Kathryn A. Ballew
Kathryn A. Ballew of Harrisburg died of cancer Tuesday, July 6, 1999, at her home. She was 54.
Mrs. Ballew was born May 15, 1945, in Boonville to Errett L. and Ernestine M. Potter Estes. She worked at Boyce and Bynum Pathology Labs in client services for the past five years.
Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Praise Assembly of God Church, 4300 Clark Lane. Services, conducted by the Rev. Dennis Stuart, will follow at 2 p.m. Burial will take place at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Boonville.
Mrs. Ballew is survived by three sons, Timothy Ballew of Georgia, Christopher Ballew of Columbia, and Matthew Ballew of Boonville; a daughter, Linda Boyce of Harrisburg; a brother, Richard Estes of Kansas City, Kan.; a sister, Barbara Cheney of North Carolina; and eight grandchildren.
Neil Warner Watchinski
Neil Warner Watchinski of Columbia died Tuesday, July 6, 1999, at his home of unknown causes. He was 46.
Mr. Watchinski was born January 16, 1953, in Normal, Ill., to Herbert W. and Annavesta Morse Watchinski Sr.
Mr. Watchinski moved to Columbia in 1956, where he spent most of his life. He graduated from Hickman High School in 1971 and attended Central Missouri State University.
Mr. Watchinski was active in all sports. During his senior year of high school, he made 1st Team All-State Football and the All American Football Team in Parade Magazine. He also played baseball and excelled in track and field.
Mr. Watchinski was a member of Missouri United Methodist Church and sang in the choir when he was young.
"He enjoyed singing," his brother Herbert Watchinski Jr. said. "He had a beautiful voice."
Mr. Watchinski learned to play the saxophone and taught himself to play the guitar. He would often sit in on jam sessions with friends.
"He did love his music," Watchinski Jr. said.
Mr. Watchinski was a truck driver for Tiger Packing Company in Columbia. His job allowed him to enjoy two of his favorite things in life - the outdoors and people. When he wasn't working, Mr. Watchinski loved to fish and hike around Columbia.
"He was always happiest when he was helping others," Watchinski Jr. said. "He almost had too big of a heart."
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. 10th St. Services, conducted by the Rev. Rhymes H. Moncure Jr., will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Missouri United Methodist Church, 204 S. Ninth St. Burial will be at Columbia Cemetery.
Mr. Watchinski is survived by his father and mother, Herbert W. and Annavesta Watchinski of Columbia; two brothers, Robert Watchinski of Overland Park, Kan., and Herbert Watchinski Jr. of Columbia, Md.; two nephews and two nieces.
Martin F. Williams
Martin F. Williams of Columbia died Wednesday, July 7, 1999, at Boone Retirement Center. He was 92.
Mr. Williams was born May 16, 1907, in Columbia to Frank J. and Hattie Washington Williams.
He attended Douglass High School. He worked for Barth Clothing Company as a custodian for more than 40 years. He also worked for the Columbia Art League for several years.
Mr. Williams was a member of Happy Homecomers, a senior citizens program.
However, his greatest hobby was visiting with his friends and neighbors while relaxing on his front porch.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Warren Funeral Chapel, 10 N. Fourth St. Services, conducted by the Rev. David Ballenger, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Second Baptist Church, 407 E. Broadway. The burial will be in Columbia Cemetery.
Mr. Williams is survived by two daughters, Ernestine Tapp and Harriett Jeanette Hardiman of Columbia; one son, Martin Kenneth Williams of Columbia; 18 grandchildren; 35 great grandchildren; 17 great-great grandchildren; and one great-great-great grandchild.
He is preceded in death by two brothers and one son.
Cherokee India Roberts
Cherokee India Roberts of Fayette died of natural causes after her birth on July 3, 1999, at Boone Hospital Center.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. today at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. Services, conducted by Pastor David Cochran, will follow at the funeral home.
Cherokee is survived by her parents, Charles and Crystal Roberts of Fayette; a brother, Randal Roberts of Fayette; a half-brother, Anthony Countryman of Columbia; three grandfathers, Richard Westlake of Columbia, Arthur Roberts of Rocheport and Steve Belzer of Moberly; and two grandmothers, Janice Westlake of Columbia and Diane Roberts of Rocheport; one great-grandfather, Glen Mallory of Fayette; two great-grandmothers, Virginia Westlake and Mattie Belzer, both of Moberly.
Doris Watson Couden
Doris Watson Couden of Sturgeon died Monday, July 5, 1999, at Moberly Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Moberly. She was 79.
Mrs. Couden was born January 24, 1920, in Wilson, N.C., to Howard Franklin and Viola Cora Watson Kirby. On Oct. 4, 1941, she married James Couden in Bennettsville, S.C.
Mrs. Couden was a beautician in Wilson, N.C., and Manlius, N.Y.
She was a member of Sunnydale Seventh-day Adventist Church in Centralia.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at Sunnydale Seventh-day Adventist Church. Services, conducted by the Rev. Charles Jensen, will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Sunnydale Seventh-day Adventist Church. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Couden is survived by her husband, James H. Couden; two daughters, Linda N. Tooley of Fitchburg, Mass. and Ann B. Thomas of Clark; two brothers, Edward Kirby of Winston-Salem, N.C. and Leon Kirby of Aulander, N.C.; one sister, Dolores Durham of Kinston, N.C.; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Three brothers preceded her in death.
