Alyssa Owen
Alyssa Michelle Owen of Boonville died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2002. She was 8.
Her death has been ruled a homicide.
Alyssa was born March 13, 1993, in Columbia to John Austin Owen and Janice Marie Friedrich Owen. She attended third grade at David Barton Elementary School in Boonville.
The Owens' next-door neighbors Cami Griffin and Jason Culver described Alyssa as playful and energetic. They said she liked to help them with their garden and would sometimes come over just for a chat. Another of Alyssa's joys was collecting and playing with her Barbie dolls.
Monte Hanson, an administrator at Riverdell Care Center where Alyssa's mother worked, said Alyssa could be described as "sweet and sometimes ornery."
Alyssa is survived by her mother; her brother, Austin Owen of Boonville; her sister, Tammy Beeler of Fayette; her maternal grandmother, Frances Friedrich of Fayette; and three nieces, Shelby Beeler, Kelsey Beeler and Rylee Beeler, all of Fayette.
Her father; her maternal grandfather, Edward Carl Friedrich; and her paternal grandparents, Austin and Alpha Owen, died earlier.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Carr-Yager Funeral Home, 204 N. Linn St. in Fayette.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Paula Ritchie, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Carr-Yager Funeral Home.
Memorials may be sent to Missouri Crime Victims Compensation Fund, c/o Carr-Yager Funeral Home, 204 N. Linn St., P.O. Box 210, Fayette, Mo. 65248.
Brinda F. Booze
Brinda F. Booze of Columbia, died Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2002. She was 48.
Ms. Booze was born Aug. 3, 1953 to Raymond and Dorothy Booze in Sedalia. She graduated from Smith Cotton High School in Sedalia and then from State Fair Community College in Sedalia.
She worked at 3M in Columbia after working at Square D Company for 18 years.
Ms. Booze is survived by her companion, Bonnie S. Duff of Columbia; her mother, Dorothy Mitchell of Sedalia; her sisters, Constance Washington, Priscilla Richmond and Kim Booze, all of Sedalia and Ramona Belade of Columbia; her brother Raymond Booze of Sedalia; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Her father died earlier.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Raymond Hayes, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Warren Funeral Chapel, 12 E. Ash St., Columbia, Mo. 65203
Matilda Tindall
Matilda Tindall of Fayette died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2002, at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Glasgow,Mo. She was 79.
Mrs. Tindall was born Sept. 22, 1922, in Howard County to Estill and Mary Jackman Jones. On Jan. 1, 1937, she married Raymond Tindall in Fayette. She worked for many years at Central Methodist College in Fayette, where she also served as a nurse's assistant.
Mrs. Tindall was a member of the Holy Ground Christian Tabernacle and served on the Mother Board.
Visitation for Mrs. Tindall will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the H.T. May and Son Funeral Home, 304 Tolson St. in Fayette.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Holy Ground Christian Tabernacle, 528 State Route E, and burial will follow at Fayette City Cemetery.
Mrs. Tindall is survived by one son, Estill J. Tindall of Glasgow; one sister, Melissa Graves of Fayette; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Her husband, one daughter, two sons, three sisters and one brother died earlier.
Memorials may be made to the Holy Ground Christian Tabernacle Building Fund, c/o H.T. May and Son Funeral Home, 304 Tolson St., Fayette, Mo. 65248.
Margaret Travis
Margaret Travis, of Centralia, an avid reader known to give great book reviews, died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2002, at Boone Hospital Center. She was 86.
Mrs. Travis was born Oct. 7, 1915, in Monroe County to Fred and Emma Jane Alexander Dowdy. She attended Tulip School and graduated in 1934 from Centralia High School.
She worked as a nurse for nine years at McCormick Hospital in Moberly. While working there she met Tommy Travis and married him on June 28, 1937.
Mrs. Travis worked in the PTA. Her slogan the year she was PTA president was "Working Parents and Working Teachers make a Working PTA." In 1965 the PTA awarded her state life membership.
