Marshall Jon Harper
From organizing local hockey teams to attending SeptemberFest with his girlfriend, Marshall Jon Harper was well-known in the community of Harrisburg, where he grew up.
Mr. Harper "was very full of life," his mother said. "He didn't really know a stranger."
Mr. Harper of Mexico died on Sunday, Oct. 3, 1999, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Maryville. He was 19.
He was born April 30, 1980, in Joplin, to Larry Cecil Harper and Jana Lee Baker Harper. He graduated from Harrisburg High School in 1997.
In high school, Mr. Harper was on the quiz bowl team, played the bass clarinet and saxophone in the band and was a member of Teens Against Peer Pressure.
Kathy Yount, his high school English teacher, said he will be remembered for his humor.
"He brought us a lot of joy even though his time is short," she said.
The strong friendship and faith of Harrisburg students have made his death bearable in such a small community, Yount said.
"It's been shocking," she said. "It's been a really hard week because they just loved him. Kids always think nothing like this could happen to them."
Mr. Harper was a sophomore at Northwest Missouri State University at Maryville, where he was pursuing a degree in social sciences
"He wanted to give something back," a good friend, Steven Carr said.
Mr. Harper's mother said that in high school, even though he was 6 foot 2 inches tall, he didn't care for basketball. Instead, he got a group of kids together to play hockey, his favorite sport.
The group of boys called themselves "the posse." Mr. Harper's mother said he and his best friend sometimes fought over who was the leader of this group.
He also organized a hockey club in Maryville when the school wouldn't recognize an official hockey team.
"He didn't get to play yet, but he's the one who got it going," his mother said.
About 20 of his friends from college came from Maryville for the funeral.
"A lot of the students told me if it wasn't for him they wouldn't have gotten through their first year," his mother said.
Visitation for Mr. Harper was held Tuesday. Services, conducted by the Rev. Hubert Shaw, were held Wednesday. He was buried in Elwood Cemetery in Mexico.
Mr. Harper is survived by his father, Larry C. Harper and his stepmother, Susan Harper, both of Columbia; his mother, Jana Lee Harper and her fiance, Duane Bennett, both of Mexico; two brothers, Matthew Harper and Joseph Wayne Harper, both of Mexico; one sister, Nicole Harper of Lake Ozark; his grandparents, Howard and Norma Baker of Fiat, Ill.; and his grandmother, Myrtle Moore of Arkansas City, Kan.
Memorials may be sent to the Marshall Harper Memorial Fund, c/o Harrisburg School District, 180 W. Sexton, Harrisburg, MO 65256.
William T. Harris
William Thornton "Jack" Harris of Fayette died Monday Oct. 4, 1999, at Cooper County Memorial Hospital in Boonville. He was 58.
Mr. Harris was born Sept. 16, 1941, in Fayette to George Lee and Irene Panel Harris.
He was a well-known automobile detailer.
Mr. Harris married Oneida Jones on Oct. 4, 1999, just prior to his death.
He is survived by his wife; eight sons, Antonio Jones and Jaquan Jones of Fayette, Carlos Jackman, Michael McQuitty and Kevin McKee, all of Columbia, Shadhi Jackman of Atlanta, Wayman Glasgow and Danny Harris of Montana; six daughters, Letetra Jones and Rhakia Jones of Fayette, Deressia McKee of Columbia, Marietta Harris of Denver, Renee Cooper of San Diego, and Marietta Jackman of Broken Arrow, Okla.; six sisters, Mary Hill of Scottsdale, Ariz., Georgia Harris, Helen Parker and Doris Broadus, all of Columbia, Melissa Graves of Fayette and Addie Mae Swindall of Kansas City; and several grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.
His parents, several aunts and two sons died earlier.
Visitation for Mr. Harris will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at H.T. May and Son Funeral Home, 304 Walter St., Fayette, MO 65248.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Horace Hopkins, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Linn Memorial Methodist Church in Fayette. Burial will follow at Fayette City Cemetery.
Hazel Sly
Hazel Sly of Sturgeon died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999, at the Loma Linda Care Center in Moberly. She was 85.
