U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Thomas T. Rogers
Thomas T. Rogers of Columbia died Friday, Jan. 25, 2002, at his home. He was 82.
Mr. Rogers knew everyone, family said-it didn't matter if it was the guy behind the counter at the bank, or the person at the drive-through window, Mr. Rogers was interested in everybody he met, and he usually made them laugh.
"He was funny," said Melanie Rogers, his wife of more than 50 years, "He didn't need to say anything and people would laugh."
His daughter Nancy Rogers agreed, "He was the funniest man in the universe."
Mr. Rogers was born Jan. 2, 1920, in Little Rock, Ark., to Silas Wesley and Eliza Watts Killian Rogers. He graduated from El Dorado High School and El Dorado Junior College.
In 1943, Mr. Rogers quit his job in at the Lion Oil Company and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Before resigning in 1946, he was a first lieutenant airplane commander and instructor to airplane cadets in advanced twin-engine and B-24 airplanes. Nancy Rogers said that late in his life, this was perhaps the thing he was most proud of in his career.
Mr. Rogers married Melanie Mowchan on April 23, 1946, in Dayton, Ohio. After graduating from MU with a bachelor's degree from the College of Agriculture in 1949, Mr. Rogers began working for Monsanto as a salesman. In 1973, he started his own company, Val-U-Line Liquids in Auxvasse. After he retired, he continued to work on a tree farm in Boone County.
One afternoon, while his wife was out, Mr. Rogers was watching Nancy, who was 5 at the time, play with her pets. He needed to make a sales call, but didn't want to disturb Nancy's fun. That's when he announced they were all going on the sales call: Nancy, Queenie the dog, Muffin the cat, and Bun-Bun the rabbit. Nancy Rogers said she's sure he sold the most he ever did that day they drove around mid-Missouri.
If a person was lucky enough to get invited over to the Rogers' house, one of the first things that Mr. Rogers did was take you outside, down next to the fountain, and put your feet on the "healing tree" without shoes or socks, Nancy Rogers said. She said there is a smooth patch on the tree, rubbed down by the thousands of bare feet that rested against it.
Mr. Rogers also loved trees, and his family plans to plant a tree in his memory, his wife said.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Fred Thayer, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Calvary Episcopal Church, 123 S. Ninth St. in Columbia. Interment will be at the church.
Mr. Rogers is survived by his wife, Melanie Rogers of Columbia; his daughter, Nancy Rogers of St. Louis; two sisters, Mary Jo McRae of Hot Springs, Ark., and Eliza Jane Romano of Oceanside, Calif.; and one brother, William Rogers of Denton, Texas, as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
One brother, Silas, died earlier.
Memorials may be given to the Columbia Memorial Tree Program, P.O. Box 6015, Columbia, MO. 65205.
Mary Belle Perkins
Mary Belle Perkins of Columbia died Thursday, Jan. 31, 2002, at Columbia Healthcare Center. She was 90.
Mrs. Perkins was born May 9, 1911, in Boone County to Samuel and Myrtle Kemper Ott. She married Grover E. Perkins on Nov. 17, 1926, and spent her life as a homemaker.
Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. Jay Self, will follow at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Perkins is survived by one son, Melvin L. Perkins of Hallsville; two daughters, Betty Magnuson of Columbia and Anita Sue Minor of Mexico; a sister, Lorene Stone of Harrisburg; 17 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.
Her husband; three sons, William D. Perkins, Raymond E. Perkins and Robert H. Perkins; two brothers, Roy Ott and Clarence Ott; four sisters, Louise Toalson, Dorothy Shores, Alice Bryson and Edith House died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 30683, Columbia, MO. 65202, or the American Diabetes Association, 1316 Parkade Blvd., Columbia, MO. 65202.
Bettie Joe Hutchison
Bettie Joe Hutchison of Crocker died Thursday, Jan. 31, 2002, at her son's home in Columbia. She was 63.
Mrs. Hutchison was born Oct. 7, 1938, in Boone County to Roland A. Via and Juanita H. Holland Via. On March 13, 1959, she married Homer Hutchison in Columbia. Mrs. Hutchison retired last year from Ashland Healthcare, where she worked in housekeeping.
Visitation for Mrs. Hutchison will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Robinson Funeral Home, 601 N. Henry Clay Blvd. in Ashland. Services, conducted by the Rev. Mario DeVier, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be at New Salem Cemetery in Ashland.
