Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO
Local Obituaries for the Week of February 11, 2004
James L. Coffman Sr.
James L. Coffman Sr., son of L.N. Coffman and Jessie (Judson) Coffman, was
born July 13, 1909, in Dent County, Missouri, and entered into rest
February 4, 2004, in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of 94 years, 6 months
and 22 days.
James was united in marriage to Ora Fay Padgett on May 20, 1933. They were
the parents of two sons. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife,
Ora Fay on November 6, 2001; one brother, Max Coffman; one sister, Lucille
Coffman; and one grandson-in-law, Captain Benton Zettel.
Survivors include two sons, James Coffman and wife, Mary, of Salem; and
Robert Coffman and wife, Nan, of Cuba; six grandchildren, Kimberly Stock
and husband, Jon, of Manchester; Karen Weisman and husband, Tim, of
Sarasota, Florida; Kathryn Craft and husband, Mike, of Nixa; Elizabeth
Breidecker and husband, Rob, of St. Louis; Carrie Snider and husband,
Brandon, of Salem; and Molly Zettel, of Las Vegas, Nevada; nine great
grandchildren; sister-in-law, Vivian Padgett, of West Plains; nephew, Jay
Padgett, also of West Plains and two nieces, Suzanne Ball, of Salem and
Julia Padgett, of Arizona.
James was a member of Salem Christian Church, formerly First Christian,
for many years. He worked at Roberts-Judson Lumber Company for 73 years.
James was past Master of Salem Masonic Lodge, one of the founders of
Salem Chamber of Commerce and of the Salem Rotary Club.
James was a loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He will
be sadly missed by all who loved him.
Funeral service for James L. Coffman Sr. was at 11 a.m. Friday, February
6, 2004 at Salem Christian Church with Rod Farthing and Tim Hill
officiating. Music was provided by Leon Seneker as soloist with Karen
Brown as organist. Pallbearers were Rob Breidecker, Jon Stock, Mike Craft,
Brandon Snider, Sandy Ball III and Scott Ball. Interment was in Cedar Grove
Cemetery, with all arrangements under the direction of James and Gahr Mortuary.
Walter Conrad Eickelmann
Walter Conrad Eickelmann of Cuba, Missouri was born on October 11, 1954 in
St. Louis, Missouri to the union of Elmer Clarence Eickelmann and Dolores
Miller Eickelmann and passed away suddenly on February 7, 2004 at the
Missouri Baptist Hospital, Sullivan, Missouri at the age of 49 years, 3
months and 26 days.
On September 3, 1977 Walter was united in marriage to Patsy L. Woodson in
Sedalia, Missouri. Two children, Robert and Tanna, were born to this
union. They have been happily married for 26 years.
Walter was also preceded in death by his father Elmer Clarence Eickelmann.
Walter was an elder in the Trinity Chapel and worked for the Lewis Tool
and Machine Company.
Those who survive to mourn his passing from this life are his loving wife
Patsy L. Eickelmann; children Robert and Tanna Eickelmann; mother Dolores
Eickelmann; mother-in-law Lucille Woodson; two brothers Fred Eickelmann
and wife Evette and Karl Eickelmann; nieces; nephews; other relatives and
many friends.
Walter was a devoted husband, loving father, son, brother, good friend to
all who knew him and will be sadly missed
Walter Conrad Eickelmann was in state at the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba,
Missouri. Funeral services were held on Monday, February 9, 2004 at 11
a.m. at the Trinity Chapel, Cuba, Missouri with Gary Mace officiating.
Interment was in the Meramec Hills Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri. All
arrangements were under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba,
Missouri.
Gene Autry Jay
Gene Autry Jay was born Thursday, February 9, 1950, at Walnut Ridge,
Arkansas, a son of the late Henry Jay and Irene Lawson Jay.
He departed this life Saturday, January 31, 2004, at his home in Rolla,
Missouri, at the age of 53 years, 11 months and 22 days.
