Dundee A. Gates
Dundee A. Gates of Columbia died Thursday, Aug. 3, 2000, at University Hospital and Clinics. She was 82.
Mrs. Gates was born July 18, 1918, in Clayton to F.W. and Ethel Autenrieth. She married William Alexander Gates on Oct. 24, 1942 in Oklahoma City.
Mrs. Gates devoted much time to her family of five children and three grandchildren.
"She was a partner for me for 58 years and a wonderful mother," her husband, William Gates said. "She gave 150 percent to her family."
Mrs. Gates graduated from the Mary Institute in Clayton, attended Washington University and graduated from MU.
While studying education at MU, she was the president of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority.
"She loved Kappa Alpha Theta, and put a lot of effort in on it," William Gates said.
She continued working with her sorority by serving with other alumnae who help run the house.
She taught sixth grade in Knox County and special education St. Louis County.
"She liked to work with the students and she was particularly fond with the special education students she had," William Gates said. "She was very successful at it."
Mrs. Gates was also active in both local and national politics.
One of the highlights of her political work was when she obtained full representation on the democratic central committee in various districts in Boone County.
Through her involvement with the democratic party, she met President Clinton in 1992 when he was campaigning in Hannibal.
She was a member of the Boone County Democratic party, Boone County Muleskinners and former chairperson of the Boone County Democratic Central Committee.
Visitation for Mrs. Gates will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. Services, conducted by the Rev. George McCall, will be at 1 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, 16 Hitt St.
Mrs. Gates is survived by a sister, Pat Johnson, of St. Louis; her husband, William A. Gates, Sr., of Columbia; two sons, William A. Gates, Jr., of Fulton and Ralph D. Gates, of Columbia; two daughters, Julianne Gates Kindred, of Clayton and Dundee Jane Boley, of Jefferson City, Tenn.; and three granddaughters.
Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association, 2600 I-70 Drive N.W., Columbia, Mo. 65202 or Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation Scholarship Fund, 8740 Founders Road, Indianapolis, In. 46268-1300.
Henry Whitworth
Henry Whitworth's grandchildren knew a trip to their grandpa's meant a chance to drive his "big truck."
"He loved his grandchildren," said his daughter, Yvonne Wilson. "He would let my son Elliott climb into his 'big truck' and pretend to drive it."
Henry Clay "Jack" Whitworth Jr. of Hartsburg died Saturday, July 29, 2000, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 70.
Mr. Whitworth was born July 29, 1930, in Canton, Ill., to Henry Clay Whitworth and Brooxie Pearl Hunt. He married Mary Evelyn Swearengen, whom he met in Denver.
Mr. Whitworth took on many jobs, from a Snap-On tools salesman to an MU maintenance worker.
"He really liked cars," Wilson said. He would work on dozens of cars at a time, repairing them and sometimes selling them.
Mr. Whitworth worked as an over-the-road truck driver until a few years ago. Afterward, he was self-employed. He also attended Sacred Heart Church in Columbia.
Mr. Whitworth managed to spend a lot of time with his family.
"We loved to go mushroom hunting together and bring them back to cook them," Wilson said.
His children fondly recalled watching TV shows like "The Lawrence Welk Show" and "HeeHaw" together. Wilson remembered going to the Hearnes Center with her father to watch the Harlem Globetrotters.
Mr. Whitworth's grandchildren were the most important to him, though.
"He loved to sit and talk to the kids," Wilson said. "He was so proud of all of them and was always amazed at how smart they were."
About a month before he went into the hospital, Mr. Whitworth made a special visit to congratulate his granddaughter Amanda for making it to the national spelling bee in Washington, D.C.
"He was beaming with pride," said his daughter-in-law, Becky Whitworth.
Mr. Whitworth always made it a point to attend his grandchildren's plays and choral performances at their church.
Visitation for Mr. Whitworth will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Robinson Funeral Home, 601 N. Henry Clay Blvd., Ashland. Services, conducted by Pastor John Werst, will follow at 7 p.m. A private burial will be held at a later date.
Mr. Whitworth is survived by his wife, Mary Evelyn Swearengen of Hartsburg; three sons, Matt Whitworth of Hartsburg, Mark Whitworth of Columbia, and Luke Whitworth of Eugene; two daughters, Yvonne Wilson of Van Buren, and Diane Whitworth of Placentia, Calif.; three sisters, Judith Pierce of Gilbert, Ariz., Donna West of Ashland and Lois Ashlock of Columbia; and 12 grandchildren.
His brother died earlier.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Ronald McDonald House, 1001 E. Stadium Blvd., Columbia, Mo. 65201.
