Chester Gray
Chester Gray of Harrisburg died Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2001, at HST Memorial Veterans Hospital. He was 75.
Mr. Gray was born March 23, 1926, to William H. Gray and Maude Willoughby Gray in Sellarsburg, Ind. He served in the Navy in World War II. He married Florence Calvin on July 25, 1946. Later in life Mr. Gray was a member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church and the VFW Post 3443.
Visitation for Mr. Gray is from noon to 2 p.m. Friday at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road, in Columbia. Services will follow at 2 p.m.
His wife, a son, eight brothers and four sisters died earlier.
He is survived by his two daughters, Nancy Stafford of Laddonia and Rebecca Bernard of Springfield, Mo.; his twin brother, Lester Gray of St. Joseph; one sister, Cleo Kidwell of St. Joseph; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to Bethlehem Cemetery Association, 7301 Sweringen Road, Harrisburg, Mo., 65256 or to the Missouri State Old Time Fiddlers Association, P.O. Box 7423 Columbia, Mo., 65205.
James A. Sublett
James A. Sublett of Columbia died Thursday, Sept. 6, 2001, at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia. He was 86.
Mr. Sublett was born April 3, 1915, to Samuel and Lily Lyons Sublett. He graduated from Hickman High School in 1934 and lettered in football.
Mr. Sublett married Eva Deane Varvel on March 26, 1940, in Jefferson City and went on to serve in the Navy during World War II. Stationed in New Guinea, Mr. Sublett repaired destroyers and PT boats and worked on construction of housing for soldiers.
"He loved to work with his hands," Jim Sublett Jr. said of his father.
Mr. Sublett worked for B.D. Simon Construction for 40 years and served as a superintendent. He was also a member of the Carpenter's Union and enjoyed restoring antique clocks in his free time.
"He was very outgoing," said Sublett Jr. "He had a lot of friends."
He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 280 and coached Little League. He was also an avid golfer.
Perhaps most importantly, however, was Mr. Sublett's role in his family.
"He was a good father...and a hard worker," Sublett Jr. said. "He put four kids through college."
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. Robert Lively, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Sublett is survived by two sons, Mike Sublett of Bloomington, Ill., and Jim Sublett Jr. of Columbia; two daughters, Marcia Johnson of Springfield, Mo., and Jeanne Romenius of Derby, Kan.; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Memorials may be sent to American Legion Post #202, 600 S. Legion Lane, Columbia, MO, 65201 or VFW Post #280, 1509 Ashley St., Columbia, MO 65201.
Edith Garrett
Edith Garrett of St. Peters, Mo., died Sunday, Sept. 2, 2001, at St. Peters Manor in St. Peters. She was 99.
Mrs. Garrett was born on March 14, 1902, in Plantagenet, Ontario, Canada, to Walter and Alice (Purviance) Spaul. Her family moved to Chicago in 1904. She graduated in 1918 from the Parker High School business school in Chicago.
She married John Winder Garrett on June 18, 1923, in Cincinnati.
At age 18, Mrs. Garrett began her career as a professional dancer. She danced at the Balaban & Katz Theaters in Chicago and toured the Midwest with the Japanese Revue. In 1922, she started a career as a dance instructor that lasted 25 years. She worked at the Mason Field Dance Studio and as the head of the dance department at the Westwood Conservatory of Music, both in Cincinnati.
In June of 1931, she moved to Lombard, Ill., and set up a dance studio in the back of a department store. She taught everything from ballet to ballroom dancing. Edith Garrett's Dancing Stars did several shows in the area, including performing during intermissions at the local movie theater.
With a growing number of students, Mrs. Garrett moved her studio to a larger facility in 1937. During the 1940s, the Garrett Dance Studio was a popular place. After World War II, returning soldiers were allowed to attend her ballroom classes and parties for free. Several couples who met there were later married.
