Allen Leroy Farmer, 75, of Dexter, Missouri, died at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, October 16, 2019. Born May 17, 1944 in Dexter, Missouri to Charles “Rosco” and Lucy Ann (Ruggles) Farmer, he was the youngest of 14 children. He is predeceased by his parents, and sisters: Levella Gold, Hortense Davis, Ruth Elledge, Roxine Gaines Terrill, Lawanda Farmer, Yvonne Taylor, Frankie Kinder; brothers: Charles Farmer, Raymond Farmer, Robert (Bob) Farmer, Ernest & Earl Farmer (twins), and Jim Farmer.
Survivors include: Mary Ellen Farmer of the home; two sons: Daniel Charles Farmer of St. Clair, Missouri and Jonathan “Jon” Allen Farmer and wife Adrienne of Wappapello, Missouri; eight grandchildren: Kaylie, Caleb and Sarah Farmer of Dexter, Missouri; Jonathan “Jonny” Farmer of Essex, Missouri; Kaitlynn and John Robert Powers of Wappapello, Missouri; and Mason and Gauge Farmer of Paris Tennessee.
He was a former Vietnam era veteran (stationed in Germany), and later as a US Army National Guard member from Dexter, Missouri’s 1221st Transportation Company, he had been deployed during Operation Desert Storm to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq. He formed life-long friendships from his time spent in the Guards. He retired from the City of Dexter Street Department.
Allen was born again of the water and the spirt 45 years ago at the Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Dexter, Missouri in 1974 after he had asked God to show him personally that He really existed. Allen always testified, God did this by miraculously delivering him from a burning airplane crash in Crawford, Mississippi, in which he was paralyzed from the waist up. He currently attended the Malden United Pentecostal Church in Malden, Missouri.
The most important things in Allen’s life was his walk with God, his wife, sons, grandchildren, his nieces and nephews and all his extended family. When he was your friend, he was your friend for life and he will be greatly missed and remembered for the grace, courage, strength and downright fighting spirit, that he displayed over this last year in his extensive battle with aggressive Anaplastic T-Cell Lymphoma.
Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, October 19, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted on Sunday, October 20, 2019 at the Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Dexter at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow in the Caroline Dowdy Cemetery.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
Mildred Arlene Hopkins, daughter of the late William Marion Potter and Iva Arminta Bivens Potter, was born on April 26, 1927 and departed this life on October 15, 2019 at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 92 years.
Mrs. Hopkins was a former piece maker for Elder Manufacturing in Bloomfield, Missouri and a resident of Bloomfield. She was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Bloomfield, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Rebekah Lodge and the West Antioch Extension Club.
On February 25, 1967, in Bloomfield, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Howard Hopkins. Mr. Hopkins preceded her in death on September 26, 2015.
She is survived by her son, Mark Hopkins and wife Lorayni Weiche of Kingman, Arizona; by two daughters, Lannis and Earl Hancock of House Springs, Missouri, Gail and Lynnie Cookson of Puxico, Missouri; by one brother, Jerry Potter of Purcell, Oklahoma; by eight grandchildren; and by ten great-grandchildren.
Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Carroll Potter; and by four sisters, Louise Dresser, Marilyn Hanger, Wanda Ruth Michaels and Maryanne Griffith.
Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
Margie Morgan, daughter of the late Georgie Thomas Midkiff and Katherine Davis Midkiff, was born on December 14, 1940 in Kennett, Missouri and departed this life on October 17, 2019 at the Dexter Living Center in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 78 years.
Mrs. Morgan was a former sewing machine operator for Inland Shoe in Advance, she was a former maintenance employee for Tyson Food in Dexter and a resident of Dexter.
On June 19, 1993, in Dexter, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Densil Morgan Sr. Mr. Morgan preceded her in death on December 15, 2008.
She is survived by three sons, John Stephens Jr. of Oklahoma, Tony Stephens of Dexter and Virgil Freeman of Oak Ridge; by two step-sons, Denny Morgan and Aurther Morgan, both of Dexter; by four sisters, Kay Hughes of Advance, Donna Ray of Morehouse, Mary Buckley and Melinda Hensley, both of Sikeston; by thirteen grandchildren; and by many great-grandchildren.
Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her step-son, David Morgan; by two brothers, Robert Midkiff and Thomas Midkiff; and by two sisters, Teresa Grisham and Bonnie Maddox.
Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, October 21, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Monday, October 21, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Ray Rowland officiating. Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
Marcus Emory Norden, son of Michael J. Norden Sr. and Donna Karen Kennedy Norden, was born in Washington, Missouri on May 9, 1974 and departed this life at his residence in Bernie, Missouri on October 18, 2019 at the age of 45.
Mr. Norden had worked at Federal Mogul and Ames True Temper. Recently he was employed by Bootheel Regional Planning Commission in Dexter, Missouri. He was a member of Malden General Baptist Church and a resident of Bernie.
Survivors include his parents, Michael and Donna Norden of Bernie, Missouri; one son, Brennen Norden of the home in Bernie, Missouri; by two daughters, Aiden LeeAnn Norden of Ozark, Missouri and Blakely Bradshaw of Piggott, Arkansas; by one brother, Michael J. Norden Jr. & wife Robin of Bernie; by one sister, Tracie Cobb & husband Jeromy of Bernie, Missouri; also by other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death by one brother in infancy, Troy Ray Norden.
Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. Funeral services will then be conducted at 1:00 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery. Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
Willard Preston Palmer, the son of Walter Lee Palmer and Zella Myrtle Hamilton Palmer, was born on December 18, 1933 near Catron, Missouri and departed this life on October 15, 2019 at his residence in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 85 years, 9 months and 27 days. He was united in marriage to Arvilla Dean Murphy at Frank Clay, Missouri on July 31, 1953 and to this union two children were born; Deana Sue and Penny Danette.
He is survived by his wife, Arvilla Palmer of their home in Dexter, Missouri; by two daughters, Deana Sue Palmer and Penny Danette Palmer Haughey and son-in-law, John William Haughey and by two grandsons, William Jacob Haughey and Joshua Palmer Haughey, all of Olathe, Kansas; by his brother, Norman Palmer of Franklin, Indiana; by three sisters, Faye Miller of Malden, Missouri, Neoma Gibson of Shoals, Indiana and Leona Downs of Franklin, Indiana; and by several nieces, nephews, great-nieces & nephews, great-great-nieces and nephews and some great-great-great-nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, by three sisters, Ethel Cecil, Vesta Hardin, Betty Lou Spane Boner and by three brothers, Nelson Palmer, Charles Palmer and James Palmer.
Preston served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958 as an MTR Operator. He worked as a plumber, carpenter, farmer and for 20 plus years as an Insurance Agent and Staff Manager. In the late 1970’s he felt the call to preach and became a Pastor and an Ordained Elder in the Church of the Nazarene. He pastored for 20 years. Preston loved God, the Church, his Family and Friends very much.
Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, October 17, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted at the First Church of the Nazarene in Dexter on Friday, October 18, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Mike Palmer and Rev. Douglas West officiating.
Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
