Obituary of Levearl Rawlings

Bernie Levearl Rawlings, 82, life-long resident of Ripley County, Missouri, died Sunday, October 31, 2010, at his residence in Poynor. Mr. Rawlings, son of Ralph and Delia (Martin) Rawlings, was born September 24, 1928, in rural Ripley County. He was self-employed as a carpenter. Mr. Rawlings enjoyed farming and was a member of the Doniphan Church of Christ. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served during the Korean Conflict. On May 2, 1951, he was married to Martha Joann Smithson in Pocahontas, Arkansas. She preceded him in death on October 5, 1986. He later married Dixie Tate on December 20, 1990, and she survives. Also surviving are one daughter, Phyllis Kerseg and her husband, Warren, of Scottsdale, Arizona; two sons, Phillip "Buddy" Rawlings and his wife, Pat, of Poynor, and Russell "Rusty" Rawlings and his wife, Marilyn, of Ash Fork, Arizona; two step-children, Russell Tate and his wife, Pam, and Sharon Rothe and her husband, Coleman, both of Paragould, Arkansas; nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, five step-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Delia (Martin) Rawlings and his first wife, Martha Joann Smithson Rawlings. Visitation will be Wednesday evening, November 3, 2010, from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow Thursday afternoon, November 4, 2010, at 3:30 p.m. at the funeral home chapel with Steve Sanders officiating. Burial will be in the Poynor Cemetery.