Obituaries

Arlinda Barringer-McElreath, 100, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, at Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 5, 1920, in Illmo, Missouri, to Finis Huff and Pearl Jennie Foster Huff. Arlinda worked for JCPenney for more than 30 years as a sales clerk and catalog supervisor...

June F. Martin Baugh Black, 85, of Jackson, died Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, at the Monticello House in Jackson. Arrangements are incomplete at this time. McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson is in charge of arrangements...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Timmothy Evans, 26, of Perryville passed away Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020 at his residence in Perryville. He was born April 17, 1994 in Chester, Illinois, to John Joseph Evans and Lori Eggemeyer. He was an Engineer at TG USA and volunteer for Perryville Fire Department...

Willis Haertling, 87, of Jackson and formerly of New Wells passed away Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 16, 1932, at New Wells, son of Eldor H. and Alma Meyr Haertling. He married Thelma Amanda Sticht on Oct. 20, 1956, at Salem Lutheran Church at Farrar, Missouri...

SCOTT CITY -- Wendell Lee "Wendy" Smith Hamil, 81, went to be with the Lord on Monday, Nov. 30. Her loving husband, Robert Vaden Hamil, 89, of Scott City, followed just one day after on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Mrs. ...

CORNVILLE, AZ -- Iva Houchins, 92, passed away peacefully at her home of 15 years in Cornville on Nov. 27, 2020. She was born in Crump, Missouri on Feb. 11, 1928, the ninth child of Burette Oliver Brown and Addie Mae Robbins. Iva loved music, flowers, her family and friends. ...

Joseph Carl Miller Jr., 74, formerly of Cape Girardeau, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Nov. 14, in Frisco, Texas, after battling Parkinson's disease for many years. He was born Oct. 3, 1946 in Cape Girardeau to Carl Miller and Helen Catherine Brugger...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- John "Toby" Modde, 82, of Perryville passed away Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, at his residence in Perryville. He was born Oct. 25, 1938, in Belgique, Missouri, to Edward L. and Marie C. Wood Modde. He and Beatrice Prevallet were married April 1, 1989, in New Madrid, Missouri. She preceded him in death Jan. 20, 2016...

Ruby Franck Moore was born in Cape Girardeau on February 14, 1926 to Ervin F. and Alma Schaefer Franck, and passed away from this life on Nov. 24, 2020, in Woodville, Texas, at the age of 94. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, God-mother and friend who will be dearly missed. She retired from Levi Strauss...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Earlene Payne, 75, of Perryville died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020 at her residence in Perryville. Services will be held a later date and will be private for the family. Ford and Young Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Billy Eugene "B.E" Shuffler, 90, of Brookfield, Missouri, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, at Mercy Hospital Washington in Washington, Missouri. Visitation will be 5 to 8 pm on Dec. 16 at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Mary B. Van Cleve passed away peacefully in her home Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, in Louisville at age 65 after a two-year battle with breast cancer. She was born May 13, 1955, in Rockford, Illinois, to John Joseph Borkowski and the late Jean Green Borkowski. ...

Norma A. Welch, 79, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born Jan. 8, 1941, in Cape Girardeau to Paul and Valeria Grasser Glueck. Norma worked for many years in sales for Hutson's Furniture Store in Cape Girardeau. She was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau...

Larry J. Welker, 71, of Gordonville died Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born Sept. 20, 1949, in Cape Girardeau to Glennon Jesse "Glen" and Florence Lappe Welker. He and Xiufang Sang were married Sept. 28, 1999, in China...

Doris J. Wilkinson, 89, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020, at Ratliff Care Center. She was born Nov. 21, 1931, in Millersville to the late Amon Andrew Jacob and Dessie Esther Seabaugh Moore. She and Bobby G. Wilkinson were married April 28, 1956, in Cape Girardeau. He preceded her in death Feb. 17, 2001...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Nancy Lea Hager, 79, of Perryville died Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at her residence in Perryville. Visitation will be held 8:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ford and Young Funeral Home. The funeral will be held at 11 Wednesday at the funeral homem with Deacon John Darin officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery...

Paul Abbott died peacefully in his sleep at Saint Francis Hospital on Dec. 1, 2020, following a brief battle with cancer. He was born Feb. 20, 1955, to Jerry and Glenda Abbott. He married Jane, and son, Asa, on Oct. 7, 2000. Paul graduated Cape Girardeau Central High School in 1973. He had several occupations, but the most consistent one was body work, which he first studied at The Academy...

Gerald (Jerry) Bell passed away on Nov. 24, 2020, at the age of 90. He was born in 1930 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Arthur and Juanita Bell. He spent his childhood in Kennett, Missouri, where he attended Kennett North School for 12 years and played on the basketball and football teams. ...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Jean Ann Dillworth Burnett, 86, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, at the Clark's Mountain Nursing Center in Piedmont. She was born Feb. 6, 1934, in Bloomfield, Missouri, the daughter of Earl Dillworth and Eunice Barfield Dillworth...

