GenealogyBuff.com - MISSOURI - Boone County - Miscellaneous Obituaries - 64

Posted By: GenealogyBuff
Date: Saturday, 19 April 2008, at 10:57 a.m.

U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014

Savannah D. Tapp
During his lifetime, Savannah D. Tapp held many lives in his hands. Whether he was holding his newborn baby, driving a bus full of people or handling a large crate of bombs, Mr. Tapp had an impact on those around him. Mr. Tapp's hands - callused and strong - were good hands to be in.
The family man and long-time city worker died Wednesday, June 27, 2001, at Columbia Regional Hospital. He was 76.
Mr. Tapp was born on Feb. 3, 1925, in Rock Island, Ill., to Denon and Nannie Williams Tapp. Later, the family moved to Columbia, where Mr. Tapp attended Douglass High School. He left school when he was drafted by the U.S. Navy to serve in World War II, but eventually came back and finished his studies.
Mr. Tapp's hands used to shake with fear and strain as they lifted bombs, nitroglycerin and gunpowder crates onto large ships at Port Chicago Naval munitions base near San Francisco. "It was nerve-wracking down there," Mr. Tapp once told a Missourian reporter. "If you drop one of those things, the ballgame's over."
On Sept. 21, 1941, Mr. Tapp's hands had joined with those of his new bride, Ernestine Williams. His first child, Wynna Faye, was born in 1944. Ten more would follow.
The family did everything together.
"The whole 11 of us were spoiled brats," said Wynna Faye Elbert. She remembers when her father would take the family outside and make homemade ice cream from freshly fallen snow, letting each kid turn the crank. The family had talent shows in the living room and played softball together.
Over the years, Mr. Tapp worked for the Tastee bread company, the Columbia Country Club, MU's dining services and the Faurot Field box office.
He was a laborer, a truck driver, an equipment operator and a bus driver in his 38 years that he worked for the city.
In the final years of his life, Mr. Tapp made weekly visits to a dialysis machine to combat kidney failure. His health continued to deteriorate, but even the night before he died, Mr. Tapp smiled and tried to take care of his loved ones, more worried about them than himself.
"Daddy just loved people," his oldest daughter said.
In return, people loved him back.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 2207 Holly Ave. Mr. Tapp's body will be cremated.
Mr. Tapp is survived by four sons, Howard Wayne Tapp, Marvin Lee Tapp, Maurice Jerome Tapp, and Gary Lydell Tapp, all of Columbia; seven daughters, Wynna Faye Elbert, Cheryl Elaine Bell, Alma Lynn Tapp, Melva Jo VanBuren, Freda Delores Tapp, Teresa Kay Lankford, and Jacqueline Renee Cody, all of Columbia; 27 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Everett Lee Kitchen
Everett Lee Kitchen was a local musical legend. He became famous not by playing in a band or singing at a local bar, but because he was a historian of blues, jazz and rap. Whenever anyone requested a song, Mr. Kitchen could name the artist, song number and album without hesitation.
A disc jockey at the T&H Restaurant, Mr. Kitchen attracted a local following who would come every week just to hear him play.
"There was a song my wife loved, and I requested it for her one night when Everett was DJing," said Nate Collins, a T&H regular. "And every time she came in after that, he'd play the song. He remembered."
Mr. Kitchen died Sunday, June 24, 2001, at Truman Veterans Hospital. He was 57.
Maronica Kitchen, his wife, remembers her husband as the "classic romantic." Dancing in the headlights in front of the Mizzou Credit Union, pulling roses out from under his sleeve, and bringing her glass teddy bears to put on top of her computer are some of her fondest memories of him.
"He had an infectious personality," she said. "And he always had these one-liners that he thought were so funny."
She also remembers that his great musical knowledge made him well known to other people in the community. Employees at Streetside Records would frequently call him as a source of musical information. If they needed a recommendation for a customer or needed confirmation on a song, they would give Mr. Kitchen a call.
Both his music and his personality were the source of memories at T&H.
"He was one of those guys who, if you came in in a bad mood, could put you in a good one," said Jim Turner, the owner of T & H.
Mr. Kitchen was born on Dec. 11, 1943, in Moberly to Fred and Ann Kitchen. After graduating from Moberly High School, he left in 1961 to serve in the U.S. Army, and was discharged as a staff sergeant 20 years later. When he returned to Columbia, he worked at Truman Veterans Hospital for 17 years.
Mr. Kitchen's wife is giving him a military burial in St. Louis because he devoted so much time to the service.
"He was their morale director," Maronica Kitchen said. "Everett used to say he wished he'd stayed in the service longer because he enjoyed it so much."
Whenever Mr. Kitchen got the chance to talk to young men and women in the community, he would encourage them to do two things: stay in school and go into the service.
The Kitchen house is adorned with several medals and ribbons from Mr. Kitchen's days in the Army, among them two for service in Vietnam. In addition, he won a medal for good conduct, an overseas service ribbon and a professional development ribbon.
But at T&H, Mr. Kitchen is remembered for being a crowd pleaser and a friend. The mere mention of his name at the neighborhood restaurant sparked memories and anecdotes from nearly every single patron.
"Did you know Everett?"
"Who, Teddy Bear? Everybody knew Teddy Bear!" the patrons at the bar said in unison.
In the back corner of the restaurant, past the kitchen, two large black speakers stand up against the wall. They are silent. Next to the sound system is a large gray curtain, and behind it is a special DJ corner Mr. Kitchen built himself.
"He put in everything-the shelves, the paneling. This was his spot," said Tina Turner, as she reached up on one of the shelves and pulled down a container of honey, in the shape of a bear.
Tina said he got the nickname because he was "soft and lovable." Eventually, people grew to call him Honey Bear because those who knew him well enough knew that he was especially sweet.
Even the sign at the Break Time on Business Loop 70, where Mr. Kitchen was a part-time employee, stands as a memorial to the local legend. It reads, "In loving memory of Teddy Bear."
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Second Baptist Church, 407 East Broadway. Services, conducted by Bishop Harold Long, will follow. Burial will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis at 1 p.m. Friday.
Mr. Kitchen is survived by his wife of Columbia; one daughter, Mya Hayes of Paris, Mo.; two brothers, Charles Kitchen of Moberly, and Howard Kitchen of Hannibal; one sister, Nora Goodwin of Des Moines, Iowa; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Rodney Percefull
Rodney Payne Percefull of Columbia died Saturday, June 23, 2001, of emphysema at University Hospital. He was 54.
"He was a good, sweet, kind guy," said his wife, Ruth Percefull. "He was loved by all the people he came in contact with."
Mr. Percefull was born Jan. 8, 1947, in Hot Springs, Ark., to Payne and Mary Percefull. He married Ruth Wallick on June 10, 1983.
Mr. Percefull worked for Kelly's Cleaning for the past four years. He was a member of the Missouri United Methodist Church.
Mr. Percefull loved to watch sports such as baseball, tennis and golf. He especially enjoyed watching Tiger Woods.
Visitation for Mr. Percefull will be from 9 to 10 this morning at the Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. 10th Street. Services will follow. Burial will be at Park View Memorial Gardens in Kirksville.
Mr. Percefull is survived by his wife of Columbia; his father, Payne Percefull of Charlston, Ark.; sister, Janice Percefull of Hot Springs, Ark.; three brothers, Lance Percefull of Fort Worth, Texas, Richard Percefull of Little Rock, Ark., and Russell Percefull of Hot Springs, Ark.
His mother died earlier.

