Ernest Poole

BENTON, Mo. -- Ernest R. Poole, 73, of Benton died Monday, Aug. 16, 2004, at Monticello House in Jackson.

He was born Nov. 21, 1930, in Tamms, Ill., son of Elmer and Esther McCoy Poole. He and Veda Mouser were married July 10, 1993.

Poole was a cab driver 24 years in Cape Girardeau. He was a member of Smith Avenue Church of God in Sikeston, Mo.

Survivors include his wife; a stepdaughter, Darla Smith of Moro, Ill.; a stepson, Daren West of East Alton, Ill.; five sisters, Faye Erasmus of Murray, Ky., Anne Hiesel of Lebanon, Mo., Louise Dunning of Franklin, Tenn., Dorothy Pritchard of Jacksonville, Fla., Judith Webb of Lexington, Tenn.; two brothers, Robert Poole of Channelview, Texas, Wayne Poole of Herrin, Ill.; and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a stepson, a sister and two brothers.

The funeral was held Aug. 19 at Elias-Smith Funeral Home in Bethalto, Ill. The Rev. Ira Lee Sandefer officiated. Burial was in Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Smith Avenue Church of God, with Sandefer officiating.