All Obituaries

Jessica Anne Peterson 1981 – 2021   Jessica Anne Peterson, 40, of New Franklin, passed away May 17, 2022 at the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia.   Jessica as born on November 25, 1981, a daughter of William Dale Peterson, Sr. and Sharon Merritt Peterson.  She was formerly employed as a chef and was a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys.  As a young person she enjoyed drawing and painting.   Survivors include three children,...

Deborah Kay Sloat, of Kingdom City, passed away on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Monday, May 23, 2022, at Bach-Yager Funeral Chapel.   A gathering of family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.  Debbie was born to Leon and Ruth Lorraine (Forsee) Bea on February 27, 1951, in Boone County and they preceded her in death.  She enjoyed working in the yard, animals and jewelry. Debbie is survived...

John Allen Sevier, Jr. 1926 – 2022   John Allen Sevier, Jr., age 95, of New Franklin, passed away May 9, 2022 at the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics.   John was born in Sedalia, Missouri on December 30, 1926 the first child of John Allen Sevier, Sr. and Stella Elizabeth Simmons Sevier.   John served his nation in World War II in the U.S Army from March 31, 1944 until his honorable discharge on May 9, 1946.   Prior to retirement, John was...

Thomas Gene Smith, 80, of rural Fulton, passed away at his home on May 8, 2022 after a lengthy illness.   Thomas was born in Marblehead, Illinois on November 21, 1941 a son of William Andrew Smith and Helen Frances Rudsell Smith.  He married Judith “Judy” Baker on September 21, 1959.  The family had formerly lived in the states of Illinois, Colorado, Florida and Alabama before moving to Missouri where Thomas and Judy were owners and operators for over fifty years...

Cora Mize Robinson, 85, of Columbia, formerly of Iuka, Mississippi, went home to our Lord on May 8, 2022. She was born on August 1, 1936, in Columbia, Missouri to the late Azariah and Bertha (Burnett) Mize.  She married William J. Nichols and they had 4 children, Linda Carlos (Eddie), Loraine Harmon, Price Nichols(Lisa) and Lloyd Nichols(Mary).  She later married Richard “Dickie” Robinson on July 4, 1983 and he had 2 children, Don Robinson (Lorissa) of Houston, Texas...

Betty Marie Slate, 86, of Rocheport, went to be with her Lord on May 4, 2022. She was born on January 16, 1936, in Boone County to the late Vernon and Jewell (Jones) Heath.  On January 22, 1954, she married Roger Slate in Midway, Missouri.  She was a member of the Praise Assembly of God Church in Columbia.  In her 86 years, Betty had a joyous spirit that enveloped you. She devoted her whole life to God and everything else fell into place. It started with working in a...

Edward “Gene” Watts 1945 – 2022   Edward Eugene “Gene” Watts, 76, of Columbia, passed away April 24, 2022 at the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics.   Gene was born in Boonville on October 27, 1945 a son of King Edward Watts and Orpha Mae Purvis Watts. He was a 1963 graduate of Boonville High School. He was employed with First Student as a bus driver for Columbia Public Schools and also trained new bus drivers.  Gene’s favorite...

Denise Marcella Cooksey 1953 – 2022 Denise Marcella Cooksey, 68, of Higbee, Missouri passed away at her home on March 24, 2022. Denise was born in Independence, Missouri on September 21, 1953 a daughter of Edward and Marian Shull Costigan.  She married Dwayne Cooksey on July 7, 1973 in Independence.  Dwayne survives at their home. She was employed at Boone Hospital in the medical records department for nine years and for thirteen years at Boyce and Bynum both in...

Dorothy B. (Turner) Critchfield passed away on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 in Macon, MO.  She was born 7/31/1932 in Stephens, (Callaway County), MO.  She is survived by four children:  Stephen (Barbara), David (Theresa), Gary (Wendy), and Cynthia (Kelly); four grandchildren:  Kimber, Joshua, Ryan, and Kyle; and, five great grandchildren:  Ainsley, Allyson, Madison, Matthew, and Morgan. After graduating high school a year early, her first job was...

Aaron Smith Becker was born May 23 1981, in Madison, WI the son of Kenneth August Becker and Donna Smith Becker.  He was married to Jacob Richardson on July 19, 2020. After Aaron was born he was in a fight for his life, undergoing surgery when he was one month old.  He and his parents, learned to live with the inevitable fact that he would need a liver transplant one day. Since sports were out of the question, he found other ways to keep busy. He had a huge Lego collection. He...