Mrs. Sly was born Feb. 14, 1914, in Cairo, Mo., to James A. and Iva Lewis True.
Mrs. Sly's sister, Daisy Stein, described her as "a regular old farm girl." Even after the family moved from rural Cairo to Moberly in 1924, the sisters never lost their love for the outdoors.
"We just liked to walk out in the woods and talk. She especially liked to go rock hunting," Stein said. "She collected lots of rocks, pretty rocks, and she would always bring me back some if I couldn't go with her."
Mrs. Sly's rock hunting was matched with a love for travel. She and her husband of 46 years, Robert Sly, enjoyed trips through southern Missouri, southern Illinois and the West Coast. She married Robert Sly on Aug. 9, 1934, in Moberly.
The sisters both worked at the Brown Shoe Factory in Moberly. Mrs. Sly sewed up shoes, and her sister pasted stays. Mrs. Sly also worked as a custodian from 1971 to 1977 at Oakland Junior High School in Columbia and worked in the same job part-time from 1987 to 1989 at Blue Ridge Elementary School.
Mary Nielson knew Mrs. Sly for 20 years and said she was "a nature lover and a lover of the Lord." The women often discussed the Bible or sat by the lake at Mrs. Sly's home in Sturgeon.
"She wasn't very wealthy, but she was wealthy in spirit and wealthy of heart," Nielson said.
No visitation is scheduled for Mrs. Sly. Services, conducted by Nielson, will be at 1 p.m. today at Chapel Grove Cemetery in Clark.
Mrs. Sly is survived by her sister, Daisy Stein of Moberly; one brother, Artie True of Alba; two sons, James Sly of Columbia and Ramond Sly; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Her parents and husband died earlier.
Milo Miller
Milo Miller of Rocheport died Tuesday, Oct. 5, 1999, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 88.
Mr. Miller was born June 28, 1911, in Dalton to Lewis and Birdie Korff Miller. He was a graduate of Keytesville High School and the University of Missouri. He married Ella Bass Allen on June 28, 1933, in Columbia.
In 1934, Mr. Miller earned his degree in agronomy and was captain of the MU wrestling team. While at MU, Mr. Miller also operated the Third Street Store in Columbia.
After he left Columbia, Mr. Miller worked for the Soil Conservation Service in Iowa until 1942. He then spent the remainder of his career farming in both Chariton County and Rocheport.
There will be no services.
He is survived by his wife, Ella Bass Miller of Columbia; two sons, J. Karl Miller of Columbia and Jim P. Miller of Lafayette, La.; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
One son, five brothers and one sister died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the Boone Hospital Center Cardiac Unit, 1600 E. Broadway, Columbia, Mo. 65201.
Anna Carter
Anna Deloris Jean Turner Carter of Columbia died Friday, Oct. 1, 1999, at University Hospital and Clinics. She was 58.
Ms. Carter was born May 19, 1941, in Columbia to Betty Douglas Turner and William Turner Jr.
She worked at Woodhaven Learning Center in Columbia and was a member of Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
Visitation for Ms. Carter was held Wednesday evening. Services, conducted by Pastor Albert Oetman, will be at 1 p.m. today at Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1100 College Park Drive. Burial will be at Log Providence Cemetery.
Ms. Carter is survived by her two sons, Quinndle F. Allen and William W. Lewis Jr., both of Columbia; one daughter, Terry Ann Devins of Jefferson City; one sister, Betty Tucker of Phoenix; four brothers, Dorsey Turner of Columbia and Leonard Turner, Lavero Turner and Richard Turner, all of Denver; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Her parents and a daughter died earlier.
Earl McKee Kroth
Earl McKee Kroth loved the soil and the outdoors. He was a pioneer in the field of no-till agriculture at MU.
Dr. Kroth died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999. He was 89.
Dr. Kroth was born Nov. 25, 1909, in Foss, Okla. to John and Mary Edna Tweedy Kroth. Dr. Kroth graduated from Denison High School in 1928. He attended Tarkio College and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1934. He received a master's degree from Kansas State College of Agriculture in 1941 and a doctoral degree from Ohio State in 1946.
