GARY BRUCE CHILDERS, age 73, a resident of Charleston, died Sunday, September 23, 2018, at the Delta South Nursing Center in Sikeston.

Born October 22, 1944, in Mississippi County, MO, to the late Lonnie Pershing Childers and Geneva Ivie Childers, he had lived in Mississippi County most of his life. In 1976, he went to work for Bunge Corporation and remained there until 1994 when he was able to fulfill his dream and started Childers Construction Company, which he operated until his retirement. He was a cancer survivor. He loved fishing, cooking and St. Louis Cardinal Baseball and was a U.S. Army Veteran.

In 1962, he married Carolyn Cogdill, and she survives of the home.

Also surviving is one daughter, Leslie Childers Ellis and her husband, Keith Ellis, of Charleston; two grandchildren, Abigail Sadie Ellis and Stephen Joseph (Joey) Ellis; two brothers, Tony Childers and Danny Childers both of East Prairie; one sister, Linda Williford of Thompsonville, Il; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Janet Glodjo.

Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the funeral hour at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.
Bill Bradley of Charleston, and his niece, Dawn Childers Walters, will officiate.

Interment will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery near Charleston under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com

Pallbearers will be: Trevor Williford, Wes Williford, Todd Williford, Jay Childers, Jeff Hall, Jr. and Brian Childers.