Otis Harold Smith
Otis Harold Smith of Boonville died Wednesday, July 26, 2000, at his home. He was 81.
Mr. Smith was born April 12, 1919, in New Haven to Edward and Dora Allen Smith.
He was a member of St. Matthew A.M.E. Church. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and was stationed in Rhielin, Germany, for several years. He received a Good Conduct Medal and was honorably discharged. Mr. Smith also served as an electrician and rifle marksman. He worked as a truck driver for Shyrack Givens for more than 30 years.
Visitation for Mr. Smith will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the H.T. May and Son Funeral Home in Boonville. Services, conducted by the Rev. Horace Hopkins, will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. The burial will be at Sunset Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Smith is survived by his companion of 30 years Delouis Roper; sons, Charles Broadus of Fayette and Christopher Roper of Boonville; three daughters, Kelly Roper and Nicole Roper both of Boonville; Robin Henry of Fort Hood, Texas; two step-children, Velma Lawson of Danville, Ken. and Michael Roper of Boonville; 13 grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
One brother and one sister died earlier.
Fred D. Whitaker
Fred Duane Whitaker of Columbia died Wednesday, July 26, 2000, at Lenoir Healthcare Center. He was 88.
Mr. Whitaker was born Feb. 7, 1912, in Bethany to James E. and May Garton Whitaker. He was one of seven children. On July 13, 1935, he married Mary Irene Aulthouse.
Mr. Whitaker was employed by the U.S. Soil & Water Conservation Department until he retired. He was a member of the Rock Bridge Church of God Holiness and was a skilled wood craftsman who made furniture for his family.
Visitation will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road. Services, conducted by the Rev. Rodney Davis, will be held after the visitation at 2 p.m. Mr. Whitaker will be buried at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Whitaker is survived by two daughters, Mary Frances Langenbacher of St. Louis and Anna May Creech of Columbia; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
His wife, a son and a granddaughter died earlier.
Bernice L. Holly
A friend from the Senior Center recalls Bernice Holly as an active center member and an important participant.
"She was a dedicated worker for the senior center," Mina Lowrey said. "She earned a lot of money to be applied to the building fund out here."
She said Mrs. Holly organized 40 to 50 volunteers for Hearnes Center food stands to raise money for the building fund. She said having Mrs. Holly in charge of the bridge groups at the center kept the tables full of players.
"Anything that was going on, she helped with," Lowrey said. "She will surely be missed."
Bernice "Brenda" L. Holly of Columbia died Monday, July 24, 2000, at her son's home in Rocheport. She was 79.
Mrs. Holly was born Oct. 30, 1920, in Kalamazoo, Mich., to Silas and Alma Rosenfelt Findley. She married James G. Holly on Nov. 23, 1946, in Kalamazoo.
Mrs. Holly worked as a real estate agent and was a member of the Parkade Baptist Church. She also enjoyed playing cards.
Visitation for Mrs. Holly will be from 10 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday at Parkade Baptist Church, 2102 Garth Ave. Services, conducted by the Rev. Terry Hunsaker, will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Parkade Baptist Church.
Mrs. Holly is survived by her husband, James G. Holly of Columbia; one daughter, Diane M. Dryden of Chicago; two sons, David W. Holly of Rocheport and Michael D. Holly of Kirkwood; one brother, Gale Findley of Kalamazoo, Mich.; and five grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to Parkade Baptist Church, 2102 Garth Ave., Columbia, Mo. 65202 or Columbia Senior Center, 1211 Business Loop 70 E., Columbia, Mo. 65201.
Opal Lee Munford
Opal Lee Munford of Fulton died Monday, July 24, 2000, at Columbia Regional Hospital. She was 83.
Mrs. Munford was born April 25, 1917, to Roy L. and Rose Frances Green. She married Roy H. Munford on April 3, 1937. She was retired from the Fulton State Hospital and was a member of the Southside Baptist Church.
Visitation for Ms. Munford will be from 6 to 8 tonight at the Maupin Funeral Home in Fulton, and also from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at Southside Baptist Church in Fulton. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at the church. Interment will be in Callaway Memorial Gardens, Fulton.