Carrie Childs
Carrie Childs of Columbia died Sunday, July 30, 2000, at Boone Hospital Center. She was 93.
Mrs. Childs was born Aug. 23, 1906, in McBaine to Ralph and Luella Baker Johnson. She married Lawrence Kenny, and later married William Childs. Mrs. Childs lived in Dewitt before she moved to Columbia in 1984.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Ray Warren, will be at 11 a.m. today at Progressive Baptist Church, 702 Banks St. Mrs. Childs will be buried at Mt. Celestial Baptist Church Cemetery in McBaine.
Mrs. Childs is survived by one brother, Herbert Johnson of Wright City; and two sisters, Marjorie Vaughn of Columbia and Mable Mack of Los Angeles, Calif. Both husbands, four sisters and one brother died earlier.
Walter Charles Brown
Walter Charles Brown of Tempe, Ariz., died Thursday, July 13, 2000. He was 82.
Born in Maryville in 1918, Mr. Brown spent a large part of his life in the Columbia area. Mr. Brown arrived in Columbia in 1940 to earn his master's and Ph.D. in education from MU. He accepted a job at MU as a professor in the industrial arts department, said his wife, L. Elaine Brown.
The two met while in college at Maryville, and were married on May 26, 1940, right before moving to Columbia. The Browns celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on May 28, 2000, in Tempe.
"All our children and grandchildren were there," L. Elaine Brown said.
The Browns lived in mid-Missouri for about 20 years. All three of their daughters attended MU's laboratory school, L. Elaine Brown said.
The Browns moved to Phoenix in 1960, where Mr. Brown helped to establish the first vocational education program there. He then continued his teaching at Arizona State University in Tempe.
Mr. Brown was the author of several books. He was associated with the Goodheart-Wilcox Publishing Company of Chicago as an author and member of the board of directors.
"He authored technical books for the company and secured authors until he retired when he was 80-years-old," L. Elaine Brown said.
Mr. Brown was very interested in construction, L. Elaine Brown said, describing the home her husband built for their family.
"We lived there for 25 years," she said. "I designed it, and he built it. It was right in the middle of a golf course."
The couple lived there for 25 years, before moving to a care center, where L. Elaine Brown still lives.
Memorial services for Mr. Brown were held on July 22, 2000, at the Friendship Village Convocation Room, 2645 E. Southern Ave, Tempe, Ariz.
Mr. Brown is survived by his wife, L. Elaine Brown; three daughters, Barbara Odegaard and Marian Mosher (Walter), both of Tucson, and Tricia MacDonald (Douglas), of Scottsdale, Ariz. Mr. Brown had seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Contributions may be sent to the Friendship Village Foundation, 2645 East Southern Ave., Tempe, Ariz. 85282 or to the United Methodist Outreach Ministries, 3320 E. Van Buren, Phoenix., Ariz. 85008.
Lyle Richard Morris
Lyle Richard Morris of Columbia died Monday, July 31, 2000, at Boone Retirement Center. He was 89.
Mr. Morris was born Jan. 24, 1911, in Cedar Rapids, Neb., to Richard Randolph and Addie Hutchens Morris. He married Agnes Ellison on May 28, 1941, in Fullerton, Neb.
Mr. Morris was a machinist with Fischer Manufacturing in Tipton, and was of the Catholic faith.
Graveside services, conducted by the Rev. Michael Flanagan, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Morris is survived by two sons, Joseph A. Morris of Bolivar and Michael L. Morris of Columbia; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
His wife and one son, Jeffery J. Morris, died earlier.
Raymond Smith
Raymond Wilburn Smith of Columbia died Monday, July 31, 2000, at Truman Veterans Hospital. He was 75.
Mr. Smith worked for B. D. Simon for 25 years. He also farmed in the area for many years. He served as a Marine in the South Pacific during World War II.
Mr. Smith was born on Feb. 28, 1925, in Boone County to Harry W. and Annie Driskill Smith. He married Dorothy Mustain on Nov. 26, 1946.
Visitation for Mr. Smith will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. Services, conducted by the Rev. Alan Helland, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Parker Funeral Service.
Mr. Smith will be buried in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Smith is survived by his wife; two brothers, Bobby Smith and James Smith, both of Columbia; three sisters, Beatrice Audrey, Linda Fenner, and Stella Sexton, all of Columbia; one son, Ronald Smith of Columbia; two daughters, Barbara Creason of Lathrop and Carol Wilson of Columbia; and six grandchildren.
Two sisters and two brothers died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to an organization of the donor's choosing.
