Robert D. Decker
Robert D. Decker, a long-time employee of Shelter Insurance Companies, died Wednesday, June 16, 1999, at his home in Columbia. He was 69.
Mr. Decker was born May 6, 1930, in Newburg to Clarence and Myrtle Dunham Decker. He married Inge Durst Weable in Jonesboro, Ark., on January 7, 1985.
Mr. Decker graduated from high school in Newburg. He later graduated from Moberly Junior College and Missouri Valley College, where he played basketball. Mr. Decker was a teacher, basketball coach and principal at Newburg High School from 1956 to 1960.
During the Korean War, Mr. Decker served in the U.S. Navy as an enlisted volunteer.
Mr. Decker was employed by Shelter Insurance Companies from 1960 until his retirement in 1995. He worked as an agent, a district sales manager in Indiana, a state sales manager in east Missouri and a director of sales-east region. Mr. Decker was the company's director of corporate training when he retired.
He was a member of Olivet Christian Church where he served as an elder and board chairman for two and a half years.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. Dennis Swearngin, will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Olivet Christian Church. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. at Rolla City Cemetery in Rolla.
Mr. Decker is survived by his wife, Inge, of Columbia; one son, Steve Decker of Eudora, Kan.; two daughters, Lori Johnson of Fort Collins, Colo., and Diana Rea of Lyon, France; a sister, Bonnie Reed of Jonesboro, Ark.; three stepsons, Micheal Weable and Thomas Weable of Columbia and James Weable of Panama City, Fla.; and 13 grandchildren.
Mr. Decker's previous wife, two brothers and a grandson died earlier.
Memorial may be sent to the Olivet Christian Church, Memorial to Bob Decker, 1991 S. Olivet Road, Columbia, Mo. 65201, or to the American Cancer Society, 33 E. Broadway, Suite 100, Columbia, Mo. 65203.
Mae E. Coats
Mae Emalyne Coats of Columbia was a woman who loved nature. She had a passion for fishing, gardening and her family.
"When she lived out in the country, she had a pond out back. Dad maintained it just so she'd have a place to fish," said her son John Coats. "If you say 'Let's go fishing,' she'd beat you out of the house with a fishing rod."
Mrs. Coats died Wednesday, June 17, 1999, at her home in Columbia. She was 81.
Mrs. Coats married Marion Aubrey Coats on Feb. 26, 1938. Her husband supported her love of nature.
Mrs. Coats was very proud of her vegetable garden. One of her granddaughters, Tammy Miller, said the first words out of her grandmother's mouth when she visited were always, "Do you want to see the garden?" The garden was located uphill from the house. Miller remembers her grandmother picking watermelons and rolling them down the hill, landing them right at the front door.
Mrs. Coats was a member of "Wings Around Tiger Town Camp Club." The club made several weekend camping trips. After she retired from working at the American Press, Mrs. Coats and her husband spent many winters living out of their camper in Texas, Louisiana and Florida.
Mrs. Coats was a 4-H community leader for about fifteen years. "She kept the kids on the right track as a whole," John Coats said. "She made sure their i's were dotted and their t's were crossed."
The Columbia Senior Center was a place where Mrs. Coats and her husband enjoyed playing cards and dominoes.
Visitation for Mrs. Coats will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home. Services, conducted by the Rev. Harold Smith, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Coats is survived by her husband, Marion Aubrey Coats of Columbia; three sons, James R. Coats of Houston, and Jerry Coats and John R. Coats, both of Columbia; two daughters, Marie Thompson and Bonnie Martin of Columbia; one sister, Maxine Faucett of Centralia; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to Bethel Baptist Church, 201 E. Old Plank Road, Columbia, Mo. 65203.
Mary F. Drane
Mary F. Drane of Tujunga, Calif., died Saturday, June 12, 1999, at Verdego Hills Hospital in Glendale, Calif. She was 95.
Mrs. Drane was born on Dec. 3, 1903, in Columbia to Thomas and Belle Smith Dinkle. She married J.C. Drane in 1920.
Mrs. Drane attended rural Boone County schools and was active at the Woodlandville Methodist Church before moving to Columbia.
While living in Columbia, she was a member of Wilkes Boulevard Methodist Church and worked at the Boone County Court House.
Mrs. Drane moved from Columbia to California 18 years ago.
Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. today at Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church, 702 Wilkes Blvd. Services, conducted by the Rev. Michael Keith, will begin at 11 a.m. today, also at Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist. Mrs. Drane will be buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70W.
Survivors include one son, Clark Drane of Tujunga, Calif.; two granddaughters; and three great grandchildren.
