Imogene Laverne Kleffer, daughter of the late William Bledsoe and Ruby Pierce Bledsoe, was born on June 9, 1929 in Campbell, Missouri and departed this life on February 22, 2016 at her residence in Essex, Missouri at the age of 86.
Mrs. Kleffer was a member of the Friendship Baptist Church in Dexter. She was self-employed as a beautician and had worked at the shoe factory in Parma and at Elders Manufacturing in Dexter.
On October 25, 1958, she was united in marriage to Bobby Earl Kleffer in Dexter. Mr. Kleffer preceded her in death on January 13, 2013.
She is survived by one son, Steve Kleffer and wife Leah of Essex, Missouri; by one daughter, Nola J. Ledbetter and husband Phillip of Holt Summit, Missouri; by four grandchildren, Ryan Kleffer, Ashley Riley, Leah Ledbetter and Hannah Ledbetter; by one great-granddaughter, Myra Jade Austill; and by three step-great-grandchildren, Hannah Riley, Sophie Riley and Shane Riley.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by seven brothers, J. D. Bledsoe, Billy K. Bledsoe, Delmar Bledsoe, Bob Bledsoe, Dick Bledsoe, Jack Bledsoe and W. M. Bledsoe; and by two sisters, Jewel Hawkins and Faye Maddox.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, February 25, 2016 from 9:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 11:30 A.M. with Rev. Lonny Mittag officiating.
Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
Joe L. Scott of Grayridge, son of the late John William and Jessie Jane Dorney Scott, was born in Hartman, Arkansas on April 8, 1938, and passed away at his home in Bloomfield, Missouri on February 23, 2016, at the age of 77 years, 10 months, and 15 days.
Joe had lived in Grayridge all of his life. He was a retired Dump Truck Driver and had worked for Millington Trucking and was a veteran of the U. S. Army.
Surviving are two daughters & husbands, Tonia & Alvin Hobbs of Bloomfield, Missouri, Janet & Chris Davis of Eufaula, Oklahoma; five grandchildren, Josh Battles, Robert Lee Cobb, April Morlan, Casey Cobb and Amber Morlan; four great grandchildren, Madara Battles, Chloe McBroom, Jocelyne Young and Rylee Cobb; three step great grandchildren; three sisters, Lourean Rasey of Florida, Johnnie Davis of Grayridge, Missouri and Querita Marvel in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Other relatives and many friends also survive. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Auline Crabtree, Stelline Tyler and one brother, Jim Scott.
Friends may call on Thursday, February 25, 2016, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 26, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with the Rev. Ray Rowland of Dexter, Missouri officiating.
Interment will follow in the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with full military honors. Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri in charge of arrangements.
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Arthur Lee Kinder, son of the late Oscar Kinder and Mary Perry Kinder, was born on September 2, 1934 in Bell City, Missouri and departed this life on February 20, 2016 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 81.
Mr. Kinder was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Dexter and the Bell City A Frame Church. He was a resident of Dexter and had worked as a small engine repair mechanic and was the owner/operator of Art's Small Engine Repair in Dexter.
On May 28, 1981, he was united in marriage to Mary Gromer in Dexter, Missouri. Mrs. Kinder survives of the home.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son, Keith Kinder and wife Sherry of Sikeston, Missouri; by one daughter, Pamela Lee Kinder-White and husband Connie Max of Gordonville, Missouri; by four sisters, Marge Long of Bell City, Missouri, Barb Jones of Puryear, Tennessee, Betty Johns of Sikeston, Missouri and Joyce Kinder of Sikeston, Missouri; by two stepsons, Mike Conway and wife Julie of Sikeston, Missouri and Bobby Powell and wife Tammy of Brodhead, Wisconsin; by three stepdaughters, Debbie Nelson of Cabool, Missouri, Donna Gravil of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Daronda Brown and husband John of East Prairie, Missouri; by eighteen grandchildren and thirty-one great-grandchildren.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Hurcle Kinder; by two grandchildren, Sandy Christine White and Sarah Renea Jones Kinder; and by one step-daughter, Ranee Powell.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, February 22, 2016 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. with Rev. Danny Collins and Rev. Ted Stone officiating.Interment will follow in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery in Dexter.
Sherman L. Smith, son of the late Elzie “Cotton” Smith and Helen Coggins Smith was born on January 31, 1939 in Dexter, Missouri and departed this life on February 18, 2016 at his residence in Dexter at the age of 77.
Mr. Smith attended Liberty Hill General Baptist Church in Aid, Missouri. He was a graduate of Dexter High School, served in the Army Reserve and was the owner of Smith’s Classic Car Auction and Smith Properties. He was also the former publisher of the Stoddard County News, Dexter Daily Statesman and the Dunklin Democrat in Kennett.
He loved classic cars, golfing and fishing with friends.
On March 23, 1995, he was united in marriage to Connie Gaines in Paducah, Kentucky. Mrs. Smith survives of the home.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Sherm Smith, Jr. and wife Cherie of Dexter, Missouri and Taylor Smith of the home; by one brother, James “Cotton” Smith of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; by two sisters, Edna Harget Smith of Chesapeake Bay, Virginia and Donna Kendrick of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; and by one grandson, Jack Smith.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Charles Smith, Larry Smith and John G. Smith.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Sunday, February 21, 2016 from 12:00 Noon to 2:30 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Sunday, February 21, 2016 at 2:30 P.M. with Rev. Joe Payne officiating.
Interment will follow in the Hill Cemetery in rural Bloomfield, Missouri.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Stoddard County Children’s Home Memorial Tribute Fund, P. O. Box 164, Dexter, Missouri 63841 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P. O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, Tennessee 38101-9908.
Joette Corbin Wamble, daughter of the late Vernon and Mildred Corbin, was born on March 12, 1934 in Stoddard County and departed this life on February 10, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas at the age of 81.
Mrs. Wamble was a resident of Corpus Christi, Texas, formerly of Dexter. She had worked at the International Shoe Factory in Dexter and as a cook at Dexter High School before moving to Texas.
On April 3, 1953, she was united in marriage to Joe Louis Wamble in the Christian Church in Dexter. Mr. Wamble preceded her in death on March 3, 1990.
She is survived by one daughter, Kathy Jo Almendarez of San Antonio, Texas; by one son, Ken Louis Wamble of Effingham, Illinois; by one sister, Patty Heflin of Corpus Christi, Texas; by three grandchildren, Chasidy Jones of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Brent Wamble of Dexter, Missouri and Kyle Almendarez of San Antonio, Texas; and by four great-grandchildren, Luke Jones, Clark Jones, Kaycee Wamble and Maycee Wamble.
A graveside service will be conducted on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 1:00 P.M. at Triplett Cemetery, Rural Bloomfield, Missouri.
Arrangements are under the direction of Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
