U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Viva Mercedes Mello
Former Columbia resident Viva Mercedes "Billie Quick" Mello was loved for her active and self-sacrificing lifestyle. Those who knew her best said she dedicated her life to helping everyone, from her family to complete strangers.
"For my mom and dad both, the most important thing to them was people," said Northern District Commissioner and Mrs. Mello's daughter Linda Vogt. "She went out of her way to help people in need.
When they were in trouble, Mom and Dad helped them. The people they have helped have remembered."
Mrs. Mello of San Leandro, Calif., died Thursday, May 25, 2000, at University Hospital and Clinics. She was 78.
Mrs. Mello was born Oct. 15, 1921 to Glen Ernest and Stella Gray Hubbard Abel of Bolivar. She married Ralph Richard Quick on Feb. 28, 1940.
Her commanding presence and giving nature were equaled by her pursuit of joy in life. After surviving her first husband, who died in 1991, Mrs. Mello continued to donate her time to people in need and stayed active.
"She went to the Senior Center often, she loved it," Vogt said. "She learned to line dance. One day, at the grand opening, I came into the center to see my mother on a flat bed truck, line dancing. Then I tried to do it and couldn't. She was amazing."
Mrs. Mello married her second husband, Joseph F. Mello of San Leandro, Calif. on Feb. 28, 1998. With this marriage, she moved to California but kept close ties in the Columbia area. Mrs. Mello kept in touch with her son and daughter who live in the area, as well as other nearby relatives.
"She was just a loving person," Mrs. Mello's son, Ray Quick, said. "She had a heart of gold."
Even though she lived away from Columbia for the past two years, she still had many friends in Columbia and Hallsville. Mrs. Mello was active at the Columbia Senior Center, Mt. Zion Church and the Locust Grove Ladies Club.
"She loved bingo," Vogt said. "She went to bingo and he [Joseph Mello] would go to practice at the church choir."
Mrs. Mello also kept herself busy when at home.
"Her husband told me she would do two crosswords before bed every night," Vogt said.
Through heavy tears, Vogt said her mother was a naturally kind and generous woman.
"She was beautiful on the outside and equally as beautiful inside," she said. "She was a regular woman who didn't try to be the biggest and best, she just happened to be that."
Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. A private family service will take place Sunday. Burial will be at Mount Zion Church Cemetery in Hallsville.
Mrs. Mello is survived by her second husband, Joseph F. Mello of San Leandro, Calif.; two daughters, Marsha A. Haase of Baymimet, Ala. and Linda Vogt of Centralia; one son Ray L. Quick of Hallsville; three brothers and two sisters.
Two brothers and her first husband died earlier. One son, Ralph Richard Quick Jr., died in Vietnam.
Joshua Antione Hornes Smith
Joshua Antione Hornes Smith of Columbia died Sunday, May 21, 2000, at University Hospital and Clinics.
He was one month old. The cause of death is undetermined.
Joshua was born on April 21, 2000 in Columbia, to Larry Smith and Kimberly Hornes. Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 West, will hold visitation on Saturday from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. A graveside service will follow with the Rev. Freeman officiating at Memorial Park Cemetary in Columbia.
Joshua is survived by his parents; a brother, Nathan Hornes II; a sister, Natasha Hornes, all of Columbia; and a grandfather, Granville Hayes of Moberly.
Memorials can be sent to a trust fund for Nathan and Natasha Hornes in care of Memorial Funeral Home.
Joyce Cockrum
Constantly caring and giving to friends and family is how Joyce Elaine Cockrum will be remembered, said her husband, Ray Cockrum. "Everywhere she went, people liked her," he said. "She could just communicate with people. She really didn't meet any strangers."
Mrs. Cockrum of Columbia died Wednesday, May 24, 2000, at her home from breast cancer. She was 45. "She was always full of life," said Joyce Lee, her mother. "She was busy all the time."
Mrs. Cockrum was born June 3, 1954, in Bakersfield, Calif., to Willie and Joyce Evans Lee. She married Ray Cockrum on Sept. 14, 1995, in Harrison, Ark. She was a member of the Rice Road Church of Christ.
When she was younger, Mrs. Cockrum enjoyed barrel racing on the rodeo circuit with her father, a professional rodeo cowboy. Later in life, she took up planting flowers. "She put her whole heart into (rodeo riding)," Ray Cockrum said. "Just like everything that she did."