Mrs. Drane's husband and two sisters died earlier.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church, 702 Wilkes Blvd., Columbia, Mo. 65201.
Adron E. Perry
Adron Edward Perry of Columbia died Tuesday, June 15, 1999, at his home. He was 73.
Mr. Perry was born Feb. 9, 1926, in Melvin, Ill. On Aug. 1, 1948, he married Dorothy Eileen Woods in Bloomington, Ill.
During his WWII service in the U.S. Army Infantry, Mr. Perry worked for Gen. Douglas MacArthur in Tokyo. Before his retirement, he worked at State Farm Insurance for 42 years.
Mr. Perry had numerous civic interests. He was a 32 degree member of the Masonic Blue Lodge and past president of the Columbia Safety Council. Mr. Perry also served on the Boy Scouts executive committee and was a charter member of Broadway Christian Church.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Eileen Perry of Columbia; three sons, Adron Edward Perry II, Brandon Lee Perry and Rodney Eugene Perry, all of Columbia; a daughter, Pamela Eileen, of St. Clair; and 13 grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Broadway Christian Church, 2601 W. Broadway. Services, conducted by the Revs. Rick Frost, Kim Ryan and Bill Ryan, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday also at Broadway Christian Church. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Broadway Christian Church, 2601 W. Broadway, Columbia, Mo. 65201.
Arlee L. Sapp
Arlee L. "Jake" Sapp of Ashland, died Monday, June 15, 1999, at Ashland Healthcare. He was 67.
Mr. Sapp was born Oct. 21, 1931, in Boone County to Gilbert and Dorothy Blythe Sapp.
Mr. Sapp worked with farmers in the Ashland area during the hay season. He enjoyed music and once even won a talent show at the Southern Boone County High School by singing a Hank Williams song.
Visitation for Mr. Sapp will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Robinson Funeral Home, 601 N. Henry Clay Blvd. in Ashland. Services, conducted by the Rev. Mike Quinn, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Robinson Funeral Home.
Mr. Sapp is survived by three sisters, Frances Quinn of Ashland, Hallie Griffin and Bessie Jo Acton, both of Columbia.
His parents and five brothers died earlier.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 33 E. Broadway Suite 100, Columbia, Mo. 65203.
Clifford W. Craig
Clifford Wesley Craig of Columbia died Sunday, June 13, 1999, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 45.
Mr. Craig was born Sept. 19, 1953, in Keytesville to Rubin and Dorothy Craig. He married Barbara Long Sept. 19, 1972 in Sturgeon.
Visitation for Mr. Craig will be from 6 to 8 p.m., today at Nilson Funeral, 5611 St. Charles Rd. Graveside services, conducted by the Rev. Mike Halterman, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Bethany Cemetery, near Keytesville.
Mr. Craig is survived by his wife, Barbara Craig, of Columbia; one daughter, Shelly Frost, of New Franklin,; one son, Clifford Wesley Craig, Jr., of Columbia; three brothers, James Craig of Overgaard, Ariz., Howard Craig, of Moberly and Elroy Craig, of Columbia; three sisters, Delores Briscoe, of Moberly, Ruby Levings, of Paris, Mo., and Ann Kuhler, of Keytesville; three grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
His parents, a brother and two sisters died earlier.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family care off the Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Rd., Columbia, Mo., 65202.
Marshel O. Gordon
Marshel O. Gordon of Columbia died June 13, 1999, at University Hospital and Clinics. He was 86.
Mr. Gordon was born Sept. 29, 1912, in Piggott, Ark., to Oscar and Nola Davis Gordon. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army from 1938-1942 and married Helen Frances Wehmeyer in Jefferson City on Oct. 31, 1940.
He was a graduate of the MU College of Agriculture and was a tackle for the MU football team that played in the 1940 Orange Bowl.
Walter Horn, Mr. Gordon's best friend, said Mr. Gordon loved football as well as his life and family.
"He was a kind man, a gentle man," Horn said. "He could take big hits - like going blind - and never complain."
Mr. Gordon suffered from eye degeneration and lost most of his vision at an early age, Horn said.
Mr. Gordon and Horn were both employees of the Missouri Farmers Association in 1952. Mr. Gordon worked as a salesman for the plant foods division of the MFA.
Horn moved out of town but came back to Columbia in 1994. Since then, he and Mr. Gordon became great friends.
"In 1952, when I left, we were just acquaintances," Horn said. "Forty-two years later, we were best friends. He was a good friend and I enjoyed our conversations and I will miss him. He was just everything a good man entails."