In 1945, Mrs. Garrett joined her husband in the real estate business part time. She retired from teaching, and her daughter, Marion, took over the dance studio in 1947. After her husband's death in 1960, she became a successful real estate broker. At a time when it was unusual for a woman to run a real estate office, Mrs. Garrett had several salesmen working for her.
She retired in 1972 and moved to Columbia to live with her daughter Jean.
Mrs. Garrett was an avid bridge player until she was 95. She completed a book, "It Only Got Better," about her life for her family in 1994. When she moved into her retirement home at age 94, she taught ballroom dancing to the residents.
"She touched many lives and will be greatly missed," her granddaughter Daryl Johnson said.
Mrs. Garrett was a member of the Calvary Episcopal Church in Villa Park, Ill., and the Chicago Association of Dancing Masters. She volunteered at the Truman Veterans Hospital in Columbia.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Dawn-Victoria Mitchell and the Rev. Tamsen Whistler, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Calvary Episcopal Church, 123 S. Ninth St., in Columbia. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Garrett is survived by two daughters, Jean Garrett of Milwaukee, Wis., and Marion Welch of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; three grandchildren, Mark R. Harvey of Downers Grove, Ill., Doris L. Harvey of Columbia and Daryl H. Johnson of St. Peters; and great-grandchildren Travis Bethke of Viroqua, Wis., Janel Johnson of Bolingbrook, Ill., and Jessica Johnson and Danielle Deweese, both of St. Peters.
Marie Behymer
Marie Behymer of Fulton died Sunday, Sept. 2, 2001, at Presbyterian Manor in Fulton. She was 91.
Miss Behymer was born Feb. 9, 1910, in Atlanta, Mo., to Isaac and Effie (Opel) Behymer.
She received a master's degree in education and library science. Miss Behymer was a teacher and librarian in the Alton School District in Alton, Ill. for 45 years. She was also a member of College Avenue Presbyterian Church. Miss Behymer was instrumental in setting up the church library, which is named in her honor.
She was also a member of the American Association of University Women and Alton Business and Professional Woman. Miss Behymer was both an active member and past president of Zonta International and the Upper Alton Women's Club.
Visitation for Miss Behymer will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Gent Funeral Home, 2409 State St. in Alton. Services, conducted by the Rev. George H. Humbert, will be at 4 p.m. Friday, with visitation beginning at 3 p.m., at College Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1702 Clawson St., Alton. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Steele Cemetery near Atlanta, Mo.
Miss Behymer is survived by three nephews, Wayne Behymer of Columbia, Reese Ratliff of Brookfield and Edgar Ratliff of Springfield, Mo.; two nieces, Fern Blunt of Brookfield and Wanda Gebhardt of Saphire Valley, N.C.; several great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.
Three brothers and two sisters died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the College Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Khari Santell Boyd
Khari Santell Boyd was stillborn to Dalanda A. Boyd of Hampton, Va. on Thursday, Aug. 25, said Khari Boyd's great-grandmother Joyce Malveaux of Columbia.
Khari Boyd is survived by his parents, Dalanda A. and Keith D. Boyd.
"They were looking forward to having a son," Malveaux said.
Visitation was held Tuesday at Warren Funeral Chapel. A graveside service, conducted by the Rev. Carlos Taylor, will be held at 11 a.m. today at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Other survivors include his sister, Iyona Boyd of Hampton; maternal grandparents Janet Young of Hampton and George Lundy of Emporia, Va.; paternal grandparents Phillip and Donna Boyd of Ludowici, Ga.; maternal great-grandparents Joyce Malveaux of Columbia and George Jones of Emporia; paternal great-grandparents Eunice Scott and William Boyd of Ludowici; maternal great-grandmother Nancy Seaborn of Emporia.
Richard Duane Nienaber
Richard Duane Nienaber was the perfect gentleman. He was always polite, found it inappropriate to brag and never complained.
