Lester Stafford

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Lester Stafford, 91, of Sikeston, died Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2005, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Dec. 8, 1913, in Portageville, Mo., son of John and Myrtle Stafford. He and Bernice Jackson were married Feb. 18, 1938, at Portageville. She died July 27, 1978. He and Pearl Lewis were married Nov. 26, 1979, in Sikeston. She died June 3, 2000.

Stafford farmed in the Portageville and Matthews, Mo., areas before moving to Sikeston. He was a member of Tanner Street Church of God.

Survivors include a daughter, Wanda Underwood of Portageville; a brother, D.C. Stafford of Anderson, Ind.; two stepsons, David Lewis of Anderson, Don Lewis of Columbia, Mo.; a stepdaughter, Marilyn Moll of San Antonio, Texas; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; eight stepgrandchildren; and 13 great-stepgrandchildren.

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

Friends may call at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel from 6 to 8 p.m. today.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Tanner Street Church, with the Revs. Carl Addison and Larry Smith officiating. Burial will be in Portageville Cemetery.