Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Francese Cotton
VAN BUREN -- Francese Cotton, 97, of Van Buren died Monday, Oct. 6, 2003 at the Riverways Manor Nursing Home in Van Buren. She was born Jan. 10, 1906 at Willow Springs.
Mrs. Cotton was a lifelong resident of Van Buren, where she and her husband George Stanley Cotton, owned the Carter County State Bank, and the Current River Regional Library in Van Buren and Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff. She enjoyed playing Bridge, working crossword puzzles and just driving around the community.
She was united in marriage to George Stanley Cotton. He preceded her in death Aug. 10, 1962.
Survivors include one niece, Francese Barbee; four nephews, Graydon Ballard, George Ballard, John Moore and Terry Moore.
Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Hank Foster officiating.
Burial will be at the Masonic Cemetery in Van Buren. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the United Methodist Church or the Current River Regional Library.
Bertha McCarty
DONIPHAN -- Bertha May McCarty, 97, of Doniphan died Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003 at her residence. She was a lifetime resident of Doniphan.
Mrs. McCarty was born April 10, 1906 in Doniphan. She was a housewife. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed gardening.
On Oct. 22, 1928, she married Hershel McCarty in Naylor. He preceded her in death on July 7, 1971
Survivors include one daughter, Eva Falls of Doniphan; and one brother, Edison Little of Poplar Bluff.
Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home with Rev. Joe McDonald officiating. Burial will be at Naylor Masonic Cemetery.
Murvel Sellars
ELLINGTON -- Murvel Russell Sellars, 64, of St. Ann died Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003 at Redford, Mo. his second residence. He was born Sept. 26, 1939 at West Miami, Fla.
He was retired from Boeing Aircraft. He was married to Nellwanda Sellars. She survives.
Other survivors include one son, Murvel Russell Sellars, Jr. of St. Louis; one daughter, Sandra Faye Gray of Fort Leonardwood; two brothers, Bobby Joe Sellars of Dallas, Kentucky at a later date.
O. D. Douglas
PIEDMONT -- O. D. Douglas, 73, of Piedmont died Monday, Oct. 20, 2003 at his home in Piedmont.
Mr. Douglas was born April 1, 1930 in Doniphan. He was an Army Veteran, having served in the Korean War. He was a retired construction worker.
On Sept. 17, 1951, he married Thelma Wyman in Columbus, Miss. She survives.
Other survivors include one son, Michael Douglas of Piedmont; two daughters, Peggy Moore of Piedmont and Debbera Douglas-Bolden of Imperial; one sister, Maggie Ellen Kettler of Alvin, Tex.; and three grandchildren.
No visitation or funeral services will be held. Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be made to American Cancer Foundation, in memory of O. D. Douglas.
Wayne Schmidt Sr. memorial service
A memorial service is scheduled for Wayne Schmidt, Sr. of Van Buren, who died Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003 at his residence.
The service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003 at the Ellsinore Community Pentecostal Church with Pastor James Huffman officiating.
Warren Braswell
GREENVILLE -- Warren C. Braswell, 79, of Greenville died Monday, Oct. 20, 2003, at the John J. Pershing V.A. Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born Oct. 29, 1923, at Pascola.
Mr. Braswell worked for Berg Vault Co. in St. Louis. He was an Army World War II veteran and was of the Protestant faith.
He married Marie Eveland on Dec. 14, 1946. She survives.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. today at Ruegg Funeral Home in Greenville. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Louie Robinson officiating. Burial will be at Greenville Cemetery in Greenville.
Charles Churchill
DEXTER -- Charles William Churchill, 76, of Dexter died Monday, Oct. 20, 2003, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.
Mr. Churchill was born Sept. 29, 1927, at Stuttgart, Ark. He was a charter member of Dexter Elks Lodge No. 2439. He owned Churchill Nursery in Dexter for more than 50 years. He was retired.
Survivors include one son, Mark Churchill of Dexter; one daughter, Peggy McCoy of Dexter; one brother, Harold Churchill of Jonesboro, Ark.; and one grandchild.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral service with Elks Lodge rites will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home chapel with Rev. Van Spry officiating. Burial will be in Dexter Cemetery.
Michael Mercer
ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Michael R. Mercer, 41, of St. Louis, formerly of Wappapello, died Monday, Oct. 20, 2003 at his home. He was born in Centerville, Ill., on Dec. 7, 1961.
Mr. Mercer was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and worked in the cable industry in St. Louis until he was granted a disability retirement in the early 1990s.
Survivors include his companion, Michael King; two sisters, Carol White of St. Louis and Connie Mercer of Belleville, Ill.; four brothers, Stephen Mercer, Mark Mercer, and Brian Mercer, all of Poplar Bluff and James Mercer of Columbia, Ill.
A memorial service will be held at Ash Hill Cemetery at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003. Memorials may be made to amfar AIDS Research.
