Lavon Odell Stoker, son of the late Charles Stoker and Iva Gilbreath Stoker, was born on Aug. 16, 1943, at Pollard, Ark., and died in the Missouri Southern Healthcare at Dexter on Monday, July 25, 2005, at the age of 62.

He was united in marriage to Linda Huntington on April 10, 1971, at Malden. Mrs. Stoker survives at the home in Essex.

Mr. Stoker was a member of Harvest Assembly of God Church in Essex, a former employee at Federal Mogul in Malden, a veteran of the United States Navy, and a resident of Essex.

Besides his wife, Linda Stoker of Essex, survivors include one son, Ben Stoker of Essex; two daughters, Angelisa Wagner of Cape Girardeau and Lavonda Stoker of Essex; one brother, Thomas Stoker of Bearden, Ark.; three sisters, Margrettia Throgmorton of Bloomfield, Dorotha Blunt and Betty Taylor, both of Dexter; one half-sister, Effie Foster of Gideon; and three grandchildren.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Roy Lee Stoker; one grandchild; three half-brothers; and three half-sisters.

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, 2005, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday with James Malloy officiating.

Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.