During his time in Columbia, Mr. Gordon founded and became a board member of the Century State Bank, was a member and former deacon of the First Presbyterian Church and the Jefferson Club at MU. He also was a member of the Tiger Scholarship Fund, formerly called the Missouri Athletic Scholarship Association.
Services will be held today at 11 a.m. at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Mr. Gordon will be buried at Memorial Park Cemetery.
He is survived by two sons, John Gordon of Columbia and Thomas Gordon of Greensboro, Ga.; one halfbrother, Pharis Gordon of Dallas; one sister, Mammie Glover of Piggott, Ark.; and several grandchildren.
His wife died earlier.
Memorials should be sent to the Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Center, 4895 E. Highway 163, Columbia, Mo. 65201 or the Rainbow House, 2302 N. Oakland Gravel Road, Columbia, Mo. 65202.
Harry J. Mathis
Harry Jackson Mathis of Columbia died Monday, June 14, 1999, at Columbia Regional Hospital. He was 81.
Mr. Mathis was born Sept. 3, 1917, in Webb City to Calvin Ira and Iva Green Mathis. He married Mary Gardner of Neosho in February of 1941.
Mr. Mathis was a graduate of Neosho High School. He served for the U.S. Navy in World War II. He moved to Columbia in 1969 and operated Doors of Columbia, an architectural millwork firm, until he retired in 1995.
Survivors include two sons, James Mathis, of Kansas City, and John Mathis, of Columbia; three daughters, JoEllen Hamilton and Dr. Rebecca Mathis, both of Columbia, and Tracy Mathis, of St. Louis; three sisters, Juanita Bryant, of Covelo, Calif., Eva Smith, of Bartlesville, Okla., and Ann Robbins of Neosho,; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation was Tuesday at the home of Lanny and JoEllen Hamilton. The service will be held at 2 p.m. today Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. There will be a private burial at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Ronald McDonald House, 1001 Stadium Rd., Columbia, Mo., 65201.
Earl Perkins
Earl Perkins of Columbia died Monday, June 15, 1999, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 71.
Mr. Perkins was born on Feb. 20, 1928, in Hallsville to Marion Allen and Anna Pearl Turner Perkins. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
On May 22, 1976, he married Geraldine Berry in Columbia.
Mr. Perkins and his family often gave when they could to the Rainbow House.
"It was worthwhile and pleasurable to us," said his son, Daniel Berry.
Services, conducted by the Rev. John Foley, will be at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Perkins is survived by his brother, Finis Perkins, of Columbia; five sons, David Perkins of, Springfield, Joseph Perkins, of Harrisburg, Daniel Berry, Mark Perkins and Rex Perkins, all of Columbia; one daughter, Cindy Perkins, of Marrero, La., and eight grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to the Rainbow House, 2302 N. Oakland Gravel Rd., Columbia, Mo., 65202.
Olive L. Poe
People who grew up with Olive L. Poe called her "Snookun."
"We're more like sisters and brothers than relatives," said longtime friend Wanda Buckler, who is married to Poe's cousin, Ronald. "We've been awful close all these years," she said.
Mrs. Poe of Centralia died Sunday, June 13, 1999, at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia. She was 70.
In her spare time the loyal friend and mother of four enjoyed making porcelain dolls.
"I'll always remember her because of all of the dolls I've bought from her," Buckler said.
For the past 15 years she ran "Ollie's Dollies," expanding her self-taught hobby into a small business. But Mrs. Poe wasn't in it for the money, she gave a lot away, her son Gary Poe said.
"Everybody loved her dolls," he said. "She was very talented."
Although Mrs. Poe was born in Howard County April 22, 1929, to A.E. and Mary Webb Campbell, she lived most of her life in Boone County. She married Jesse R. Poe on Aug. 24, 1946, in Ashland. They had four children.
"She was a very loving mother that gave a lot for her children," Gary Poe said.
Gary, the self-proclaimed family renegade, said she inspired him to join the Navy.
"One thing she taught me was to go out and see things and do things," he said.
Following many years of service as a data processing supervisor, Mrs. Poe retired from MFA Oil in 1994.
"She touched everybody that knew her," Gary Poe said.
Visitation for Mrs. Poe was held Tuesday evening. Services, conducted by the Rev. Wesley Keeling, will be held today at 1:30 p.m. at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. She will be buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Mrs. Poe is survived by her husband, Jesse Poe; one brother, Ray Campbell, of Lee's Summit; three sons, Gary Poe, of Navarre, Fla., Robert Poe and Steven Poe, both of Centralia; one daughter, Freda Tidball, of Centralia; and four grandchildren.
Her brother died earlier.
Memorials can be sent to Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center, 1830 E. Monument St., Suite 7500, Baltimore, Md., 21205.
