Stories from Tuesday, May 28, 2019

The Puxico School Board addressed meal prices and made several staff decisions at its May meeting. The board voted to raise the student lunch rates from $1.75 to $1.80 per meal and staff lunch rates from $2 to $2.50 per meal. The breakfast rate will remain at $0.85 per meal for adults...

Dexter School Board has approved funding for a second school resource officer, after finishing the first year of a program that keeps law enforcement on campus. This is done in partnership with the city. “With the size of our district, we decided it would be prudent for the safety of our students,” said Superintendent C.A. Counts...

Dexter School Board member Jim Reiker was approved as board president at the conclusion of executive session May 21, according to a press release from the district. The board also approved Ben Worley as board vice president. Former board president Kevin Bishop resigned at the April meeting, effective May 31. Bishop has accepted another job and will be moving...

Tamitha Melola Shepherd, 42, of Puxico, passed away May 26, 2019 at her home.  She was born August 18, 1976 in Chaffee, Mo., the daughter of Gary George and Beverlee Ann Loughary Shepherd. Tamitha enjoyed eating and watching television.  She also liked riding in what she called “her Mom’s cop car”.  She loved cows, her Mom and all of her family...

Brenda Kay McGowan, 65 of Bernie, died Monday, May 20, 2019 at Southeast Healthcare of Stoddard County in Dexter.  Visitation was held Thursday, May 23, from noon until 4 p.m.  Funeral services were conducted Thursday May 23, 2019 at 4 p.m. at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie.  Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie was in charge of arrangements...

Janis Kay Herrington, 68 of Malden, died May 22, 2019 at her daughter’s residence in Malden.  Visitation was held Tuesday, May 28, 2019 from 10 a.m. until noon at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie.  Funeral services were conducted at noon in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel.  Interment followed in Bernie Cemetery.  Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie in charge of arrangements...

Melvin Simmons of Catron, was born in St. Louis, Mo. on March 2, 1946, and passed away at his home in Catron on May 25, 2019, at the age of  73 years, 2 months and 23 days. Visitation was held on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, after 9 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter until time for services at 10 am with Bro. Jimmy Johnson of Portageville officiating...

Alma L. Lewis of Bloomfield, was born in Bloomfield, on May 27, 1923, and passed away at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter on May 24, 2019, at the age of 95 years. Visitation was held on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. Services followed at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Ronnie Stevens of Bloomfieldi officiating...

Bennetta Jo Clark, 92 of Bernie, died Thursday, May 23, 2019 at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter.  Visitation was held Saturday, May 25, from 10 a.m. until noon.  Funeral services were conducted Saturday, May 25, 2019 at noon at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie. Interment followed in the Bernie Cemetery.  Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie was in charge of arrangements...

Mary Lois Cobb, 78, died Monday, May 13, 2019 at her residence.  Visitation was held Thursday, May 16, 2019, noon till 2 p.m.  Funeral services were conducted Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 2 p.m. at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie.  Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements...

Dedee Webb of Dexter, was born in St. Charles, Ill. on April 5, 1973, and passed away at the Southeast Hospital in Dexter on May 25, 2019, at the age of 46 years 1 month and 20 days. Memorial Services will be held Wednesday, May 29, 2019, at 2:00 pm at the Dexter First Assembly of God Church...

Naomi Ruth Mouser, daughter of the late James Elijah Lawson and Hattie Marie Alberson Lawson, was born on March 11, 1933 in Canalou, Mo. and departed this life on May 21, 2019 at her home in Essex. Funeral services were conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Friday, May 24, 2019. Interment followed in the Essex Cemetery...

Juanita Bryant, daughter of the late Earnest Steele and Lela Marvel Steele, was born on April 28, 1925 in Hartman, Ark. and departed this life on May 19, 2019 in Danville, Ark. at the age of 94 years. Funeral services were conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Thursday, May 23, 2019. Interment followed in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery in Dexter...

“It is an honor for Bloomfield to receive the designation as a Purple Heart City,” observed Purple Heart recipient Terry Hood. The Army Veteran was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained during his tour of duty, which was from 1969-1971. Hood, a resident of Dexter, went on to say that as the county seat and home of the Missouri Veterans Cemetery and Stars and Stripes Museum, he is proud of the continuing efforts the city makes to honor veterans...