Deborah Via Gay
Deborah Via Gay of Columbia died Monday, June 25, 2001, at Barnes-Jewish Christian Hospital in St.Louis. She was 46.
Mrs. Gay was born November 30, 1954, in Columbia to Robert Hartley and Wilma Lile Via. She married Robert Lee Gay on Sept. 13, 1980 in Columbia.
Mrs. Gay received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from MU, graduating on the dean's list. She was co-owner and director of Pumpkin Patch Daycare in Union. She was also a Girl Scout troup leader in St. Clair and a member of Calvary Baptist Church.
Services, conducted by Dr. Fred Neiger, will be held at 11 this morning at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Mrs. Gay is survived by her mother of Columbia; her husband of St. Clair; a daughter, Ashley Gay of St. Clair; three brothers, Robert Via of Winston-Salem, N.C., Ron Burks of Camdenton, and James Burks of Iowa; four sisters, Betty Murphy-Retzloff of Columbia, Anna Osborn of Paris, Mo., Lillie Downing of Bartelsville, Okla., and Martha Wade of Harrisburg; and several nieces and nephews.
Her father died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the Hepatitis Foundation International, 30 Sunrise Terrace, Cedar Grove, NJ, 07009-1423 or to the Ashley Gay College Fund, c/o Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W., Columbia, Mo., 65202.

