Gene Dement

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Eston E. "Gene" Dement, 85, of Sikeston passed away Saturday, March 22, 2014, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.

He was born Sept. 13, 1928, in Clark County, Mo., to James F. and Dora Belle Bogener Dement.

Gene joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1946.

After his service, he graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture, and was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

He went to work for Caterpillar Tractor in Peoria, Ill. He later returned to the family farm in Carthage, Ill., before moving to Sikeston in 1962, where he founded Dement Farms and was actively engaged in that operation at the time of his death. He was also a partner in Crowder Gin Co.

Gene was a member of First United Methodist Church and had served as chairman of the administrative board, served on the board of Sikeston Production Credit Association as chairman many years, and had served on the board of Missouri Delta Medical Center and was currently an emeritus board member.

He was appointed to the Missouri Conservation Commission by former governor Kit Bond. He was currently a member of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority and the University of Missouri Delta Center Advisory Committee.

Gene and Marilyn Mayfield were married July 5, 1952.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters and sons-in-law, Marsha and Fritz Sander of Jackson and Susan and William Baxley of Plano, Texas; a son and daughter-in-law, Edward and Kaye Dement of Sikeston; six grandchildren, Frank (Elizabeth Sikes) Miller, Trent (Malissa Mautino) Miller, Mollie Baxley, Catherine Baxley, Michael Dement and Constance Dement; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Geneva Gerlach; and a son-in-law, Bruce Miller.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Ponder Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Geoff Posegate officiating. The Rev. Marvin Graham will also speak. Interment will be in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield with full military honors.

Pallbearers will be Joey Heckert, Dan Jennings, Martin Priggel, Lloyd Smith, Craig Stoker and Robert Wright.

Honorary pallbearers will be Fred Brown, Terry Cole, Fred Ferrell, Dr. Loring Helfrich, Dr. Sam Hunter, Tom Marshall and Blair Moran.

Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 1307 N. Main St., Sikeston, MO 63801, or Missouri Delta Medical Center, 1008 N. Main St., Sikeston, MO 63801.

Online condolences may be sent to ponderfuneralhome.com.