Mildred Pierce

DEXTER, Mo. -- Mildred H. Pierce, daughter of the late Homer and Beatrice Rickles Hazel, was born in Birmingham, Ala., on April 7, 1929, and passed away at Kindred Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., on Aug. 10, 2002, at the age of 73 years, four months and three days.

Mildred was a resident of St. Louis before moving to Dexter in 1958 and worked as a supervisor of Elder Outlet Store Operation and later was the owner/operator of the Dexter Cleaners as well as employed by the Dexter Daily Statesman. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Dexter.

On Sept. 14, 1951, she married William L. Pierce in Panama City, Fla.

Surviving are her husband; one son and daughter-in-law, William Mark and Lynette Pierce of Marietta, Ga.; three daughters and sons-in-law, Valerie and James Whiteman of Warrensburg, Mo., Marsha and Bill Hussey of Florissant, Pamela and Russell Brown of Jackson, Mo., three grandchildren, Paige and Allie Brown and Will Thomas Pierce; two brothers and one sister-in-law, Tommy and Mabel Hazel of Camilla, Ga., and Norman Hazel of Marianna, Fla.; one sister and brother-in-law, Carmel and Lloyd Rogers of Tucson, Ariz. Other relatives and many friends also survive.

Friends may call today from 5 to 8 p.m. at Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Joan Swanson of the First Presbyterian Church in Dexter and Stephen Moody of Clarkton, Mo., officiating.

Interment will follow in the Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape County, Mo., with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service in charge of arrangements.