Mary Cantrell

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Mary Bernice Cantrell, 86, formerly of Sikeston, passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord on March 7, 2005, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Born Aug. 22, 1918, in Glendale, Ill., daughter of the late David and Carrie Allard, she was a charter member of the Salcedo Baptist Church where she served as pianist and organist for many years. In later years, she was a member of the Trinity Baptist Church in Sikeston and, after moving to Cape Girardeau in 2003, a member of Lynwood Baptist Church. She was an active member for many years of the Gideon's Auxiliary in the Sikeston camp.

On Oct. 3, 1936, she married Clarence Cantrell and together they were blessed with three children, seven grandsons and six great-grandchildren.

Survivors include: her loving husband, Clarence Cantrell; a daughter and son-

in-law, Glenda and Calder Ehrmann of Greenville, S.C.; a son and daughter-

in-law, Ken and Diane Cantrell of Cape Girardeau; a son-in-law, Terry Cooper of Doniphan; seven grandsons; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

One daughter, Carolyn Cooper, her twin sister, Martha Springs, and four other sisters, Pearl Watts, Myrtle Lewis, Ruth Arnold and Edna Douglas, preceded her in death.

Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. The Rev. Dolan Rogers will officiate.

Burial will follow in the Sikeston Garden of Memories Cemetery.

Memorial contributions

may be sent to

Gideon's International

P.O. Box 648

Sikeston, MO 63801

Paid obituary