Mary Bernice ALLARD

Mary Bernice Cantrell, 86, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord Monday, March 7, 2005, at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born Aug. 22, 1918, in Glendale, Ill., daughter of David and Carrie Allard. She and Clarence Cantrell were married Oct. 3, 1936, and together they were blessed with three children, seven grandsons and six great-grandchildren. She was a charter member of Salcedo Baptist Church, where she was pianist and organist many years. She later became a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Sikeston, Mo., and after moving to Cape Girardeau in 2003 became a member of Lynwood Baptist Church. She was a member many years of Gideons Auxiliary in the Sikeston Camp. Survivors include her loving husband, Clarence Cantrell; a daughter and son-in-law, Glenda and Calder Ehrmann of Greenville, S.C.; a son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Diane Cantrell of Cape Girardeau; a son-in-law, Terry Cooper of Doniphan, Mo.; seven grandsons; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Carolyn Cooper; a twin sister, Martha Springs; and four other sisters, Pearl Watts, Myrtle Lewis, Ruth Arnold and Edna Douglas. Friends may call at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston from 5 to 7 p.m. today. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Dolan Rogers officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston. Memorials may be sent to Gideons International, P.O. Box 648, Sikeston, Mo. 63801.