Dr. Kroth served with the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters from November 1943 to June 1946. He also served as a lieutenant on a merchant marine ship. Dr. Kroth worked for a short time in Ithaca, N.Y., and Brownsville, Texas, after he completed his studies at Ohio State.
In 1953, Dr. Kroth went to Assiut, Egypt, as an agricultural specialist with the Presbyterian Church. He was also involved in the Jersey Herd Project in Egypt. The project aimed to improve the food supply of Egypt.
Dr. Kroth helped introduce American cows, sheep and chickens into Egyptian villages, according to his wife, Ruth Ann, whom he married in Assiut in 1956. The new animals bred with native animals to improve the food and wool supply, she said.
In October 1956, Dr. Kroth accepted a position with the Soil And Water Conservation staff at the University of Missouri. He joined the faculty of the soils department at MU in 1959 and continued there until his retirement in 1980 as professor emeritus of agronomy.
Toward the end of his career, Dr. Kroth became interested in the no-till agricultural method. It involved minimal tilling of farmland to reduce runoff and prevent erosion. Ruth Ann Kroth said her husband was very interested in helping farmers improve the stewardship of their land.
C.L. Scrivner, who retired from the soils department 15 years ago, was familiar with Dr. Kroth's work.
"He was a very dedicated person and believed in what he was doing," Scrivner said. "It was a new idea that he brought to the university."
Dr. Kroth was awarded an honorary degree of doctor of humane letters by Tarkio College in May 1984. He was a member and elder of First Presbyterian Church. He taught the sixth-grade Sunday School classes for many years and was a supporter of the Boy Scouts of America. He was also a member of the American Legion and the Kiwanis.
Dr. Kroth is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann Kroth of Columbia; a son, Richard Kroth of Houston; a daughter, Shirley Sullivan of Los Angeles; a sister, Reva Bledsoe of Denver; and three grandsons, a great-granddaughter and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services, conducted by the Rev. Charles Dreyer, will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 16 Hitt St., There will be a private family burial service at Memorial Park Cemetery.
David Crowley
David Bartlett Crowley of Columbia died Friday, Oct. 1, 1999, at University Hospital and Clinics. He was 37.
Funeral home officials said Mr. Crowley died of natural causes.
Mr. Crowley was born Oct. 31, 1961, to James F. Crowley and Vera Leigon Crowley. He married Susan Patrick on Aug. 1, 1986.
Mr. Crowley worked for Boone County Adult Court Services as a court service officer. He was a graduate of Columbia College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.
He was a member of the Liberty Baptist Church. He loved playing softball and fishing.
Mr. Crowley is survived by his parents; his wife; two daughters, Rebecca Lynn Crowley and Sarah Lynn Gilmore, both of Columbia; three brothers, William Rawlings of Lebanon, Mo., Gerald Duane Crowley of Joplin, and James Crowley Jr. of Columbia; and one sister, Jeanne Merritt of Columbia.
Services will be at 6:30 p.m. today at Liberty Baptist Church, 7461 N. Brown Station Road. A visitation will be held in the fellowship hall immediately following the services.
Memorials may be sent to The Rebecca Lynn Crowley Trust Fund, c/o Commerce Bank, Providence and Nifong, Columbia, MO 65201.
Linda Faye Cagle Jenkins
Linda Faye Cagle Jenkins of Columbia died Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1999, at Flagstaff Medical Center in Flagstaff, Ariz. She was 44.
The cause of death could not be determined.
Ms. Jenkins was born June 25, 1955, in Sunnyside, Wash., to Marquis and Virgie Cagle.
She married Dwight Jenkins in Las Vegas on Sept. 12, 1998. She was a member of Church of Christ and a licensed practical nurse.
Before to moving to Columbia, she was employed at nursing homes in Wichita and Andover, Kan.
Visitation for Ms. Jenkins was Sunday at Memorial Funeral Home. Services, conducted by the Rev. John Foley, were Monday at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was at Columbia Cemetery.