Mrs. Travis was also an active member of the First Christian Church. For 20 years she served as church secretary, as well as a teacher and superintendent of the Sunday School.
She worked with the Boy Scouts and was a past Noble Grand of the Rebekah Lodge. Mrs. Travis was the first president of the Centralia Flower and Garden Club.
Mrs. Travis is survived by two sons, Jerry Travis of Centralia and Tommy Travis of Cedar Hill, Texas; three grandchildren, Richard Travis of Phoenix, Ariz., Lisa Travis-Fischer of Highland's Ranch, Colo., and Stacy Cooper of Columbia; three great-grandchildren, John Travis, Michael Travis and Joseph Travis, all of Phoenix.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Meador and Son Funeral Home, Sneed and Rollins streets in Centralia.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Ed Varmum, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Christian Church, 229 S. Rollins St. in Centralia. Burial will be at Glendale Memorial Gardens, 104 S. Collier St. in Centralia.
Her husband; one brother, Fred Dowdy; one sister, Faye Turner; and one granddaughter, Jennifer Travis, died earlier.
Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, 229 S. Rollins St., Centralia, Mo. 65240.
Larry William Coats
Larry William Coats died Monday, Feb. 11, 2002, in Columbia. He was 63.
Mr. Coats was a partner with Moore, Horton and Carlson CPA. for 15 years until his retirement on Jan. 1, 2001. His colleagues remember him as a responsible person who never expected anything in return.
"When I first moved to Columbia, he was always available to introduce me to people," said Walt Carlson, a partner in the firm. "He always had time for people and never expected anything in return once he did something for somebody."
Mr. Coats was born Dec. 31, 1938, in Boone County to William and Elva F. Weyand Coats. He graduated from Hickman High School in 1957 and later graduated from MU. He also served in the Army. He married Sarah Hagood.
Mr. Coats was a member of the board of Trustees of Callahan Watershed District, Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, Missouri Society of CPAs and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. David Elliott, will be 1 p.m. Friday at Unity Center of Columbia, 1600 W. Broadway. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Coats is survived by his wife; his mother of Columbia; two sons, Wesley Coats and Michael Coats, both of Columbia; a sister, Norma Lint of Kansas City; one granddaughter; three nieces and a nephew; and a special friend, Sam Hamner of Birmingham, Ala.
Memorials may be sent to the Voluntary Action Center, 800 N. Providence Road, Columbia, MO. 65203.
Michael E. McCoy
Michael Eugene McCoy of Columbia died Monday, Feb. 11, 2002, in his home. He was 37.
Mr. McCoy was born Nov. 22, 1964, in St. Louis to James and Rosie Umstattd. He was involved with the Christian Campus House for several years.
He is survived by his parents of Columbia; his son, Tristan McCoy of Ontario, Ore.; and Colleen McCoy, whom he married in 1985.
There will be no visitation. Parker Funeral Service is handling the arrangements.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Roy Weece of the Christian Campus House, will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at Freedom House Apartments, 107 N. William St.
Memorials may be sent to Columbia Second Chance, P.O. Box 10186, Columbia, MO 65202.
Melvin E. Ravenscraft
Husband, father and Army veteran Melvin Eugene Ravenscraft of Columbia died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2002, at University Hospital. He was 63.
Mr. Ravenscraft was born March 24, 1938, in Mexico, Mo., to Robert Felton Ravenscraft and Emma Pearl Armstrong Ravenscraft.
In June 1988, he married Brenda Schupp. They met while she was working at University Hospital.
"He came in and asked me out," she said. "The rest is history."
Mr. Ravenscraft worked at Bren's Place Restaurant, which he and his wife owned.
"He always said he was my P.R. man," she said. Mr. Ravenscraft was also a retired x-ray technician.
His wife said he loved playing with his pets, golf and gardening.
"He was always planting me a new rosebush," she said. "He just a very loving, caring man."
