Luther Luke Hudson, Jr. of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, the son of the late Luther Hudson, Sr. and Cloetta (Littrell) Hudson was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 16, 1955, and passed from this life on October 8, 2023, at the age of 67 years.
Luther was a proud retired Army Veteran and had traveled extensively while serving his country and after retirement he lived in Corning Arkansas until moving to Poplar Bluff six years ago. He drove a school bus, loved playing drums, enjoyed the sounds of slot machines, but his true passion was spending time with family especially spoiling grandchildren.
Luther married the love of his life Verna Lewis on August 8, 1973, in Success, Arkansas.
He is survived by his wife of the home; one son, Stevie (Tanya) Hudson of Pocahontas, Arkansas; one daughter, Suzy (John) Pennington of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; one brother, David Barnes and one sister, Brenda Bowers of Corning, Arkansas; four grandsons, Skylar, Shane, Aarron and Michael; one granddaughter, Michaela (Bernie) Valdez; three great-grandchildren, Nevaeh, Benjamin and Norahmay, as well a host of family and friends.
Luther was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Stephen Hudson and one grandson, Justin.
A Military Honors Ceremony will be conducted with interment to follow on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with Pastor Charles Robertson of Bloomfield officiating. Watkins And Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.
Randall Dwight Humphries, son of the late Billie Humphries and Earlene Dockins Humphries, was born on March 16, 1952, in Jefferson, Alabama, and departed this life on October 12, 2023, at his residence in Bernie, Missouri, at the age of 71.
Mr. Humphries was a veteran of the United States Army and he had worked in the shipyards in Caruthersville, Missouri.
On December 15, 1994, in St. Charles, Illinois, he was united in marriage to Janet Hampson. Mrs. Humphries preceded him in death on November 13, 2008.
He is survived by two sons, Richard Humphries of Bernie, Missouri and Jason Humphries of Knoxville, Tennessee; by his brother, Johnny Humphries of Joplin, Missouri, by his sister, Darlene Grimm of Hickory, North Carolina; and by six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. with full military honors.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Roger Lee Gibbs, son of the late Edgar Gibbs and Odessa Stafford Gibbs, was born on February 1, 1939, in Commerce, Missouri, and departed this life on October 15, 2023, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 84 years.
Mr. Gibbs was a Veteran of the United States Navy. He was a former truck driver for Coca-Cola and a resident of Bloomfield, Missouri.
In January of 1965, in Circle City, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Bonnie Jo Lay. Mrs. Gibbs preceded him in death on October 4, 2020.
He is survived by his son, Brett Gibbs of Bloomfield, Missouri; by two daughters, Amber Duvall and husband Lloyd of Pevely, Missouri, and Ginger Gibbs of St. Louis, Missouri, by his sister, Wilda Cook of El Paso, Texas; by his grandson, Ryan Duvall; by his cousin and caretaker, Janet Karam; and by four sisters-in-law, Debbie Parks of Dexter, Missouri, Sharon Jones and husband Robert of Sikeston, Missouri, Becky Gibbs of Van Buren, Missouri, and Doris Gibbs of Oxly, Missouri.
Other than by his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Allen “Wayne” Gibbs, Dale Gibbs, Glen Gibbs, and Don Gibbs.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, October 20, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. A memorial service will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, October 20, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Steve Morrison officiating. Internment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Clarence Edward Freeman, son of the late Clarence Chesteen Freeman and Mary Eldon Dennison Freeman, was born October 16, 1954, in Herrin, Illinois, and departed this life October 13, 2023, at his home in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 68.
Ed was a truck driver for Heavy Duty Trucking in Bloomfield, Missouri.
On November 1, 2013, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Diana Lee Johnston, who survives of the home.
He is survived by two stepsons, Doyle Lee (Misty) Williamson of Claremore, Oklahoma and Brian Mitcheal Williamson of Jackson, Missouri; two grandchildren; three brothers-in-law, Chris Johnston of Jackson, Missouri, Walter Johnston of Jackson, Missouri and Ben Pinkerton of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; and one sister-in-law, Tuesday Achter of Dexter, Missouri.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri on Tuesday October 17, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted at Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Tuesday October 17, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. with Bro. Jon Archie officiating.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Steven Wayne Childers II, son of Steven Childers and Traci Lang Childers, was born on January 23, 2000, in Ft. Carson, Colorado, and departed this life on October 11, 2023, in Morehouse, Missouri, at the age of 23 years.
Steven was an officer with the Missouri Department of Corrections in Charleston, Missouri. He attended Westwood Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, Missouri and was a resident of Malden, Missouri.
Steven accepted Jesus Christ as his savior when he was 14. He graduated in 2023 from Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida, where he was a member of the PCC Campus Church. While in college, he was a leader of the Pickens Bible Club, he played on the Collegians Softball Team, was a moderator for the PCC Memes Page, authored a travel blog for local eateries, and was a member of the Florida Young Republicans. He had a great appreciation for civil war history, renaissance fairs, and politics. He enjoyed watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball and Kansas City Chiefs football. He loved funny memes and playing jokes on his friends and family.
He is survived by his parents, Steven and Traci Childers of Malden, Missouri; by two sisters, Leah Childers and fiancé Jase Anderson of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Amber Childers of Bloomfield, Missouri; by his maternal grandmother, Beverly O’Daniell of Bloomfield, Missouri; by his nephew, Nathan Copeland of Bloomfield, Missouri; and by his best friend, Jarrod Van Gundy, and by several aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Stephanie Childers; by his paternal grandfather, James Childers; by his maternal grandfather, Allen Lang; by his paternal grandmother and step-grandfather, Wilma and Paul Johnson; by his maternal step-grandfather, JR O’Daniell; and by his cousin, Katelyn Lang.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie on Saturday, October 14, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Dennis Ulrey officiating. Interment will follow in the Gravel Hill Cemetery in Saint Francis, Arkansas.
Mathis Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