Ms. Jenkins is survived by her husband, Dwight Jenkins of Columbia; her mother, Virgie Cagle Brake and her stepfather, Leroy Brake both of Columbia; three sons, Marquis Wayne Gordon, Gregory E. Gordon and Stephen J. Gordon, all of Wichita; five brothers, Rocky Cagle Sr. and Joseph Cagle of Columbia, Harry L. Cagle and Mark Cagle of Wichita, and Earl Cagle of Bowling Green; and three grandchildren.
Her father and one son died earlier.
Geraldine Runyan
Geraldine Quisenberry Runyan of Columbia died Saturday, Oct. 2, 1999, at her home after a long battle with cancer. She was 78.
Mrs. Runyan was born Feb. 20, 1921, in Mitchell, S.D., to Lillian Sedig Quisenberry and Garrett Bloomfield Quisenberry.
The family moved to Mexico, Mo., in 1935. Mrs. Runyan graduated from Mexico High School in 1939 and attended Washington University in St. Louis, where she studied fashion design.
She married James Robert Runyan, also of Mexico, on Feb. 8, 1941 in Elkton, Md.
Upon her husband's retirement in 1972, the couple returned to Mexico, where she eventually started an interior design business, The Cellar d'Or. She retired from her business in 1992 and moved to Columbia to enjoy time with her grandchildren.
Visitation for Mrs. Runyan will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Pickering Funeral Home in Mexico. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Eastlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Mexico.
Mrs. Runyan is survived by three children, Robert Martin Runyan of Columbia, James Garrett Runyan of Mexico, and Melany Ann Runyan of Grafton, Mass.; and two grandchildren, Callie and Julie Ann Runyan, both of Columbia.
Her parents and husband died earlier.
Sant-Gurbax Singh
Sant-Gurbax Singh (Sandhu) of Columbia died Sunday, Oct. 3, 1999, at University Hospital and Clinics. He was 78.
Mr. Singh had lived in the United States for six years.
Mr. Singh was born Aug. 6, 1921, in Rangilpur, in the state of Punjab, India, to Sher Singh and Gulab Kaur.
Before his retirement, Mr. Singh was an officer in the Indian Police Service and became a Superintendent of Police for the state of Punjab.
After his retirement, Mr. Singh and his wife moved to the United States to be with their children.
The family will hold private services.
Mr. Singh is survived by his wife, Malminder Kaur of Columbia; one son, Baljit Sandhu of Green Bay, Wis.; two daughters, Kuljit Singh of Columbia, and Ajit Deol of Toronto.
Catherine M. Vaughn
Catherine M. Vaughn of Odessa died Friday, Oct. 1, 1999, at the Lafayette Regional Health Center. She was 83.
Mrs. Vaughn was born Aug. 9, 1916, in McAlester, Okla., to Walter W. and Catherine C. Bartley Mills. She attended Higginsville High School and graduated in 1934.
She married Lee E. Lale in 1939. They divorced in 1958 and in 1959, she married Thomas G. Vaughn, who died in 1976.
Mrs. Vaughn had worked as a house mother for Phi Kappa Psi at MU, and was the former owner of the Friendly Tavern in Independence. She also owned and managed Vaughn Distributing Company in Jefferson City. A member of the First Baptist Church of Odessa, Mrs. Vaughn was also a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 280 in Columbia and the H.G.L. Bridge Club of Odessa.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Terry Hodges, will be at 11 a.m. today at the Ralph O. Jones Chapel, 306 S. Second St. Burial will follow in Odessa Cemetery in Odessa.
Mrs. Vaughn is survived by three daughters, Leanna B. Thompson and Valerie J. Lale of Odessa and Amy C. Luebbering of Sunrise Beach; one brother, William G. Mills of Lincoln; one sister, Pauline Cado of Spokane, Wash.; seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Her brother, Walter W. Mills, died earlier.
Marion Isom
Marion Dorothy Wall Isom was a mother to a lot of people over the years. She is survived not only by five children, four grandchildren, and 22 nieces and nephews, but also by four foster children and hundreds of community members who knew her from her many church activities and her job at MU's Student Health Center.
