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Obituaries

Obituaries

Michael W. Ford, 76, Festus

Michael W. Ford, 76, Festus

Michael W. Ford, 76, of Festus died May 29, 2026, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mr. Ford served in the U.S. Army and owned and operated M&F Trucking in Festus. He retired as an instructor from Nu-Way Truck Driver Training i…

Bobby E. Guenther, 70, Fletcher

Bobby E. Guenther, 70, Fletcher

Bobby E. Guenther, 70, of Fletcher died May 29, 2026, at his home. Mr. Guenther worked for Vic Huskey’s gasoline and propane business and later for Universal Flavors. Born Oct. 12, 1955, in Vallejo, Calif., he was the son of the late Billy Eu…

Raymond J. Roesch, 90, Festus

Raymond J. Roesch, 90, Festus

Raymond J. Roesch, 90, of Festus died May 30, 2026, at Scenic Wellness and Rehab Center in Herculaneum. Mr. Roesch served in the U.S. Army. He was a retired machinist with 43 years of service at McDonnell Douglas and Boeing Aircraft. After re…

Nancy Mueller Gardner, 69, Charlotte, N.C.

Nancy Mueller Gardner, 69, Charlotte, N.C.

Nancy Mueller Gardner, 69, of Charlotte, N.C., died May 26, 2026. Mrs. Gardner earned a master's degree in nursing from the University of Phoenix, and in 2017 she was recognized as one of The Great 100 Nurses. She often attended her children'…

Melissa Ann Priest, 66, Bonne Terre

Melissa Ann Priest, 66, Bonne Terre

Melissa Ann Priest, 66, of Bonne Terre died May 17, 2026, at St. Joe Manor in Bonne Terre. Ms. Priest enjoyed cooking, fishing, camping and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Born June 25, 1959, in Festus, she was th…

Rosalie L. Cooseman, 84, Arnold

Rosalie L. Cooseman, 84, Arnold

Rosalie L. Cooseman,84, of Arnold died May 15, 2026. Born April 4, 1942, Mrs. Cooseman was the daughter of the late Wilford and Mary (Mossey) Becker.

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John Gilbert Williamson, 87, El Paso, Texas

John Gilbert Williamson, 87, El Paso, Texas

John Gilbert Williamson, 87, of El Paso, Texas, died May 18, 2026. Mr. Williamson was a 1957 De Soto High School graduate, earning varsity letters in football, track and baseball each year and was captain of the football team his senior year.…

Trula May Skaggs, 94, Festus

Trula May Skaggs, 94, Festus

Trula May Skaggs, 94, of Festus died May 24, 2026, at Scenic Wellness Center in Herculaneum. Mrs. Skaggs was a lifelong member of the First Christian Church of Festus. She was a 1950 graduate of Festus High School, where she was the 1950 Fest…

Nathan Allen Thomas, 32, Imperial

Nathan Allen Thomas, 32, Imperial

Nathan Allen Thomas, 32, of Imperial died May 21, 2026, in St. Louis. Mr. Thomas was a U.S. Army veteran who served with the 220th Engineers and was deployed with the 294th Engineer Support Company to Djibouti, Africa, in 2023. He loved servi…

Carl Joseph Moormann, 68, De Soto

Carl Joseph Moormann, 68, De Soto

Carl Joseph Moormann, 68, of De Soto died May 23, 2026, at Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur. Mr. Moormann was a 1975 De Soto High School graduate and went on to finish two years at Jefferson College. He was a welder for many years, wor…

Breanna ‘Jada’ Tank, 27, Festus

Breanna ‘Jada’ Tank, 27, Festus

Breanna “Jada” Tank, 27, of Festus died May 10, 2026, in St. Louis. Born Jan. 27, 1999, in St. Louis, Ms. Tank was the daughter of Sandy Tank of Festus. She was the stepdaughter of Jamie Hampshire of Festus.

Harry E. Wood, 87, Imperial

Harry E. Wood, 87, Imperial

Harry E. Wood, 87, of Imperial died May 26, 2026. A U. S. Navy veteran, Mr. Wood served for four years aboard the USS Willis A. Lee DL-4 out of Newport, R.I. He worked as a typesetter at Skinner and Kennedy, a sales representative at York Typ…

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To arrange for the publication of a paid obituary in the Leader, visit www.myleaderpaper.com/site/forms/announcements/obit, call the office at 636-931-7560 or email news@myleaderpaper.com. The charge is $95 to run an obituary in any one of the three weekly papers or the bi-weekly Eureka paper. Cost to add an additional paper the same week is $35 for each. All obituaries are subject to editing for length and to conform to the newspaper’s standard obituary format.

