Billy Lee Oliver, son of the late William Oliver and Stella Hunsaker Oliver, was born on June 3, 1924, in Dexter, Missouri and departed this life on July 17, 2021, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri at the age of 97.
Billy was a child of sharecroppers who worked the cotton fields of Southeast Missouri during the depression years. He could recall a time when there was nothing but virgin forests between Dexter and Poplar Bluff. In 1930, he was an eye witness to the falling of the Paragould meteorite, the second largest meteorite ever recovered in North America. Billy worked from the time he was ten years old. During World War II he began working at Elder Manufacturing Company in Dexter. He remained at that job for 45 years. As a member of the local union, he once served as sergeant at arms for Ted Kennedy. In his later years, he often delivered cars for the Autry Morlan car dealership. He always had a story to share, and he never lost his sense of humor.
Billy was united in marriage on September 15, 1950, to Thelma Idabel Oliver in Piggott, Arkansas. Billy and Thelma enjoyed 65 happy years together before she preceded him in death on October 6, 2015, at the age of 91 years.
Billy was a Christian and a baptized believer in Jesus Christ. He was a long-time member of the Dexter Church of Christ.
Billy is survived by his only child, Vicki Hopgood and her husband Terry of Rolla, Missouri; by two grandchildren, Aaron Hopgood of Rolla, Missouri and Allison Rogerson and her husband, Christian, of Rolla Missouri; by six great-grandchildren, Grace Rogerson, Noah Rogerson, Jackson Rogerson, Cooper Rogerson, William Rogerson, and Samuel Rogerson.
Besides his parents and wife, Billy was preceded in death by three brothers, Sylvester Oliver, Raymond Oliver, and William Oliver Junior; and by two sisters, Nina Boone and Rita Humes.
Friends may call at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel immediately following the visitation. Clyde Jacques, from the Dexter Church of Christ, will be officiating. Interment will follow in the Essex Cemetery in Essex, Missouri.
Memorials may be made to the Paragould Children’s Home, 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, Arkansas 72450 or Little Prairie Bible Camp, PO Box 251, Rolla, Missouri 65402.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Cletus Leake, was born on April 8, 1957, in Center, Missouri, and departed this on July 19, 2021 at his residence in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 64 years.
Mr. Leake was a handyman, working in heating and air, and electrical. He was a member of the Independence RC motorcycle club and the Freedom of Roadriders Motorcycle club.
On July 11, 2011, he was united in marriage to Sally Hill. Mrs. Leake survives of their home in Dexter.
In addition to his wife Sally, he is survived by his son, Jeremy Leake, by his daughter, Dondi Leake, by his step-son, Jody Hill of Malden, Missouri, by two step-daughters, Tabatha Weaver of Tennessee and April Bridges of Risco, Missouri; by his brother, David Leake of Center, Missouri; by his sister Katrina Leake, and by twelve grandchildren.
Mathis Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
Edward Boyd Cupp, son of Ida Clements Edmonds and the late Charles Cupp, was born in Hornersville, Missouri on October 24, 1959 and departed this life at his residence in Bernie, Missouri on July 17, 2021 at the age of 61.
Mr. Cupp was a farm laborer for Greg Mayberry Farms.
Survivors include his mother, Ida Edmonds of Bernie, Missouri; by three sisters, Kathryn Conrad, Sheila Fardell and Rosa Bridges; also by other relatives and friends.
Danny Hill, son of the late Clifford Hill and Mary Lee Campbell Johnson, was born on July 10, 1962, in Dexter, Missouri, and departed this life on July 18, 2021, at the Springs of Batesville, in Batesville, Arkansas, at the age of 59 years.
Mr. Hill was a former employee of the Sheltered Workshop in Dexter, Missouri. He was a resident of Fuwell's Residential Care in Bloomfield, Missouri for many years.
He is survived by three brothers, Terry Hill of Clarkton, Missouri, JC Hill of Oklahoma, and Verlin Hill of Bloomfield, Missouri; by his sister, Mary Ballard of Belleville, Illinois; and by many nieces, nephews and friends that loved him dearly.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Eugene Henson and Wilburn Carter; and by several other brothers and sisters.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, July 23, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, July 23, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
Kenneth Lynn Sanders, son of the late Robert Wayne Sanders and Florence Mildred Swallows Sanders, was born on October 5, 1954, in Detroit Michigan, and departed this life on July 17, 2021, at his residence in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 66 years.
Mr. Sanders was a welder technician at Faurecia for 44 years. He was of the Christian faith and attended Risen Church in Dexter. Kenneth was an avid golfer and bowler and a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, and the St. Louis Blues.
On June 16, 1987, in Dexter, Missouri he was united in Marriage to Joyce Plummer. Mrs. Sanders survives of their home in Dexter.
In addition to his wife Joyce, he is survived by two sons, Rick Lynn Sanders of Poplar Bluff, Missouri and Dustin Lee Hopkins and wife Julie of Jackson, Missouri; by two daughters Autumn Alaina Stacy of Bloomfield, Missouri and Nikki Elaine Baker of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; and by seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Mr. Sanders was preceded in death by his parents, and by his brother Dennis Wayne Sanders.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