"He always used to call me his favorite 'daughterperson,'" said his daughter, Kayla Ravenscraft of Columbia. "I will always be his favorite daughterperson."
He is survived by his wife; his daughter; his son, Michael Ravenscraft of Norman, Okla.; and his stepson, Michael Schupp of Columbia.
His parents, sister and brother died earlier.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road. Services will follow at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be sent to Camp Quality, 1250 N. Ventura Blvd., Jefferson City, Mo. 65109 or the Wyatt Guest House, c/o Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, 115 Business Loop 70 W., Columbia, Mo. 65203.
Eleanor Shepherd
Eleanor Shepherd of Columbia died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2002, at Boone Hospital Center. She was 77.
Mrs. Shepherd was born April 19, 1924, in Jefferson City to James Braxton and Sarah Johnson Braxton. She later resided in Quincy, Ill. She married Willard Shepherd on July 17, 1969, in New London, Mo.
Mrs. Shepherd was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses of Columbia.
There will be no visitation. Services, conducted by Jerod Ellis, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 2207 Holly Ave., in Columbia.
Mrs. Shepherd is survived by her husband of Columbia; two sons, Norman Smith of St. Louis and Edward Smith of Marshall; two daughters, Betty Maxwell and Joyce Bell, both of Louisiana, Mo.; two brothers, Silas Braxton of Alton, Ill., and Carl Braxton of Fort Madison, Iowa; two sisters, Ozelia Pacheco of Alton, Ill., and Fedida Johnson of Crockett, Texas; 12 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and one aunt.
One brother died earlier.
Loryn Elmer McQuerter
Loryn Elmer McQuerter, a decorated war hero and former Columbia resident, died Monday, Jan. 21, 2002, in San Diego. He was 85.
Mr. McQuerter was born on April 11, 1916, in Branson to Mr. and Mrs. E.E. McQuerter. He spent his early years on a farm near Rogersville.
The family later moved to Ash Grove where Mr. McQuerter graduated from high school. He then went to MU, where he received two degrees and a master's degree in economics. He was working on his doctoral degree in the same area when he began service in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
Mr. McQuerter was assigned to the 15th Air Force, 463rd Bomb Group, 774 Squadron, in Foggia, Italy, during World War II. The unit was also known as the Swoose Group, and was instrumental in strategically bombing German oil fields.
Over Austria on his 23rd mission, Mr. McQuerter's plane was hit by debris from enemy fighter planes. As his plane descended, the crew bailed out, and when he landed, Mr. McQuerter found himself in Yugoslavia, high in the Bavarian Alps.
He then made contact with Tito's Partisans, an allied-backed resistance group. After spending about 30 days hiding and walking through the mountains, he was finally flown back to Italy.
For his combat services, Mr. McQuerter was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, an Air Medal with three oak-leaf clusters and the Purple Heart.
Mr. McQuerter returned to Columbia in 1943 and began working for the Missouri Farmers Association. He worked there for 15 years, eventually becoming manager.
Mr. McQuerter resigned from the association to fulfill his dream of building his own company. He established the McQuerter Chemical Company and built a fertilizer plant in Mt. Vernon. He later sold the company to Monsanto Chemical Co. A year later, the plant caught fire and exploded.
Mr. McQuerter retired in 1989, after also working as a real estate agent and broker.
Mr. McQuerter lived in Columbia from 1934 to 1958, excluding the years he spent in the war. While here, he served on the Red Cross board, was a member of the Kiwanis Club and the First Christian Church. He belonged to the Methodist church and was a Rotary Club member in Mt. Vernon. He also served a term as president of the Chamber of Commerce.
In the late 1980s, Mr. McQuerter returned to Yugoslavia. To his surprise, he received a hero's welcome in several small towns.
"There was tremendous appreciation for the American 'fly-boys' who were shot down over the Yugoslav Alps," said his son, Greg McQuerter.
