Angie Smith, daughter of the late Wallace Clay Mansker and Edna Faye Caulley, was born May 21, 1943, in Dexter, Missouri, and departed this life on December 15, 2020, at Southeast Health of Stoddard County in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 77 years.
Mrs. Smith previously worked as a customer service representative for Countywide Insurance in Dexter and was a member of the Church of Christ in Asherville, Missouri.
On March 30, 1962, in Dexter, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Ishmael Smith. Mr. Smith survives of their home in Dexter.
In addition to her husband, Ishmael, she is survived by three daughters, Carol Brittain and husband Lin of Huntsville, Alabama, Myra Jarrell and husband Philip of Smithville, Missouri, and Amy Cargo and husband Johnny of Huntsville, Alabama; by one brother, Alan Mansker of Tuscan, Arizona; by two sisters, Janice Britt of Searcy, Arkansas and Marsha Heim of Ashland City, Tennessee; and by nine grandchildren, Matthew Brittain, Hannah Kitchens, Molly Watson, Megan Woodward, Walker Jarrell, William Jarrell, Madeline Jarrell, Wyatt Jarrell, and Andrew Wickenhauser.
A private funeral service will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, December 18, 2020. Interment will follow in Chalk Bluff Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Children’s Home, Inc., 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, Arkansas 72450-3319 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38101.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.
McIvan Jones was born April 27, 1941 in Dorena, Missouri, to the late Mack and Elois Doss Jones and departed this life on December 14, 2020 at his residence in East Prairie, Missouri, at the age of 79 years.
Mr. Jones was a lifelong farmer in Mississippi County and he also farmed in New Madrid County. He was an avid hunter and a member of Elm Street Baptist Church in Charleston, Missouri.
On July 27, 2001, he married Rebecca “Becky” Byassee, who survives of the home.
Other than his wife, McIvan is survived by four daughters, Misse Jones of Kennett, Missouri, Traci and Joe Turner of Strafford, Missouri, Lesli Jones of East Prairie, Missouri, and Samantha Jones of East Prairie, Missouri; by one son, Ivan Jones of East Prairie, Missouri; by nine grandchildren, Lydia Harrison, Elliot Wade, Claire Whitlock, Anna Turner, Mack Marcum, Luke Marcum, Evie Jones, Eli Merideth and Mya Merideth; by three great-grandchildren, Miller Harrison, Milo Harrison and William Whitlock; and by a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
McIvan was preceded in death by two sisters, Fern Hutchison and Doris Larkins.
A private family service will be held Wednesday at Elm Street Baptist Church in Charleston with Bro. Jon Archie officiating. The service will be live streamed at 1:00 p.m. from the Elm Street Baptist Church Facebook page. Burial will follow in the I.O.O.F Cemetery in Charleston.
Pallbearers will be Mack Marcum, Luke Marcum, Elliot Wade, Steve Jones, Jimmy Duke, Rush Oliver, Hoyt Carter and Brent Williams.
Honorary pallbearers will be Gary Dewitt, Wendy Carden, John D. Ray, Fylnn Ray, Gerald Dewitt, Charles Byassee, Bonnie Williams and Terry Cole.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.
Stephen Paul Tucker, son of James Edward Tucker and the late Dorlus Lawrence Tucker, was born on February 16, 1964 in Braggadocio, Missouri, and departed this life on December 13, 2020 at the Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 56 years.
Mr. Tucker worked as a carpet layer. He attended the Church of Christ in Pyletown and was a resident of Dexter.
He is survived by his father, James Tucker of Dexter, by two brothers, Jay Tucker and Richard Tucker both of Dexter; and by many nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be conducted at Chalk Bluff Cemetery on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.
Howard Hill, son of the late Weldon E. Hill and Lois E. Almond Hill Russell was born December 3, 1936 in Pontiac, Michigan, and departed this life on December 13, 2020 at River Mist Assisted Living in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, at the age of 84.
On July 6, 1961, he was united in marriage to Carole Pillow in Malden, Missouri. Mrs. Hill preceded him in death on August 11, 2004.