Becki Jo Gray, 61, of Jackson, died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, after a two-year battle with cancer. She passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her loving husband and three daughters. She was born March 26, 1959 in Waterloo, Iowa, daughter of Jerry and Pat Griffith Busey. She and John B. Gray, Jr. were married July 19, 1980 in St. Louis...

Judy Kennedy, daughter of the Edward Pawlak and Wilma Pawlak was born on March 13, 1945, in St. Louis and departed this life peacefully surrounded by family at her residence in Scott City on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020 at the age of 75 years. Kennedy was a former Medical Technician for Alternative Opportunities Assistant Living, member of the First Assembly of God Church in Scott City and a member of the Elks Ladies Auxiliary 639 in Cape Girardeau...

Lanny Keith "Chief" Koch, son of the late Marion Corbert Koch and Katherine Miller Koch was born May 12, 1945, in Cape Girardeau and departed this life on Dec. 2, 2020, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau at the age of 75 years. Mr. Koch proudly served in U.S. Navy aboard the USS Ticonderoga. Lanny was the owner/operator of Girardeau Stevedores and Contractors, Inc in Scott City...

Frances Mae McIver, daughter of the late William Russell and Myrtle Richards Russell, was born on Jan. 7, 1934, in Lamar, Arkansas, and departed this life on Dec. 1, 2020, at The Arbors at Auburn Creek in Cape Girardeau at the age of 86 years. McIver was a former hair stylist and owner of Frances Beauty Salon in Cape Girardeau. She attended LaCroix United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. She was a member of the Veterans Ladies Auxiliary and the Red Hat Society...

Marvin N. Popp, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020 at the Lutheran Home. He was born March 21, 1930, in Altenburg, Missouri, to Eugene and Alma Popp. He and Virginia Schlegel were married April 12, 1958, at Cape Girardeau. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1954 to 1960...

Deborah Lynn Ray Spease, 66, departed this life Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Nov. 24, 1954, in Cape Girardeau to the late Carl Wayne and Lois Phillips Ray. Debbie had retired from teaching kindergarten at Naylor, Missouri, R-II School. ...

Ernest Earl Adams, 95, of Jackson, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, at the Monticello House in Jackson. He was born Feb. 22, 1925, in McClure, Illinois, son of Andrew P. and Minnie A Cumins Adams. Ernest married Marjorie A. Winn Feb. 10, 1961. She passed away April 6, 1985...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- James L. Bohnert, 67, of Perryville died Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, at St. Mary's Health Center in St. Louis. Graveside service will be held private for the family. Ford and Young Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

Heaven gained an angel, Mary A. Busch, passed away peacefully at the Lutheran Home. She was 87 years old. She was born Mary Anna Davidson on Nov. 24, 1933, in Rector, Arkansas to Finis Leo and Bernedith Virginia Davidson. She and Melvin "Buddy" Busch were married 1953...

Kenneth Ray Cassout, 75, of Scott City died Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, at his home. He was born June 23, 1945, in Cape Girardeau to Bernie and Gladys Opal King Cassout. He married Connie Sue Pulliam on April 3, 1980. He was a riverboat captain and was a member of First Assembly of God in Scott City...

Robert Murry Cranmer, 72, of Jackson died Monday, Nov. 30, 2020 at Southeast Hospital. He was born Nov. 27, 1948, in St. Louis to Eugene George and Norma Edith Woodworth Cranmer. He and Gail Foster were married March 30, 1972, at Faith Methodist Church in House Springs, Missouri...

Barry Steven Davis was called to Heaven on Nov. 30, 2020, in Sikeston, Missouri at the age of 68 years. He was born Sept. 23, 1952, to Harold Martel and Virginia Lee Smith Davis in Cape Girardeau. For nearly the past 50 years, Barry resided at the Westfield Nursing Center in Sikeston, where he received diligent, loving and compassionate care...

Franklin Delano James, 87, of Cape Girardeau passed away Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, at Southeast Hospital. He was born May 19, 1933, in Cape Girardeau to the late John Frank and Esther Anita Siemers James. Franklin served in the U.S. Army from 1954 until 1956. He and Wanda Robinson were married June 9, 1957, in Cape Girardeau. She survives...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Helen Annette L'Hote, 97, of Perryville, passed away Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born Oct. 4, 1923, in Perry County to Daniel and Theresa Pourney Gorman. She and Leon C. L'Hote were married on June 27, 1942. He preceded her in death on April 21, 2019...

Melva I. Leimbach, 90, of Pocahontas passed away Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, at the Monticello House in Jackson. She was born Sept. 23, 1930, near New Wells the daughter of Edward and Margareta Tiedemann Perr. She married Rudolf Benjamin Leimbach April 7, 1951, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells. He preceded her in death after just over 63 years of marriage on Jan. 16, 2015...

Janet Karen Nagel, 78, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 16, 1942, in Cape Girardeau to Wesley and Nada Smith Nagel. She was raised in one of the first houses built on highway 61, just north of the Cape Girardeau city limits...