Thomas Esteppe
Thomas Esteppe, who died Monday, July 31, 2000, was also survived by Barbara Goosey of Sturgeon, his niece and caregiver, and by a nephew, Marshall Bise of Conroe, Texas.
William Maxwell
NEW YORK - William Maxwell, the revered editor of such New Yorker writers as J.D. Salinger and John Cheever and himself an accomplished man of letters, died at his home Monday, July 31, 2000. He was 91.
Maxwell's death came just eight days after the death of his wife, Emily, to whom he was married for 55 years.
Hired in 1937 by The New Yorker's Katharine White, a founding editor and the wife of E.B. White, Maxwell was on staff for 40 years and worked with some of the magazine's most celebrated authors, including Salinger, Cheever, John O'Hara, John Updike and Harold Brodkey.
In "About Town," a history of The New Yorker published this year, author Ben Yagoda noted that Maxwell's correspondence with writers "exudes a palpable empathy." For many, Maxwell was the ideal editor, a man of civilized temperament and compassionate rigor.
Cheever and Brodkey were among those who dedicated books to Maxwell.
"As a writer I don't very much enjoy being edited. As an editor I tried to work so slightly on the manuscript that 10 years later the writer would read his story and not be aware that anybody was involved but him," Maxwell once commented.
"This involves listening and watching the writer's face for signs of dissatisfaction. Again, it is a simple matter of love."
In person, the slightly built Maxwell was the very image of the vintage New Yorker staffer: learned, but self-effacing; gracious, but not effusive; dignified, but not stuffy - the kind of man who would laugh out loud at a Marx Brothers movie.
Maxwell's career as an author preceded his time at The New Yorker. His first novel, "Bright Center of Heaven," was published in 1934. Subsequent books included the story collections "Billie Dyer" and "Over by the River," and the 1980 novel, "So Long, See You Tomorrow," which won the American Book Award.
The author was born Aug. 16, 1908, and lived his early years in Lincoln, Ill., a quiet town complete with tree-shaded streets and a courthouse square.
Ruth Eastman
The gold plaque reads, "CIA presents the first outstanding citizens award to Ruth for her dedication to community service May 7, 1997. In recognition to future recipients will be known as the Ruth Eastman Award."
This award was presented to Mrs. Eastman by the Friends of Lake Taneycomo Citizens in Action, and is just one of many community organizations Mrs. Eastman dedicated her life to.
Ruth Marie Poe Eastman of Columbia died July 31, 2000. She was 77.
"My girl was a very active and political person," said Harold Eastman, Mrs. Eastman's husband. "That was my girl from beginning to end."
Mrs. Eastman was born Oct. 13, 1922, in Plainfield, Iowa to Homer and Edna Poe. She married Harold Eastman on June 1, 1943.
Mrs. Eastman attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa majoring in education, but later graduated from Parson College. Upon graduation, she taught in Waverly Public Schools.
"She did not have a set of goals, but one key goal to get people together to decide what was best for their community," Harold Eastman said.
Mrs. Eastman's dedication shows in her involvement in League of Women Voters, which she founded in Kirksville, The American Association of University Women (AAUW) and Friends of Lake Taneycomo (FOLT).
Mrs. Eastman was also very active in the Presbyterian Church.
"She wanted to make new members feel welcome. Her goal was to make people feel as if the church had something to do with their everyday life," Harold Eastman said.
Mrs. Eastman will be missed by not just family and friends, but also her community.
"I do not know what I am going to do," Harold Eastman said. "I do not know how I am going to do it without her."
Services for Mrs. Eastman will be held at a later date.
Mrs. Eastman is survived by her husband; two sons, Jonathan Eastman of Mexico, Mo., Bruce Eastman of Foley, Minn., and a daughter, Danita Rae Eastman of Norfold, Calif.
Any memorials may be given to the League of Women Voters.
Thomas Esteppe
Thomas Esteppe loved to play golf, but once he couldn't play anymore, he would watch sports on television and read the sports section of the newspaper all of the time.
"He was a very avid sports fan and he used to play a lot of golf until he got older," said his niece, Doris Barnhart. "He and I spent time watching sports together all of the time."
Thomas L. Esteppe of Centralia died Monday, July 31, 2000, at Heritage Hall in Centralia. He was 86.
Mr. Esteppe was born in Centralia on July 30, 1914, to Bourbon and Mary Elizabeth Marshall Esteppe. He graduated from Centralia High School and attended college in Kirksville. He served with the U.S. Navy for four years and married Leona Mae Davis in Kansas City, Kan. In the late '40s, he served as a sheriff's deputy of Boone County. He later moved to Tucson, Ariz. and worked as a loan officer at Valley National Bank until his retirement in 1979.
