Obituaries from May 2023

Charles Willard Willis, 77, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away April 28, 2023 at his home in Poplar Bluff. Charles was born Oct. 2, 1945 to the late Gerald and Emma Marie (Robinson) Willis in Poplar Bluff. He married “Polly” Ann (Russom) Willis Oct. 2, 1970...

A memorial service for Martin David Desgranges will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 6 at New Hope General Baptist Church in Ellsinore. Full obituary can be viewed at mcspaddenfh.com.

Joe Eads, 82, of Clubb, Missouri, died at his residence Monday, May 1, 2023. Visitation will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 3, 2023, Greenville Chapel. Funeral service will follow at 1 p.m., also in Greenville Chapel. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

Shirley Hays, 86, of Malden died Monday, May 1, 2023, at Winchester Place in Bernie.

Carroll Odus Cookson passed away May 1, 2023, at the age of 88 years, 4 months, and 5 days. He was born Dec. 26, 1934, in Puxico, the son of Cecil Odus “Jack” and Edna Bell Hicks Cookson. Preceding him in death are his parents; wife, Rozelle Cookson; brothers, sister, and spouses, J.T. (Phyllis) Cookson, Ancel (Doris) Cookson, Rena Mable (Quentin) Ridenour; and nephew, Joey Cookson...

Tamra Rauch, 63, of Fredricktown died, Saturday, April 29. Visitation is at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 7, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont Chapel. Memorial following at 3 p.m., also in the Piedmont Chapel. Online condolences:www.rueggfuneralhomes.com.

Roland Randel Miller, 97-year-old resident of Doniphan, Missouri, departed this life Thursday, April 27, 2023, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He was born April 11, 1926, at Current View, Missouri, to the late Oliver and Ivy (Draper) Miller...

Loretta Jane Edwards, 79, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Wednesday May 3, 2023, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born Aug. 10, 1943, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to Joseph O’Herrick and Elizabeth (Devorick) O’Herrick. Loretta was a longtime resident of Poplar Bluff. ...

Melvin Leo Raymer, Sr., 78, of Ellsinore, died Friday, May 5, 2023, in Ellsinore.

Cody Dakota Baucom, 29, of Dexter, Missouri, formerly of Qulin, Missouri, died Sunday, May 7, 2023, at Barnes Jewish Hospital, in Saint Louis, Missouri. Cody was born July 13, 1993, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He had many hobbies and talents. Cody is survived by his parents: Donald and Carolyn Baucom of Poplar Bluff; one son: Chance Lee Ray Baucom; two brothers: Justin (Nickey) Baucom and Dalton Baucom, all of Poplar Bluff; long-term significant other: Patricia Haynes; stepson: Wesley Haynes; and many other family members and friends.. ...

Velda Keister, 92, of Jackson, Missouri, died Saturday, May 6, 2023, at her residence. Visitation is at 11 a.m., Friday, May 12, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont Chapel. Funeral service is at 1 p.m., also in Piedmont Chapel. Burial is in Masonic Cemetery in Piedmont...

Melissa “Lisa” Bowling, 59, of Ironton, died Saturday, May 6. Visitation is at 1 p.m., Thursday May 11, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont Chapel. Funeral service is at 2 p.m., also in Piedmont Chapel. Burial is at Rockwell Cemetery in Patterson. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

Arlon Benjamin “Benny” Griffin, 74, of Grandin, Missouri, died Saturday, May 6, 2023, in Doniphan, Missouri.

Helen J. Hartzog, 97, passed away May 7, 2023 at Sikeston Convalescent Center in Sikeston, Missouri. She was born Jan. 14, 1926 in Cash, Arkansas, daughter of the late John Hillis and Almedia Wheaton Hillis. Helen had worked as a personnel officer for the U.S. ...

