Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO
Local Obituaries for the Week of Jan. 2, 2002
William Henry "Budge" Gunn
William Henry "Budge" Gunn of Cuba, Missouri, passed away at his home
on Dec. 21, 2001 at the age of 87. Budge, as his family and friends knew
him, was born in St Louis, Mo. on December 13, 1914 to the union of William
Henry Gunn and Lillian Pearl (Cook) Gunn. He was preceded in death by his
parents and wife, Winifred.
On May 2, 1947 Budge was united in marriage to Winifred Ann Moody. Three
sons and six daughters were born to this union. They enjoyed 47 years
together.
Those who survive to mourn his passing are his nine children: Lillian
McCann and husband Hoyt of Cuba, Mo.; William H. (Bill) Gunn and wife Linda
of Cuba, Mo.; Robert H. (Bobby) Gunn of Cuba and fiance Sheila Walker of
Edmond, Ok.; Margaret Rousset and husband Glenn of St. Clair, Mo.; Raymond
D. (Buddy) Gunn of St James, Mo.; Mary A. Gunn of Muskogee, Ok.; Christine
U. Durbin and husband Gary of Cuba, Mo.; Catherine H. Goyette and husband
Rich of Knoxville, Tenn.; Winifred M. Gunn and husband Robert Fleming of
Rolla, Mo.
Budge is survived by two sisters and one brother, Ursula, Helen and Dan
Gunn, all of Cuba, Mo. He is survived by 16 grandchildren: Janice Brummet,
Bill Taber, Hoyt McCann III, Christopher B. McCann, William H. (Billy) Gunn
IV, Angela Gunn, Robert (Bobby) Gunn Jr., Janet Gunn, Johnny Gunn, Jim
White,
Jason White, Joe White, Jessica Gunn, Justin Gunn, Rachel Durbin, Jenny
Gibbs,
and 17 great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by sister-in-law Mary Moody of Jefferson City,
brother-in-law
Phil Murphy of St. Louis, and first cousins Francis Nixon of Cuba and
Wilbur Cook of Fl., as well as several nieces and nephews, and many
friends.
Budge was a life-long resident of Cuba. His grandfather, Henry Gunn, was
one of the first settlers in the Cuba area, arriving in the late 1850's.
Budge was a friend to all and enemy to none. He lived through trying times,
a witness to depression and prosperity, to war and to peace, to strife, and
to tranquility. Yet he always continued his love for his wife, honor to his
parents and devotion to his children, grandchildren and
great-grandchildren.
He lived his life with honesty, integrity, hard work and creativity.
A member of the "Greatest Generation," he served in the US Army for four
years, serving in the Southern
Pacific Campaign during WWII as a medical technician and ambulance driver.
He received ribbons for good conduct, and also received a Bronze Star.
Besides raising his family with his wife, he worked for the Frisco
Railroad, and opened graves for Shanklin, Hoener and Britton Funeral Homes
for over 45 years. Budge was also a talented carpenter and bricklayer.
Budge spent many years coon and squirrel hunting, fishing, spoonbill
snagging, and frog gigging with his life-long friends.
Budge was a practical joker, loved to tell stories and was extremely witty
and insightful. He enjoyed gardening and each year waited anxiously for
spring to plant vegetables and flowers. He had many years of outstanding
garden displays with an abundance of vegetables that supplied not only his
immediate family, but also his
friends and people of the community. He also enjoyed playing cards (and
winning)
with his family. In his younger days he was an exceptional pool player.
Budge will be sadly missed by his family and by all that knew him. He will
live on in the hearts of his family and friends.
William Henry "Budge" Gunn was in state at the Britton Funeral Home of
Cuba, Mo. where funeral services were held on Monday, Dec. 24, 2001, at 1
p.m. with Rev. Mike Goodwin officiating. Eulogies were given by Gary Durbin
and Don Britton. Great-grandchildren Zak Farmer and Chelsea Taber sang
inspirational hymns. His grandsons served as pallbearers. Honorary
pallbearers were Dan Gunn, Francis Nixon, Billy Basham, Charlie Carey and
Walter Ahrens.
Interment was at the Kinder Cemetery in Cuba. All arrangements were under
the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Mo.
Hector P. Ramori
Hector Peter Ramori, Jr. was born on February 2, 1913, the son of Italian
immigrants Hector Peter Ramori, Sr. and Argentina Zetta Vitali from
Bologna, Italy. He died at his home on Monday, December 24, 2001 at the age
of 88 years, 10 months and 22 days.
Hector was born in Knobview, Mo. where his father was one of the first to
settle. His family owned a General Store and a grape vineyard there.
