Jeffrey Ray Brown, son of the late Ray Brown and Cathy Green Dennington, was born on September 26, 1969, in Dexter, Missouri, and departed this life on January 6, 2025, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 55 years.
Mr. Brown was a farmer and a resident of Dexter, Missouri. He loved fishing, collecting arrowheads, and building model cars, and he enjoyed playing with his granddog, Oaken.
He is survived by his daughter, Veronica Brown of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; and by his sister, Sonja Shafer of Texas.
No services are planned.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter assisted with arrangements.
Nettie Sue Ward, nee Steinmeier, the daughter of the late Joe and Pearl Steinmeier Hawks passed away peacefully at the Puxico Nursing Center on Friday, January 3, 2025 at the age of 94 with family by her side.
Nettie was born August 25th, 1930.
She graduated from Puxico High School in 1948, obtained her bachelor's degree from State Teacher's College Southeast Missouri State in 1960, and completed her Master's degree in 1972 (A note form Nettie: "12 years apart for each one, that's not my measurements!")
She was married to Floyd Ward, Jr. and they were married for 64 years before he passed away, March 27th, 2015.
She began her teaching career in 1950 at Tanner School, which was in the Grey Ridge School District. She taught the first four grade levels and notes that her first salary was $1800 for 9 months. She then taught at Puxico for 2 years, and then the Hazelwood School District in the St. Louis area for 25 years. She retired in 1985, after 30 years in education.
It was then time for grandkids, traveling, and crafting. Her grandchildren recall many happy memories at Grandma and Papa's home in Florissant, MO, singing songs learning to read, playing Skip-Bo and always being assured of a readily available ice cream cone or popsicle.
Nettie and Shorty moved back to Puxico in 2002. Nettie looked forward to the city-wide yard sales, enjoying visiting with people and displaying her many creative crafts. She was especially adept at turning trash into treasures, as those lucky enough to own one of her light bulb snowman can attest. She was a member of the 1st Baptist Church of Puxico, The Thursday Culture Club, and served on the Barry Glenn historical museum board for several years.
She is survived by two sons: Terry (Linda Woolley) Ward and Keith (Anita Grigery) Ward, six grandchildren: Jon (Courtney Pare), Amy (Spencer) Chew, Allie Ward, Alyssa Ward, Laura (Dominic) Vitale and Elena Ward, and 4 great-grandchildren: Abbey Ward, Helen Chew, Enzo and Nico Vitale. She is also survived by one sister, Emma Walton of Auburn, Alabama and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends, whom she cherished.
Nettie was preceded in death by five sisters: Dorothy Tweedy, Lillian Green, Pauline Sifford, Vivian Glenn, and Geneva Lacewell, four brothers: Billy Joe Steinmeier, Herbert Hoover Steinmeier, Bonnie Rudolph Steinmeier and Charles Leon Steinmeier.
Service Information:
The visitation will be on Sunday, January 12, 2025, beginning at 1 P.M. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri.
The funeral will be on Monday, January 13, 2025, beginning at 10 A.M. at the Puxico First Baptist Church in Puxico, Missouri.
Watkins and Sons is handling all arrangements.
Gerald Edward Rinehart, son of the late Claude and Jewell (Atkinson) Rinehart was born on April 17, 1938 in Houston, Arkansas and passed away on January 5, 2025 in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 86 years, 8 months and 19 days.
Gerald and Patricia Ann Toll were united in marriage in June of 1965 in Benton Harbor, Michigan and were happily married until her passing on September 13, 2010.
Gerald lived in Michigan for several years before moving back to the Dexter area in 1992. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Bloomfield, Missouri and enjoyed gardening, fishing and watching the St. Louis Cardinals play.
Surviving family include his children, Jerry Rinehart of Stevensville, Michigan and Jill Miller of Arkansas, 4 grandchildren; Stephanie (Andrew) Tolles, of Flint, Michigan, Zachary Rinehart, of Stevensville, Michigan, Crystal Miller and Timothy Miller, both of Arkansas, a great grandson, James Tolles, a brother, J.E. (Sue) Rinehart of Bloomfield, Missouri, a sister, Lillie Denny of West Plains, Missouri, a sister in law, Irene Rinehart, of Bloomfield, Missouri, and many nieces and nephews, including the director of Memory Lane, Michelle Chism.
The family would like to send a special thanks to the Memory Lane Nursing Center in Dexter, Missouri for taking such great care of their loved one.
Jimmy G. Null, son of the late Melvin Null, was born October 6, 1962 in Jefferson County, Missouri and departed this life on January 5, 2025 at his home in Puxico, Missouri surrounded by his family, at the age of 62.
Jimmy was employed at WW Wood in Dudley, Missouri for many years. When not working, he loved doing anything outdoors, like fishing, hunting, and spending time with his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Clardean Null of the home, three daughters; Drucella (Chuck) Durall, Serina Hood of Dexter, Missouri, and Rebecca (David) Null of Puxico, Missouri, one brother, Stanley (Cynthia) Null, of Puxico, Missouri, six grandchildren; Derrick Durall, Dillon Durall, Hailey Durall, Katrina Hood, Gage Cagle, Adriana Null and AunDrea Fuller, 6 great grandchildren; Malachi Durall, Felix Holloway, Landon Durall, Shaylee Durall, Kymber Durall, and Hiedi Durall. He also had 8 bonus great grandbabies.
Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents and one grandchild.
No further arrangements have been made at this time.
James A. Todd, son of the late Buster Arthur Todd and Gilethia Virginia Todd was born on February 5, 1942 in Hot Springs, Arkansas and departed this life on January 5, 2025 at the Prairie View Skilled Nursing Center in Bloomfield, Missouri at the age of 82.
James was a veteran of the United States Army where he was on active duty for eight years. He served in the civil reserve for twenty years upon being honorably discharged from the Army. He worked in law enforcement for twenty years serving as the police chief at Hazen and Des Arc, Arkansas and Bernie, Missouri. He was a sheriff deputy at Lonoke, Arkansas and Stoddard County, Missouri, and had also served as the jailer at Stoddard County. He had pastored at five churches across Arkansas and Missouri and currently attended the Friendship Baptist Church in Dexter. He enjoyed sitting outside and watching the wildlife, and also enjoyed watching westerns.
On May 29, 1961, he was united in marriage to Sherian Nichols in Little Rock, Arkansas. Mrs. Todd survives of their home in Dexter.
Other than by his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Michelle McGowan of Dexter, Missouri; by two sons, Shannon Todd and wife Teresa of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Wade Todd and wife Shelly of Bernie, Missouri; by his grandchildren, Jesse and wife Becky McGowan, Kristine and husband Josh Gooch, Miranda and husband Cory Blocker, Andrew and wife Lauren McGowan, Shelby and husband Mason Hooker, Marcus Todd, Abby McGowan, Corbin and wife Madison McGowan, Braydon and wife Victoria Todd, Noah Day, Tyler and wife Hollye Day, Weston and wife Maddie Comstock and Connor Todd; and by many great-grandchildren, extended family and friends.
Other than by his parents he was preceded in death by his sister, Gloria Sue Todd; by his son in law, Justin McGowan, and his great-grandson, Myles Parker Gooch.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Scott Payne officiating.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting the family with arrangements.