Paul Homer Crader, 94, Fenton

Paul Homer Crader, 94, Fenton

Paul Homer Crader, 94, of Fenton died May 25, 2026. Mr. Crader grew up in the Jackson area and earned a bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University. Afterwards, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany for…

Jennifer Botkin, 50, Barnhart

Jennifer Botkin, 50, Barnhart

Jennifer Botkin, 50, of Barnhart died May 16, 2026, at her home. Mrs. Botkin was a teacher. She enjoyed experiences over worldly things, practicing her faith and spending time with family and friends. She will be remembered for her determinat…

David Paul Westhoff Sr., 79, De Soto

David Paul Westhoff Sr., 79, De Soto

David Paul Westhoff Sr., 79, of De Soto died May 16, 2026. Mr. Westhoff dedicated many years of service to Chrysler, where he worked in the paint department. Following his retirement, he continued serving others through his work with Mahn Fun…

Terry W. Capstick, 78, Festus

Terry W. Capstick, 78, Festus

Terry W. Capstick, 78, of Festus, formerly of St. Louis, died May 23, 2026. Mr. Capstick served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and was a member of Amvets Post 42, VFW Post 3777 and Elks Lodge 1721. He was a former Patriot Guard Rider…

Judith Lee (Pursley) McKeen, 79, Waco, Texas

Judith Lee (Pursley) McKeen, 79, Waco, Texas

Judith Lee (Pursley) McKeen, 79, of Waco, Texas, formerly of Grubville, died Feb. 25, 2026, at Providence Village Nursing Home in Waco, Texas. Born Aug. 4, 1946, in Dittmer, she was the daughter of the late Kenneth and Melba (Wideman) Pursley.

Jennifer Lynn ‘Jenny’ Clark, 53, De Soto

Jennifer Lynn ‘Jenny’ Clark, 53, De Soto

Jennifer Lynn “Jenny” Clark, 53, of De Soto died May 21, 2026, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mrs. Clark was a homemaker. She enjoyed gardening and trading collectables. Born April 27, 1973, in Crystal City, she was the daughter…

James Richard ‘Rich’ Mason, 84, Herculaneum

James Richard ‘Rich’ Mason, 84, Herculaneum

James Richard “Rich” Mason, 84, of Herculaneum died May 21, 2026, at his home. Mr. Mason was a graduate of Leadwood High School. He worked for Chrysler Corp in Fenton and retired as a supervisor from River Cement/Buzzi Unicem of Festus. He an…

Betty Beniece Gotcher, 88, Eureka

Betty Beniece Gotcher, 88, Eureka

Betty Beniece Gotcher, 88, of Eureka, formerly of Montgomery City, died May 18, 2026, at St. Andrew's at Francis Place. Mrs. Gotcher worked for many years as an associate at GenCorp in Berger. She was devoted to her family, faith and the peop…

Ralph John Koenig, 83, Festus

Ralph John Koenig, 83, Festus

Ralph John Koenig, 83, of Festus died May 9, 2026, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in Town and Country. Mr. Koenig was a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran and a retired educator, having taught in the Armstrong, Winfield and St. Louis County Special Scho…

J.R. Phelps, 46, Festus

J.R. Phelps, 46, Festus

J.R. Phelps, 46, of Festus died May 18, 2026, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mr. Phelps loved to go to the dirt track races, ride motorcycles and work on cars. Born Oct. 5, 1979, in St. Louis, he was the son of Judy Medley (Davi…

John Frank Grillo, 100, Crystal City

John Frank Grillo, 100, Crystal City

John Frank Grillo, 100, of Crystal City died May 16, 2026, at de Greeff Hospice House in St. Louis County. Mr. Grillo served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in WWII, supporting D-Day, and was a graduate of Penn State University. He moved his famil…

Cletus George Jennewein Sr., 91, St. Louis

Cletus George Jennewein Sr., 91, St. Louis

Cletus George Jennewein Sr., 91, of St. Louis, formerly of Festus, died April 9, 2026, at Crystal Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation in Crystal City. Mr. Jennewein was a member of Sacred Heart Church and the Knights of Columbus. He loved spendin…