Emma Elizabeth Blake
Emma Elizabeth Blake of Marshall died Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2000, at the Living Center in Marshall. She was 74.
"She was a good mother," her son Harold Blake said. "She was also a semi-career woman, I guess."
Mrs. Blake loved sports. As a child she played baseball and basketball as much as possible. She also never missed a chance to participate in sports with her children.
"She'd get so emotional, you'd think she was in the game," Blake said.
Mrs. Blake was born Sept. 9, 1925, in Saline County to Emma Marie Graves and Lacy Bausily. She worked several years for the Saline County Rest Home.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the H.T. May and Son Funeral Home, 460 S. Lincoln Ave., in Marshall. Services, conducted by the Rev. Donald White, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, also at the funeral home. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Marshall.
Mrs. Blake is survived by two sons, Harold Blake of Marshall and Wayne Blake of Columbia; and one daughter, Lucy Gant of Kansas City.
Her husband, James Blake, died earlier.
Ruby Helen Kellogg
Ruby Helen Kellogg of Hornell, N.Y., died Sunday, Aug. 27, 2000, at St. Mercy Hospital. She was 78.
Mrs. Kellogg was born Sept. 23, 1921 in Columbia to Pleas Carson Morris and Minnie Crane Morris.
Services for Mrs. Kellogg were held Thursday at Dagon Funeral Home in Hornell, N.Y.
Mrs. Kellogg is survived by three daughters, Shirley Miller and Debbie Cartwright, both of Hornell, N.Y., and Frances Makitra of Canisteo, N.Y.; three sons, Rickie, Leslie and Lonnie Kellogg, all of Hornell, N.Y.; three sisters, Opal Morris and Amy Nichols of Columbia, and Gertrude McDaniel of Meadville,; three brothers, P.C. "Junior" Morris of Hallsville, Eugene Morris of Warsaw, and Alex Henry Morris of Killeen, Texas.; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchilren.
William L. Keyes
William L. Keyes of Columbia died Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2000, at Crossroads Correctional Center, a maximum-security men's prison, in Cameron. He was 24.
Dori Burke, of the Boone County medical examiner's office, said Mr. Keyes' cause of death was still under investigation and would not be available for two weeks.
Mr. Keyes was once a member of the Second Baptist Church in Columbia and attended Hickman High School.
He is survived by his father, William J. Keyes of St. Louis; his mother, Paula Hayes of Columbia; three brothers, Michael A. Key and William J. Key Jr., both of Columbia, and Antione McFadden of St. Louis; three sisters, Velma Buckner of Columbia, Leslie Buckner of Blue Springs and Theresa A. Key of St. Louis; a grandmother, Nellie Buckner of Columbia; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation was held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Warren Funeral Chapel in Columbia. Services will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Second Baptist Church, 401 E. Broadway, with the Rev. Clanton W. Dawson Jr. officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery and Mausoleum, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. in Columbia.
Ray Luke Rucker
MU student Ray Luke Rucker of Columbia, formerly of Rolla, died Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2000. He was 24.
The death was ruled a suicide, said Dori Burke, an investigator for the Boone County medical examiner's office.
Mr. Rucker was born July 11, 1976, to Ray and Catherine Rucker.
He graduated from MU with a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics. He then was employed by Midwest Mortgage Co. in Columbia as a loan processor and returned to MU this summer to earn a degree in computer science.
"We were really close," said Amy Rucker, one of his three sisters. "Luke lived life to the fullest."
"He never knew any strangers," said Courtney Snelson, another of Mr. Rucker's sisters. "He said he never had a lot of friends, but the ones he had were quality."
He enjoyed playing pool, said Amy Rucker.
"It was a gathering place for him and his friends," she said.
Services will be held at 7 p.m. today at Null and Son Funeral Home, 1010 Kingshighway St., in Rolla with the Rev. Larry Paris officiating.
Mr. Rucker is survived by his father, Ray Rucker of Rolla; three sisters, Courtney Snelson of St. James, Amy Rucker of Springfield, Mo., and Tammy Smith of Rolla; one nephew and three nieces.
His mother died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Life Crisis Services for Suicide Prevention, 1423 S. Big Bend, St. Louis, Mo. 63117.
Gwendolyn N. Kyger
Gwendolyn N. Kyger of Columbia died Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2000, at South Hampton Place. She was 82.
Mrs. Kyger was born Sept. 13, 1917, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Ivan and Snow Bush Ardrey. She married Harry W. Kyger Sr., a mechanic, on Nov. 19, 1932, in Jefferson City.
