Obituaries

Mar 9, 2021

Melvin Eugene Riley, 91, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., took his last earthly breath and entered the presence of Jesus on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.

Mr. Riley, the son of the late Floyd (Elza) Riley and Gertrude (Purdue) Riley, was

born September 12, 1929, near Kell, Illinois.  He was a Christian, having been baptized as a...

Mar 9, 2021

Doris Ward, 84, of Poplar Bluff passed away Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at Oakdale Care Center.

Doris was born August 18, 1936 to the late Robert and Maud Eagle in Rector, AR.  She married the late Vernon Ward on October 11, 1952. He preceded her in death on September 13, 2015.

Doris was employed at...

Mar 8, 2021

Marita Wilson, 86, of Poplar Bluff, MO passed away Monday, March 08, 2021 at Westwood Hills Health & Rehabilitation in Poplar Bluff.

Marita was born on October 27, 1934 to Jesse and Katie (Clemons) Hayman in Harviell, Missouri.  She married James O. Wilson on July 16th 1955, in St. Louis, MO.

Marita was a long...

Mar 6, 2021

Dorothy Belle Summers, 92, of Poplar Bluff passed away Saturday, March 6, 2021 at her residence.

Dorothy was born May 2, 1928 to Earl W. and Selma (Gusfason) Bediant in Denver, CO.  She and Gene Summers Sr. were married June 28, 1950 in Piggott, AR. He preceded her in death in 1995.

Dorothy enjoyed crafting,...

Mar 5, 2021

Theresa Irene (Todt) Schlitt, 94 of Poplar Bluff, died on March 5th, 2021 at home. She was born April 19th, 1926 to John and Bertha (Hoehn) Todt at Nokomis, Illinois. On June 17, 1950, Theresa married Robert Schlitt at Guardian Angel Catholic Church in Oran, Missouri. They were happily married for 62 years. Robert proceeded her in death in...

Feb 27, 2021

Helen Louise Farris Johnson, 90, of Williamsville, formerly of Poplar Bluff entered Heaven Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, at her residence.

Louise was born Nov. 10, 1930, in Naylor to the late Walter and Florence (Fowler) Young.  She was of the Pentecostal faith and was a homemaker.  Helen enjoyed reading her Bible and going to church and to...

Feb 23, 2021

Peggy Hutson of Broseley, Missouri passed away at the age of 85.

Peggy worked at Doctors Hospital and the Poplar Bluff School system before retiring to travel with the love of her life Alex.

Peggy was a member of the Palace of Praise and a tribal elder of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. She loved to...

Feb 23, 2021

Elsie Marie Kirkman, 78, of Poplar Bluff passed away Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at Arkansas Continued Care Hospital in Jonesboro, AR.

Elsie was born May 2, 1942 to Thomas and Etta (Wilson) Neal in Poplar Bluff. She and Ralph Kirkman were married January 20, 1968 in Poplar Bluff.  He preceded her in death on November 9, 2020....

Feb 22, 2021

Joseph "Bob" Schunk, 79, of Fisk, MO passed away on February 22, 2021 surrounded by his family.

Joseph was born on April 29, 1941 to Thomas and Pauline Schunk in Arkansas.  Joseph married Joyce (Nicholson) Schunk and together they celebrated 49 years of marriage.

Joseph spent his life as an active member of the Christian...

Feb 19, 2021

Mary Louise Owens, age 89, of Poplar Bluff, transitioned from her earthly home to her eternal heavenly home on Friday, February 19, 2021. She was born in Greenville, Missouri on January 21, 1932, to Earl and Lillie Strickland.

Mary Lou married the love of her life and best friend, Jerry William Owens, on May 27, 1947. At...

Feb 16, 2021

Jewel Marie Scholl was born in Advance, Missouri, on September 20, 1931, to Ora Albert “Jack” and Helen Marie (Beasley) Brinkley. She was transferred at the Lord's request to the Church Triumphant on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at the age of 89 years and 5 months. Mrs. Scholl grew up in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, graduating from Cape Central High...

Feb 15, 2021

Chester “Chet” Beaty, 86, of Poplar Bluff passed away Monday, February 15, 2021 at Clark’s Mountain Nursing Home.

Chester was born November 4, 1934 to Chester Virgil and Mamie Ruth Noldge Beaty in Chaonia, MO.  He and Sandra Morris were married September of 1956. He later married Patty Spencer, she preceded him in death on July 17,...

Feb 9, 2021

Aaron Bush II, 72, of Poplar Bluff, MO passed away on February 09, 2021 at his home in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Aaron was born on June 17, 1948 to Aaron and Eula Mae ( Langford) Bush in St. Louis, Missouri.  He married Angela (McKeller) on December 29, 1995, in Parma, Missouri. Aaron was retired from the United States Military,...

Feb 7, 2021

Shirley L. (Langley) Hindman, 89, of Harviell, MO passed away Sunday, February 07, 2021 at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center in Piedmont, MO.

Shirley was born on September 1, 1931 to Elbert and Edna (Cox) Langley in St. Louis, MO. She married Leo Hindman on October 16, 1955 in Poplar Bluff.

Shirley was a Christian woman....

Feb 7, 2021

Cynthia “Cindy” G. Evans, 66, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, following a lengthy illness, and is now resting in peace.

Cindy was born Aug. 12, 1954, in Sikeston, Missouri to her parents “Gerry” Denton Smith and Guy E. Smith.  She and her family moved to Poplar Bluff in 1958 where she remained throughout her...

Feb 6, 2021

Donald Ray Cochran, 78, of Poplar Bluff, MO passed away Saturday, February 6, 2021 at his home in Poplar Bluff.

Donald was born on December 1, 1942 to Donald L. and Mary Edna (Weatherford) Cochran in Poplar Bluff.  He married Mary A. Moore on December 19, 1985 in Poplar Bluff.

Donald was a Christian man....

Feb 6, 2021

Thomas R. "Tom" Turner, a retired Poplar Bluff businessman who gave many years of service on community boards, died Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Turner, 80, had been in declining health for several years. He died of complications after recent surgeries.

Born on March 25, 1940, in Columbia, La., ...

Feb 5, 2021

Wythia Willean West Hefner, of Poplar Bluff, passed away peacefully on February 5, 2021 at the age of 89 years.

Wythia was born on October 19, 1931 to Lester and Florence (Briggs) West, who preceded her in death. She graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 1949. Wythia married the love of her life, Joe Hefner II...

Feb 3, 2021

Lloyd Jesse Belt, 78, of Poplar Bluff, MO passed away on February 03, 2021 at St. Bernard's Hospital in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Lloyd was born on August 4, 1942 to the late Jesse Belt and Genell (Cox) Miller in Gainsville, Missouri.  He married Elaine Marie (Neumann) Belt on April 25, 1964, in Clearwater, FL. Lloyd was a fantastic bowler and...

Feb 3, 2021

Judith "Judy" Baldwin, 79 of Poplar Bluff passed away February 3, 2021.

Judy was born February 16, 1941 to William and Marie (Boeving) Clarkson in Poplar Bluff.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Thomas "Tommy" Clarkson, her sister Carole Bedell, and her daughter Jan Elizabeth Baldwin.

She is survived...