"He came back to Centralia so he could be close to his family," Barnhart said.
Mr. Esteppe was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a life member of the Elks Lodge in Tucson until his return to Missouri in 1998.
A private burial will be held at a later date at Centralia City Cemetery.
Mr. Esteppe is survived by two nieces and a nephew.
Mr. Esteppe's wife, two brothers and two sisters died earlier.
Emma M. Garner
In Emma Garner's younger days, she loved to fish. As she got older, though, she spent less and less time outdoors and devoted more time to hand-quilting.
"Not many people hand-quilt any more," said her daughter, Debbie Sapp. "It's very time-consuming but she loved it."
Emma M. Garner of Columbia died Saturday, July 29, 2000, at Boone Hospital Center. She was 82.
Mrs. Garner was born July 7, 1918, in Marceline to Charles and Bessie Hobbs Manewal. On June 16, 1942, she married Ellis T. Garner in Moberly.
In addition to her passion for hand-quilting, Mrs. Garner loved watching cooking shows to learn new recipes. She also had a soft spot in her heart for animals and was a very devoted grandmother to Julie and Staci Sapp, Debbie Sapp said.
Visitation for Mrs. Garner will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. Charles Parker, will be at 1 p.m. today at Memorial Park Cemetery, where Mrs. Garner will be buried.
Mrs. Garner is survived by one daughter, Debbie Sapp of Columbia; two sisters, Charlene Garner of Marceline and Theresa Ladika of Greensburg, Pa.; and two granddaughters.
Her husband and four brothers died earlier.
Doris Ann Stone
Doris Ann Stone of Columbia died Saturday, July 29, 2000, at Boone Retirement Center. She was 75.
Mrs. Stone was born Sept. 23, 1924, in Boone County to Dowen C. and Lurla B. White Reed. On July 10, 1940, she married Earl Stone in Columbia. She was the credit manager for Western Auto Store for 15 years and also worked for Phillippe's Auto Body. Mrs. Stone was a member of Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church and Dudes & Dames Square Dance Club.
Visitation for Mrs. Stone will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. Jim Kabler, will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Stone is survived by three sons, Tommy Lee Stone and Larry Reed Stone, both of Columbia, and Richard Stone of Olathe, Kan.; two brothers, Howard Reed of Columbia and Raymond Reed of Boonville; and five grandchildren.
Her husband, one brother and one sister died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, 1121 Business Loop 70 E., Columbia, Mo. 65201.
Martha Bernard
Martha Bernard of Moberly, formerly of Ashland, died Saturday, July 29, 2000, at the Moberly Nursing Home. She was 73.
Mrs. Bernard worked in central supply at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center in Columbia until 1974.
She was born on Dec. 9, 1926, in Boone County to James B. Morris and Mary Ann Garrett. She married Raymond Bernard on July 31, 1954, in Columbia. Mrs. Bernard was a member of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Hartsburg.
Visitation for Mrs. Bernard will be from noon to 2 p.m. today at the Robinson Funeral Home, 601 N. Henry Clay Blvd., Ashland. Services, conducted by the Rev. Jim Smith, will follow.
Mrs. Bernard is survived by two sisters, Gwendola Sexton of Cairo, Mo., and Ann Neal of Columbia.
Her husband and three brothers died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the local chapter of the Humane Society, 616 Big Bear Blvd.., Columbia, Mo. 65202.
Jenna Lamb Bowles
Jenna Lamb Bowles of Columbia died Saturday, July 29, 2000, at Boone Hospital Center. She was stillborn.
Jenna was born to Victor and Laura Schake Bowles.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. Norman Conklin, will be held at 11 a.m. at the Memorial Funeral Home Chapel.
Jenna will be buried at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Jenna is survived by her parents, Victor and Laura Bowles of Columbia; maternal grandparents, Derryl and Lynette Schake of Columbia; paternal grandparents, Donald Bowles of Anaheim, Calif., andMaryann Lisman of Bakersfield, Calif.; a sister, Amber M. Bowles of Columbia; and two brothers, Jake D. Bowles and Ty W. Bowles of Columbia.
James Braxton Jr.
James Braxton Jr. was always there for his family. His caring nature made him a good brother.
"He was just a great older brother," said Mr. Braxton's younger brother Carl Braxton. "He watched out for all of us younger children and he was just a loving, kind brother."
James William Henry Braxton Jr. of Columbia died Wednesday, July 26, 2000, at Columbia Healthcare and Rehabilitation. He was 77.
Mr. Braxton was born Dec. 31, 1922 in Louisiana, Mo., to James William Henry Braxton Sr. and Sarah Nevada Elizabeth Johnson Braxton.