Mrs. Kyger graduated from Fulton High School and attended MU. After she married, she lived in Jefferson City, but soon moved to Columbia. She was a member of Bethany Baptist Church and she worked in the medical records department for the student health clinic at MU for 25 years.
According to her brother, Bill Ardrey, Mrs. Kyger tended her flower garden and spent her free time "gardening, studying, and reading books about birds and wild life."
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. Services, conducted by the Rev. Loren McCrary, will be immediately following.
Mrs. Kyger is survived by her brother, Bill Ardrey of Columbia; one son, Harry W. Kyger Jr. of Bellevue, Wash.; and four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Her parents, three brothers and her husband died earlier.
Mr. Charles A. Leech Jr.
Dr. Charles A. Leech Jr. brought thousands of Columbia babies into the world as a physician for more than 50 years.
Dr. Leech of Columbia died Sunday, Aug. 27, 2000. He was 89.
'He delivered thousands of Columbian babies in his career,' said Linda Tremaine, one of the babies Dr. Leech delivered. 'I have only seen him once since I was born, but he was very sweet and familiar.'
Dr. Leech was born Dec. 2, 1910, in New Franklin to Charles and Lucinda Leech. After graduating from New Franklin High School, he attended MU and later Washington University Medical School. He graduated there in 1938 and embarked on an adventurous career.
Dr. Leech served during World War II in North Africa and Europe with the Army Medical Corps, where he achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel.
After serving in the military, he taught at MU and later served as MU's director of Student Health Services. He also served as team physician for Hickman High School athletic teams.
He married Mabel F. Mutti in Columbia on June 25, 1939, and they celebrated their 60th aniversary last summer.
A restless octogenarian, Dr. Leech retired from medicine in 1987 to dedicate the rest of his years to philanthropy.
Patti Freeman, a guidance counselor and childhood friend of Mary Walden, one of Leech's daughters, has warm memories of the times she spent with the Leeches.
'I remember lots of times as a teen-ager I'd spend there,' she said. 'He was such a good-natured, friendly person. I believe he was the only doctor I knew then on a personal basis, and I always admired that he was such a family man.'
Dr. Leech was a charter member of Columbia Cosmopolitan Luncheon Club, an organization that provides funds for nonprofit organizations and helps and develops parks and recreation facilities. He had been a part of the club since its birth on April 14, 1947. He was also a 50-year member of the Shriners and Aleppo Grotto, the Masonic Acacia Lodge and Fairview United Methodist Church.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. Bruce Caldwell, will take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday, at Memorial Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery and Mausoleum, at 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Dr. Leech is survived by his wife; one son, Charles 'Buddy' Leech III of Mandeville, La.; three daughters, Dorothy 'Dottie' Heibel of Hallsville, Mary Walden of Columbia and Nancy Morris of Clark; one brother, Maurice Leech of Fayette; nine grandchildren; and three great- grandaughters.
Five sisters died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to American Cancer Society, 33 E. Broadway, Suite 100, Columbia, Mo., 65203, or Missouri Tiger Athletic Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 667, Columbia, Mo., 65205.
Sue R. Hagan
Sue R. Hagan of Columbia died Sunday, Aug. 27, 2000, at the Boone Retirement Center. She was 70. Mrs. Hagan was born Aug. 8, 1930, in Boone County to Ernest and Mabel Ray. She married Robert N. Hagan and lived her entire life in Boone County.
She graduated from Hickman High School in 1948. She was a legal secretary in the general counsel's office at the University of Missouri for about 35 years.
Visitation for Mrs. Hagan will be from 10 to 10:45 a.m. today at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. Services will be conducted by the Rev. Mike Kelleher at 11 a.m. today at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
A brother died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the American Lung Association, 1118 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, Mo., 63139-3196.
Virginia O. Jorgenson
Christie Virginia Olson Jorgenson of Columbia died Monday, Aug. 28, 2000, at Columbia Regional Hospital. She was 83.
Mrs. Jorgenson, a homemaker, was a lifetime member of the MU Fortnightly Club and a member of the University of Missouri Jefferson Club, the Sioux Falls College Heritage Club and the University of Wisconsin Bascom Hill Society. She was a friend of the Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and was a member of and performed volunteer services for the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia.
Mrs. Jorgenson was born Feb. 22, 1917, in Madison, Wis. to Martin J. and Anga Olson. She attended the University of Wisconsin and completed her education at the Madison Business College. She married Lloyd P. Jorgenson in Madison on April 5, 1942, and accompanied him at his military installations before he left for overseas service. They moved to Columbia in 1957.