Ms. Munford is survived by daughter, Sharon McClure of Columbia; two sisters, Pauline Vaughn and Jackie Britts, both of Fulton; and one grandson.
Her husband and a brother died earlier.
Memorial contributions may be made to Southside Baptist Church.
William Tom Orr
William Orr's duties have ranged from staff sgt. in the Army to deacon at his church. Those were just two of the many roles he played in his life.
William Tom Orr of Kansas City died Monday, July 24, 2000, at Woodbine Health Care Center in Gladstone. He was 82.
Mr. Orr was born July 29, 1917, in Mount Vernon to James Paul and Jessie Mae Cochran Orr. He was the second youngest of nine children. He spent a few years of his youth living at the Odd Fellows Home near Liberty. He graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1935.
He married Glenna Mae Stovall of Brownwood, Texas, on Oct. 24, 1942, in Hattiesburg, Miss., where he was stationed in the Army.
Mr. Orr enlisted in the Army in November 1940 and served until August 1945. He was a military policeman and participated in the D-Day invasion on Omaha Beach in June 1944. He was awarded the Silver Star, the French Croix DeGuerre and several campaign medals and ribbons. He was discharged from the active Army as a staff sergeant, and he later achieved the rank of First Lieutenant in the Army Reserves in Kansas City.
After World War II, Mr. Orr and his family settled in Kansas City. He attended Park College, where he graduated in 1949 with a degree in biology. During his college years, he worked as a clerk for Business Men's Assurance and later worked in various assignments with the company. He retired in 1982 as vice president of claims with BMA.
He was a member of the Park Hill Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), where he served as an elder and deacon. He was also a member and past commander of VFW Post 7356 in Parkville. He belonged to the American Legion Post 318 in Parkville, the Compass Lodge No. 120, A.F. & A.M. in Parkville, and the Ararat Temple in Kansas City. Mr. Orr was also a 32nd-degree mason of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. He was an avid golfer and a member of the former Windbrook Country Club near Parkville.
Visitation for Mr. Orr will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Mount Moriah Terrace Park Funeral Home, 801 N.W. 108th St., Kansas City. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. His burial will be at Mount Moriah Terrace Park Cemetery.
Mr. Orr is survived by two daughters, Jean Francis Powell of Roeland Park, Kan., and Patricia Lynn Crews of Columbia; three sons, Glenn Thomas Orr of Kansas City, James Clyde Orr of Gallatin, and William Edward Orr of Liberty; three sisters, Elizabeth Seneker and Katherine Jackson, both of Mount Vernon, and Marguerite Harlow of Edgewater, Md.; and nine grandchildren.
His wife and a grandson died earlier.
Memorials made be sent to the Alzheimer's Association of Kansas City.
John Ballenger
John Ballenger came from a family where education was extremely important. After all, his ancestors Elijah Ballenger and John Lewis Ballenger played a part in founding MU and Stephens College, respectively.
Mr. Ballenger's family was determined that he would get a degree from MU, so he saved up money to do so. However, he ended up using that money to elope with his wife Frances at the age of 18.
"His mother was horrified," said Meredith Bahr, Mr. Ballenger's granddaughter, with a laugh.
John Lowell "Jack" Ballenger of Columbia died Friday, July 21, 2000, at his home. He was 91.
Mr. Ballenger was born June 16, 1909, in Boone County to James Franklin Ballenger and Helen "Nellie" Rees.
He was a lifelong resident of Boone County. He graduated from Hickman High School and went on to attend MU. On January 27, 1928, he married Frances Meredith "Fannie" Feaster.
For many years, Mr. Ballenger owned and operated the now-defunct full-service JMC Market, which, among other things, supplied sandwiches to the Stephens College tea room. When he sold the grocery store, he became the food purchaser for MU, a job he held until retirement. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and a member and former board member of Dripping Spring Christian Church.
Mr. Ballenger was remembered as a kind man, a trait that seems to run in the family. His ancestor, John Lewis Ballenger, adopted a young boy with a club foot off of an orphan train. The boy, William Smith, was convinced that no one would want him, because he couldn't work in the fields.