James H. Phillips
James H. Phillips, a leader in Missouri's agriculture industry, died Monday, June 18, 2001. He was 69.
Mr. Phillips was born Dec. 16, 1931, in Butler to Herbert M. and Ruth McClarnon Phillips.
He was educated in the Noel schools and graduated from MU in 1954 with a bachelor's degree in agriculture.
After a career in the Air Force, Mr. Phillips moved his family to Drexel in 1967 where they established one of the first confinement swine operations in Missouri. It continues today as Phillips Family Farms, Inc., under the management of sons Martin and Scott. Mr. Phillips is also former owner of Belton Grain Co. and Archie Ag Service.
Mr. Phillips was a leader in many organizations related to agriculture. He served as president of of the Missouri Pork Producers and was the chairman for the USDA committee on livestock and livestock products. He was involved with the National Pork Producers Council and was 4th district chairman for FARMPAC with the Missouri Farm Bureau. Mr. Phillips was also on the board of directors of several organizations including Meat Export Federation, Governors Advisory Council and the MU Animal Science Advisory Committee.
He received a Faculty Alumni Award from MU in 1995, the Gamma Sigma Delta award of merit in 1994 and the Americans Royal Farm Family in 1997 for his leadership in agriculture.
Before working in agriculture, Mr. Phillips served in the U.S. Air Force. He served 13 years after which he went into the U.S. Air Force reserves in 1967.
Mr. Phillips reached the rank of lieutenant colonel and flew worldwide missions to the Far East, Near East, Africa, Vietnam, South America and Europe during his military career. As a command pilot of a C-97, C-124 and C-130 aircraft, Mr. Phillips flew more than 10,000 hours.
From 1960 to 1962 he was assigned as a guided missile operations officer with the Italian Air Force in Taranto, Italy, and in 1963 was assigned as squadron operations officer in Etain, France.
As commander of the 303rd Tactical Airlift Squadron, Mr. Phillips led his Air Force Reserves squadron to receive the first outstanding rating awarded to any reserve unit in the service. He was awarded the Meritous Service Medal and First Oak Leaf Cluster for the performance of outstanding service as commander of the 303rd Tactical Airlift Squadron and as air operations officer for the 442nd Tactical Airlift Wing at Richards-Gerbaur Air Force Base. Mr. Phillips retired from the Air Force in 1982 after 28 years of military service.
Mr. Phillips married Lois Irene Ehrlich on Dec. 16, 1953, in Columbia.
He is survived by his wife; his three sons, H. Martin Phillips and Scott W. Phillips, both of Drexel, and David W. Phillips of Des Moines; his sister, LaVeta Anderson of Columbia; and seven grandchildren.
Services and burial were held Friday. Memorial funds may be sent to Drexel Baptist Church for the Swords to Plowshares, Delarus Ag Missions project.

Jimmy E. Hardin
Jimmy E. Hardin's attention in life was equally divided between his fellow man and his family.
He was a member of the board of directors at Westminster College's School of Social Work and he also gave time to the NAACP. He gave a number of speeches about his civil rights work, but he went beyond the podium to make sure his message got out.
"He would go door to door too," said Helen P. Hayes-Hardin, Mr. Hardin's wife.
Even with all the time he put into helping others, Mr. Hardin never forgot his family.
"He was a family man and his work can never sum up the person and father that he was," Hayes-Hardin said. "We were married on Aug. 13, 1990, and we had been together for two years prior. I will always think of him because of all the love he gave to me and everyone. That was my Jimmy."
Jimmy Earl Hardin died on Wednesday, June 20, 2001. He was 47.
He was born July 7, 1953, to James A. and Erline Collins.
He worked for many years as a member of the board of directors for the National Association of Social Work's Missouri Chapter, and he held the office of executive director for two years. From this position, Mr. Hardin was able to influence the social work legislation for the entire state through direct collaboration with state legislators.
"He was involved directly with all that stuff out of Jefferson City," Hayes-Hardin said. "He even kept a bragging folder that had all the articles ever written on him."
There was one article in particular Hayes-Hardin said she thought captured the essence of Mr. Hardin.
"In it he says 'I don't change environments, I change attitudes,'" she said.
He is survived by his wife of Columbia; his parents of Warrensburg; three brothers, Carl Hardin of Jefferson City, and Martin Hardin and Keith Hardin, both of Columbia; three sisters, Veronica Whitaker of Warrensburg, Carmen Thomas of Columbia and Valerie Johnson of Warrensburg; three daughters, Shonita Y. Hardin of Macon, Ga., Jimica J. Hardin of Warner Robins, Ga., and Briana E. Hardin of Columbia, as well as several grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation was held Saturday at Warren Funeral Chapel and services were held Sunday.

