Tanya Longmore Richards
Tanya Longmore Richards of Columbia died Wednesday, Aug. 18, 1999, of an unknown illness at the University Hospital and Clinics. She was 49. The family is awaiting the cause of death.
Mrs. Richards battled illness much of her life, but remained courageous and warm, never turning her back on her life or family, said her best friend, Lori Smith of Jefferson City.
Mrs. Richards met Smith a decade ago during one of many hospital stays. Smith said Mrs. Richards was in and out of hospitals throughout her life with various health problems. Although the cause of her death is still unknown, she recently overcame a bout of lung disease.
"She was a fighter," Smith said. "She was sick a lot, but she always fought it."
Mrs. Richards, formerly a medical technician, always found time for friends and family, Smith said. Children were especially dear to her.
"She loved children," Smith said. A mother of two, Mrs. Richards also took an active role in raising her goddaughter, 9-year-old Brittney Patterson of Columbia.
"She's been a second mother to Brittney," Smith said. "She was just such a good listener and a good friend."
Mrs. Richards was born Oct. 23, 1949, in Maine. Her father was in the Air Force, and her family moved around the country and across the globe, from one military base to another. Among other postings, the family lived briefly in Japan and Germany.
In 1982, Mrs. Richards moved to Columbia and married Donald Richards. She was a member of Christian Fellowship Church.
"She loved Columbia," Smith said. "She was always happy here."
Services, conducted by the Rev. Scott Williams, will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St.
Mrs. Richards is survived by her father, Robert Longmore of Florida; her husband, Donald Richards of Columbia; three brothers; two sisters; and two sons, William Smith of Galena and Dee Anderson, of Sacramento, Calif.
Her mother died earlier.
Jerald Whitney Thomas
Jerald Whitney Thomas, of Denver, died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999. He was 77.
Mr. Thomas managed the MFA Oil Company Tire Division in Columbia from 1964 to 1974. He had been previously employed by the U.S Rubber Company of New York and World Tire Corporation of St. Louis.
"He was a real gentleman and a very efficient manager," said Jim Cunningham, a retired Secretary-Treasurer for MFA who worked with Mr. Thomas.
Mr. Thomas moved from Columbia to Denver where he founded Foree Tire Distributors.
Cunningham described Mr. Thomas as an innovative and ethical businessman, as well as a good friend.
Mr. Thomas was born Jan. 28, 1922, in Enid, Okla., to Harold Daye and Sue Lillian Thomas. He married Geraldine Irene Hartley in 1946. Mr. Thomas graduated from the Uni Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Mrs. Jacks is survived by one daughter, Jean Morrow of Holts Summit; one sister, Martha Subitch of Appleton, Wis.; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Her husband, one son, five brothers and three sisters died earlier.
Paul J. Schirmer
Paul J. Schirmer of Gladstone died Wednesday, Aug. 18, 1999, at Woodbine Health Care Center in Gladstone. He was 76.
Formerly of Columbia, Mr. Schirmer was born Aug. 30, 1922, in Verona to Albert J. Schirmer and Catherine Buehler Schirmer.
On Oct. 8, 1950, Mr. Schirmer married Ruth M. Kottmeyer in Freistatt.
Mr. Schirmer served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He attended the Aurora School of Photo Engraving in Aurora and was a photo engraver for the Graphic Engraving Service before retiring in 1991.
Mr. Schirmer was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church. He also was a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 280 and the Disabled American Veterans.
"He was a great husband and a great father," said his son, David Schirmer. "He loved stories and played tricks."
Mr. Schirmer had been living in Columbia for over 40 years, said Lucille Burch, who took care of him for the past 10 years. She described Mr. Schirmer as a good Christian and a very honest man.
Visitation will be from 7 to 8:30 tonight at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Kenneth Gerike, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Schirmer is survived by one son, David Schirmer of Kansas City, Mo.; one daughter, Kay Kermani of Hopewell Junction, N.Y.; one sister, Irene Pharis of Rough and Ready, Calif.; and seven grandchildren.
His wife died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the Bell Tower Fund at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2201 W. Rollins Road, Columbia, Mo. 65203.
James Louis Petry
James Louis Petry of Nederland, Texas, died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999. He was 80.
Dr. Petry was born June 15, 1919. He graduated from Hickman High School in 1936. He earned a bachelor's degree in medical science from MU, and a doctoral degree from Washington University in 1943.
Dr. Petry served as a field hospital surgeon with the Third Army in the European theater. For 48 years he had a urology practice in Port Arthur, Texas.
