Mary Ellen Whitmire, 74, died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017 at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.  She was born Jan. 29, 1943 in Lake City, Arkansas to Lorene (Holt) Starkey Crader who survives of Miner and the late Troy Starkey.  She was married to Junior Grubbs in 1961  in California and he preceded her in death.  She had been a school bus driver for several years in Texas and had moved back to the Sikeston and Dexter area about four years ago.  In addition to her mother she is survived by one daughter Cheryl (Bill) Criswell of Frankston, Texas; 3 sons, Ricky (Kimberley) Grubbs of Augusta, Georgia; DeWayne Grubbs of St. Louis and Curtis (Jenny) Grubbs of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; 3 brothers, Troy Starkey of Frankston, Texas, Carl Starkey of Dexter and Kirby Jack Starkey of Elizabethtown, Kentucky and by one sister, Bernice Hill of Sikeston.  Other survivors include 14 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by 2 grandsons, 1 brother and 2 sisters.  Private Family Memorial Services will be held at a later date.  Online condolences may be shared with the family at blanchardfuneral.com.