"Even though they had five kids, she thought they stopped too soon," said Ms. Isom's daughter, Marian Rader of Kansas City. "She could always find an extra place at the table, extra food or an extra seat-belt."
Ms. Isom, born Sept. 5, 1933, in Waterdown, S.D., was the eldest of three children born to Melvin and Ruth Wall. She died Thursday, Sept. 30, 1999, while visiting friends and family in Orlando, Fla. She was 66.
Ms. Isom is survived by five children: Alan Isom and Marian Rader of Kansas City, James Isom of Columbia, Melanie Isom of Orlando, Fla., and Heather Schafe of Joplin.
Her husband and parents died earlier.
Ms. Isom grew up in New Effington, S.D., and was her high school class valedictorian. She married Arthur Ewing Isom in Bismark, N.D. When her children left for college, she looked after four foster children.
Although Ms. Isom was slightly disabled due to her bad knees, she never let that stop her from visiting those close to her.
"People were more important," Rader said. "And she made it a point to be there."
Ms. Isom was a member of the Community United Methodist Church of Columbia. She served two consecutive terms as Worthy Matron for the Order of the Eastern Star in Columbia. She was also active in Show Me Profits Investments Club & Next Millennium Inc., OES Past Matron & Patrons Club, and Community United Methodist Women.
Ms. Isom graduated with a degree in medical technology from Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D. She worked as a medical technician at numerous hospitals and clinics throughout the Midwest before finding her dream job at the Student Health Center, where she loved to treat and mother student athletes. Although she still loved her profession, she retired in 1992.
"She wanted to be a doctor, but in the '50s, women doctors were unheard of. There were no role models," Rader said. "She got no encouragement from her family but still wanted to work in the medical industry. She was a mystery person at heart. She loved figuring out how things worked."
As a tribute to her mom's persistence in the face of obstacles, Ms. Isom's youngest daughter, Heather Shafe, is now an emergency physician in Joplin.
Visitation is today from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services will be held Monday at 11:00 a.m. at Community United Methodist Church, 3301 W. Broadway, followed by the burial at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Memorials can be sent to American Heart Association, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, American Cancer Society - Cancer Research, or Community United Methodist Church of Columbia.
LaVerne Coose
LaVerne Coose of Columbia died Tuesday, Sept. 28, 1999, at her home. She was 85.
Mrs. Coose was born June 26, 1914, in Beardstown, Ill., to Hurley J. and Frances R. Lamb Trout. In 1937, she married Drew Polly. She was then married to Neal Neilson for several years. On June 10, 1981, she married Barry Coose.
Mrs. Coose worked for many years at University Hospital and Clinics before she retired.
She is survived by three grandchildren, Terrance Polly of Columbia, and Lynne Polly and Heidi Speer, both of Seattle, Wash.; and three great-grandchildren.
Her son and third husband died earlier.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Mudd-Veach Funeral Home in Bowling Green, Mo.
Services will be conducted by the Rev. Robert Warren at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. at the Beardstown City Cemetery in Beardstown, Ill.
Memorials may be sent to Homeless Children's Charities or animal shelters.
Genevieve Devine
Genevieve Collier Devine of Columbia died Thursday, Sept. 30, 1999, at North Village Park in Moberly. She was 81.
Mrs. Devine was born July 2, 1918, in Gravois Mills to James H. and Edna Williams Collier.
She was a graduate of the University of Missouri. For 37 years she taught school in Cole, Morgan and Boone counties.
She was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Parker Funeral Home, 22 N. 10th St. Services, conducted by Dr. Paul Jerrett, will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Calvary Baptist Church, 606 Ridgeway. Burial will be in Latham.
Mrs. Devine is survived by two daughters, Anne Devine Myrabo of Seattle, and Sue Devine Green of New York; two sisters, Gerald I. Silvey of Kansas City, and Janice Houk of Palm Bay, Fla.; one granddaughter; one step-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
Two brothers died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to Calvary Baptist Church.