Mrs. Hutchison is survived by her husband; her son, Homer Andrew Hutchison of Columbia; three daughters, Doris Hutchison and Cindy Moore, both of Crocker, and Louann Hutchison of Columbia; two sisters, Inez Conner of Florida and Sara Maybrey of Columbia; and nine grandchildren.
Her parents and one daughter, Debbie, died earlier.
Basil Ferrell Maupin
Ferrell Maupin lived his life for his family, his work and his church, his daughter said.
"If you needed him, all you needed was to call," Nancy Lynn Maupin said.
Basil Ferrell Maupin of Fayette died Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2002. He was 64. He left behind the values he instilled in his children, his daughter said.
"He raised his children to be God-fearing and loyal," she said. "He taught us a love for people and forgiveness and a love for nature. He loved to fish and he was always in church on Sunday."
Mr. Maupin was born on Feb. 5, 1937, in Higbee to Basil V. and Genelle Dennis Maupin. He was a member of the Missouri Army National Guard for eight years.
"He was a man who loved his country and would do anything for his country," his daughter said.
Although fighting illness since 1996, Mr. Maupin volunteered at the Perkins Residential Care Center, where his presence never went unnoticed, said co-worker Paul Kelly. He could be found spending time with people at the movies or taking residents to the KATY trail in the summertime, Kelly said.
Mr. Maupin worked on his family's farm until 1977, a year after his father died. He then began work for the Glasgow Co-op, where he stayed until his retirement in 1997. He attended Sharon Bible Church of Armstrong until 1978, after which he attended the Assembly of God Church in Fayette.
Nancy Lynn Maupin said she will remember her father for the strength and grace with which he conquered each new day.
"Ferrell never asked 'Why, Lord?' in any trials he faced in his life. He accepted them. He always said thank you for every blessing he received. In the end, he did not give up the fight; he realized that in laying down his sword his reward was greater than continuing to fight," she said. "In this he taught us never to give up."
Mr. Maupin is survived by his wife, Carol Sue Moore Maupin of Fayette; his daughter, Nancy Lynn Maupin of Fayette; his son, Joseph Terry Maupin of Sturgeon; and two granddaughters, Ashley Marie and Cassandra Nicole Maupin, both of Sturgeon.
His parents and one sister, Elizabeth Trinqual, died earlier.
Services, conducted by the Revs. Clayton Stockdall and David Hartgrove, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Fayette Assembly of God Church, 506 W. Hackberry St. There will be a private family burial at Log Chapel Cemetery in rural Fayette.
Memorials may be sent to Community Hospices of America, attn: Sue Myer, program director, 256 S. Soangetaha Road, Suite 103, Galesburg, Ill. 61401-5585; the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd St., Suite 1100, New York, N.Y. 10016; the American Heart Association, National Center 7272, Greenville Ave., Dallas, Texas, 75231; or the American Diabetes Foundation, 1701 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria, Va. 22311.
Ernie Albert Quade
During his lifetime, which spanned seven decades, Ernie Quade touched the lives of his family, friends and church members.
"Ernie was a hero in the church," said his pastor, Fred Brandbenburg.
Ernie Albert Quade of Columbia died Sunday, Jan. 27, 2002, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 69.
"He always has been just a really nice guy," said Brandenburg, of the Columbia United Church of Christ. "A nice guy in the best sense of the word."
Mr. Quade was born April 13, 1932, in St. Louis County to Ernest Albert and Clementine Bertha Hecht Quade.
Brandenburg described Mr. Quade as a genuine man of faith with wholesome values.
"Ernie was one of my heroes," Brandenburg said.
Mr. Quade is also remembered as a hard worker. He took over his father's business as an independent contractor for Bell Telephone, managed apartments in Columbia and temporarily drove vans for Tiger Air Express.
Mr. Quade and Brandenburg grew up together in St. Louis County, where they attended Calvary United Church and played baseball together.
"Baseball was the king, " said Brandenburg. Mr. Quade's age, personality and athletic talent elevated him in the eyes of church members, he added.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Fred Brandenburg, will be at 1 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Quade is survived by his wife, Ann Scherer of Columbia; two sons, James C. Quade of Columbia and Jack C. Quade of Fulton; one daughter, Jill C. Quade of Paris, Mo.; seven grandchildren; and one great-granchild.
His parents, a brother and two sisters died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the Columbia United Church of Christ Building Fund, 3201 I-70 Dr. N.W., Columbia, Mo 65202.
Jeffrey John O'Brien
Jeffrey John O'Brien learned to ride a bike, edited a newsletter and published poetry. He traveled to India, China, Nepal and Europe with his parents.
