Ruth Rainey Dreadon Gaylord, daughter of the late O.C. Rainey and Nina Norman Rainey was born on February 6, 1925 at Dexter and died in the Missouri Delta Medical Center at Sikeston on January 20, 2005 at the age of 79.

Mrs. Gaylord was a member of the Dexter Church of Christ, a former employee of the International Shoe Company in Dexter, a former employee of Elder Manufacturing Company in Dexter and a resident of Dexter.

She was first united in marriage to Homer Dreadon on December 6, 1947 at Paragould, Ark. Mr. Dreadon preceded her in death on June 29, 1983. She then married Virlin "Buz" Gaylord on November 23, 1998 at Piggott, Ark. Mr. Gaylord survives of the home in Dexter.

Besides her husband, survivors include one son Larry Dreadon, of Watertown, Tenn.; one step-son, Jerry Dreadon, of Tyrone, Ga.; two step-daughters, Tonya Gaylord of Gaithersburg, Md., and Tyra Gaylord, of South Bend, Ind.; by one brother, Charles Rainey, of Bonne Terre; by one sister, Evelyn Duley, of Dexter; and one grandson, Richard Dreadon.

Besides her first husband and parents, she was preceded in death by five brothers; Bob Rainey, Lee Rainey, Marvin Rainey, Loyd Rainey, and Dale Rainey; and one sister Dorothy Rainey.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m., Sunday, January 23, 2005 at the Rainey Mathis Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Monday, January 24, 2005 at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Dale Grissom officiating. Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.