"He became a wonderful addition to the Ballenger family, and in fact, when my grandfather was a young boy and was sick with polio and rheumatic fever, William Smith took care of him," Bahr said. "That was really a formative experience for my grandfather." At Mr. Ballenger's request, visitation will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. Services, conducted by the Rev. Robert Vegiard, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Parker Funeral Service. Burial will be in Columbia Cemetery, 30 E. Broadway.
Mr. Ballenger is survived by his sister, Mabel Berniece Carriker of Columbia; one daughter, Jeanne Lee Ballenger Claxton of Fair Play; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
His wife died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Dripping Spring Christian Church, 2701 W. Dripping Springs Rd., Columbia, Mo. 65202.
John H.H. Maxwell
The Maxwell family made history in the 100-plus years its members lived and farmed in Boone County. Named after his Civil War veteran grandfather, John H.H. Maxwell became an involved member of the community, sitting on the boards of both the Boone County Electric Co-op and the Boone Hospital Center.
As in life, his death has also made history - it ended an era of Maxwells living in Boone County.
John H.H. Maxwell of Columbia died Monday, July 24, 2000, at Lenoir Health Care Center. He was 95.
Mr. Maxwell was born in Boone County on July 9, 1905, to John W. and Annie J. Sinclair Maxwell. He married Mary Mildred March in 1928. After her death in 1971, Mr. Maxwell married Rella E. March Simpson on June 4, 1971.
His interest in history and his active participation in the history of Boone County made Mr. Maxwell integral to the Boone County Historical Society, where he was a member. He donated priceless artifacts to the museum, including a wooden clock brought into Rocheport in 1820. He also passed on a gun bought by his uncle, a Confederate soldier, at the beginning of the Civil War. Mr. Maxwell also financially supported the museum.
"We've been very fortunate to have the support of Mr. Maxwell," society worker Deborah Thompson said.
Other organizations have been fortunate to have the dedication and support of Mr. Maxwell.
He was a deacon at Oakland Christian Church. A dairy farmer, Mr. Maxwell was also a member of the Boone County Farm Bureau. He also owned farmland that became Cottonwood Airport and then the Boone County Fairgrounds.
There will be no services for Mr. Maxwell. There will be a private burial at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Maxwell is survived by one son, Lee Wayne Maxwell of Georgia; one grandchild and several nieces and nephews.
His second wife and his brother died earlier.
Marie B. Meyer
Marie Bodamer Meyer of Prairie Home died Saturday, July 22, 2000, at Columbia Manor Care Center in Columbia. She was 96.
Mrs. Meyer was born April 28, 1904, in Prairie Home to Charles Henry and Elizabeth Kuhn Bodamer. She lived in Cooper County her entire life and was an elementary school teacher in Prairie Home for many years.
Mrs. Meyer married Leo Bernard Meyer on Dec. 26, 1934, in Cedron.
Mrs. Meyer was an active member of the Prairie Home Civic Club, a committee person for the Republican Party and an active member of the Prairie Home Civic Club. She was also a member of the Missionary Society of the Prairie Home Methodist Church.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at the Hornbeck-Thacher Funeral Chapel in Prairie Home. Services for Mrs. Meyer will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Prairie Home Methodist Church.
Mrs. Meyer will be buried at the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Boonville.
Mrs. Meyer is survived by a son, Gary Meyer of Columbia; three grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Her husband, three brothers and one sister died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the Prairie Home Methodist Church.
Charles H. Oyer
Dr. Charles H. Oyer of Ashland died Sunday, July 23, 2000, at his home. He was 83.
Dr. Oyer was born March 24, 1917, in Buffalo, N.Y., to St. Elmo C. and Clara B. Hendrix Oyer. On Aug. 15, 1941, he married Frances Russ in Buffalo. He was a chiropractor for more than 50 years.
Dr. Oyer was a member of the American Chiropractic Association, the Academy of Missouri Chiropractors and the Ashland Senior Center.
There will be no services or visitation.