Joyce Arlene Darnell, the daughter of Grace and Raymond Hellums, was born in Butler County on May 29, 1940. She departed this life at home with her family at her side at the age of 82 on May 7, 2023. Sept. 1, 1956, she married Willie Darnell, the love of her life, who survives. ...

Terry Lee Miller, our cherished mother, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, and friend went to be with her Savior at the young age of 50 in her home in Neelyville, Missouri, Monday, May 8, 2023.   Terry was preceded in death by her mother, Neola McCallister, and her father, James Thompson. ...

Sue Elledge, 81, of Wappapello, Missouri, died Sunday, May 7, 2023, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Elledge was born July 22, 1941, daughter of the late Glen and Geneva Sisco. Sue worked hard at everything she did and truly enjoyed working for as long as she could. ...

Mary Margaret Corder, daughter of the late Clyde Scroggins and Mildred Stobaugh Scroggins, was born Sept. 4, 1946, in Morrilton, Arkansas; and departed this life on May 9, 2023, at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 76 years...

John C. Hobbs, 62, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, died Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at his residence. Mr. Hobbs was born Aug. 28, 1960, in Big Spring, Texas. John enjoyed working on cars and street racing. He especially loved spending time with his family. On April 18, 1988, he married Linda Sutton Hobbs. She survives...

Ruth Prince, 93, of Poplar Bluff, passed away May 10, 2023, at Oakdale Caring Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 13, 2023, at the Fellowship General Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at the church. Interment will be at Naylor Memorial Cemetery...

James “Jimmy” Crutchfield, 84, of Poplar Bluff, formerly of Piedmont, died Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at PBRMC. Visitation is at 5 p.m., Friday, May 12, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont Chapel. Funeral service is at 1 p.m., Saturday, May 13, also at Piedmont Chapel. Burial is in Meador-Flatwoods in Piedmont...

Susan Rutledge, 59, of Myrtle, Missouri, formerly of Malden, died Friday, May 5, 2023 at Ozark Healthcare in West Plains, Missouri

John Edgar Hribovsek, 83, of Galena, Missouri, passed away on April 30, 2023. He entered this life April 11, 1940, the son of John and Emma (Gourley) Hribovsek in Neelyville. John was joined in marriage to Betty June Lamb on Feb. 18, 1983. He enjoyed fishing, spending time on his boat, and camping. ...

Clara Eleanor Elizabeth (Martin) Freeman, 92, died peacefully Feb. 14, 2023 at the home of her daughter in St. Louis, Missouri. Clara was born Feb. 11, 1931 in Houston, Texas. She married the late Clyde Freeman Aug. 14, 1949. Clyde died in 1990, after 41 years of marriage...

Willis Smith, 80, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, died Thursday, May 11, 2023. Visitation is at 5 p.m., Sunday, May 14, at New Hope General Baptist Church, Silva, Missouri. Funeral service is at noon, Monday, May 15, also at New Hope General Baptist Church. Burial is in New Liberty Cemetery, Piedmont...

Jessie Ione Kincaid, 91, of Van Buren, Missouri, died May 11, 2023.

Barbara L. Null, 83, of Wappapello, Missouri, died Friday, May 12, 2023, at her residence. Mrs. Null was born March 17, 1940, in Puxico, Missouri, daughter of the late Clifford and Katie Mitchell. She enjoyed singing and playing guitar. More than anything, Barbara loved spending time with her family and her greatest joy came from spending time with them...

Robert “Rockin’ Bob” Schimweg, 65, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, died Sunday, May 14, 2023, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

Ethel Poston, 86, of Piedmont, formerly of Des Arc, died Monday, May 15, at Clark’s Mountain Nursing Center, Piedmont. Visitation is from noon until 2 p.m., Thursday, May 18, 2023, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Funeral services is at 2 p.m., also at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Burial is in Mountain View Cemetery, Des Arc, Missouri...

Kevin ‘Pork Chop’ Nelson, 57, of Holcomb died Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti.

