Rex Henson

Rex Allen Henson, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Dec. 2, 1922, in Poplar Bluff, to Matthew W. and Ivah Sanders Henson. He and Myra Lee Tinsley were married June 2, 1946, at Poplar Bluff.

Henson was a member of First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff. He attended Mark Twain Grade School and Marble Hill School in the county before entering Poplar Bluff High School, graduating in 1939. He completed two years of study at Southeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Southeast Missouri State University) before a brief stint in Officer Candidate School (OCS) in the U.S. Marine Corps at Notre Dame University.

He returned to Poplar Bluff to clerk in the Henson & Henson Law Firm with his father and uncle. He worked in the family firm and studied for the bar until licensed April 10, 1948. He was later joined in the firm by his brother, John D. Henson, and continued the Henson & Henson firm until his election to the bench in 1966.

In his final years of practice he's believed to be the last practicing attorney who did not attend law school. He marked 61 years as a licensed attorney April 10, 2009.

He was elected Butler County prosecuting attorney and served from 1950 to 1956. He was also elected circuit judge of the 36th Judicial Circuit (Butler and Ripley counties) from 1967 to 1991.

Henson served as a Taft delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1952 in Chicago. In 1991 he joined the Edmundson Law Firm, where he worked 15-plus years.

In his younger years, Rex was an avid sportsman, hunting and fishing, and was a dedicated historian of his family's genealogy. He was always a consumate storyteller of his experiences, and his wit and character were spellbinding. But his true joy came from family, cooking and visiting with friends.

Survivors include his wife, Myra Lee Henson of Poplar Bluff; two sons, Mark Henson and wife Beverly of Poplar Bluff, Matt Henson and wife Patti of Cape Girardeau; three daughters, Jane Henson Bishop of Sevierville, Tenn., Nancy Henson Kopp and husband Jacob of New Hope, Pa., Cindy Henson Woodruff and husband Keith of Kirkwood, Mo.; a brother, John D. Henson and wife Billie of Sweetwater, Tenn.; and a brother-in-law, Lee Bryan of Poplar Bluff.

Also nine grandchildren, Lance Henson and wife Melanie, Kristie Lepold and husband Jeff, Johanna Bishop, Sarah Bishop, Luke Henson, Rachel Henson, Laura Henson, John Woodruff, Katherine Woodruff; four great-grandchildren, Carlen Marie Lepold, Alexis Grace Lepold, Colton Robert Henson and Wyatt Mark Henson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Bernita Bryan; and a son-in-law, Doug Bishop.

There will be no visitation.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, with the Rev. John Harwell officiating. Private family burial will be in Poplar Bluff City Cemetery.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Rex A. Henson Memorial Fund in care of Poplar Bluff School Foundation, 1110 N. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901, or the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.