Jerrel W. Counts

Jerrel Wayne Counts, 68, of Poplar Bluff died Friday, May 28, 2010 at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff.

Mr. Counts was born March 4, 1942 in Dunklin County. He was of the Protestant faith, and was a retired machine operator. Mr. Counts was a veteran of the U.S. Marines and served in the Vietnam where he was awarded a Vietnamese Service Medal with 3 stars; Vietnamese Campaign Medal with Device; National Defense Service Medal; Good Conduct Medal; and Rifle Expert Medal. He enjoyed spending time with his family.

On Nov. 7, 1970 he married Linda Boyer in Poplar Bluff. She survives.

Other survivors include a daughter, Tina Marie Ellis and her husband Danny of Choctaw, Okla.; grandson, Christian Sewell of Raleigh, NC; three sisters, Dorothy Walker and her husband Dennis of Iron Mountain, Lena Mae Bell Cochran and her husband Robert of Harviell and Judy Lorraine McNece of Poplar Bluff; and four brothers, Floyd Eugene Counts of Bloomfield, Robert Randall Counts of Campbell, Charles Edward Counts and his wife Lois of Pittsburg, Mo. and Jake Douglas Counts and his wife Bonnie of Granite City, Ill.

His parents, Floyd and Verdie Venetti (Patterson) Counts preceded him in death.

Visitation will be from 12 noon to 1:15 p.m. Wednesday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. A graveside service with full military honors will follow at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Missouri State Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield with the Rev. Dennis Walker officiating.

Memorials may be made to UCAN (United Cancer Awareness Network), 1419 Maud St., Poplar Bluff, MO 63902 or to Poplar Bluff Veterans Administration - Hospice Fund, c/o Volunteer Services, John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, 1500 North Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901.

Family and friends may share an online condolence or memory at www.cotrellfuneralservice.com.