Arkie M. Wilbur

Arkie M. Wilbur, 93, of Poplar Bluff, formerly of Jackson, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

Mrs. Wilbur was born Feb. 7, 1914, in Salem, Ark. She was a member of First Christian Church, where she was a member of the Gleaners Sunday School Class. Mrs. Wilbur had retired as an English teacher at the Poplar Bluff High School, and was a member of the Missouri State Teachers Association. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was married to Merriett Gist Wilbur. He preceded her in death on April 8, 1971.

Survivors include daughters, Margaret Peel and Pat Fowler and husband Steve, all of Poplar Bluff and Marie Peeples and husband Jerry, of Blytheville, Ark.; grandchildren, Stephen Blake Peel, Jr., Christopher Wayne Peeples, Brett Patrick Livingston, Jacquelyn Cossey, Merriett Gist ""Tray"" Wilbur III, Sandra Earlene Hubbard and Ryan Fowler; great-grandchildren, Leah Cossey, Leslie Cossey, Brandon Peel, Isabella Peeples and Brett Bauer Hubbard; sister, Kathryn Bowling, and husband C.P., of Ft. Worth, Tex.; brothers, Dr. Thomas Ryer Pickren and wife Eloise, of Sierra Madre, Calif. and Wren Pickren and wife Verna, of Wichita Falls, Tex.

Her parents, Harry and Elizabeth Margaret (Wren) Pickren, son, Gist Wilbur, sister, Wanda Jones, brother, Dr. John Warren Pickren, son-in-law, Stephen Peel and grandson, Monte Livingston, Jr. also preceded her in death.

Visitation will be from 6 - 8 p.m. Friday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel, in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First Christian Church with the Rev. Bill Clanahan and Elder Steve Fowler officiating. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Park Cemetery, in Cape Girardeau.

Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, 1601 N. Main St., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901, or United Cancer Assistance Network (UCAN), 2620 N. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901.