On September 7, 1978, at Huntsville, Missouri, Gene was united in marriage
to Delorse Payne, daughter of Gladys Payne and the late Roba Payne. They
enjoyed their 25th wedding anniversary in 2003.
Among those who remain to mourn his passing are his wife, Delorse Jay and
two children, Kimberly Jay and Richard Jay; two brothers, Richard Jay and
wife Jean of Sufflock, Virginia, John Jay of Alton, Missouri.
Six sisters, Loubelle Curtis of Bourbon, Missouri, Mary Gibson and husband
Jack of Trayer, Missouri, Gloria Burse and husband Junior of Hornbeak,
Tennessee, Billie Coleman and husband Jerry of Salt Lake, Utah, Rose
Simmons of Alton, Missouri and Cindy Eggert of West Plains, Missouri.
Mother-in-law Gladys Payne; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Geraldine
and Ben Littrell, Carol and Roy Hyatt, Joyce and Harold Stufflebean, Roger
and Norma Payne, all of Rolla, Missouri; Pauline and Clarence Williams of
House Springs, Missouri, Clara Hoerstkamp and friend Joe Price of
Sullivan, Arnold and Yuni Payne, Kenny Payne, all of Leslie, Missouri;
Donna and Dave Jarvis of Salem, Missouri and Jim and Carol Payne of Vichy,
Missouri; nieces, nephews, cousins, many other relatives and friends.
Gene worked for Kingsford Manufacturing for 23 years as a production
laborer. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. Gene will be sadly missed by all
who knew him.
Gene Autry Jay lay in sate from 3-8 p.m. Monday, February 2, 2004 at the
Britton Brothers Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Funeral services were
held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 3, 2004 in the Britton Chapel with Rev.
Gary Lane officiating assisted by Rev. Steven Diehl. Musical selections
were provided by Carol Payne. Committal prayers and interment were in the
Steelville Cemetery, Steelville, Missouri. Serving as pallbearers were
Terak Backues, Darrell Burnett, Joe Crull, Tom Gieck, Randy Jones, Steve
Miller and George Moody. Arrangements were entrusted to the Britton Funeral
Home, Steelville, Missouri.
Mary Ann Leasor
Mary Ann Leasor, of Ava, Ill passed away at 1:30 a.m., Monday,
February 2, 2004 at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital, Murphysboro, Ill at the age
of 74 years, 11 months and 17 days.
She was born in Randolph County, Ill on Friday, February 15, 1929 to
William Cross and Turzie Crisler Cross.
She was married to Billy Gene Leasor December 24, 1946 at St. Louis, Mo.
She was a retiree from Brown Shoe Company in Steelville, Missouri.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Flora Bradshaw, Wilma
Leasor, Joellen Brunkhorst-Mann and Alice Creasy, brothers Willard Cross
and Paul Cross.
She is survived by her husband, Billy Gene Leasor, Ava, Ill., children
Billy and Katherine Leasor of Green River, Wy; Donna and Lawrence Graff of
Murphysboro, Ill; Robert and Pamela Leasor of Cherryville, Mo.
Grandchildren, Christopher Leasor, Kimberly Keeney, Lisa Gill, Michelle
Graff, Rick Leasor, Robert Leasor, and Ron Leasor. Great grandchildren
Tori and Malorie Gill, Deanna Leasor.
Step grandchildren Dustin Bogle and Tinya McClure and step great
grandchildren Dyllan and Taylor McClure and Bryor Bogle.
Brothers Daniel and LaWanda Cross, Donald and Ann Cross, Ronald and
Priscilla Cross all of Ava, Ill; and David Cross of Louisville, Ky.
Visitation was from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday, February 4 and Thursday, February
5 from 7:30 a.m. until the service which was held at 10 a.m. at Wilson's
Funeral Home in Ava, Ill, with Rev. Evon McWherter officiating. Burial was
in Oakland Cemetery in Carbondale, Ill.