Dr. Oyer is survived by his wife, Frances Oyer of Ashland; one son, Father Michael C. Oyer of Forestville, Calif.; one daughter, Mary Carole Oyer of Sahvarita, Ariz.; one brother, Dr. James D. Oyer of Orchard Park, N.Y.; and one sister, Eleanor M. Mullen of Snyder, N.Y.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Ashland Senior Center or the Englewood Community Center.
Robert Brockman
A child's smile was enough to encourage Robert Brockman to keep putting on his clown makeup and costume for each Shriner's convention or parade.
In his later years, if he became too tired to walk in a parade, he would ride in the clown car until he was rested and then climb outside again, said Peggy Brockman, his wife.
He worked as a TV engineer at KOMU/Channel 8 for 38 years, but being a clown was what made him happy, his wife said.
She said it surprised her when he first decided to start dressing as a clown, but added, "After I saw him made up, I knew this is what he should do."
"It was his true calling . . . he made a very good clown," she said, quietly laughing.
Mr. Brockman died Friday, July, 21, 2000, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 67.
He was born Oct. 13, 1932, in Brownsville, Texas, to Robert R. and L. Marie Bethel Brockman.
He grew up in Warrensburg, where he attended Central Missouri State University. His wife also grew up there, but they did not meet until after Mr. Brockman returned home from service with the Air Force.
Peggy Brockman said she knew instantly they would marry. The two were married March 5, 1955.
In the years that followed, the Brockmans moved to Columbia and raised two sons, Mark and Ronald. As a family, they loved to go camping and canoeing. As a couple, the Brockmans square-danced and became involved in community activities.
"He loved all sports," Peggy Brockman, "But especially basketball. He rarely missed a game. He volunteered to take tickets at the Hearnes Center for years, but he always made sure he got up to his seat in Section B before the game started."
Mr. Brockman was also involved in numerous other community activities. He served as past master of Acacia Lodge #602, as district deputy grand master of the 26th Masonic District, past president of Tiger Shrine Club, past monarch of Eppo Grado, American Legion, and was a life member of the Scottish Rite of Free Masonary Valley of Columbia.
Visitation for Mr. Brockman will be from 6 to 7 p.m. today at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. Services, conducted by the Rev. Herb Owens, will follow at 7 p.m.
Mr. Brockman is survived by his wife and children, all of Columbia; and two brothers, Gerald Brockman and Jim Brockman, both of Warrensburg.
Memorials may be sent to the Tiger Shrine Building Fund at 1300 Blue Ridge Road, Columbia, Mo. 65202.
Herbert Lionberger
Herbert F. Lionberger of Columbia died Saturday, July 22, 2000, in Laurie, Mo. He was 88.
Mr. Lionberger was born on March 5, 1912, in Middletown to Harvey H. and Caroline W. Kimmick Lionberger. On May 9, 1942, he married Vivan Schack.
He was an MU professor emeritus of rural sociology and taught at MU from 1946 to 1982. When he wasn't teaching, he kept busy in many other activities, including the Men's Garden Club, the Rural Sociology Society, the Midwest Woodworkers Association and Gamma Sigma Delta. He was also a communication research consultant.
Mr. Lionberger traveled extensively in Europe, Asia and South America and researched for his four books and 50 journal articles. He also received the Distinguished Rural Sociology Award.
Visitation will be from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. today at First Baptist Church, 1112 E. Broadway. Services, conducted by the Rev. John Baker, will be at 3:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Mr. Lionberger is survived by his wife, Vivan Lionberger of Columbia; one daughter, Carolyn Coyle of Columbia; one son, David Lionberger of Houston, Texas; and five grandchildren.
One brother died earlier.
Memorials may be given to the Herbert and Vivan Lionberger Scholarship Fund or First Baptist Church, 1112 E. Broadway, Columbia, Mo. 65201.
William Frech
'Open-minded' Frech was jack of all trades
William Frech, former Boone County commissioner and president of the Boone County Farm Bureau, was always eager for some extra hands on his farm. G.W. Parker, a close family friend of Mr. Frech, has fond memories of helping him out.