He lived for 32 years - beyond expectations for a person with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
"I remember going into the hospital and the doctor was like, 'Say your goodbyes,'" his sister, Robin Sofge, said.
The doctors expected Mr. O'Brien to be dead in a day or two. He lived for another nine years.
Mr. O'Brien of Columbia died Monday, January 28, 2002, in his sleep.
He was laid-back but had a strong will, family members said.
"He couldn't scratch his nose, yet he was able to write poetry," his father, David O'Brien, said.
His mother, Mary Lou O'Brien, said writing was one of her son's strongest passions.
"He's a wonderful writer," she said. "He published things in prose and in poetry."
He inspired people by living a normal life despite his medical condition, his father said.
"He couldn't walk after he was 11 or 12, and he was on a respirator after he graduated from college," his father said. "His main goal really was to try to lead as normal a life as possible."
And he was successful at that, Sofge said.
"He wasn't bitter that the other kids could play sports," she said. "He went to two proms. He had a girlfriend. He had a normal life."
Mr. O'Brien hired and managed his own nursing care, his mother said.
"He died like a man," Sofge said. "He pretty much overcame all the obstacles he faced."
Mr. O'Brien was born Aug. 6, 1969, in Bloomington, Ind., to David and Mary Lou Granfield O'Brien. He later moved to Columbia and spent his senior year at Rock Bridge High School.
Mr. O'Brien was a member of the Newman Center while attending MU, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in history.
He was a member of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and various literary associations.
Visitation for Mr. O'Brien will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and 12:30 to 2 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Phil Kane, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, also at Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will be in Boston.
Mr. O'Brien is survived by his father, David O'Brien of Columbia; his mother, Mary Lou Granfield O'Brien of Rocheport; his wife, Tami Fulner of Columbia; a daughter, Faith Fulner of Columbia; two sisters, Rebecca Corbin of Wake Forest, N.C., and Robin Sofge of Germantown, Md.; a stepmother, Dianna O'Brien of Columbia; an aunt and uncle, Pat and Robert Granfield of Westford, Mass.; a niece; and two nephews.
Memorials may be sent to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, P.O. Box 78342, Phoenix, Ariz. 85062, or online at www.mda.org.
David D. Slaughter
Slaughter Jr. died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2002, after being struck by a car when he attempted to cross Interstate 70. He was 36.
Mr. Slaughter was born July 7, 1965, to David D. Slaughter Sr. and Verna Sheets Slaughter in Columbia. On Feb. 15, 1991, Mr. Slaughter married Susan D. Lavacy in Columbia.
Mr. Slaughter was a member of the Eagles Lodge and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was self-employed as a drywall finisher.
Visitation for Mr. Slaughter will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road. Services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery.
Mr. Slaughter is survived by his wife; his parents; two sons, Brent Slaughter and David D. Slaughter III; three stepdaughters, Sunshine Hane, Monique Hane and Meggan Hane; two brothers, Randy Slaughter and Travis Slaughter; one sister, Debra Kay Henderson; his paternal grandmother, Leota Slaughter; and a stepgrandson, Zackery Lage. All family members mentioned reside in Columbia.
Two grandfathers and a grandmother died earlier.
Memorialsmay be sent to the Slaughter family, c/o Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road, Columbia, Mo. 65202.
Joseph Elliott Skram
Joseph Elliott Skram died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2002, in Columbia. He was 90.
Mr. Skram was a father of an uncommon sort. He raised a total of 19 children.
Eleven of the 19 were his own children, while eight were nieces and nephews.
"His family was his life, his wife was his heartbeat," recalled Mr. Skram's daughter, Suzanne Hart of Columbia.
Hart said she recalled her father being very determined in his sense of duty toward others. She said Mr. Skram never tolerated prejudice and discrimination, even in the racially tumultuous 1960s.
"One time he and my brother stopped in a restaurant near St. Joseph and there was a sign which read, 'We reserve the right to refuse service; No colored allowed,' " Hart said. "He said to my brother, 'Come on, Chris, we're leaving.' "
Besides his dedication to racial equality, Mr. Skram was also an advocate for the mentally challenged. He founded homes for mentally-challenged individuals in Clear Lake, Iowa and Sterling, Colo. Mr. Skram's daughter, Lillian, had Down syndrome.
"He simply did what had to be done, in all facets of his life," Hart said.
Mr. Skram's wife, Mary Elaine, preceded him in death in December.
"Literally, he died from a broken heart," Hart said.
