Willie Stafford

Willie Stafford, son of the late Willard and Vada Dale Stafford, was born on Dec. 24, 1935, in Sidney, Ark., and died at the Golden Living Center in Bloom-field, Mo., on July 15, 2012, at the age of 76.

He had lived in Essex and Dexter most of his life. He attended the Freewill Baptist Church in Malden and was a retired construction worker.

On Dec. 27, 1957, he was married to Zerlene Langston in Bloomfield. Surviving are his wife, Zerlene Stafford of Dexter; one son, Randy Stafford of Dexter; two daughters, Teresa Moriarty and Diane Seiter, both of Dexter; three grandchildren, Travis Stafford of Bloomfield, Trent Stafford of Puxico, and Emily Hutchcraft of Dexter; one great-granddaughter, Riley Stafford of Bloomfield; one sister, Faye Little of St. Peters, Mo.; and one brother, Roy Stafford of Dexter. Many other relatives and friends also survive.

He was preceded in death by four brothers, Vaughn, Tom, Houston, and Dean Stafford; and two sisters, Marie Kimball and Inez Stafford.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 17, 2012, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18, 2012, at Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter with Bro. Elijah Allen of Marble Hill and Bro. Kevin Swain of Kennett officiating.

Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.