Ruth Rainey Dreadon Gaylord, daughter of the late O.C. Rainey and Nina Norman Rainey, was born on Feb. 6, 1925, at Dexter and died in the Missouri Delta Medical Center at Sikeston on Jan. 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 Dex;ter.

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

Besides her husband, survivors include one son, Larry Dreadon of 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.; one brother, Charles Rainey of Bonne Terre; one sister, Evelyn Duley of Dexter; two grandsons, Richard Dreadon and Jason Dreadon; and two great-grandchildren.

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; one sister, Dorothy Rainey; and one grandson, Brian Dreadon.

Visitation was held from 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24, 2005, in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Dale Grissom officiating.

Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.

Paid