Louie Bernard Stotler
Louie Bernard Stotler was born Saturday, November 20, 1919, at Sligo,
Missouri, a son of the late James Stotler and Clara (Feltz) Stotler.
He entered eternal rest Wednesday, February 4, 2004, at Barnes Jewish
Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of 84 years, 2 months and 14
days.
Louie's father passed away when he was two years old. From an early age he
worked at Stough's Meat Market and the Kroger Store in Steelville. On
November 20, 1941, at Rolla, Missouri, Louie was married to Audra Dowdy.
They had one son, Michael L. Stotler and enjoyed over 62 years together,
making their home on Robin Hill Drive, Steelville, since 1955.
In addition to his parents, Louie was preceded in death by his son,
Michael, (June 13, 2000) and four sisters, Lucille Sample, Pauline Reed,
Marie Boyd and Elizabeth Farrar.
He was inducted in the United States Army September 14, 1943 and after
eight weeks of basic training at Camp Grant, Illinois, he was shipped to
England as a Paramedic. When he and his comrades arrived in Liverpool,
England, Louie recalled that it was quite a shock when they were told that
they were replacement troops for the front line and a lot of them would
probably not make it back home alive. His unit was joined with battalions
from England, France and Belgium. Louie and his comrades took an active
part in reclaiming the beaches of Normandy during the massive and
monumental D-Day Invasion during the war.
Recently when asked about his war memories, Louie said "after all these
years you can't remember much, just C-rations, sleeping on the ground or
in a fox hole and chasing the enemy across Europe." His unit was captured
in Northwestern Germany and he spent nine months in the German prison camp
at Stalag 7, near Munich, Germany.
Louis was honorably discharged from the Army, October 15, 1945. For
faithful, honorable and heroic service to his country, he was awarded the
Purple Heart, Four Battle Star Medals, the Bronze Star, The European
Theatre Operations Medal, The Medic Combat Medal and the Good Conduct
Medal.
Recently the Governor of Missouri awarded him the Jubilee Liberty Medal
with the inscription: "The people of the United States, the State of
Missouri and the People of France are forever grateful for your
contribution to ensuring our unprecedented freedom and prosperity."
In 1948 he took a position with the Steelville Post Office where he worked
for 30 years, retiring in 1976. Everyone who visited the post office
enjoyed his good humor and friendly service. The Community of Steelville
salutes you, Louie Bernard Stotler.
Among those who remain to mourn his passing are his devoted wife, Audra
Stotler of the home; daughter-in-law, Sharon Stotler of Hazelwood,
Missouri, one grandson, Matthew Stotler and wife Laura, also of Hazelwood,
Missouri; one granddaughter, Heather and husband Tom Scharer of Bridgeton,
Missouri; one great granddaughter, Nora May Scharer; nieces, nephews,
cousins, other relatives and many friends.
Louie Bernard Stotler lay in state 4-8 p.m. Friday, February 6, 2004, at
the Britton Brothers Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Funeral services
were held 11 a.m. Saturday, February 7, 2004 in the Britton Chapel with
Dr. Cardis Bryan officiating. Musical selections were provided by organist
Deloris Bell. Interment was in Steelville Cemetery, with full Military Honors
provided by the Funeral Support and Military Team from Fort Leonard Wood,
Missouri, including Firing Party, Flag folding and presentation. Bugler was
Harry Eaton from Sullivan, Missouri V.F.W. Honor Guard provided by Jim Cain
and Ken Brown of Post 6479, Steelville, Missouri. Serving as pallbearers were
Matthew Stotler, Joe Cauffman, Dennis W. Dowdy, James M. Dowdy, Kem L.
Schwieder and Mark Schwieder. Honorary pallbearers were James Dulany, Jack
Farmer, Larry Laney, Lester McBenge, and Leroy Pinnell. Arrangements entrusted
to Britton Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri.
Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the
Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site.
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