Mabel McBride Sanders
Mabel McBride Sanders of Columbia died Sunday, June 13, 1999, at Boone Retirement Center in Columbia. She was 90.
Mrs. McBride-Sanders worked out of her home for over fifty years and is remembered as very friendly and hardworking.
"Her life was dedicated to her children," said Linda McBride, Mrs. McBride Sanders' youngest daugther.
Mrs. McBride Sanders was born October 29, 1909, in Calwood to Hugh Franklin and Mary Janette Nettie Glover Black.
She married Charles E. McBride on October 13, 1928, in Columbia and he died earlier. She later married Ross E. Sanders on October 18, 1971, in Columbia. Mr. Sanders also died earlier.
Mrs. McBride Sanders is survived by five sons, Andrew F. McBride, Donald E. McBride, David J. McBride, all of Columbia, Roy V. McBride of Shawnee Mission, Kan., and Ray McBride of Rancho Mirage, California; two daughters, Mary J. Nowlin, of Molino, Fla. and Linda L. McBride, of Columbia; two step-daughters, Margaret Giblin, of St. Louis, and Sylvia Jarett, of Middleton, Ind.; two brothers, Riley Black, of Sturgeon and Ed Black, of Mexico; one sister, Florene McCowan, of Mexico, twenty-eight grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday, at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, 1121 Business Loop 70 E., Columbia, MO, 65201.
Vincent J. Heck
Vincent J. Heck died Saturday, June 12, 1999, at Alexian Brothers Sherbrooke Village in St. Louis. He was 80.
Mr. Heck was born Dec. 5, 1918, in East St. Louis, Ill., to William and Margaret Ripplinger Heck. He married June M. Harbula in March 1960 in St. Louis.
Mr. Heck served in the U. S. Army during World War II and the Korean War. Later, he moved to Columbia and started Heck's Bumper Service.
He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Columbia, VFW Post #280, and the Three Dollar Club at Lake of the Woods Golf Club.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services conducted, by the Rev. David Veit, will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 16 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 903 Bernadette Drive. Mr. Heck will be buried in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Survivors include several great nieces and nephews and a number of cousins.
His wife and one brother died earlier.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 903 Bernadette Dr., Columbia, Mo., 65203
Geraldine Gordon
A pinch of culinary talent and a dash of devoted church-goer combined to make up the recipe most people knew as Geraldine Gordon.
"Everyone called her to cook," said Marilyn King, Gordon's 38-year-old daughter. "For every occasion, she cooked. She was probably most famous for her chicken and dumplings."
Geraldine Louise Gordon of Columbia died Friday, June 11, 1999, of natural causes at her home. She was 70.
Mrs. Gordon was born May 1, 1929, in Boone County to Richard and Natalie Clayborn Coats. After her mother's death when she was a child, Mrs. Gordon moved to Bloomington, Ill., where she lived with an aunt and attended school.
Upon graduating from high school, Mrs. Gordon returned to Columbia, where she attended nursing school and later married her first husband, John King. She worked at various businesses in the Columbia area, including the now-closed Red Paisley specialty store downtown, Montgomery Ward and the Salvation Army.
She was a member of Russel Chapel C.M.E. Church and a member of the Senior Choir. "She loved to go to church," King said. "She visited everyone's church, and everyone knew her."
Mrs. Gordon married her second husband, Edward Gordon, Aug. 27, 1976.
Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Warren Funeral Chapel, 10 N. Fourth St.. Services conducted by the Rev. Larry Warren are scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Russell Chapel C.M.E. Church, 108 E. Ash St. Burial will follow at Simpson Chapel Cemetery, Millersburg.
Mrs. Gordon was preceded in death by her first husband, four brothers and a sister.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Gordon is survived by one daughter, Marilyn King of Columbia; seven sons, John King, Robert King, Richard King, Edward King and Anthony King, all of Columbia, and James King and Elias King of Des Moines, Iowa; one sister, Cecelia Hicks of Columbia; 32 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; an aunt and several cousins.
Nancy Nowell
Nancy Nowell had an eye for decorating, and she demanded creativity and dedication in every one of her projects.
She worked as a seamstress and an interior designer for over 13 years at Calico Corners in Denver. Nowell also used her talent for design to make drapes and embroidered pillows for her own home.
"We always asked for her advice because she had an incredible sense of color," said Vicki Robertson, assistant manager of Calico Corners.
Nancy Greenbury Nowell of Denver died on Wednesday, June 2, 1999. She was 68.
"She was a very dramatic person," Robertson said. "She would always say, 'You'll never believe what happened today.'"