Dr. Petry is survived by his wife, Virginia; one son, Mike Petry of Orlando, Fla.; two daughters, Dianne Petry of Loomis, Fla., and Melissa Adams of Lakeland, Fla.; one brother, Warren Petry of El Cajon, Calif.; and eight grandchildren.
One brother died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association, 2600 I-70 Dr. NW, Columbia Mo., 65201 or the National Kidney Foundation, 30 E. 33rd St., suite 1100, New York, N.Y., 10016.
Rose Marie Jacks
Rose Marie Jacks of Columbia died July 24, 1999, at the Boone Retirement Center. She was 85.
Mrs. Jacks was born March 4, 1914, in St. Cloud, Minn., to Simon and Godfreda Oltz. In 1942, Mrs. Jacks married Floyd L. Jacks.
Mrs. Jacks was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Edwin Cole, will be held at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Mrs. Jacks is survived by one daughter, Jean Morrow of Holts Summit; one sister, Martha Subitch of Appleton, Wis.; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Her husband, one son, five brothers and three sisters died earlier.
Stanley Hubert Creason
Stanley Hubert Creason of Columbia died Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1999, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 85.
Mr. Creason was born July 11, 1914, in Linneus to Ivory and Hester Clove George Creason.
On Aug. 3, 1936, Mr. Creason married Edna Ruth Zumwalt in Columbia.
He served with the Army infantry during World War II after everyone on his street was drafted, said his wife, E. Ruth Creason.
Mr. Creason attended MU. He was a member of Bethany Baptist Church, as well as a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 202 and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Creason worked as an automotive technician in Columbia for 58 years. After returning from the war, he started to repair cars on his own, creating his own business, Creason's Garage.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Lee Crowe, will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Creason is survived by his wife, E. Ruth Creason of Columbia; two sons, Arlen Lee Creason of Oklahoma City and John Paul Creason of Durham, N.C.; two daughters, Sandra J. Bench of Lake Ozark and Mary Anne Crane of Columbia; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
One brother and one grandson died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Columbia Senior Center, 1121 Business Loop 70 E., Columbia, Mo. 65202.
Jean F. Grimes
When Jean F. Grimes started working at the Boone County Chapter of the American Red Cross in 1965, she intended to stay for one year. She ended up staying for 14.
Grimes became executive director of the chapter in 1969, and was instrumental in establishing the Boone County Blood Center on Providence Road.
"She dearly loved the Red Cross," Carolyn Payne, a former co-worker, said. "She was a wonderful person who didn't care what side of the tracks you came from."
Mrs. Grimes of Columbia died Sunday, Aug. 15, 1999 at South Hampton Place. She was 81.
Friends say Mrs. Grimes was generous in giving her time to others. In addition to her duties at the Red Cross, she began volunteering at the Truman Veterans Hospital in 1977. She offered her services there for 13 years giving 2,766 hours of her time.
Elinor Turner said she and Mrs. Grimes escorted patients to and from their appointments at the VA hospital.
"She had a very, very nice personality," said Turner, who also worked with Mrs. Grimes at the Red Cross.
Mrs. Grimes was born Aug. 11, 1918, in Covington, Okla., to Fred E. and Elsie M. Forster. In high school, she worked for Crown Drug in Oklahoma City, and for a local newspaper. She graduated from Capitol Hill Senior High School in Oklahoma City, and attended the Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, Okla.
During World War II, Mrs. Grimes worked as a secretary for a large developer in Lawton, Okla. Later, she was a secretary for the Ordinance Officer at the Fort Sill Artillery and Guided Missile School in Oklahoma.
Mrs. Grimes married Philip A. Grimes on July 15, 1945, in Lawton, Okla. They moved to Centralia, where Mr. Grimes opened the law firm Grimes, Fay and Gaeth, and she worked as the secretary for the sales manager for A.B. Chance Co. The couple moved to Columbia when Mr. Grimes was elected Boone County Prosecuting Attorney.
Mrs. Grimes was known for her quick wit and sharp sense of humor. "She was the female version of Will Rogers," her son Grant Grimes said.
Mrs. Grimes is survived by her husband, Philip A. Grimes of Columbia; two sons, Leonard E. Grimes of Midland, Tex., and Grant A. Grimes of Atlanta, Ga.; one brother, Fred Forster of Midland, Tex.; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great granddaughter.
One son died earlier.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Rick Frost, will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Broadway Christian Church, 2601 W. Broadway. The family will hold a private burial at Memorial Park Cemetery.