Mr. McQuerter is survived by a sister, Lorene Stafford of Tampa, Fla.; three sons, Kent McQuerter, Greg McQuerter and Neil McQuerter, all of San Diego; a daughter, Ann McQuerter-Kaul of San Diego; and six grandchildren.
Daniel Wayne Anthony
Daniel Wayne Anthony of Harrisburg died Monday, Feb. 11, 2002, near Harrisburg. He was 54.
Mr. Anthony was born Jan. 25, 1948, in Boone County to William Wayne and Betty Lou Edgar Anthony.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman, said his sister, Tina Dixon of Hallsville. She said he would hunt or fish "anywhere he could find."
He especially liked catfishing, deer hunting and rabbit hunting, she said.
Dixon called him "an exceptional brother and son."
"He was loved by everybody who met him and was a very good-hearted person," said another sister, Carolyn Cross of Columbia.
Mr. Anthony had worked at University Hospital for 20 years and his most recent job was as a master painter.
Visitation for Mr. Anthony will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road. Services will follow at 2 p.m.
Mr. Anthony is survived by his father, William Wayne Anthony of Hallsville; a son, Erik Anthony of Hartsburg; a brother, Steve Anthony of Columbia; and four sisters, Carolyn Cross of Columbia, Sharon Lewis of Harrisburg, Tina Dixon of Hallsville and Teresa Kribbs of Boonville.
His mother, Betty Lou Anthony, died earlier.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Coyote Hill Children's Home, 9501 Coyote Hill Road, Harrisburg, Mo. 65256.
Walter Johnson
After the pews were full, friends, family members and colleagues of Walter Johnson stood beneath the stained glass windows of the Calvary Episcopal Church to commemorate his life.
On Sunday afternoon, close to 200 people attended the memorial service for Johnson, a long-time economics professor at MU and a former trustee for the Boone Hospital Center.
Johnson died Nov. 20 at age 63. The family delayed the memorial service until Sunday due to other family obligations.
Before retiring in 1998, Johnson taught introductory economics for 33 years at MU, amassing more than 40,000 alumni who once were his students.
"It's hard for me to think of anyone else in the economics department who has had more of an impact than Walter," said David Loschky, professor emeritus of economics at MU. "He's touched thousands of students' lives, and you can't do that if you don't have the inner spirit."
At the service, Mayor Darwin Hindman began the remarks from friends and family.
"Let's face it. Walter Johnson was a memorable character," Hindman said. "When I first met him, little did I know how our paths were destined to cross and the impact he would have on me, my family, the university, the students, the community and the state.
"He broke the mold when it came to teaching. Most students don't remember their teachers, but they all seem to remember Walter Johnson."
Will Connor remembered his friend as "a character with character." He, too, attested to Johnson's influence as a teacher.
"My nephew said, 'I learned everything I needed to know about economics from Walter Johnson and Econ 51,'" Connor said.
Connor recalled that once, while Johnson was lecturing in Middlebush Auditorium, he walked in the door and stood at the back of the room. When Johnson noticed Connor, he said, "Hello, old friend" and went on with his presentation.
Outside the classroom, Johnson touched the lives of patients at the Boone Hospital Center. In 1985, Johnson ran for election as a trustee under the slogan, "Put the trust back in trustee." Until his retirement in 2001, he worked to improve the quality of health care provided at the hospital and to promote the hospital's growth through the acquisition of land.
Hindman noted that Johnson used to "lovingly" call Boone Hospital "his hospital."
Johnson placed his name on at least a part of Boone Hospital when it named its palliative care facility in his honor in October. The facility combines physical and spiritual care to assist patients near death and their family members.
Willoughby Johnson, one of Johnson's sons, concluded the service as he shared a story from when his father took a hunting trip to Africa in 1970.
"The sun was setting over Mt. Kilimanjaro," Willoughby Johnson said. "And my dad said, 'Hemingway wrote that God lives on Kilimanjaro.' And he was right. God does live on Kilimanjaro."
"For my father, God lived in the lecture hall but certainly not in Jesse Hall ... in the woods and in the halls and wards of Boone Hospital."
