Larry Gayle Bottoms
Larry Gayle Bottoms of Jefferson City died of cancer Tuesday, July 16, 2002, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 63.
Mr. Bottoms was born July 4, 1939, to Hayden Meredith and Agnes Virginia Wingate Bottoms in Boonville. He graduated from Prairie Home R-V High School.
Mr. Bottoms married Patsy Surface on May 29, 1971, in Jefferson City, and she survives. Mr. Bottoms owned and operated Bottoms Standard Station, was a salesman for Prigmore Chevrolet and worked at the Boonville Training School for Boys.
He was a signing and marking inspector for the Missouri Department of Transportation until his retirement. He then worked for Riverview Cemetery.
Mr. Bottoms also enjoyed fishing, woodworking and having garage sales. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church.
Mr. Bottoms is survived by his mother; two sons, Kelly Bottoms of Harrisonville and Michael Bottoms of Brighton; one daughter, Diana Wiebusch of Peculiar; two sisters, Shirley Lucas of Prairie Home and Becky Weston of Columbia; eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Visitation for Mr. Bottoms will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Houser- Millard Funeral Directors- Jefferson City Chapel, 2613 W. Main St.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Alvin Lange, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Faith Lutheran Church, 2027 Industrial Drive, Jefferson City. Burial will be at Riverview Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the Faith Lutheran Church.
Dr. Clarence Mott "Jack" Pickard
For a man who never sought the limelight, Dr. Clarence Mott "Jack" Pickard touched the lives of many people through his gentleness and kindness.
Dr. Pickard died Sunday, July 14, 2002, in Columbia. He was 78.
He was born on Oct. 24, 1923, to Clarence Luther Pickard and Sara Mildred Mott Pickard, in Ames, Iowa. He married Florence Estelle "Erica" Carlan in Topeka, Kan. on Oct. 9, 1954.
He received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore in 1948. Dr. Pickard served as a commander in the Naval Reserve and was chief of staff at Boone Hospital Center from 1970 to 1971.
In addition to practicing internal medicine for 35 years in Columbia, he devoted most of his extra time to advancing the rights of and improving life for the developmentally disabled.
Active on the board of directors of Boone County Group Homes & Family Support, Dr. Pickard stressed independence for people with disabilities. Les Wagner, executive director of Boone County Group Homes & Family Support, said Dr. Pickard was both an inspiration and a pioneer.
"He helped form this agency," Wagner said. "He said he wanted to have teaching-oriented group homes; he emphasized teaching people to be as self-sufficient as possible."
Wagner said Dr. Pickard's dedication to helping the developmentally disabled stemmed from having a developmentally disabled child.
"He became convinced through his own personal experience to teach people to be as self-sufficient as possible."
Dr. Pickard also proved himself to be a reliable co-worker and friend time and time again.
"We could always count on Jack to be there," Wagner said. "We could call him day or night, and he would always take the call."
However, Dr. Pickard rarely, if ever, talked about his accomplishments.
"It's hard to overstate the role he quietly played in the community in improving life for the developmentally disabled," Wagner said. "You combine his warmth with his wisdom, and it was just remarkable."
Wagner said Dr. Pickard was not all work and no play, though; he praised Dr. Pickard's sense of humor.
"He would find the irony in situations," Wagner said. "He had a creative social humor." In addition to his devotion to the Boone County Group Homes & Family Support, Dr. Pickard was a medical consultant for Fulton State Hospital for 30 years and was the medical director at Woodhaven Learning Center for several years. He also served as the president of the Boone County office of the American Cancer Society.
In his spare time, Dr. Pickard enjoyed reading, especially genealogical works. He was a member of several genealogical societies, such as the Sons of the American Revolution and the National Huguenot Society.
Wagner said Dr. Pickard's interest in family roots stemmed from his devotion to his parents.
"He was very fond of his family," Wagner said. "He spoke very highly of his parents." He recalled that Dr. Pickard took pride in his 90-year-old father participating in a bicycle marathon and used the event as an opportunity to educate.
"He told it from the idea that his father would start early in the day and ride very slowly," Wagner said. "It was one of the ways he had of praising the value of perseverance."
Donald Burnett, who sat on the boards of the Boone County Group Homes & Support and Friends of the Boone County Group Homes & Support with Dr. Pickard, said they were colleagues, as well as friends, for 25 to 30 years.
"I admired him for being a good board member, parent and friend," Burnett said. "He was an excellent doctor, too. He was one of the finest men I ever met."
Dorothy Pace, one of Dr. Pickard's first patients, said she always was impressed with his sweet nature and dedication.
"He was kind and gentle," Pace said. "He was such a nice fellow. It's hard to know he's not going to be at the next Friends of the Boone County Group Homes & Support meeting."
Dr. Pickard is survived by his wife of 47 years, three sons Carlan Brent and Emmett Blair Pickard both of Columbia and Reid Haskell Pickard of Overland Park, Kan.; and Lydia Windsor Pickard of Columbia.