Mr. Braxton married Sarah Margaret Carr. He was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. He served in the army while living in Texas in the 1940s. He worked for Caterpillar in Peoria, Ill. He also worked as an auto mechanic while living in Peoria. He retired to Columbia.
Services were held Saturday at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Mr. Braxton is survived by two brothers, Silas I. Braxton of Alton, Ill., and Carl E. Braxton of Fort Madison, Iowa; and three sisters, Eleanor Shepherd of Columbia, Ozelia Pacheco of Alton, Ill., and Freida Johnson of Crockett, Texas.
His wife died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the Jehovah's Witnesses, in care of James Braxton.
James C. Denneny Jr.
KANSAS CITY - James C. Denneny Jr., a former Southwestern Bell executive who was vice president of its Missouri operations when he retired in 1989, died Thursday, July 27, 2000, at age 75.
Denneny, born in Fayette, became a Western Union Teletype operator in his grandfather's drugstore when he was just 13. He began working for Southwestern Bell after graduating from Central Methodist College in 1947.
He started out at Hannibal and steadily advanced, moving his family 14 times as he took jobs in cities including Houston, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City and St. Louis. He came to Kansas City in 1987.
He became active in the Economic Development Corp. of Kansas City, continuing to serve on its board after his retirement and becoming chairman in 1996.
Denneny is survived by his wife, Betty, and two sons.
Evalyn Harmon
Robert Tomlinson only met his great-grandmother once. Still, he remembers her for her kindness.
Evalyn Harmon of Columbia died Friday, July 28, 2000, at Boone Hospital Center. She was 80.
Tomlinson said he recently gained Mrs. Harmon as a relative when his mom married Mark Glover, one of Mrs. Harmon's grandchildren. Though his time with her was brief, she still made an impact on him.
"She was a very sweet person, a very sweet person," Tomlinson said.
Mrs. Harmon was born Dec. 26, 1919, in Hinton to Shellie D. and Mabel Dean Hoffman Caldwell. She married Tharon Harmon on July 5, 1937, in Fulton. He died Jan. 16, 1975.
In addition to working for MU as a secretary, Mrs. Harmon attended Ashland Baptist Church. She was also a member of Ashland's Order of the Eastern Star and its Women's V.F.W. Auxiliary.
Visitation for Mrs. Harmon will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road. Services, also at Nilson Funeral Home and conducted by the Rev. John Foley, will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Mrs. Harmon is survived by two daughters, Carol Jean Stand and Betty Jo Fountain, both of Columbia; four grandchildren, Greg Turner and Tonja Rinck, both of Ashland, Mark Glover of Lake Alfred, Fla. and Kimberly Hale of Lake Worth, Fla.; eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Memorials may be sent to The American Cancer Society.
William Simon
HOUSTON - William Simon, a University of Houston sociologist and champion of a more expansive and tolerant view of human sexuality, died Friday, July 21, 2000, of cancer. He was 70.
An author and defender of First Amendment guarantees of free expression, Simon often served as an expert witness for defendants, including the Playboy Channel, accused of violating pornography laws.
He also was an advocate for a much broader acceptance of differing sexual behaviors. He also championed gay rights and testified against obscenity laws.
His books include "Sexual Conduct," "Sexual Deviance," "The Sexual Scene" and "Sexual Outlaws," written with longtime collaborator John Gagnon.
Simon was recruited in 1975 by the University of Houston as a professor of sociology and director of the Institute for Urban Studies. He once worked at the Kinsey Institute for research in sex, gender and reproduction at Indiana University.
John G. Thompson
John G. Thompson of Columbia died Wednesday, July 26, 2000, at Ashley Manor Care in Boonville. He was 68.
Living in the Bronx, N.Y., before moving to Columbia, Mr. Thompson worked for many years for Greyhound Bus Lines. He retired from Greyhound in 1994 and moved to Columbia in 1995. He also worked for A&E Thread Company. Mr. Thompson attended the Oak Chapel Baptist Church in Guthrie.
Mr. Thompson was born on July 12, 1932, in Pinewood, S.C., to Arthur and Susan Galashaw Thompson. He married Alice S. Dickerson.
Services for Mr. Thompson were held Saturday at Oak Chapel Baptist Church in Guthrie.
He is survived by his wife Alice Dickerson Thompson of Columbia; two daughters, Jean Andrews and Vevile A. Mitchell, both of Columbia; one son, Charles Robinson of Brooklyn, N.Y.; three brothers, Charley Thompson and Leroy Thompson, both of Sumter, S.C., and Arthur Thompson of Philadelphia; and four grandchildren.
His parents died earlier.
