Obituaries

Jun 9, 2023

James (Jimmy) L Vernon, 74, of Poplar Bluff, MO passed away on Friday, June 9th, 2023, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri after a short battle with liver cancer.

Jimmy was born on May 14, 1949, to James G. and Delores (Turner) Vernon in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

Jimmy graduated from Poplar...

Jun 9, 2023

Alvin "Sonny" Eugene Spencer, 82, of Poplar Bluff, MO, passed away Friday, June 09, 2023, at Oakdale Care Center.

Sonny was born on September 16, 1940, to Lennie and Francis (Motter) Spencer in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He married Opal Mae Browning on November 17, 1986, in Wickliffe, KY.

Sonny was of the Baptist Faith. He...

Jun 4, 2023

Timothy Shawn Shepard, 37, of Poplar Bluff, MO passed away on June 04, 2023, at St. Louis University Hospital in Saint Louis, Missouri. Timmy was born on March 16, 1986, to Debra Shepard in Centralia, Illinois. Timmy's favorite pastime was spending his days with his son, Shawn, he also enjoyed fishing, listening to music, playing video games, and hanging...

May 31, 2023

E.L. “Lee” Kearbey, Jr, 68, of Poplar Bluff died Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Lee was born June 9, 1954, in Poplar Bluff to E. Leroy Kearbey Sr. and Nancy Mae (Files) Kearbey. On August 12, 1973, he married Karen Sue Caringer.

After retiring from the family-owned Kearbey Ford...

May 30, 2023

Leonard Eddy Browning, 65, of Poplar Bluff, MO passed away on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at his home in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

Leonard was born on March 29, 1958, to Gilbert A. and Opal Mae (Smothers) Browning in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

Leonard was a self-employed mechanic at C & F Auto Salvage. He loved his...

May 29, 2023

Karen Jane Crismon, 72, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri passed away on May 29, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

Karen was born on Nov. 4, 1950, to Russell and Rayo (Veach) Edwards in Blytheville, Arkansas.  She married Mike Crismon on March 27, 1970.

Karen loved being outdoors with her best friend,  Mike, fishing...

May 24, 2023

Paul Norman Taylor, 78, of Poplar Bluff, MO, entered God's Kingdom on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.

Paul was born on January 8, 1945, to Russell and Ollie (Sims) Taylor in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He married Connie Chaney Taylor on January 14, 1967.

Upon graduation from Poplar Bluff High School in 1962, he joined the Air...

May 19, 2023

Norma "Jean" (Barker) Chatman, 82, of Winter Haven, Florida, went to her eternal home in Heaven on May 19, 2023. Born on May 21, 1940 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to Arley and Artie May (Brayton) Barker, Jean was the 7th of 10 children. She accepted the Lord Jesus at age 9 at the First Church of God Poplar Bluff,...

May 16, 2023

Michael ‘Mike’ David Smith, 73, of Poplar Bluff and Lady Lake, Florida, passed away Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Florida.

Mike was born in Poplar Bluff on Nov. 29, 1949, to Lester Jack and Ruth Ann Odle Smith. He was a Poplar Bluff City Council member from 2003-2008 and airport manager from 2006-2017. As of 2017, Smith...

May 12, 2023

Janice Georgetta Miller, 65, of Williamsville, MO passed away on May 12, 2023 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Janice was born on November 14, 1957 to George and Christine (Burnett) Kelly in St. Louis, Missouri. She married Vernon Miller in St. Louis. Janice spent her career life as a nurse for different area hospitals....

May 10, 2023

James Alan Parks, 57, of Greenville, MO passed away on May 10, 2023 at his home in Greenville, Missouri. Alan was born on October 22, 1965 to James and Carol (Eason) Parks in Kennett, Missouri.  He married Kathy (Dunehoo) Parks. Alan enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, woodworking, collecting rocks and St. Louis Cardinals memorabilia and spending time with his...

Apr 23, 2023

Marvin Benjamin Berry, 71, of Poplar Bluff, MO passed away on April 23, 2023, at his home in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Marvin believed that Jesus Christ is the son of God and now he is with him. Marvin was born on February 8, 1952, to Leonard and Alpha (Bridges) Berry in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.  He married Robin Moe Berry...

Apr 22, 2023

Barbara was born on January 13, 1942, in Fisk, Missouri. (Butler County). Her parents were Joseph Bernard Suttner and Faye Elizabeth McKuin-Suttner-Wilson. She graduated from Poplar Bluff High School, Class of 1959, and attended Southeast. Missouri State College, in Cape Girardeau. During her time in college, she met and married Richard J. Collins on January 5, 1960, from Poplar...

Apr 20, 2023

Ulrike "Ukie" Maria (Gaebler) Hoja, 92, of Poplar Bluff, MO passed away Thursday, April 20, 2023.

Ukie was born on August 11, 1930, in Madras, India to German missionaries, Paul and Lisa Gaebler. She married Dr. Witold Alex Hoja in 1953, in Berea, Kentucky

Ukie attended an American boarding school in India. She lived in...

Apr 19, 2023

Pauline Hammons, 93, of Poplar Bluff, MO gained her heavenly wings on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

Pauline was born on January 18, 1930, to Wyman and May (Cardwell) Ramsey in Bernie, Missouri.

Pauline was a member of First Baptist Church of Poplar Bluff, but also attended Grace Christian Fellowship from time...

Apr 18, 2023

Catherine Moore Almond, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, peacefully passed away with her devoted daughter by her side on the evening of April 18, 2023.

Catherine was born on February 15,1933, to William and Nettie Lee (Campbell) Moore in Hope, Arkansas.

Catherine was a retired homemaker. She was a loving and devoted Mother and Grandmother. In...

Apr 14, 2023

Deidre Sue (Hackworth) Hughes, 53, of Poplar Bluff, MO, passed away Friday, April 14, 2023, at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond Heights, Missouri.

Deidre was born on September 30, 1969, to Marvin and Linda (Thornburgh) Hackworth in Poplar Bluff. She married James Leroy Hughes on October 27, 1990, also in Poplar Bluff.

Deidre had a...

Apr 7, 2023

Oliver Michael ‘Mike’ Priest, 74, of Wappapello, Missouri, passed away Friday, April 7, 2023, at his home.

Mike, the son of Jim and Ailene (Darrington) Priest, was born August 22, 1948, in St. Louis, Missouri. He retired after many years as a Riverboat Chief Engineer. Mike enjoyed being on the water, fishing and dove hunting, but his...

Apr 7, 2023

Brenda Kay Gowen, 67, of Ellsinore, MO peacefully passed away with family by her side on April 07, 2023, at her home in Ellsinore, MO. Brenda was born on February 13, 1956, to Leroy and Mary Virginia (Deckard) Whitesell in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.  She married the love of her life, Donnie Gowen on July 2, 1996. Brenda retired from...

Apr 4, 2023

Pansie Earline Ward, 75, of Poplar Bluff, MO, passed away peacefully in her home on Tuesday, April 04, 2023.

Earline was born on August 11, 1947, to Earnie and Pansie (Hendrickson) Hale in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. She married John Edward Ward on September 24, 1965, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

Earline was a member of Bethel...