Richard Howard Selvidge

Richard Howard “Sonny” Selvidge of Poplar Bluff, MO passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family on March 13th. He was born on July 5, 1932, in Poplar Bluff, MO to Taylor Howard and Juanita (Pyles) Selvidge. In 1953, he married Simone Stanard from Connecticut. Three children were born of this union. After Sonny and Simone married, they moved to California where they owned and operated a machine shop. During those years Sonny developed a love for prospecting and even owned a gold mine in Death Valley. Sonny, Simone, and their three children returned to Poplar Bluff in 1971, where he opened Selvidge Precision Machine Shop which many in the community still know today. Sonny enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and enjoyed the outdoors. He especially enjoyed rabbit and deer hunting with his sons and grandsons. Sonny was a Mason in the Shriners, an organization which was very dear to his heart and was a member of The American Legion.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Taylor Howard and Juanita (Pyles) Selvidge; four brothers and two sisters, Robert “Bobby” Roy Selvidge, Carl Allen Selvidge, Gene Raymond Selvidge, Charles Selvidge, Donna Selvidge Pogue and Wanda Sue Selvidge Watson. He is survived by his wife, Simone Selvidge of Poplar Bluff; daughter, Rhonda Ann Selvidge Myers, husband Larry, of Frostproof, FL; son, Richard “Rick” David Selvidge, wife Lisa Bauer Selvidge of Caulfield, MO; son, Donald “Don” Taylor Selvidge of Poplar Bluff; three grandsons, Chad Selvidge; Kyle Selvidge; and Marcus Selvidge; one granddaughter, Carissa Selvidge Wessel; as well as 5 great grandchildren and four step-grandchildren; three sisters, Judith Mae Selvidge Boyers; Linda Faye Selvidge Rubottom; and Carolyn Ann Selvidge Rideout. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family. 

Visitation will be from 10am-11am on Wednesday, March 18th, 2026, with funeral services following at 11am at Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral & Cremation Services in Poplar Bluff, MO. Pastor Kent Miller will officiate with burial at Memorial Garden Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made online or by sending your check to the “Shriner’s Hospitals for Children,” to any of the 22 Shriner’s Hospitals or to the Office of Development, International Shrine Headquarters, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607-1460. Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral & Cremation Services is honored to serve the family and friends of Richard Howard “Sonny” Selvidge. Online condolences can be made at www.cwrfcs.com