"In one word, he was a gentleman," said Frank Moore, his golfing friend. "You never heard him say anything bad about anyone, and you never heard anyone say anything bad about him. He was just a good person."
Mr. Nienaber, of Columbia, died Sunday, September 2, 2001, at Boone Hospital Center of lung cancer. He was 69.
Mr. Nienaber was born on Oct. 1, 1931, in Boone County to Jerry Murry and Unabel Nicholson Nienaber.
He married Evelyn Murray on Feb. 20, 1951, in Columbia.
"Whether I burned dinner or not, he always kissed me on the back of my neck and said it was good," Evelyn Nienaber said. "And sometimes I know it wasn't."
Mr. Nienaber worked for 24 years at Kelly Press. He had attended Linotype Press School at the University of Missouri
He enjoyed music, dancing and sports, especially golf.
His greatest golfing moment happened at Lake of the Woods Recreational Area on Hole 17 in 1997.
"He came home and said, 'Evelyn, I did it. I did it. I finally got a hole in one.'"
Visitation for Mr. Nienaber will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. 10th St. A service for Mr. Nienaber will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Parker Funeral Service. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Nienaber is survived by his wife, Evelyn; his sister, Anita Howard of Rocheport; and his brother, Donald Nienaber of St. Peters.
One brother, Jerry Estil Nienaber, died earlier.
David Weamer
David Weamer, a former associate pastor for campus ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, died of a brain aneurysm on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2001, in Billings, Mont. He was 55.
The Rev. Weamer spent three years working closely with MU students and Columbia residents. During his time in Columbia, he helped restore campus ministry to a full-time position.
"His coming was very promising," said George A. McCall, associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church. "The number of students attending our worship service increased dramatically."
The Rev. Weamer served as campus minister in Logan, Utah, and Reno, N.D.
He also worked as a pastor at churches in California, Missouri, Montana and Nevada and taught drama and English at Wasatch Academy in Utah.
He was born March 2, 1946, in Detroit to Evelyn Lucille and Paul Eugene Weaver. He graduated from Alma College in 1968 and San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1971. He earned a master of fine arts degree in theater arts from Utah State University in 1979.
"He was very interested in drama," McCall said.
The Rev. Weamer acted in and directed plays with the Old Lyric Repertory Company of Logan.
"During his free time he loved to talk about books and theater," said Richard Ramsey, senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church.
Ramsey said that on top of his appreciation for the arts, the Rev. Weamer loved Columbia and his community of faith.
"He had good years here," McCall said, "but he loved the West and Montana."
In July, the Rev. Weamer left First Presbyterian to serve as a pastor at Community Presbyterian Church of Treasure Country in Hysham, Mont.
The Rev. Weamer had no living relatives.
A memorial service was held for him on Aug. 19 in Hysham.
First Presbyterian Church will hold a memorial service for the Rev. Weamer at 11 a.m. Sept. 12. Memorials in his memory may be given to the Campus Ministry Endowment Fund there.
"He was a good friend and colleague," McCall said. "He is deeply missed in his church and here."
Elzie L. Baker
Elzie L. Baker died Thursday, Aug. 30, 2001, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 88.
Mr. Baker, who attended Columbia's public schools, worked for N.R. Garrett Quarries.
Mr. Baker was born on Aug. 23, 1913, in Columbia to William T. and Josephine Burton Baker.
Mr. Baker married Lula Marie Palmer. She died on Feb. 14, 1995.
Visitation for Mr. Baker will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St.
Services, conducted by the Rev. David Hartgrove, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Parker Funeral Service. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Baker is survived by a son, Kenneth Baker of Fulton; a stepson, Raymond Lee Forman of Lake Ozark; three brothers, Herman Baker of Kansas City and Ted Baker and Wilford Baker, both of Columbia; four sisters, Velma Morris of Columbia, Gerldine Riley of Gladstone, Elizabeth Smith of Holts Summit and Evelyn Woods of Kansas City; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Three sisters died earlier.
