Stories from Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Renown opera star and Poplar Buff native Jerome (Jerry) Pruett died Christmas morning, but the magic of his dreams, visions and courage live on in those he knew. Pruett, 77, died after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. His family and friends, both in his hometown and around the world, as well as students, share their memories, his vision and his talents...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. — Charles Warren Haynes, 54, of Corning, Ark., died Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 at his home in Corning. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 at Fowler & Sons Funeral Home in Neelyville. Funeral Services will follow at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Fowler & Sons Funeral Home. Burial will be at New Home Cemetery in Tucker, Mo...

PIEDMONT, Mo. — Roger Brinkley, 52, of Piedmont, died Monday, Feb. 4, 2019 at his residence. Visitation will be at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9 at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. also in the Piedmont chapel. Burial will be at Masonic Cemetery, Piedmont. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — James Michael Peters, 64, of Wappapello, Mo. passed away on Monday, February 5, 2019 at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born on October 20, 1954 to August and Dorothy (Andel) Peters in El Campo, Texas. He proudly served in the United States Army and was honorably discharged. JP was a member of the Wappapello Eagles for 30 years and held several positions on the board...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Gary Lee Vinson, 68, of Poplar Bluff, passed away at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical. He was born on June 3, 1950 to Glenn and Violet (Hathaway) Vinson in Poplar Bluff. Gary lived in Poplar Bluff until he was 10 when he and his family moved to California. He remained in California where he married and had his children. After his retirement from Lockheed Martin in 2002 he moved back to Poplar Bluff...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Wendy Lou Dumas, 23, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died February 4, 2019. She was born February 16, 1995 in Poplar Bluff to Keith Dumas and Linda Dumas Hiles. She was a life time resident of Butler County. Wendy graduated from Twin Rivers High School. She was a homemaker who enjoyed rock collecting, coloring with her daughter and her daddy...

GREENVILLE, Mo. — Dorse Lee ‘Mick’ Sullivan, age 92, formerly of Poplar Bluff, passed away Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at the Arbors of Gulf Breeze in Gulf Breeze, FL. He was born July 2, 1926 near Greenville, the son of Charles A. Sullivan and Horace (White) Sullivan...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Patricia Ann Condray, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died February 2, 2019. She was born June 28, 1937 to the late James Earl Houts and Pearl Sparkman Houts. Patricia was of the Baptist faith. She was united in marriage to Harold Lee Condray. And from this union, they were blessed with five children...

City firefighters responded at 11:56 a.m. Tuesday to assist emergency-medical-services personnel at 1305 Gray St. According to the report, firefighters assisted EMS in moving a patient onto a stretcher, out of his or her home and into the ambulance...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Margaret Proffer Cross, 87, of Poplar Bluff passed away on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. She was born on November 8, 1931 in Poplar Bluff to Russell and Inez (Gaines) Proffer. She married Ted Cross on February 14, 1948 in Poplar Bluff. He preceded her in death on April 26, 2006...

ELLSINORE, Mo. — Rodger Dean Cooper, 55, of Ellsinore, died Monday, Feb. 4, 2019 at his residence. Visitation will be at 9 a.m., Friday, Feb. 8 at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. The funeral will follow 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Tom Wilder officiating. Burial following with full Military Honors at noon in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo...

MALDEN, Mo. — June Payne, 70, of Gideon, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. at the Landess Funeral Chapel with Pastor Greg Mullins officiating...

DONIPHAN, Mo. — Navella Fern Holmes, 84, of Grandin, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 at her residence. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel and burial will be in the Beaver Dam Cemetery...

DEXTER — The Dexter Police Department’s new canine unit is one step closer to becoming a reality with the recent selection of its officer/handler. Thomas Forkum was chosen from a group of officers who put in for the position, said Dexter Police Chief Trevor Pulley...

Children should have lofty goals, according to Kelly Shearrer Spradling. They should have big hearts too, the Poplar Bluff mother believes. That’s why she and husband, Bert, are helping their children tackle another Valentine’s Day fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital...

Naylor teacher Teresa Sopko’s passions are God, family, students and community. She relies on faith in God to see her through life. When doors to Sopko’s first career choice “to be a missionary” didn’t open immediately, she accepted a job teaching kindergarten at Pilgrims Rest Church in Fairdealing...

Localized flooding is possible as the area sees up to 4 inches of rain from Tuesday through Thursday afternoon, according to officials. The ground is saturated and ditches will have a hard time handling this amount of rain, Butler County Emergency Management Agency Director Robbie Myers said at 1 p.m. Wednesday...