As a gardener, Mrs. Cockrum enjoyed planting various things in her garden.
Mrs. Cockrum worked in food service sales for Lady Baltimore and Springfield Grocery.
Her mother remembered Mrs. Cockrum's good sense of humor as a strong part of her personality. "She was quite a cut-up," she said.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 E. St. Charles Road. Services, conducted by Reggie Kinser, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Nilson Funeral Home. She will be buried at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Cockrum is survived by her her husband, Ray Cockrum of Columbia; two sons, Bradford Wayne Scrivner and Dax Rozell, both of Columbia; two stepsons, Gary Cockrum and Jason Cockrum, both of Columbia; her parents of Highlandville; her maternal grandmother, Opal Evans of Ozark; a brother, Randy Lee of Fort Payne, Ala.; and three grandchildren.
Quanah Williamson
Quanah Williamson wanted to make things better for others, and she volunteered her time and effort to make it happen.
A former elementary school teacher, Mrs. Williamson was a PTA president, an honorary trustee of the 4-H club and active in many other organizations.
Her son, John Sam Williamson Jr., said she was always giving her time to worthwhile organizations.
"She loved life, she loved people," he said.
Mrs. Williamson of Columbia died Monday, May 22, 2000, at Lenoir Health Care Center. She was 87.
Mrs. Williamson was born Sept. 7, 1912, in Palmer, Neb., to James M. Kyle and Clara Campbell Kyle.
Mrs. Williamson's father named her after the Native American chief Quanah Parker, a man he admired.
She attended Hickman High School and graduated from Stephens College in 1930. She married John Sam Williamson Sr. on June 3, 1934, in Kansas City.
They lived together on the Williamson homestead, which has been in the family since 1891. It is one of the largest private landholdings in Boone County. Her husband farmed the land until he was well into his 80s.
"She loved knitting," her son said. "She taught all the girls at 4-H how to knit."
Mr. and Mrs. Williamson also worked with the Democratic party in Boone County for many years.
In addition, Mrs. Williamson held membership in the Missouri United Methodist Church, Warren Domestic Dames Extension Club, Kings Daughters Home, Bratton Circle, Boone County Library Board and Tuesday Club. She was an active member of the Stephens Alumni Association. She taught elementary school in southern Missouri and Huntsdale.
"She loved Boone County and its people," said Frank Graham, a friend of the family for over 50 years.
Visitation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. Services, conducted by the Rev. Rhymes H. Moncure Jr., will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Missouri United Methodist Church, 204 S. Ninth St.
Mrs. Williamson is survived by her son, John Sam Williamson Jr. of Columbia; one brother, Logan Kyle of Clayton, N.M.; one grandson and two granddaughters; and several nieces and nephews. Her husband, two brothers, two sisters and one son died earlier.
Memorials may be given to the Boone County Historical Society, 3801 Ponderosa, Columbia, Mo. 65201.
William Binger
William Bernhard Binger of Columbia died Saturday, May 20, 2000, at Columbia Regional Hospital. He was 74.
Mr. Binger was born Nov. 24, 1925, in Rennville, Minn., to William and Christine Binger.
He served with the U.S. Air Force from 1943 to 1945 and attended the University of Minnesota. Mr. Binger was a president of the Minnesota Gas Association. On June 3, 1983, he married Wendi Hastings in Oakdale, Minn.
Visitation for Mr. Binger will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. James Bussey.
Mr. Binger is survived by his wife, Wendi Hastings Binger of Columbia; one son, Scott Binger of Victoria, Minn.; three daughters, Judy Slettedahl of Maple Plain, Minn., Linda Hotovec of Oliva, Minn., and Jan Binger of Fort Collins, Colo.; two stepsons, Bruce Hastings of Oakdale, Minn., and Jay Hastings of Blaine, Minn.; one stepdaughter, Tannis Fox of Santa Fe, N.M.; and 12 grandchildren.
His parents, two brothers and two sisters died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the American Brain Tumor Association at 2720 River Road, Des Plaines, Ill. 60018 or the American Cancer Society at 33 E. Broadway, Suite 100, Columbia, Mo. 65203.
Byron Lee Meade Sr.
Byron Lee Meade Sr. of Columbia died Tuesday, May 20, 2000, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 77.