A reception will follow the services at in Broadway Christian Fellowship Hall, 2601 W. Broadway.
Memorials may be sent to Broadway Christian Church, 2601 W. Broadway, Columbia, Mo. 65203.
Chanthou Sam
Chanthou Sam of Columbia died Monday, Aug. 16, 1999, in a car accident. She was 16.
Ms. Sam was a junior at Douglass High School. She was engaged to be married to Saroeun Mark Sorm, 17. The couple had a 1-year-old son, Andre Sorm, and were planning to get married after high school. She had been engaged for about three years.
Lisa Sam, 15, remembers her sister as a caring person.
"She was always leading me in a positive way. Not drinking or smoking and the things that kids go through in life," Lisa Sam said. "She was always there for me through the hard times."
Ms. Sam wanted to be a model, said her sister, Sophy Sorm, 27.
Ms. Sam was born Oct. 13, 1982, in Thailand to Yav and Kim Seng Sam. In 1984, she moved with her family to Glasgow. The family, which is Cambodian, moved to Columbia in 1988.
Services will be at 5 p.m. Friday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. A memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at The Cambodian-Buddhist Society Temple, 1501 Vandiver Drive.
Ms. Sam is survived by her mother, Kim Seng of Columbia; one son, Andre Sorm of Columbia; two brothers, Sophal Sam of Atlanta, Ga., and Nalt Sam of Ashland; six sisters, Sophear Benn, Sophearp Sam, Sophy Sorm, Bory Sam, Chantha Sam and Lisa Sam, all of Columbia. Ms. Sam's body will be cremated.
Her father died earlier.
Barbara Ann Sheaffer
Barbara Ann Sheaffer of Sturgeon died Sunday, Aug. 15, 1999, at Columbia Healthcare and Rehab Center. She was 66.
Ms. Sheaffer was born Jan. 28, 1933, in Harrisburg, Pa., to Clyde R. and Susan Bochman Sheaffer. She moved to Missouri in 1994.
"My mom was kind of quiet," her son, Kenneth Sheaffer, said. "She drew very well, though."
His house is adorned with several of her creations, including a depiction of a flowery field that he said serves as a source of pride.
"She could paint anything with a pencil or even a Crayola," he said.
Ms. Sheaffer is survived by her son, Kenneth Sheaffer of Sturgeon; one brother, Clyde R. Sheaffer Jr. of Mesa, Ariz.; and five grandchildren.
Services will be held later.
Roberta 'Bobsie' Marks
Roberta "Bobsie" Marks of Harrisburg died Sunday, Aug. 15, 1999, at Boone Hospital Center. She was 51.
Miss Marks was born March 10, 1948, in Fayette to Robert and Naomi Street Marks. She was a member of Harrisburg Christian Church, where she also served as a deaconess.
Visitation for Miss Marks will from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Harrisburg Christian Church.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Kevin Jenkins, will be at 7 p.m. today at the church.
Miss Marks is survived by her mother, Naomi Marks of Harrisburg; one brother, Charles Marks of Harrisburg; one aunt, Jean Price of Harrisburg; and five cousins, Phil Price, Jill Williamson, Jan Sublett and Jackie Colley, all of Harrisburg, and Wayne Powell of Columbia.
Memorials may be sent to Harrisburg Christian Church, 201 E. Sexton, P.O. Box 36, Harrisburg, Mo., 65256.
Kelli Lyn Rice
Kelli Lyn Rice of Indianapolis, Ind. died Friday, Aug. 13, 1999, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Indianapolis. She was 12.
Miss Rice was born Aug. 28, 1986, in St. Louis to Thomas Paul and Lynna Rhea Wells Rice.
Visitation for Miss Rice will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Bob Russell, will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Miss Rice is survived by her parents, Thomas Paul and Lynna Rhea Wells Rice of Indianapolis; one brother, Jacob Derek Rice of Indianapolis; one sister, Margaret Maril Rice of Indianapolis; and four grandparents, James and Marilea Wells of Columbia, and Bill and Marilynn Stobbs of Kirkwood.
Memorials may be sent to "CHAMP" Camp, c/o St. Vincent's Specialty Children's Hospital, 1707 W. 86 St., Indianapolis, Ind., 46240, or to Pike Baptist Church, 7108 Coffman Road, Indianapolis, Ind., 46268.
Jerry Lee Canole
Jerry Lee Canole of Columbia died Thursday, Aug. 12, 1999, at his home. He was 47.
Mr. Canole died of colon cancer, having been diagnosed with the disease in May.