Peggy Lea Neal, 56 of Cape Girardeau passed away on Nov. 26, 2020, at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born on May 10, 1964, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of T.J. and Ruth Lawson Blattel. Survivors include her husband, Russell Neal; one brother, Thomas (Pat) Blattel of Jackson; and sister, Cindy (Chuck) Stone of Cape Girardeau...

KELSO, Mo. -- Emma Jean Nichols, 84 of Kelso died Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, at the Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee, Missouri. She was born July 24, 1936, in Cape Girardeau to Herman and Irma Robinson Schwepker. She was a ECG Tech at Southeast Hospital for 30 years. She was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso and Ladies Sodality of St. Augustine...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- William "Bill" Difani Phillips, Sr., 95, of Perryville, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, at Independence Care Center of Perry County in Perryville. Bill was born April 13, 1925 in Fort Worth, Texas, son of Leo Entler Phillips, Sr. and Ulva Clara Difani Phillips. He and Anne Cecilia Newnam were married on June 4, 1948. She preceded him in death on April 16, 2016...

James Edward Pledger, 84, passed away on Nov. 29, 2020, at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born on Oct. 31, 1936, to the late Willice and Lorene Higgeson Pledger. Survivors include his son Jerry (Brenda) Pledger of Cape Girardeau, MO.; Daughter In-law Stephanie Pledger; former wife Maryann Pledger; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren...

James Robert "Rob" Ross, 26, of Cape Girardeau, died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Barks Chapel, with the Rev. Tim Lee officiating. Memorial Service will follow at 3 p.m. at Apostolic Promise Church in Cape Girardeau...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Ruth Sanders, 73, of Powhatan, Virginia, formerly of Advance, Missouri passed away Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020 at her home. She was born Nov. 10, 1947, in Canalou, Missouri, daughter to Earl Ross and Loyal Partain Jones. On Nov. 15, 1968, she and Richard E Sanders Sr. were united in marriage in Sikeston, Missouri. He preceded her in death on Sept. 17, 2001...

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Janet Lucille Bass Smith, DMA, 84, passed away Dec. 1, 2020, in Bowling Green. She was born on Jan. 11, 1936, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the daughter of Ellwood Aven Bass and Clara Anna Hahn Bass. She is survived by three sons, Randall A. ...

Susan Yvonne Smith, 68, of Jackson died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, at her home. She was born Oct. 14, 1952, in Cape Girardeau to Melvin W. and Geneva E. Miskell Smith. She is survived by a son, Anthony "Aaron" (Angela) Gilliam of St. Louis; a granddaughter, Aria Lee Vega Gilliam; three brothers, Larry (Audrey) Smith of O'Fallon, Missouri, Paul Smith of Scott City and Mac (Cindy) Smith of Waterloo, Illinois; two nieces, Maranda and Heather Smith; and a nephew, Nick Smith...

Wilma J. "Jeannie" Soellner, 78, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Aug. 25, 1942, in Rolla, Missouri, to Vernon E. and Dorothy Potter. She and Arthur M. Soellner were married Aug. 29, 1959, at First Presbyterian Church in Rolla, Missouri...

Cheryl Ann Steeg, 73, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, at her home. She was born Jan. 28, 1947, in Hampton, Virginia, daughter of Fred and Martha Skinner Matthews. She and Lee Steeg Jr. were married May 24, 1972. He survives. Cheryl worked at Saint Francis Medical Center. Her hobbies included caring for her animals and her flowers...

James Kenneth Weakley, 81, of Cape Girardeau passed away peacefully at home Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, surrounded by his loving family and the support of many friends. He was born Dec. 30, 1938, in East Prairie, Missouri to James Albert and Sybil Bernice Hodge Weakley...

Larry J. Welker, 71, of Gordonville died Monday, Nov. 30, 2020 at Saint Francis Medical Center. Due to COVID restrictions the visitation will be private. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mary Cathedral in Cape Girardeau with the Rev. Allan Saunders officiating...

Averie Lynn Williams, age 6, went to Heaven on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, at 8:53 p.m. at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born June 18, 2014. She was the precious daughter of Elliott and Carrie Williams, and little sister to Eli and Ashton Williams, all of Cape Girardeau...

Robert Murray Cranmer, 72, of Jackson died Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, at Southeast Hospital. Visitation will be 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Funeral Home in Jackson. Private funeral service will be Saturday at the funeral home in Jackson with the Rev. Bryan Wendling officiating...

ORAN, Mo. -- John Robert Gaines, 63, of Oran passed away Nov. 29, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 18, 1957, in Hayti, Missouri, to the late Robert Taylor and Emma Anna Eftink Gaines. He was a 1975 graduate of Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau, a member of Guardian Angel Catholic Church, St. Joseph Men's Club and the Knights of Columbus Council 4311 of Oran. He was a lifetime farmer until his retirement in 2017...