Hector grew up in a large, unique two story house with seven other
siblings. In later years, he would always tell stories about how things
were, in what he always called the 'Big House'. His stories were always so
warm and real to life that you could just feel what it was like there. It
made you want to go back and be there and live all those times over with
him. His upbringing and family values are things that are not commonly
found today. He was raised in a strong Catholic background where family
comes first no matter what the sacrifice. He taught this to his own family
and he would do without, just to make sure his family and friends had
enough.
On May 29, 1950, Hector was united in marriage to Lillian Kingston. To this
union four children were born. He served his country during WWII as a Staff
Sgt. Medic in the U.S. Army and received two bronze stars for his service.
Hector worked several years in a factory manufacturing metal cabinets.
In later years, he bought a beautiful little farm on Route 66 just outside
Cuba, where he loved to grow a big garden, tend to a small grape vineyard
and make good home-made wine. He loved to give away his extra vegetables to
family and friends. He also raised cattle and grew a nice hay crop there
every year. Hector was a warm, wonderful husband, father, and grandfather
who loved to be surrounded by his family and friends, all who will sadly
miss and fondly remember Hector P. Ramori.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and four sisters, Julia Paule,
Katie Piazza, Nellie Piazza and Inez Paulsell.
Those who remain to mourn his death are his dear wife Lillian of the home,
two sons Gary Ramori of Cuba and Damon Ramori and wife Teresa of St. James,
Mo.; two daughters Beverly Russek and husband Joe of St. Louis, Mo., Karen
Rutz and husband Eddie of Cuba, Mo.; one brother Domenic J. Ramori and wife
Daphna of Cuba, Mo.; two sisters Louise Stark of Palm Springs, Florida, and
Ernestine Bond of St. Louis, Mo.; sisters-in-law Eileen Dudley of
Independence, Mo. and Mabel Flaim of St. James, Mo.; one brother-in-law
Lloyd Kingston and wife Sarah of Roseburg, Oregon; seven grandchildren,
Michael Russek, Michelle Hodge, Brandy Hodge, Amy Rutz, Aaron Rutz, Adam
Rutz and Andrew Rutz.
Visitation was held on Wednesday, December 26, 2001 from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
at Hutson Funeral Home in Cuba, Mo.
Funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, December 26, 2001 at 10:45 a.m. at Holy
Cross Catholic Church, Cuba, Mo. with Rev. Robert Duesdieker officiating.
Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Cuba, Mo. Pallbearers were Damon Ramori,
Gary Ramori, Michael Russek, Aaron Rutz, Adam Rutz, Joe Russek, and Eddie
Rutz.
Arrangements were under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Mo.
Melody M. Sykes
Melody Mary Sykes nee Tatum was born in Deventer, Mo. on February 9, 1915
to Morgan Tatum and Mary Sams Tatum. She passed away on December 23, 2001
at the age of 86 years, 10 months and 14 days.
Melody was united in marriage to Trevor Jack Burge and to this union two
children were born. Just prior to WWII, following the great flood of 1937,
the family moved to St. Louis. Melody went to work as a seamstress making
ladies clothing at Lane Bryant Fashion. Subsequent to working for Lane
Bryant, she worked at the American Can Company, which during WW
manufactured torpedoes for the Navy.
Later she married John Gray from Steelville, Mo. and for a period of time
they ran a General Store in Leasburg, Mo.
On September 30, 1969 Melody married Charles Freeman Sykes and lived in
Cuba, Mo. since 1990. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Cuba,
Mo. Melody enjoyed her years as a housewife, especially cooking and baking.
She loved working in the garden, both with flowers and vegetables. She
canned all of the vegetables from her garden and shared the crops with many
friends in the area.
Those who preceded her in death are her parents; one son Trevor Burge;
husbands Trevor Jack Burge, and John Gray; four brothers Bryant, Trevor,
Buster and J. C. Tatum; and step-daughter, Joan Callahan.
Those who remain to mourn her passing are her husband Freeman of the home;
one daughter, Frances Earp and husband Jerry of San Diego, California;
step-children Charles E. Sykes and wife Joan of St. Charles, Mo., Janet
Tucker and husband Rex of W. Florissant, Mo., Donna Eifert and husband
Jerry of St. Charles, Mo.; one son-in-law Clarence Callahan of Cherryville,
Mo.; two brothers James Tatum and wife Della, Charles Tatum and wife Violet
and sister Laverne Jones all of East Prairie, Mo.; three granddaughters
Terry, Susie and Tammy of San Diego, California; seven step-grandchildren
and 10 step-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, all
who will sadly miss and fondly remember Melody M. Sykes.
Visitation was held on Thursday, December 27, 2001 from 6-8 p.m. at Hutson
Funeral Home in Cuba, Mo. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Friday,
December 28, 2001 at Hutson Funeral Home in Cuba, Mo. with Rev. Eric Smith
officiating. Burial was in Kinder Cemetery, Cuba, mo. All arrangements were
under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home in Cuba, Mo.
---------
Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the
Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site.
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