The family is planning a memorial service to be announced at a later date.
Memorials may be sent to Friends of the Boone County Group Homes & Family Support, c/o Don Burnett, 1209 E. Walnut St., Columbia, Mo. 65201, or to the charity of one's choice.
Helen A. H. Parker
Helen Ann Harris Parker of Columbia died Monday, July 15, 2002, at University Hospital from a cystic infection. She was 62.
Mrs. Parker was born Aug. 18, 1939, in Fayette to George Lee and Irene Panel Harris, and she was adopted by John Henry and Mary Eliza Williams as an infant.
She married Ray Cecil Parker in Fayette in 1957. He died earlier.
Mrs. Parker moved to Columbia with her children in the mid-1980s to work while her husband stayed in Fulton due to health problems.
Mrs. Parker worked as a nurse in Fayette and later began working at University Hospital. She raised four kids and she used to say that she had to stick with what her kids would need: nursing and good food. Mrs. Parker also worked as a cook at MU.
Before she moved to Columbia, Mrs. Parker would drive from Fayette to Columbia to work at the higher paying hospital, because she knew she would need more money as her children grew older, her son, Ray Cecil Parker Jr. said.
"She drove up and down the road every day," he said. "I can think of maybe twice that she couldn't make it home. It didn't matter what the weather was; she always came home because we were her responsibilities. She rarely asked for help from anyone else."
Mrs. Parker was the first African American from Howard County to attend school with whites, and she was the first African American to graduate from Sumner High School in Boonville.
"She caught hell. She dealt with it and she stood strong," Ray Cecil Parker Jr. said. Ray Cecil Parker Jr. said that even though his mother raised her children alone, she never received public assistance.
"People have told us we were the most manerable children," he said. "She had guidelines and rules, but she still allowed us to be kids."
Visitation will be at noon Thursday, followed by services at 2 p.m. at the Second Baptist Church in Fayette. Services will be conducted by the Rev. Horace Hopkins. Burial will be at the Fayette City Cemetery.
Mrs. Parker is survived by two sons, Ray Cecil Parker Jr. of Columbia and John Henri Parker of Potosi; two daughters, Marla Rae Smith of St. Louis and Sandra Parker of Columbia; three sisters, Mary Hill of Phoenix; Georgia Harris and Doris Broadus, both of Columbia; and six grandchildren.
Her parents, one brother and one sister died earlier.
Khue Chau
Khue Chau of Columbia died Tuesday, July 16, 2002, at West Village Manor. He was 84.
Mr. Chau was born Sept. 29, 1917, in Canton, China, to La and Trinh Chau.
While in China, he spent 15 years working in plastic recycling.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Memorial Funeral Home.
He is survived by his son, Joe Chau of Columbia; two daughters, Khanh Ngoc Chau of Vietnam and Khanh Chau of Rochester, NY; 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
His wife, Phuong Hao Luu, and his parents died earlier.
Mary Geneva Emery
Mary Geneva Emery loved doing things for other people, her son Don Emery said. He described her as a "very independent, strong-willed Christian lady."
She once took a neighborhood girl into her home after the girl had a baby. Mrs. Emery set up a bed in her living room and cared for the girl until she was back on her feet. Her son said there was just a kindness about her.
Mrs. Emery of Sylvan Dale died Sunday, July 14, 2002, in Liberty, Mo. She was 89. She was born March 8, 1913, in Kansas City to Jesse and Mary McNeil Kemp.
On July 15, 1934, she married Lawrence V. Emery, who was a neighboring farmer. He died earlier.
Mrs. Emery worked at the Nevada State Hospital as a psychiatric aide until her retirement. Mr. and Mrs. Emery were founding members of the Sylvan Dale Baptist Church. Mrs. Emery served as secretary to the area Southern Baptist Association of Churches.
In addition to her love and compassion for people was a love of genealogy and her flowers - her favorite being irises.
Mrs. Emery is survived by two daughters, Marilyn McFadden of Kansas City and Kathy Steele of Sedalia; two sons, Larry Emery of Warsaw, Mo., and Don Emery of Columbia; a sister, Carol Kemp Walker of Kansas City; a sister-in-law, Marie Kemp of Kansas City; fourteen grandchildren; and twenty-one great-grandchildren.
A sister and one brother died earlier.
Visitation will be at noon today at the Evergreen Memorial Chapel, 421 Centennial Blvd., Nevada, Mo., and the family will receive friends at Evergreen Memorial Chapel on Thursday from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m., when the procession leaves.
Graveside services, conducted by John Nichols, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Moore Cemetery in Nevada, Mo.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Sylvan Dale Baptist Church in care of Evergreen Memorial Chapel, P.O. Box 894, Nevada, Mo., 64772.
Edward Reed
Edward Reed, formerly of Centralia, died Sunday, July 14, 2002, at Truman Veterans Hospital, where he was a patient for the last seven months. He was 84.