"I'd round up the cows for him," said Parker, Republican candidate for Missouri's 19th District Senate seat. "Basically, I took the place of the dog, but I had a great time." Mr. Frech of Spanish Fort, Ala., died Thursday, July 20, 2000, at the home of a family member. He was 84.
Mr. Frech was born Sept. 3, 1915, to Henri and Mary Mauthe Frech. He grew up in Clayton and graduated from Soldan High School in St. Louis. He went on get a degree in chemical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, where he was on the championship fencing team. In 1937, he married Dorothea Wanner.
Mr. Frech worked for Shell Oil Co. for 15 years, then became a breeder of Charolais cattle in Boone County. He was very active in community activities such as Boy Scouts, 4-H and the local school board.
He was also a dedicated Republican, serving as County Republican Chairman and 8th District Chairman. In 1981, he received the Tough Task Award, the highest award from the National Pachyderm Club.
Gary Hennigh, a member of the Pachyderm Club who worked on Mr. Frech's campaigns, recalled his son's time at Mr. Frech's farm.
"My son - he was about 14 at the time - Mr. Frech let him work on the farm. He'd eat lunch out there. It was a good experience for him. (Mr. Frech) was a very kind man." But he will be remembered for more than his kindness.
"He made a real contribution to Boone County," said his daughter-in-law, Linda Frech. "He was a hard worker and he was very fair and open-minded."
Visitation for Mr. Frech will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. Services, conducted by Father Edwin Cole, will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1115 Locust St. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Mr. Frech is survived by his wife, Dorothea Frech of Spanish Fort, Ala.; four sons, Andrew W. Frech of Bristol, Ind., William J. Frech of Franklin Lakes, N.J., and David H. Frech and Louis E. Frech, both of Columbia; one brother, Harry E. Frech of Venice, Fla.; one sister, Margaret Harrison of St. Louis; and 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be given to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 30638, Columbia, Mo. 65205.
Bobby Lee Morris
Bobby Lee Morris, a former MU sign painter, died Friday, July 21, 2000, at Boone Hospital Center. Mr. Morris, a Columbia native, was 65.
Mr. Morris was born in Columbia on April 23, 1935, to George William Edward Morris and Nelcie Mae McBaine Morris. He married Carrie Turner in Columbia on July 22, 1955. Mr. Morris worked as a sign painter at MU before his retirement in 1997. Mr. Morris served in the U.S. Army and was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Visitation for Mr. Morris will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road. Services, conducted by Pastor Albert Oetman, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Nilson Funeral Home. Mr. Morris will be buried in Old Union Cemetery.
Mr. Morris is survived by his wife, Carrie Morris of Columbia; two daughters, Carrie Aletha Williams of Columbia and Catherine Ann Eidson of Monroe, Ore.; two brothers, Edward Morris of Windsor and Larry Morris of Citronnelle, Ala.; a sister, Mary Hall of Boonville; and six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
His parents, three brothers and two sisters died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the Morris family, c/o Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road, Columbia, MO 65202.
John R. Spicer
ohn Raymond Spicer of Chesterfield, a former principal at Sumner High School in Boonville, died Wednesday, July 19, 2000, at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis. He was 76.
Mr. Spicer was born November 29, 1923, in Cape Girardeau to John Henry Spicer and Helen Marie Johnson. He attended John S. Cobb High School. He graduated from Lincoln University in Jefferson City with a bachelor's degree in industrial arts education and earned a master's degree from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill.
Mr. Spicer served as a principal at McKinley High School, Parkway Central High School, and Lincoln High School in St. Louis. He was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and the Royal Vagabonds of St. Louis.
Visitation for Mr. Spicer will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Austin Layne Mortuary in St. Louis. Services will be at 12 p.m. Monday at Austin Layne Mortuary. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Columbia Cemetery in Columbia.
Mr. Spicer is survived by his son, William Robert Spicer of Chesterfield; one brother, Robert Spicer of Los Angeles; one sister, Alberta Kemp of Milwaukee; two granddaughters; three great-granddaughters and several nieces and nephews. His wife, Lucille Washington Spicer, died earlier.
