Helen Botsch was born at her parents’ home in Bernie, Missouri, April 10, 1925, the second daughter of Edith Ramsey Harmon and Cleo Harmon. She graduated from Bernie High School in 1942, then attended Cape College and Central Michigan University, where she studied for a degree in music. Administrators at Bernie High School then persuaded her to leave college and come back to Bernie to teach music to all 12 grades and 9th grade English.
Helen was united in marriage to Dennis Robert Botsch on Christmas Day, 1947, in Piggott, Arkansas. Together they operated a farm east of Bernie until illness forced Dennis to retire. He preceded her in death on March 27, 2005.
Helen was a member of the Bernie Jaycee-ettes and convinced members to bring the Girl Scout program to Bernie in 1955. She helped plan the Bernie School reunions through their first 10 reunions. She volunteered weekly at the Poplar Bluff Veterans Hospital’s Auxiliary for 29 years. A lifetime member of the Bernie United Methodist Church, she served as pianist then organist for 62 years. She organized the “Holy Week” services for the youth at the church and continued to plan them for 49 years. She also organized the “Chrismon Tree” program in 1981; the gold and white ornaments are still used today in the church sanctuary during the Christmas holidays.
Survivors include her daughter, Nancy Botsch Wilson, Jefferson City, and her son, Don Botsch, Bernie; three grandchildren: Dr. Tim Wilson and wife Dr. Lindsay Wilson, Evergreen, Colorado; Brad Wilson, Dallas, Texas and Libby Wilson, Jefferson City; and a great-grandson, Winter Joseph Wilson, Evergreen, Colorado; a brother, Bill Harmon and wife Ann, Swartz Creek, Michigan; two brothers-in-law, Erwin Botsch and Orlando Botsch, both of Bernie; and one sister-in-law, Virginia Harmon of Allen Park, Michigan; many nieces and nephews and their families.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Edith and Cleo Harmon, Her mother and father-in-law, Flora Winter Botsch and Christian Botsch; a sister & brother-in-law, Dorothy and Ralph Beckman; a brother, Robert Harmon; her brother-in-law, Ernest Botsch and his wife Dorothy; her sisters-in-law, Dorothy Botsch and Vivian Botsch; and her son-in-law, Dick Wilson.
Visitation was held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, May 14, 2016.
Funeral services were conducted at 11:00 A.M. at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home, Bernie, Missouri, with Rev. Dave Fowler and Rev. Susan Marner-Sides officiating. Interment was in Bernie Cemetery.
Helen requested no flowers; she just wants everyone to do a good deed for someone!
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home, Bernie, and Freeman Mortuary, Jefferson City, in charge of arrangements.
Pat Tonnee Farmer-Huston, daughter of the late Joseph Schroeder and Doris Smith Schroeder, was born on January 21, 1945 in Portland, Oregon and departed this life on May 7, 2016 at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana at the age of 71.
Mrs. Huston was a member of the Ark of Hope, a homemaker and a resident of Bloomfield.
She is survived by two sons, Jeff Farmer of Dexter, Missouri and Jimmy Farmer of St. Louis, Missouri; by two daughters, Jaime Farmer of High Ridge, Missouri and Julia Farmer of Toronto, Ontario; by one brother, Richard Schroeder of Seattle, Washington; by one sister, Deborah Schroeder of Portland, Oregon; by six grandchildren, Levi Farmer, Tyler Misuraco, Dausen Dowdy, Bryce Farmer, Chase Farmer and Abigail Dowdy; and by one great-grandchild, Aliah Dowdy.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 3:00 P.M.
Lillian W. Orton, daughter of the late Winford Dudley and Maude Ann Menley Christian, was born in Essex, Missouri on May 13, 1935, and passed away at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on May 7, 2016, at the age of 80 years, 11 months and 24 days.
Lillian had lived in Dexter most of her life and in Poplar Bluff the past four years. She had worked in home health for many years.
Surviving are eight children, Linda Menley of Calvert City, Kentucky, Debria "Deb" Ballard of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Susan Burns of Pascola, Missouri, Steven Orton of Wenatchee, Washington, Ronda Merriman of Malden, Missouri, Tena Davis, Randy Orton, and Shannon Noall all of Dexter, Missouri; twenty-three grandchildren; thirty-seven great grandchildren; seven great great grandchildren; and one sister, Irene Leek of Flint, Michigan.
Other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Diane Orton, one son, Dale Orton, four brothers and three sisters.
Friends may visit on Tuesday, May 10, 2016, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri.
Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter, Missouri. Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri in charge of all arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com.
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
James Charles Eakes of Bloomfield, son of the late Clyde Faye and Oddie Louiza Patterson Eakes, was born in Atkins, Arkansas on May 3, 1934, and passed away at the Golden Living Center in Bloomfield, Missouri on May 8, 2016, at the age of 82 years and 5 days.
James had lived in Qulin, Missouri until 1974 when he moved to Dexter. He has been in Bloomfield the past several years. He had been a truck driver and dry wall installer.
He was a veteran of the U. S. Army, serving as a construction machine operator for 3 years in Germany, during the Korean Conflict.
Surviving are one son, James E. Eakes of Jackson, Missouri; three daughters, Patty Hunsaker of Avert, Missouri, Martha Wesson of Holland, Missouri, Alice Green of Dexter, Missouri; 13 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; and 3 great great grandchildren. Other relatives and many friends also survive.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Ralph, Ray & Donald Eakes; and one sister, Louise Huggins.
Friends may call on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with Rev. Kenneth Biggs of Dexter, Missouri officiating.
Interment will follow in the Brown Chapel Cemetery in Broseley, Missouri with full military honors. Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri is in charge of arrangements.
Watkins & Sons Funeral Service
www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Lendel Strauser of Bloomfield, son of the late Charles & Lovie Wilson Strauser, was born in Swinton, Missouri on November 7, 1942, and passed away at his home near Bloomfield on May 5, 2016, at the age of 73 years.
He lived in Bloomfield for many years and worked as a Farmer until retiring five years ago.
On July 1, 1967, he married Sharon King at the Gravel Hill Church near Bloomfield.
Surviving are his wife, Sharon Strauser of Bloomfield, Missouri; two grandchildren, Presley Davis of Bloomfield, Hunter Strauser of Dexter; two great grandchildren, Jazmyne & Paisley Davis both of Bloomfield; and one brother, Shirl Strauser of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Other relatives and friends also survive.
He was preceded in death by one son, Dennis Strauser; and two brothers, Lester & Chester Strauser.
Friends may visit on Sunday, May 8, 2016, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Funeral services will be on Monday, May 9, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield with the Rev. Bob Bradford of Delta, Missouri officiating.
Interment will follow at the Gravel Hill Cemetery near Bloomfield with Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home of Bloomfield, Missouri in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com
Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home - Bloomfield
573 568 4500