Mr. Meade was a World War II Army veteran.
Mr. Meade was born Sept. 4, 1922, in Richland Center, Wis., to Leo and Frances Damon Meade. He was married to Gwendolyn Mae Norem on Sept. 27, 1942, in Beloit, Wis. Visitation for Mr. Meade will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road. Graveside services, conducted by the Rev. Leroy Allison, will be at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.
Mr. Meade is survived by his wife, Gwendolyn Meade, of Columbia; one son, Byron Meade Jr. of Nashville, Ill.; one daughter, Christine Siedler of Troy; one brother, Cloren Meade of Beliot; two sisters, Alta Baldwin of Sarcoxie and Kathleen Meade of Beloit; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Brandy M. Lampkins
Brandy M. Lampkins of Columbia died Thursday, May 18, 2000, in Callaway County from injuries sustained in a car accident. She was 19. The teenager's 20th birthday was 53 days away. She was supposed to graduate from Hickman High School in two weeks.
"The people who knew her were shocked," Hickman Assistant Principal Joe Paulsen said. "She was a very friendly, outgoing young lady. She was just a super young lady." U.S. history teacher Patti Watts remembered her as a student who had friends, but who was also her own person.
"She was an independent young woman," Watts said. "She was a sweet young woman. She wasn't extroverted, but had some close friends. She was talkative in class."
Visitation for Ms. Lampkins will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 E. St. Charles Road. Services, conducted by the Rev. Dennis Stuart, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Nilson Funeral Home. Ms. Lampkins body will be buried at Oakland Cemetery.
Ms. Lampkins is survived by her father and stepmother, Darrell and Bobbi Lampkins of Hallsville; mother, Mary Hammond of Columbia; one brother, Jason Wayne Lampkins of Columbia; one half-sister, Jennifer Lampkins of Hallsville; grandparents James O'Bannon of Abbeyville, S.C. and Pinky Sue Guinnip of Columbia; and several aunts and uncles.
Contributions can be sent to the family of Brandy Lampkins, in care of Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 E. St. Charles Road, Columbia, Mo. 65202.
David Franklin Jolly
David Franklin Jolly of Columbia died Wednesday, May 17, 2000, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 76.
Mr. Jolly was born March 14, 1924, in Burbank, Calif., to Hubert and Margaret Pinson Jolly. He grew up in Santa Barbara, Calif., where he spent most of his time body surfing with friends.
Mr. Jolly served in the Army from March 1943 to November 1945 when he was honorably discharged. He had been stationed in the Aleutian Islands. Mr. Jolly married Ione Sandegren in 1950. The two were married nearly 50 years.
During his early years of marriage, Mr. Jolly lived with his wife in California and Oregon where he worked in television. In 1956, he and his family moved to Boise, Idaho, where they lived until 1986.
In 1986, Mr. Jolly and his wife moved to Olympia, Wash., and then to Columbia in 1990. A memorial service was held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 914 West Blvd. Pastor Julia Will officiated. Mr. Jolly's body was cremated. He is survived by his wife, Ione L. Jolly; two sons, David Andrew Jolly of Columbia and Erik Clayton Jolly of Kirkland, Wash.; one daughter, Martha Jane Jolly of Columbia; two brothers, Robert Paul Jolly of Oakland, Calif., and Henry Low of Torrance, Calif.; and four grandchildren, Kate, David, Tyler and Pierce.
His mother, father and older brother Howard died earlier.
Memorial donations can be made to Youth and Family Ministry of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 914 West Blvd, Columbia, Mo. 65203.
Mary Shirley Thorp
Mary Shirley Thorp of Columbia died Thursday, May 18, 2000, at her home. She was 75. Ms. Thorp was born on November 5, 1924 in New London to Cary Dean and Imogene Northcutt Thorp. She graduated from New London High School and attended Central Methodist College in Fayette.
In 1947 she moved from St. Louis to Columbia and worked for MU for 44 years in the department of entomology as a secretary.
Ms. Thorp was a member of First Christian Church.
A visitation will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St. Services will follow at 10 a.m. at the same location. The Rev. John Yonker will officiate.
She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Grafton of Laclede; her brother, Cary "Bud" Thorp of Lincoln, Neb.; one nephew, three nieces, four great nieces and two great nephews.
