learue, of Wappapello, Missouri, 5 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, and 1 brother, Walter Herman Learue Jr., of Florrisant, Missouri.
There funeral will be on Friday, February 14, 2025, beginning at 11 A.M. at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with full Military Honors.
Watkins and Sons Funeral Home is handling all arrangements.
Crystal Dawn Cupp was born on August 29, 1975 in Kennett, Missouri to Mary (Belts) Bevill and the late Jon Bevill, and passed away on February 8, 2025, in Puxico, Missouri at the age of 49.
Crystal was loved immensely by her family. She was a caregiver, a fighter, and she never gave up. Crystal enjoyed crafting, gardening, being by the river, was very outdoorsy and loved anything to do with water.
Surviving family include her long time partner, William Pierce, of Puxico, Missouri, her children: Marshall Cupp, of Dexter, Missouri, Steven Cupp, of Caledonia, Missouri, Preston Blanton, of Rogers, Arkansas, and Miracle Nelson, of Puxico, Missouri, as well as 1 grandchild, 3 brothers and 5 sisters.
Crystal was preceded in death by her father, Jon, her grandmother, Bonnie Belts, and a person who was very special to Crystal.
The visitation will be on Thursday, February 13, 2025 , at 11 A.M, at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home Puxico, Missouri.
The funeral will be on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 12 P.M, at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri.
Interment will immediately follow at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Campbell, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Watkins and Sons Funeral Home for Crystal Cupp.
Billy Joe Freed, son of the late Clarence Freed and Mildred George Freed, was born on September 1, 1948, and departed this life on February 16, 2025, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 76 years.
Mr. Freed was a Veteran of the United States Army serving in Vietnam and he was a resident of Dexter, Missouri.
He is survived by his brother, Rick Freed (Kim) of Dexter, Missouri; and by his sister, Pam Ware (Jim) of Zalma, Missouri.
Interment in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield will be planned at a later date.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Gladys Maxine Hopkins, daughter of the late Carl DeArman and Verna Davis DeArman, was born on November 15, 1936, in Poe, Missouri and departed this life on February 10, 2025, at Prairie View Skilled Nursing in Bloomfield, Missouri, at the age of 88 years.
Mrs. Hopkins attended Dudley Community Church in Dudley, Missouri and was a resident of Dexter, Missouri. She enjoyed crocheting, embroidery, gardening, and playing the harmonica.
On September 23, 1955, in Dexter, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Herschel John “Hoppy” Hopkins. Mr. Hopkins preceded her in death on November 24, 2022.
She is survived by her son, Mark Hopkins of Dexter, Missouri; by her daughter Gayle Brown and husband Frank of Dexter, Missouri; by five grandchildren, Ryan Wheeling and wife Kami, Kara Guiling and husband Joe, Laura Poe and husband Austin, Mindy Ruppel and husband Brad and Greg Wheeling; and by eleven great grandchildren, as well as many relatives and friends.
Other than by her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Gary DeArman, and by her sister, Pauline McAnally.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. Interment will follow in Dexter Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