He is survived by two daughters, Kristi Jones of Poplar Bluff; Angela Reynolds and husband, Alton of Poplar Bluff; five grandchildren, Cody Jones and fiancé, Nicole Frye of St. Louis; Jody Bess and husband, Chad of Bloomfield; Amy Battles and husband, Chris of Bloomfield; Darci Sneed and wife, Megan of Joplin; Tyler Reynolds of Bloomfield; eight great-grandchildren, Austin, Avvie, and Gracie Jones; Aubrey and Ryan Bess; Bryson and Kinsley Battles; Remington Sneed; and by a dear friend that he considered family, Dale Franklin.
Mr. Hill graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1959 with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and Biology. He then served in the National Guard.
Mr. Hill was a retired farmer and former resident of Dexter. He currently lived at River Mist Assisted Living in Poplar Bluff to be near his daughters.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, December 17, 2020 from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Funeral services will immediately follow in the Mathis Funeral Chapel at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Joe Payne officiating. Interment will be in the Dexter City Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.
Melvyn Charles “Mel” Jones was born on July 11, 1945, in Coventry in Warwickshire, England, the son of the late Charles and Edith Jones. He died of complications from Covid-19 on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 75.
Mel was an accomplished metallurgist, having first completed a course of study in Foundry Practice in 1966 at Coventry Technical College in Central England. Additionally, he earned advanced certification in Foundry Practice in 1968 from City & Guilds of London Institute and Certification of Distinction from the Bolton Institute of Technology.
In 1991, he was registered with The Engineering Council of England as an Incorporated Engineer, having attained membership in the acclaimed Institute of British Foundrymen.
He and his late wife, Jackie, married in August 1970. Together they had daughter, Melissa Jones. Jackie preceded him in death.
Mel was renowned in his field and within that realm, he traveled the world. Over the years, his business periodically brought him from his Taunton, England home to the United States, often in the capacity of consultant at Malden’s Federal Mogul plant. He eventually came to stay periodically at the Bed & Breakfast of Lynda Lovins of rural Dexter.
The two soon learned they had several similarities; he a widow, she a widower. They both loved to cook and to garden, to travel and to entertain. Their friendship grew into love, and in the fall of 2015, the two were wed in Dexter, Missouri, and the British gent pulled up his roots in England and made his home in America. Lynda Lovins-Jones survives at their rural Dexter home.
Mel Jones will be remembered for many things. In his youth, he was an accomplished rugby and badminton player, two competitive sports in Britain. He was accomplished at photography, gardening, woodworking, fishing, carpentry and sculpting.
He loved family, his beloved England, fine food, good conversation and the wonders of nature.
Mel claimed numerous awards at the highly competitive Taunton Flower Show for his numerous and varied talents, among them the coveted JC Spear Cup.
He applied his gardening and culinary skills locally, once he settled in the States and garnered the attention of an appreciative audience at the Keller Public Library and other Stoddard County venues.
Mel Jones will perhaps best be remembered as a gentleman and a friend. His friendship was cherished by a multitude of long-ago established acquaintances in his native land and an equal number of those founded since his arrival in the Dexter area.
A special group of friends, dubbed The OHRAS, included a group of 10 devoted companions who traveled to the mountains of northwest Arkansas twice annually to explore the hiking trails and all that nature had to offer in the region. Additionally, the friends gathered often to share the best of food and music. That group will continue, but will be forever altered.
Along with his wife, Lynda, and daughter, Melissa, of Plymouth, England, he is survived by a sister, Irene Whitehead (Dave) of Drimoleague, Ireland; a stepson, Damon Dowdy (Amy) of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; a stepdaughter, Dana Lovins (Randy) of Dexter; five step-grandchildren; and three great step-grandchildren, all of whom he considered family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jackie; a son who died at birth; and his sister, Janet.
Due to the Covid pandemic, there will be no formal service at this time. There will, however be a time of visitation at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. There will be no graveside service, as the family has chosen cremation, allowing his ashes to be shared overseas.
A celebration, honoring the life of Mel Jones, will be announced at a later date, once the threat of the current pandemic has passed.
Memorials honoring Mel C. Jones may be made to the Keller Public Library, 402 West Grant Street, Dexter, Missouri 63841 or First United Methodist Church, PO Box 156, Dexter, Missouri 63841.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.