Terry Leonard Burk
Terry Leonard Burk of Harrisburg, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 8, 2002, at University Hospital in Columbia from injuries sustained in a car accident. He was 54.
Mr. Burk was born May 31, 1947, to Leonard Leon and Pauline Burk. He married Linda Haynes on Oct. 12, 1968, in Oceanside, Calif. He served with the U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War.
Mr. Burk worked for the University of Missouri for 20 years., the past two years as a maintenance engineer. He served in the reserves for Boone County Sheriff's Department for 15 years. Mr. Burk enjoyed tractor pulls.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Funeral Home.
Mr. Burk is survived by his wife; two sons, Eric Burk and Jason Burk, both of Harrisburg, Mo.; daughter April Burk of Columbia; half sister JoAnn Klund of Fulton; and one grandchild.
His parents died earlier.
Memorials can be sent to Red Rock Church, care of Don Perkins, 4741 W. Squire Court, Harrisburg, Mo., 65256.
Laura W. Melloway
Laura W. Melloway of Columbia died Friday, Feb. 8, 2002, at Lenoir Health Care Center in Columbia. She was 82.
Mrs. Melloway was born to B.H. and Susy Mae Douglas Wilhite on July 17, 1919, in Blytheville, Ark. She married Oliver Melloway. For 50 years she played the piano at the Huntsdale Baptist Church, where she was a member. Mrs. Melloway worked as a senior clerk in the admissions office at MU.
Visitation for Mrs. Melloway will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. Services will be conducted by the Rev. Frank Norman at 1:30 p.m. Monday, also at Parker Funeral Service. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Mrs. Melloway is survived by her daughters, Betty Logwood of Columbia and Brenda Mansfield of Fayette; one son, Danny Melloway of Columbia; one sister-in-law, Grace Wilhite of Columbia; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Her husband and two brothers, Doug and Lewis Wilhite, died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Huntsdale Baptist Church or Community Hospice, 3600 Interstate 70 Drive SE, Suite H, Columbia, Mo. 65201.
Paul D. Gardner
Paul D. Gardner of Camdenton died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, at University Hospital. He was 61.
Mr. Gardner was born Jan. 18, 1941, in Long Beach, Calif., to Richard Reed and Clarise Olive Pittman Gardner. He was self-employed.
Mr. Gardner's body was cremated. A memorial service will be held Monday at 6 p.m. at Mexicali Blues restaurant in Osage Beach.
Mr. Gardner is survived by his wife, Linda Gardner of Camdenton; one daughter, Cheryl Gardner of Osage Beach; one son, David Gardner of Camdenton; and two grandchildren.
Ollie R. Johnson
Ollie R. Johnson of Columbia died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, at Boone Hospital Center. She was 82.
Mrs. Johnson was born Sept. 16, 1919, in Paris, Tenn., to John and Cordelia Pettigrew Thorpe. She married Thomas Johnson in 1941 in St. Louis. She was a past president of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union Local #103 and a member of the True Light Baptist Church.
Visitation for Mrs. Johnson will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Nilson Funeral Home. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Mrs. Johnson is survived by her daughter, Shirley J. Custard of Columbia; a stepdaughter, Odessa Chambers of Chicago; one granddaughter; and two great-grandchildren.
Her husband died earlier.
Ruth M. Short
Ruth McKenzie Short of Texas died Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2002, in Humble, Texas. She was 87.
Mrs. Short and her husband, the Rev. G. D. Short, served as ministers in churches throughout Texas and Arkansas.
Services were held Feb. 2 at the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Lubbock, Texas.
Mrs. Short is survived by her son, Dewey Edwin Short of Lubbock, Texas; two daughters, Mary Lynn Hobbs of Columbia and Mabel Ruth Miller of Channel View, Texas; one sister, Johne Welch of Paris, Tenn.; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Her husband and three brothers died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home, P.O. Drawer G, Denton, Texas 76201.