Mr. Canole was born Aug. 4, 1952, in Columbia to James Dean and Violet Bennett Canole.
After graduating from Hickman High School, Mr. Canole worked for the city of Columbia for several years as a garbage collector. He later worked part-time for the University of Missouri, setting up and breaking down stages for concerts at Hearnes Center and as a landscaper/groundskeeper at Country Day School.
Tony Davis, the school's director, who worked with Mr. Canole for 10 years, said he had a very strong sense of self-direction and an uncanny ability to accomplish long-term projects at the school. Davis said he never had to monitor Mr. Canole because of the respect and trust the independent worker had earned during their years together.
"I never knew anyone more honest than Jerry," Davis said.
Even though work kept Mr. Canole busy, he still found time for many hobbies. He particularly enjoyed getting together with family members.
"We liked to play poker together," his brother Jimmie Canole said. "He would always let us win," he said.
Mr. Canole spent much of his time engrossed in reading. He liked to read various types of books, including science-fiction paperbacks, and enjoyed fishing, biking, leatherworking and collecting antique books and comic books.
"Jerry was quiet, reserved, and he never made a fuss about anything," said his sister, Janet Wendel.
Services, conducted by Pastor Jim Ford, will be at 2:30 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Burial were at Memorial Park Cemetery in Columbia.
Canole is survived by his mother, Violet Canole of Columbia; three brothers, Jimmie Canole of Melbourne, Fla., Donald Canole of Owasso, Okla., and Jeff Canole of Columbia; six sisters, Cathy Clinkinbeard of Columbia, Wanda Becker of Pilot Grove, Betty Bugg of Columbia, Janet Wendel of Scottsdale, Ariz., Judy Bowers of Columbia and Lisa Gibson of Columbia.
His father died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Cancer Research Center, 3501 Berrywood Drive, Columbia, Mo., 65201, or the American Cancer Society, 33 E. Broadway, Suite 100, Columbia, Mo. 65203.
Norma Terry Lawson
Norma Terry Lawson of Columbia died Thursday, Aug. 12, 1999, at her home. She was 61.
Mrs. Lawson was born April 1, 1938, in Melbourne, Mo., to Joseph Edward Terry and Goldie Lucille Stutsman Terry. She married Elmer Lloyd Lawson on Dec. 27, 1954, in Chillicothe.
Mrs. Lawson spent most of her life in northwestern Missouri, moving to Columbia in 1981. She was a member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Bethany.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Keith Jones, will be at 2:30 p.m. today at Melbourne Baptist Church, 33980 E. 395 St., Gilman City. She will be buried at Mitchell Cemetery in Melbourne.
Mrs. Lawson is survived by her husband, Elmer Lloyd Lawson of Columbia; three sons, Stanley Lawson of Harrisburg, Arthur Lawson of Winston, and Galen Lawson of Columbia; two daughters, Linda Monier of Pella, Iowa, and Louisa Wyatt of Harrisburg; two brothers, Donald Terry of Gilman, and Nolan Terry of Evergreen, Colo.; a sister, June King of Cainsville; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Her parents and three sisters died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Central Missouri Kidney Association, P.O. Box 1915, Columbia, Mo. 65205.
Claude Smith Jr.
Claude Smith Jr. of Columbia died at his home Thursday, Aug. 12, 1999, of heart-related complications. He was 51.
Mr. Smith was born Aug. 18, 1947, in Mexico, Mo., to Claude and Mildred Love Smith.
Mr. Smith graduated from Mexico High School in 1966 and attended Palmers Chiropractic College in Davenport, Iowa. He was a member of the American Legion and Disabled Veterans of America, having served Army tours in Vietnam and Korea from 1966 to 1969.
Mildred Smith, his mother, said in a written statement that he was a patriot who received two medals during his military service and refused a medical discharge, even though one had been offered for his heart condition.
"He believed every boy should serve his country for a few years," she said.
Mr. Smith married Rebekah F. Walker on Nov. 20, 1976.
His wife described him as a generous husband and father.
"If we ever needed anything - clothes, shoes, anything - he made sure we got it," she said. "He'd always think of us first."
Visitation for Mr. Smith will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Ed Franks, will be held at 11 a.m. at Parker Funeral Service. Mr. Smith will be buried at Jefferson City National Cemetery.
Mr. Smith is survived by his wife; his mother; two sons, Shaun Smith and Travis Smith, both of Columbia; and a sister, Karen Schaper of Bellflower.
His father died earlier.