Mrs. Nowell was born March 3, 1931, in Webster Groves. She graduated from Webster Groves High School in 1948 and attended the University of Missouri, where she was a member of Alpha Phi sorority.
While at school, she met Sheldon "Don" Nowell and they married on Aug. 12, 1950, in Webster Groves.
"We met on a blind date in September 1949 and married almost a year later," he said.
After three years at MU, they both decided to settle down into married life. Nancy Nowell took up her passion for sewing and started making clothes for family members.
"She got a big kick out of doing a good job on dresses for her granddaughters," Don Nowell said.
Mrs. Nowell also had a love for animals and enjoyed playing with her two cats.
"She would treat them like they were totally human," Robertson said.
A memorial service, conducted by the Rev. Tom Adams, will be held at 11 a.m., June 19, at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Mrs. Nowell's body will be cremated.
She is survived by her husband; one daughter, Shelia Mannix, of St. Helena, Calif.; a son, Steve Nowell, of Boulder, Colo.; a brother, Richard Greenbury, of St. Louis; and two grandchildren, Haley Mannix and Charissa Nowell.
Kathryn Towsley
Kathryn O. Towsley of Columbia died Friday, June 11, 1999, at University Hospitals and Clinics. She was 79.
Mrs. Towsley was born Oct. 1, 1919, in Columbia to George Shaw and Anna Woods Shaw. She married Olaf Otto Towsley in 1957, and he preceded her in death in 1964.
Mrs. Towsley was a member of the Liberty Baptist Church.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Rd, Columbia. Graveside services for Mrs. Towsley, conducted by the Rev. Bruce Caldwell, will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Columbia Cemetery, 30 E. Broadway, Columbia.
Survivors include two sons, Olaf Alan Towsley of Columbia and Williams Sanders of Centralia; one daughter, Bonnie Sue Simpson of Columbia; two sisters, Tillie Fifer of Moberly, and Louise Harrison of Columbia; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Liberty Baptist Church, 7461 N. Browns Station Road.
Mark Carter
Between the rigors of work and the necessity of sleep, spare moments for fun are often few and far between. When the spare moments came for Mark Allen Carter, the Harrisburg resident could never pass up an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. From fishing to hunting to a game of hoops, Mr. Carter relished the outdoors every chance he got.
"He was an easygoing, outdoorsy person," Venita Calvert said of her brother. "He liked life. He was fun - all the time."
Mr. Carter died Friday, June 11, 1999, at University Hospitals and Clinics as the result of an automobile accident. He was 41.
Mr. Carter was born Nov. 28, 1957, in Columbia to Allen Carter and Bonnie Wilhite Carter.
Mr. Carter joined the Marine Corps after high school and earned the rank of sergeant. After the service, Mr. Carter worked in the construction industry as a roofer.
Services, conducted by the Rev. John Foley, will be at 2 p.m. today at the Harrisburg Christian Church, Harrisburg. Burial will be at the Harrisburg Cemetery.
Mr. Carter is survived by his wife, Tamara Beuer, of Harrisburg; his parents, of Harrisburg; one son, Brandon Carter of Columbia; two daughters, Ashlee and Kayla Carter, both of Columbia; two sisters, Venita Calvert, of Marshall, and Lisa Malone, of Harrisburg; his maternal grandparents, Ruby Wilhite and R. D. Ballew of Harrisburg; two nieces and one nephew.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Harrisburg Christian Church, Missouri 124, Harrisburg, MO 65256.
Bertha Burks
For much of her life, Bertha Louise Burks pulled off what's often seen today as something of a modern miracle: maintaining a balance between work and family.
"I say she did a good job of it," said her son, Gary Wathen of Columbia.
Mrs. Burks died Thursday, June 10, 1999, at Boone Hospital Center. She was 65.
In her career outside the home, Mrs. Burks worked as a nurse for more than 30 years.
"She loved taking care of people," Wathen said. "She thought she was really doing something good."
Doing something good also meant caring for Mrs. Burks' family, which included her husband S. Vivian Burks, Wathen, and two step-daughters, Sandra Sullivan of Fulton and Nancy Coleman of Columbia.
"She was pretty much always there when you needed her," said Coleman.
Mrs. Burks was born on August 25, 1933 in Paducah, Ky., to Richard and Lilly Craven. She had lived in Columbia for more than 40 years.
She married S. Vivian Burks on May 24, 1957.
In addition to her husband, son and step-daughters, Mrs. Burks is survived by several siblings, three grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.
Visitation for Mrs. Burks will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth Street.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Parker Funeral Service. Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 33 E. Broadway, Suite 100, Columbia, MO 65203.