Dean E. Metter
Dean Edward Metter of Columbia died Saturday, June 23, 2001, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 68.
Dr. Metter was born on Aug. 1, 1932 in Champaign, Ill. to Harry and Nellie Metter. He married Sylvia C. Michlig on Aug. 9, 1954 in Sheffield, Ill.
Dr. Metter obtained his bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University. He obtained his master's degree from Washington State University, then went on to earn his Ph.D. from the University of Idaho. Dr. Metter was a professor emeritus of zoology at MU, where he taught for 30 years. He also was co-founder of the Bobby Witcher Society for the study and appreciation of herpetology, the study of reptiles and amphibians.
A gathering for Dr. Metter will be held at Roemer's Lake on Obermiller Road between 8 and 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
Dr. Metter is survived by his wife, one son, Karl Metter of Alexandria, Va.; two daughters, Kathleen Metter of Columbia and Kristine Metter of Alexandria, Va.; one brother, Raymond Metter of Houston, Texas; one sister, Norma Crewe of Fort Worth, Texas; and two grandchildren.
His parents died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 30638, Columbia, Mo., 65205, or the Bobby Witcher Society, 204 Russell Blvd., Columbia, Mo. 65203.

Floyd E. Rogers
Floyd Elijah "Jack" Rogers of Columbia died June 22, 2001 at Lenoir Health Center. He was 100.
Mr. Rogers spent 42 years working for the MU College of Agriculture in the extension education department and was appointed chair of the department in 1960. His career with the department included temporary teaching assignments at the University of Arkansas, Colorado State University and the University of Wisconsin. His foreign assignments included Calcutta, India, where from 1962 to 1964 he was the group leader of the Missouri AID team. He retired from MU in 1968.
Mr. Rogers was born June 2, 1901 near Lockwood in Dade County, Mo., to Estus and Etta Rogers. He married Carrie M. Harper of Bates County, Mo., in 1925. In 1924, Mr. Rogers graduated from the MU College of Agriculture with a bachelor of science. After receiving a fellowship from the Carnegie Foundation, he completed his master of public administration from Harvard University in 1948. He was a member of the Missouri United Methodist Church in Columbia for 67 years.
Visitation for Mr. Rogers will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. Services, conducted by the Rev. Jim Bryan, will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday at the McMurry Chapel at the Missouri United Methodist Church, 204 S. Ninth St. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Rogers is survived by a son, J. Philip Rogers of Alpharetta, Ga; a daughter, Dorothy C. Pepper of Rapid City, S.D.; two sisters, Neva Kapp of LaPorte, Ind., and Nina Parsons of Harrisonville, Mo.; 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Two sons died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the Missouri United Methodist Church, 204 S. Ninth St., Columbia, Mo., 65201 or Lenoir Retirement Community, 3612 Lenoir St., Columbia, Mo., 65201.

John F. Maurice
John F. Maurice, brother of Timothy Maurice of Columbia, died June 25, 2000, at his home in Goldsboro, N.C. He was 65.
Mr. Maurice was born on Sept. 4, 1934, in New Britain, Conn., to John P. and Florence Faulkner Maurice.
Mr. Maurice served in the Marine Corps for 13 years with eight years of active service and two years of foreign service. He attained the rank of sergeant. He worked as a stock control supervisor during his service. Mr. Maurice received a National Defense Service Medal, two Good Conduct Medals, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
After leaving the military, he worked in the materials department of Stanley Works, and later he worked in home construction and maintenance.
A military graveside service, conducted by the Rev. Kenneth Gerike, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Memorial Park Cemetery.
In addition to his brother, Mr. Maurice is survived by three sisters, Gertrude Gaudio of Old Lyme, Conn., Dolores Naples of Kensington, Conn., and Joan Bruni of New Britain, Conn.
His parents died earlier.