Sadly, Amelia “Millie” Dunscombe passed away May 5, 2023 at Fairfield Memorial Hospital, Fairfield, Illinois. She leaves behind husband Rusty, three daughters, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. She was born in Gideon, Missouri, in 1938 and later went to Qulin High School...

Robert “Rockin’ Bob” Schimweg, 65, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Sunday, May 14, 2023, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born Feb. 6, 1958, St. Louis, Missouri to Robert Schimweg and Arlene (Rogers) Schimweg. Bob was a longtime resident of Poplar Bluff. ...

JONESBORO – Gerald A. Saracini passed away on Thursday, May 18, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was 86 years old. Jerry was a devoted husband, loving father, generous grandfather, and proud great-grandfather. He accepted life’s successes and challenges with unwavering gratitude and faith...

Michael ‘Mike’ David Smith, 73, of Poplar Bluff and Lady Lake, Florida, passed away Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Florida. Mike was born in Poplar Bluff on Nov. 29, 1949, to Lester Jack and Ruth Ann Odle Smith. He was a Poplar Bluff City Council member from 2003-2008 and airport manager from 2006-2017. As of 2017, Smith had been active at the airport for more than 30 years and planned to continue working with the airport development board...

Norma “Jean” (Barker) Chatman, 82, of Winter Haven, Florida, went to her eternal home in Heaven on May 19, 2023. Born on May 21, 1940 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to Arley and Artie May (Brayton) Barker, Jean was the seventh of 10 children. She accepted the Lord Jesus at age 9 at the First Church of God Poplar Bluff, Missouri. On her 20th birthday in 1960, she married the love of her life, Charles Everett Chatman. They served together and loved each other faithfully until his passing in 2021...

Karen Fay Nordwick, 75, of Van Buren, Missouri died Monday, May 22, 2023 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

Richard Farris, 80, of Ellsinore, Missouri, died Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at home.

Paul Norman Taylor, 78, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, entered God’s Kingdom on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Paul was born on Jan. 8, 1945, to Russell and Ollie (Sims) Taylor in Poplar Bluff. He married Connie Chaney Taylor on Jan. 14, 1967. Upon graduation from Poplar Bluff High School in 1962, he joined the Air Force and served in the Philippines during the Vietnam War. ...

Gracie Bratton, 76, of St. Charles, Missouri, died Thursday, May 25, at her residence. Visitation is at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 30, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Williamsville Chapel. Funeral following at 2 p.m., also in the Williamsville Chapel. Burial is in Duncan Cemetery...

Dodie Allen, 74, of Bridgeton, died Thursday, May 25, at Mercy Hospital, Creve Coeur. Visitation is at noon, Wednesday, May 31, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Greenville Chapel. Funeral following at 1 p.m., also in the Greenville Chapel. Burial is in Cowan Cemetery, Lowndes. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

Tobey Lynn Wells, age 12, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, the son of Jacqueline Carole Wells and Robert Samuel Wells, and Roy Mays, died Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Tallahassee, Florida. Tobey was born June 10, 2010, in Poplar Bluff, where he lived until recently moving to Florida with his family...

Marietta Frances O’Neal, 84, of Campbell died Sunday, May 28, 2023, at the Chaffee Nursing Center.

Michael “Mike” Tompkins, 71, of Wappapello, Missouri, died Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff.

Rev. Samuel Lynn Brotherton, 74, of Puxico, Missouri died Sunday, May 28, 2023, at his residence. He was born Jan. 26, 1949, in Cape Girardeau to John H. and Vena Lou Brotherton. Samuel was a truck driver by trade, was a member of the National Guard and after retirement pastored several churches. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church in Wappapello...

Frances E. (Cross) Winters, 88, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away May 29, 2023, at her home. She was born May 7, 1935, to Grover and Mae (Robinson) Cross. She was joined in marriage to Marion L. Winters on March 3, 1962. Frances was a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church...

Kimberly Ann Clark Bowman, 69, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, died Monday, May 22, 2023, in her home.