Mr. Skram moved to Columbia in 1992 after a career in the meatpacking business. He started as assistant office manager for the Jacob Deckers Packing House in Mason City, Iowa, shortly after graduating high school. In 1964, he became CEO of Blue Ribbon Beef Packing Company in Mason City. Ten years later, after having been Chief Financial Officer for Sterling Beef Company in Sterling, Colo., Mr. Skram was named president and chairman of the board of American Beef Packers in Omaha, Neb. He retired in 1986.
Mr. Skram is survived by eight children: Mary Elaine Waite of Dayton, Ohio; Eleanor Skram of New York; Suzanne Hart of Columbia; Nancy Tolliver of Charleston, W. Va.; Paul Skram of Charleston, W. Va.; Peter Skram of Denver; Patricia Skram Turner of Portland, Ore., and Chris Skram of Denver. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews whom he raised: Stephen Mahlstadt, John Mahlstadt, Bill Mahlstadt, Mark Mahlstadt, Mary Mahlstadt, Edward Mahlstadt, Ann Weiss and Ruth Harvey. Additional survivors include two sisters, Enola McMannes of Mason City, Iowa, and Alva McGuire of Austin, Texas, 23 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held today from 6 to 8 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Columbia. Services, conducted by Msgr. Michael Flanagan and Fr. Bill Debo, will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Mount Olivet Cemetery in St. Joseph.
Memorial may be sent to Woodhaven Learning Center, 1405 Hathman Place, Columbia, Mo., 65202, or any other home for the mentally challenged.
John Rigby McCleary
In death as in life, John Rigby McCleary's love of music will always be remembered.
"Music was really my brother's life," said his sister, Mary McCleary Posner. "John just had a natural gift. It made him so happy."
Mr. McCleary, who was raised in Columbia, died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2002, at the Boone Hospital Center. He was 64. A fund was created in Mr. McCleary's honor to assist children in the Columbia School District who need help purchasing trumpets.
"I remember he once sold a trumpet to a little girl who wanted a trumpet more than anything in the world," Posner said. "He sold it to her for what she could pay for it."
Posner described the fund, designed to pass on Mr. McCleary's love of music, as "the greatest tribute I could give my brother."
McCleary's wife, Sandy, described him as a gifted musician on the piano and the trumpet, as well as an avid fisherman.
His father, Glenn A. McCleary, taught at MU for 37 years and was dean of the School of Law. Mr. McCleary was raised in Columbia and attended the University Laboratory School, a student-run K-12 school housed in what is currently Townsend Hall.
"We started down on the first floor on the left when we were four and graduated out the back when we were 18," Posner said.
Mr. McCleary later graduated MU after triple majoring in sociology, psychology and criminology.
He left Columbia for Jefferson City after accepting a position with the Missouri Department of Corrections, where he was a caseworker supervisor for 25 years. He later retired.
Mr. McCleary is survived by his wife Sandra, son Randolph McCleary of Kansas City, and Mary McCleary Posner, his sister.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Harvel Sanders, will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday at Columbia Cemetery, 30 E. Broadway.
Memorials in Mr. McCleary's honor may be sent care of UMB Bank, 1516 Chapel Hill Road, Columbia, Mo., 65203.
Margaret J. Bottino
Margaret Josephine Bottino, formerly of Harrisburg, died Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2002, at Ingalls Hospital in Harvey, Ill. She was 95.
She was born March 29, 1906, in Higbee to Fred Augustus and Gertrude Steward Wheeler.
In 1948, she married Charles Bottino and moved to Harrisburg.
She was a past president of the Harrisburg PTA and former clerk of the Harrisburg Baptist Church where she was a member until her death. Mrs. Bottino was also a member of the Boone County 4-H Council and a 4-H Community Leader.
Mrs. Bottino was a member of the Barnett Welfare Workers Extension Club, as well as an organizer and canvasser for the American Cancer Society. She was also a former community correspondent for the Columbia Missourian.
Mrs. Bottino is survived by her daughter, Alba Louise Blondis of Flossmoor, Ill.; and two grandchildren, Claire Margaret Blondis and Charles Blondis, both of Flossmoor. Her husband and two brothers, May Henry Wheeler and Fred Wheeler, died earlier.
Visitation for Mrs. Bottino will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Carr-Yager Funeral Home, 204 N. Linn St., in Fayette. Services, conducted by the Rev. Mike Kelleher, will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be sent to the Harrisburg Baptist Church, P.O. Box 147, Harrisburg, Mo., 65256, or the American Cancer Society, 33 E. Broadway, Ste. 100, Columbia, Mo., 65203.
