Larry Joe Whitsel, Sr., the son of Jean Gunter Whitsel Trout and the late Marion Mac Whitsel, was born in Sikeston on Jan. 24, 1951, and died at the John J. Pershing V.A. Medical Center in Poplar Bluff on Jan. 1, 2007, at the age of 55.

He had lived in Missouri most of his life but had lived in California and was a resident of Puxico. He was a self employed carpenter. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy.

Surviving are one son, Larry Joe "Buster" Whitsel, Jr. of Dexter; one daughter, Tori Whitsel of Arkansas; his mother, Jean Trout of Puxico; eight grandchildren; one brother, Kent Whitsel of Colorado Springs, Colo., and four step-brothers, Charles Ray Trout of Bloomfield, Randy Trout of O'Fallon, Jim and Dennis Trout, both of Puxico. Other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by one brother, Stephen Dale Whitsel, and his step-father, Bill Trout.

Graveside services will be held on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007, at 11 a.m. at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield with Pastor Gerald King of Puxico officiating.

Interment will follow in the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield with full military rites conducted by the Stoddard County Veterans Honor Team. Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico is in charge of all arrangements.