He was born Aug. 13, 1917, in Effingham, Ill., to Mose and Felda Rhoades Reed. He married Goldie Goforth in 1943, who died earlier.
Mr. Reed served in the Navy during World War II. He farmed west of Centralia for many years and raised bees.
Mr. Reed is survived by his two daughters, Sharon Henderson of Troy and Sandra Reed of Dadeville; three sisters, Charlene Williams and Shirley Evans, both of Mattoon, Ill., and Imogene Lambert of Colorado Springs, Colo.; five grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
His son, Douglas Edward Reed, one brother and two sisters died earlier.
Visitation for Mr. Reed will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Meador and Son Funeral Home at Rollins and Sneed streets in Centralia. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Meador and Son Chapel.
Wilma Lee Hill
Wilma Lee Hill of Fayette died Friday, July 12, 2002, at Fayette Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was 85.
Mrs. Hill was born July 4, 1917, in Fayette to Ernest and Anne Tolson.
She married Waymon I. Hill on Nov. 30, 1945 in Mexico, Mo., while Mr. Hill was serving in the U.S. Army.
Mrs. Hill worked at University Hospital for 14 years as a medical technician. Before she was married, Mrs. Hill was employed by the Bond and Green families in Mexico, where she helped raise Christopher "Kit" Bond and Arthur Bond.
She was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Fayette since 1936, serving for many years as the church secretary-treasurer. Mrs. Hill was also a member and former president of the St. Paul United Methodist Women's Group and the St. Paul's Women's Society.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Carr-Yager Funeral Home in Fayette. Services, conducted by the Rev. Kevin Coleman, the Rev. Michael Jackman, and the Rev. Kevyn Amos, will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Fayette. Burial will be at Fayette Cemetery.
Mrs. Hill is survived by her husband; one daughter, Gwendolyn Gene Collins of Higginsville; one sister, Fannie Marie Tolson of Higginsville; two grandchildren; one great grandson; and many nieces and nephews.
One brother, Ernest W. Tolson, Jr; and two sisters, Merrill Tolson Willis and Alma Bell Tolson, died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to St. Paul United Methodist Church in care of Carr-Yager Funeral Home, 204 N. Linn St., Fayette, Mo. 65248.
Joseph T. Kuntz
Joseph T. Kuntz of Centralia died Thursday, July 11, 2002, at Truman Veterans Hospital in Columbia. He was 77.
He was born Oct. 16, 1924, in Centralia to Leo Philip and Mary Goldie Harshbarger Kuntz. He graduated from Paris High School.
Mr. Kuntz married Ann Marie T. Ziemba on March 19, 1963.
Mr. Kuntz retired from the Army as a chief warrant officer. He served in World War II and the Korean War. He was a retired helicopter pilot.
"He was strictly a patriotic man," his wife said. "He was a very lovable family man and patriotic soldier. He lived for his country."
He received several medals for his military involvement, including the World War II Victory Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
Mr. Kuntz was an active Republican. He was involved in preserving the American flag and the Pledge of Allegiance, his wife said.
Visitation will be from noon until 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Meador and Son Funeral Home at Sneed and Rollins streets in Centralia.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Meador and Son Chapel. Burial will be at a later date. There will be military services at the time of burial.
Mr. Kuntz is survived by his wife; two sons, Joseph Thomas Kuntz Jr. of Columbia and Michael Patrick Kuntz of Popular Bluff; and one grandson.
His brother, Chester Kuntz, and sister, Martha Everhart, died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the Friendship Christian Church, 2045 Highway EE, Centralia, Mo. 65240.
Marie O. Ballew
Marie Old Ballew of Hallsville died Thursday, July 11, 2002, at Boone Hospital Center. She was 93.
Mrs. Ballew was born March 30, 1909, in Nashville to David and Elizabeth Old. She married Elgin Turner Ballew on Feb. 14, 1929.
Mrs. Ballew was involved in many church and community activities. She worked for many years as a drapery designer and seamstress at Tina Fabrics in Columbia.
"She was a good mother to seven children," said her son Ronnie Ballew.
Visitation for Mrs. Ballew will be from 2 to 3 p.m. today at Grandview Baptist Church. Services, conducted by the Rev. Jim Smith and the Rev. John Martin, will be at 3 p.m. today at Grandview Baptist Church.
Mrs. Ballew is survived by four sons, Billy Ballew and Elgin Eugene Ballew, both of Columbia, Richard Ballew of Rocheport, and Ronnie Ballew of Hallsville; and three daughters, Willowdean Robinson of Arlington, Texas; Marjorie Ann VanHorn of Jefferson City; and Janet Wilson of Hallsville.
Her parents and husband died earlier.
Memorials for Mrs. Ballew may be sent to Grandview Baptist Church Building Fund, 8300 Route Z, Centralia, Mo. 65240.
