Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of September 20, 2000 Christina Adeline Kysar Coy Christina Adeline Kysar Coy, of Cuba, Mo., was born on July 2, 1909 in Hopkins, Mo. to the union of Harry James Kysar and Alma Melick Kysar and passed away on September 5, 2000 at Phelps County Medical Center in Rolla, at the age of 91 years, 2 months and 3 days. On May 20, 1939, Christina was united in marriage to Warren J. Coy at Parnell, Mo. They had been happily married for 59 years. Christina began a long and rewarding teaching career in 1927, at the age of 18, in a 1-room schoolhouse near Pickering, Mo. teaching all grades. She then moved to the Hopkins (MO) School where she met Warren, who was also teaching there. She graduated first from Maryville College in Maryville, Mo. and later received a degree from Harris Teachers' College in St. Louis. She then entered Washington University's graduate program to become the first teacher to receive the Reading Specialist Certification. She retired from the Webster Groves (MO) School District, where she taught reading in the primary grades for many years. After retirement, Christina and husband Warren moved permanently to the Cuba, Mo. area in the Indian Hills Lake Community. They were charter members of the new lake development in 1962. Warren preceded Christina in death on May 27, 1998. Those who survive to mourn her passing from this life are her one daughter Carol Coy; two grandchildren, Christina "Crissy" Bosworth Hoefle and husband Joe, Dennis Jon Bosworth and wife Sonya and one great-grandchild, Kristin Taylor Bosworth; other relatives and friends. Christina was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, and good friend to all who knew her and will be sadly missed. Memorial services will be held for Christina Adeline Kysar Coy on Friday, September 15, 5:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Cuba, Mo. with Rev. Charles Likely officiating. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 16, 2:00 p.m. at Wray Memorial Methodist Church in Hopkins, Mo. with Rev. Susan Noakes officiating. Burial will be in Hopkins Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the Warren J. and Christina K. Coy Scholarship Fund, 3150 Hwy. DD, Cuba, MO 65453. Paul Blesi Paul Blesi of Sullivan passed away Sunday, September 17, 2000 at the age of 73 years. Mr. Blesi was born October 16, 1926 at Spring Bluff, Missouri to the late Henry and Elizabeth (Daniken) Blesi. Paul attended Spring Bluff R-15 School and Sullivan High School, graduating in 1943. He honorably served his country with the United States Army during World War II. Mr. Blesi was a graduate of the University of Missouri at Columbia with a Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics. On September 10, 1948, Paul was married to Geraldine Hollander at Sullivan and four children were born to this union. Mrs. Blesi preceded him in death after 47 years of marriage. Mr. Blesi was an entrepreneur in the manufacturing and grocery industries, owning and operating several businesses in Sullivan area which included Midwest Footwear, Mid American Shoe Corporation and Frick's Central Market in Sullivan and Union. He served the community in many areas including school board member, American Federal Savings and Loan board member, past president of Mid American Grocers, Missouri Grocers Association, former member of Sullivan Rotary Club and charter member of the First United Presbyterian Church of Sullivan. On December 26, 1995, Paul was married to Lela Stevesand at Union, Missouri. Mr. Blesi was admired by his many employees and enjoyed traveling and cooking. In recent years he attended Zion United Church of Christ in Union. Although he enjoyed his many business ventures and friends he made through them, the greatest times of his life were spent with his family whom he loved above all else. He is survived by his wife, Lela (Stevesand) Blesi of Sullivan, one son, Gene Blesi and wife, Kathy of Sullivan, three daughters, Susan McNary and husband, Gene of St. Louis, Betsy Bryan Patterson of Manchester, Missouri, Dr. Lisa Breer and husband, Mike of St. Louis, three step-daughters, Cathy Teater and husband, Jim, Nancy Schuenemeyer and husband, Tom; Mary Beth Bean and husband, Lindell; three sisters, Elda Alexander and husband, Charles of Sullivan; Margaret Eime and husband, Harlin, of Pacific; Joyce Knaus and husband Roy, of the state of New Jersey; one brother-in-law, Gene James; one sister-in-law, Helen Blesi of Sullivan; six grandchildren, Christina and Ariana Pippa, of St. Louis; Alexander and Zachary Bryan of Manchester and Nicole and Eric Breer of St. Louis; five step-grandchildren; one step-great grandchild; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Along with those mentioned, Mr. Blesi was preceded in death by one brother, John Blesi, and one sister, Virginia James. Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 19, 2000 from Zion United Church of Christ in Union, Missouri with Pastor Dave Brune officiating. Interment was in I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Sullivan, Missouri. Visitation for Mr. Paul Blesi was from 4:30-9 p.m. on Monday, September 18 at the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan. Curtis Ralph Richter Curtis Ralph Richter was born Monday, March 9, 1931 to the late Edward Albert Richter and Alice Marie Zorn Richter and departed this life at the Meramec Nursing Center in Sullivan, Mo. on Sunday, September 10, 2000 at the age of 69 years, 6 months and 1 day. Curtis married Katherine Lee Harman on June 27, 1952 in Steelville, Mo. and to this union six children were born. Curtis accepted the Lord a number of years ago and was a member of the Center Point Baptist Church. Curtis served as Training Union director there for several years. Curtis drove a truck hauling freight around the St. Louis area for 35 years. He was employed by Budding Trucking Company and retired from there in 1984. After retiring Curtis worked part time for Waydes Equipment in Steelville, Mo. until his health failed him. Curtis was a member of the teamsters Local #600. He was a former charter member of the Ozark Trail Blazers in Steelville, Mo., he enjoyed raising cattle, gardening and deer hunting. Curtis loved his family and was very proud of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Curtis was preceded in death by his parents, one son Randy, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Sam and Opal Harman, step-mother-in-law Hazel Harman, his brother-in-law and sister-in-laws Edna Richter and Curtis and Betty Davis. Those who remain to mourn his passing are his loving wife Katherine of the home in Steelville, Mo.; his children, Beverly Housewright, and husband Douglas, of Steelville, Mo.; Wayne Richter and wife Dana of Steelville, Mo.; Tammy Ballew and husband Bart, of Fayette, Mo.; Ronald Richter and wife Cindy of Rolla, Mo.; and Robert Richter and wife Sandy of Steelville, Mo. One brother Kenneth Richter of Lebanon, Mo.; one daughter-in-law Lisa Richter Kreamalmyer and husband Dan of Steelville, Mo.; his brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws Ralph and Trudy Harman of Steelville, Mo.; and Alice and Charles House of Steelville, Mo.; his 16 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and 2 step-grandchildren, cousins, other relatives, and friends all who will sadly miss and fondly remember Curtis Ralph Richter. Visitation was held from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 12, 2000 at the Hutson Funeral Home in Steelville, Mo. Funeral Service was held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 13, 2000 at the Hutson Funeral Chapel in Steelville, Mo. with Bishop Douglas Housewright officiating. Paul Hutson sang Sheltered in the Arms of God, accompanied by Janie James on the piano. Also a tape version of Go Rest High on That Mountain. Pallbearers were his grandsons Adam, Josh, Jared Housewright, Robbie, Ross, Tyler, Richter, Travis Thompson, and Casey Ballew. Honorary Pallbearers were Rev. Delmar B. Hutson, Maurice Cape, Earl Halbert, and Wayde Grandstaff. Burial was in the Steelville Cemetery, Steelville, Mo. All arrangements were under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home in Steelville, Mo. Harold Eugene Brand Harold Eugene Brand was born Thursday, February 18, 1926, at Steelville, Mo., a son of the late Harold Griffith Brand and Margary Mae Brand (nee Kimberlin). He entered eternal rest Wednesday, September 13, 2000, at the Phelps County Regional Medical Center, Rolla, Mo., at the age of 74 years, 8 months and 26 days. He served his country in the United States Army, being inducted July 13, 1944, at Jefferson Barracks, Mo. and received an Honorable Discharge July 25, 1946 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. During his enlistment he received an Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Overseas Bars, Victory Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. On April 9, 1949, at Granite City, Illinois, Harold was united in marriage to Thelma Pearl Shockley. One son and two daughters were born to this union. They have enjoyed over fifty-one years together. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister and brother-in-law, Fern and Bill Christy and father-in-law, Earl M. Shockley. Among those who remain to mourn his passing are his devoted wife Thelma Brand of the home in Steelville; one son and two daughters, Phyllis and husband Adrain Evans of Catawissa, Mo., Earl Brand and wife Pat, Linda and husband Bill Leach, all of Steelville, Mo.; mother-in-law Clara Shockley of Steelville, Mo. Three brothers and two sisters, Jim and Wanda Brand of Steelville, Mo., Lydia and husband Walt Renner of St. Louis, Mo., Doris and Jack Walters of Lebanon, Oregon, Donald Brand and wife Doris of Owensville, Mo., Allen (Jasper) Brand and wife Linda of Mehlville, Mo. Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Wayne and Mary Shockley of Granite City, Illinois, Gladys and Harvey Jamerson also of Granite City, Illinois, Harold and Jeannie Shockley of Maryville, Illinois; seven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. Harold Eugene Brand lay in state 4:00 - 9:00 p.m. Friday, September 15, 2000, at the Britton Brothers Funeral Home, Steelville, Mo. Funeral services were held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 16, 2000 in the Britton Chapel with Rev. Patrick Singleton and Rev. Chuck Overton officiating. Committal prayers and interment were in Pleasant Point Cemetery, Steelville, Mo. Serving as pallbearers were John Adams, Tim Adams, Larry Brand, Steve Allen Brand, Rodney Brand, and Russell Brand. Honorary pallbearers wee Tony English, Wesley Leach, Billy Leach, Bob Rither and Harold Shockley. Arrangements were under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home, Steelville, Mo. --------- Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joe L. Miller ====================================================================