Memorials may be sent to The Quiet Hour, c/o Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W., Columbia, Mo., 65202.
Lois E. Venrick
Lois E. Venrick of Columbia died Monday, July 5, 1999, at Lenoir Health Care Center. She was 87.
Mrs. Venrick was born June 30, 1912, in Kansas City to Edwin R. and Bertha Wiggins Sheetz. She attended public schools in Trenton and studied at William Jewell College and Lindenwood College.
She married Frederick J. Venrick on July 31, 1937, in Trenton. He died earlier.
Mrs. Venrick was a member of First Christian Church and P.E.O., a past member of Daughters of the American Revolution, Republican Women and other organizations in Columbia.
Visitation for Mrs. Venrick will be from 10 to 11 a.m. today at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. Services, conducted by the Rev. Ken Watson, will follow at 11 a.m. at Parker Funeral Service, with burial taking place at Columbia Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to First Christian Church, 101 N. Tenth St., Columbia, MO 65201.
Margaret Wright
As a 10-year-old, Margaret Wright learned to create the tatting treasures her family cherished.
Tatting, which is similar to macram� and crocheting but doesn't use needles, is considered by some to be a lost art form.
"She watched the older girls in her one-room schoolhouse do it," said her daughter Mattie Hunt. "For other stuff you'd use needles, but in tatting you use shuttles. Dad bought her her first one."
She continued tatting for 82 years.
"It was her passion," Hunt said. "All us kids have got things she made."
Margaret Laura Wright of O'Fallon died Sunday, July 4, 1999. She was 92.
Mrs. Wright was born Aug. 1, 1906, in Howard County to William and Mattie Wyatt Ray. She married Edgar Wright in Columbia on Feb. 7, 1924.
"She was a neat little lady, about 4 foot 10 or 4 foot 11," Hunt said. "She raised us six kids."
Tatting and Mrs. Wright's big family kept her busy.
"She used to laugh and say, 'If my mouth's not running, my hands are working,'" Hunt said.
One of the projects her daughter recalled fondly was one she created for her great-grandchildren.
"When my son and his wife christened their three girls, each girl had a different dress, and mom made the tatting to go around the bottom of it," Hunt said.
Mrs. Wright didn't get to spend much time with her great-grandchildren, but when she did, the kids had a blast.
"She played with all the great-grandkids when they were little," Hunt said. "They all thought it was fun to play ball with her. My daughter had a swing in the back, and she loved to go out back with them and teach them how to swing in it."
Visitation for Mrs. Wright will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Fred Erickson, will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Wright is survived by two sons, Edgar "Bill" Wright of O'Fallon and George Wright of Kansas City; two adopted sons, Eddie Ray and Dale Ray, both of Albuquerque, N.M.; four daughters, Mattie Lucille Hunt of Columbia, Mildred Kapelski of South Prairie, Wash., Lola Kirkpatrick of Marble Hill and Shirley Hudnut of O'Fallon; one brother, Pat Ray of Albuquerque, N.M.; two sisters, Myrtle Lee of Hallsville and Mary Lou Perkins of Lake of the Ozarks; 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
Her husband, three brothers and two sisters died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to St. Joseph Health Care Hospice, 300 First Capitol Drive, St. Charles, MO 63301.
William Stuart Soper
William Stuart Soper of Columbia died Saturday, July 3, 1999, at Truman Veterans Hospital. He was 71.
Mr. Soper was born May 17, 1928, in Toronto, and adopted by John Davison Soper and Hilda Jacob Soper.
Mr. Soper graduated from Baker University in Baldwin, Kan., where he was a member of the Beta Chi fraternity and participated in a singing quartet.
"He was very interested in singing," his wife Eunice Soper said, "He thoroughly enjoyed his time in college."
Mr. Soper also sang with the Fitzsimmons Army Hospital Choir in Denver, where he met Eunice Lacina before going overseas in 1951.
He served with the U.S. Army in Germany, returning in September 1952. Three months later, on Dec. 6, 1952, William and Eunice were married in Iowa City, Iowa.
The couple first lived in Colorado Springs, Colo., then moved to Columbia, where Mr. Soper worked in the insurance industry.
Mr. Soper became the assistant director of admissions at Christian (now Columbia) College. He held that position until being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
"He worked there until he couldn't serve in that capacity anymore," Mrs. Soper said.
Mr. Soper then founded The Answering Center, an answering service he ran with his wife for 30 years until they retired in 1992.
"He never complained," Eunice Soper said. "He battled MS for 42 years and never complained. He just looked at it as 'This is what we've got to do, so let's get on with it.'"
Mr. Soper was a founding member of the mid-Missouri chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. He also was active with the Columbia Auxiliary Police.
"He loved people, he was very outgoing and very personable," Mrs. Soper said.
Services, conducted by the Rev. George McCall, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road. Mr. Soper will be buried in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Mr. Soper is survived by his wife, Eunice Soper of Columbia; one stepmother, Marjorie Robinson Soper of Ballwin; two brothers, Henry Soper of Ashland, Ore., and Thomas Soper of Ballwin; and several nieces and nephews.
His adoptive parents and a brother, John Peter Soper of Big Lake, Ala., died earlier.
Memorial contributions may be sent to: Multiple Sclerosis Research c/o Colleen Bartok, Director of Development, University Hospital and Clinics, 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, Mo., 65212, or to the charity of choice.
