Obituaries

Jun 25, 2023

Doris Margret Smith, 81, of Sikeston, MO passed away on June 25, 2023, at Hunter Acres Caring Center in Sikeston, Missouri. Doris was born on April 22, 1942, to Carl and Hazel Marie Bagby Vineyard in Broseley, Missouri. Doris loved crafts and coloring, she worked as a  CNA for nursing homes, a custodian for Westwood Baptist Church and in...

Jun 24, 2023

Curtis Lee Rush, 76 years old, of Poplar Bluff, MO passed away on Saturday, June 24, 2023.

Curtis was born on December 3, 1946 in East St. Louis, IL. He was the fourth of eleven children born to Cecil and Mary Irene Rush.

Curtis attended Corning High School in Corning, AR....

Jun 23, 2023

Jessica Lynn Gowen, 30, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Friday, June 23, 2023, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St Louis.

Jessica was born September 3, 1992, in Poplar Bluff to Stephen Wayne and Christy (Hyde) Gowen. She was a graduate of Poplar Bluff High School and attended Three Rivers College. Until her health declined, she was...

Jun 21, 2023

Geraldine (nee, Gunn) Riggins, 94, of Belleville, Illinois, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at Benedictine Living Community – at the Shrine in Belleville.

Geraldine, one of 11 children, was born Dec. 21, 1928, in Hendrickson, Missouri to Marion and Eva Mae (nee, Casey) Gunn. She was married to Orville Riggins, who...

Jun 20, 2023

Stanley “Stan” F. LaFond, was born in St. Anne, Illinois, to Wilbur “Bear” and Bernice (Koenig) LaFond on February 3, 1933. He joined his Heavenly Father on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

He went to school in St. Anne, Illinois before entering the Navy. After the Navy he was a machinist in Kankakee at Bradley machine with his...

Jun 19, 2023

Beloved father, grandfather, and brother, John Blake Pruett passed suddenly on Monday, June 19, 2023, at age 54.

John was born on November 20, 1968, to James Lee and Lenda Sue (Hudson) Pruett in Paragould, Arkansas. John or "Johnny" as many affectionately called him, was a lively child always in search of adventure with a touch of...

Jun 16, 2023

Beverly Karen Smith, 62, of Poplar Bluff, MO, passed away Friday, June 16, 2023, at her home.

Beverly was born on January 16, 1961, to Paul and Syble (Wilmoth) Hillis in Aurora, Missouri.

Beverly was a believer of the Lord, Jesus Christ. She appreciated nature and enjoyed spending time outdoors. Beverly liked to go camping,...

Jun 14, 2023

Melvin Wesly Smith, Jr., 64, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Wednesday June 14, 2023, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

Melvin was born Nov. 26, 1958, in Indianapolis, Indiana to Melvin W. Sr. and Cordelia Smith. He attended Washington Grade School and later Danville High School Danville, Illinois. He was a member of Danville C.M.E. Church,...

Jun 13, 2023

Randy Walter Groves, 66, of Poplar Bluff, MO passed away on June 13, 2023, at his residence in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Mr. Groves was born on July 24, 1956, to James and Vera Armstrong in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Randy was a member and former pastor of the First Church of God of Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He was a 1974...

Jun 11, 2023

Bernetta “Ann” Pemberton, age 93, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Sunday, June 11, 2023, at Bickford Cottage in Quincy, Illinois.

Ann was born on October 1, 1929, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, the daughter of Roy and Hester Livenspargar Worland.  She married H.I. Ruth on August 10, 1952 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.  He preceded her in death...

Jun 10, 2023

Scotty Allen Selvidge, of McKinney, Texas passed away Saturday, June 10, 2023, in McKinney at the age of 63. He was born to Carl and Gloria (Ramsey) Selvidge on December 2, 1959, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

As a young man Scott worked for veterinarians, farmers and was a lifeguard.  His father was a career Air Force veteran...

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...