Between 1963 and 1980, Mrs. Jorgenson traveled with her husband to the University of Reading in England, where he served as sponsor for the MU-Reading student exchange program. In 1984, they established and endowed the Jorgenson Scholars Abroad Fund to provide assistance to Missouri students in international studies programs.
There will be no visitation. Services, conducted by the Rev. George McCall and the Rev. Richard Ramsey, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, 16 Hitt St. A reception will be held at the church following the services.
Mrs. Jorgenson is survived by her husband; one daughter, Ann Marie Denney of Columbia; one son, Charles Martin Jorgenson of Columbia; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Mary Sue Hargrove
Mary Sue Hamlin Hargrove of Columbia died Sunday, August 27, 2000, at Boone Hospital Center. She was 80.
Mrs. Hargrove was born March 8, 1920, in Princeton, Ark., to Charles T. and Eva Smith Hamlin. In 1938, she married Louis A. Hargrove in Malvern, Ark., and lived there until 1960 when the family moved to Los Angeles.
After retiring in 1972, Mr. and Mrs. Hargrove moved to Columbia, where she worked at the Carriage House and was active in the Parkade Baptist Church.
Visitation for Mrs. Hargrove will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. Terry Hunsaker, will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, also at Memorial Funeral Home.
Mrs. Hargrove is survived by her son, Charles Thomas Hargrove of Columbia; her daughter, Eva Fine of Jefferson City; two brothers, Ray Hamlin of Malvern, Ark., and Edsel Hamlin of Texarkana, Texas; six grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
A son, William D. Hargrove, five brothers and two sisters died earlier.
Rachel Asbury Davis
Rachel Helen Asbury Davis of Columbia died Saturday, Aug. 26, 2000, at Columbia Healthcare and Rehabilitation. She was 85.
Mrs. Davis was born Feb. 14, 1915, in Columbia to George Turner and Mary Lee Thom Asbury. After graduating from Columbia High School and Columbia Business School, she married Ira L. Davis on June 3, 1934. Mrs. Davis was a member of First Christian Church and was active in local and state Democratic party activities.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by Dr. John Yonker, will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Funeral Home.
Mrs. Davis is survived by a daughter, Debbie Davis Nanson of Columbia; a granddaughter, Kelli Nanson of Columbia; two grandsons, Benjamin Nanson of St. Louis and James Davis Nanson of Columbia; a sister, Jane Michener of St. Louis; and a brother, George Asbury of Creston, Iowa. One daughter and two sisters died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, 2001 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. 63131.
O.W. 'Wren' Buckler
O.W. "Wren" Buckler of Columbia died Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2000, at Columbia Manor. He was 97.
Mr. Buckler was born May 4, 1903, in Boone County to William Washington and Lucy Jackson White Buckler. He married Hattie Brown on March 9, 1924. Mr. Buckler was a farmer and worked at the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center until he retired in 1969, after 20 years of service.
Visitation for Mr. Buckler will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home. Services, conducted by the Rev. Rick Frost, will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Buckler is survived by a son, Kenneth Buckler of Columbia; two daughters, Allene Cole of Punta Gorda, Fla., and Dorothy Finnell of Norwalk, Calif.; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
His wife, two brothers, a sister and two granddaughters died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the American Lung Association, 1118 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63139-3196 or the American Cancer Society, 33 E. Broadway, Suite 100, Columbia, Mo. 65203.
Nancy L. Groome
Nancy L. Groome of Sarasota, Fla., formerly of Columbia, died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2000. She was 62.
Mrs. Groome was born Feb. 14, 1938, in San Francisco. She moved to Sarasota three months ago from Gainesville, Fla.
While living in Columbia, she worked as a bookkeeper for Walt's Bike Shop and volunteered for both the American Red Cross and The Wardrobe. Mrs. Groome was also a member of the Columbia and Gainesville Bicycle Clubs.
Mrs. Groome is survived by a daughter, Paula Groome of Sarasota; a son, Kirk Groome of Sarasota; a sister, Elizabeth Guillette of Gainesville, Fla.; a brother, James Arnold of Saratoga, Calif.; and one grandchild.
Visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. today at Wiegand Brothers Funeral Home in Sarasota. Services will follow the visitation.
Memorials may be sent to the Arthritis Foundation, 6221 14th St. W. #305, Bradenton, Fla. 34207-4637.
