U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Dr. Willard "Hal" Halsey Eyestone
Former MU veterinary school dean dies
He built his career out of "monkey business."
A veterinary pathologist and a former interim dean of MU's College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Willard "Hal" Halsey Eyestone was instrumental in developing primate centers that are used for health research. Dr. Eyestone of Columbia died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 83.
Dr. Eyestone was the vet school's interim dean at a crucial time during the school's history. He assumed the post a year after the department's federal funding was cut in 1980.
Colleagues said Dr. Eyestone was a steady hand in a tense situation.
"Everybody that worked for him, they loved him," said Harry Berrier, a retired MU professor of veterinary medicine. "He was always a leader. He saw good in anybody."
Before coming to MU in 1972, Dr. Eyestone did research and was an administrator for the U.S. Public Health Service for 23 years. In the '50s, he was a consulting pathologist for the National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C., and was the chairman of the National Research Council's committee on primates.
He acted as executive secretary of a national advisory committee on regional primate research centers between 1964 and 1968.
His son, Will Eyestone, said Dr. Eyestone joked about his work as "monkey business" during a tribute at his funeral, which was Tuesday.
Before his term as interim dean, Dr. Eyestone was chair of the MU department of veterinary pathology from 1972 to 1978.
To colleagues, his warm personality made him easy to work with.
"He was a great guy," said Larry Morehouse, retired MU professor of veterinary medicine. "He was a big man, but very gentle."
His life spanned many places and roles. He was born on Jan. 7, 1918, in Mulberry, Kan., to L. Herbert and Alpha Eyestone.
He married Betty Johnson on June 28, 1952, in Detroit Lakes, Minn.
She described Dr. Eyestone as a family man who liked fishing and gardening.
"Ambitious and accomplished as he was, I believe he did his best work at home," Will Eyestone said. Dr. Eyestone is survived by his wife; two sons, Will Eyestone of Blacksburg, Va., and Robert Eyestone of Columbia; two daughters, June Finnegan of Tallahassee, Fla., and Janet Carlin of St. Louis.; one sister, Dorothy Deane Eyestone of Casper, Wyo; and seven grandchildren.
One brother died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to College of Veterinary Medicine Development Fund, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo. 65211.
Marilyn Burks
Marilyn "Suzie" Burks died Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001, at Columbia Regional Hospital. She was 58.
Mrs. Burks was born Dec. 3, 1942, in Boone County to James A. Turner and Myrtle Acton Turner. On Aug. 27, 1965, she married Luther D. Burks in Boone County.
Mrs. Burks is described by her daughter Kandy Burks as a person "loved by everyone who never knew a stranger. Everyone she met was family."
Mrs. Burks' life revolved around her children and grandchildren. "That's all she lived for," her daughter said.
Visitation for Mrs. Burks will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road.
Services, conducted by the Rev. Scott Smith, will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Nilson Funeral Home. Mrs. Burks will be buried at Bethlehem Cemetery in Harrisburg.
Mrs. Burks is survived by her stepmother, Ollie Mae Turner of Columbia; her husband, Luther D. Burks of Columbia; two sons, Randy Burks and Justin Burks, both of Columbia; two daughters, Kandy Burks and Sandy Crane, both of Columbia; six brothers, James Turner of Key West, Fla., Marshell Turner of Cordesville, S.C., Jerry Turner of Midlothian, Texas, and Bruce Turner, Billy Turner and Brian Turner, all of Columbia; three sisters, Dottie Turner of Columbia, Joy Foye of Wausau, Wis., and Shirley Hazen of California; and many grandchildren.
Although her immediate family might seem big, the number of friends she considered family was even bigger, Kandy Burks said.
Memorials may be sent to Bethlehem Cemetery Association, Harrisburg, MO., 65256, c/o John Burks.
Eunice P. Smith
Eunice P. Smith, a mother of eight who helped raise a family on her Columbia farm in the 1920s and '30s, died Wednesday at Riverdell Care Center in Boonville. She was 96.
Mrs. Smith's role in life was to raise children and take care of her family, her friends said. She had five grandchildren and 21 grandchildren. Later, she would have 39 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren.
"She had a big family, and she loved all of them to pieces," said her daughter, Vera Mae Shaw. "On holidays, we always went home to her. She was always there for us."
Fanny Miller, whose daughter married Mrs. Smith's son, Jerry, said Mrs. Smith was so involved with her children that she had time for nothing else.
"When you take a family of that size, that's a lot of hard work," Miller said. "Back then, she had to tend her garden, get water, wash the laundry - she had to do that with a board - and take care of her chickens. She didn't have time to learn any hobbies or outside interests. She was just too busy."
Mrs. Smith, one of nine children, was born Dec. 9, 1904, to Jessie David and Laura Lee Hern Poe in Carroll County.
She married Lonnie Smith on Dec. 18, 1922, and the two started a farm in Columbia. Mrs. Smith lived there before moving to a senior care center in Boonville in 1987.
Visitation for Mrs. Smith will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop W. Services, conducted by the Rev. John Foley, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Funeral Home. Burial at Memorial Park Cemetery will follow.
Mrs. Smith is survived by three sons, Russell Smith of Fulton, Jerry Smith of Columbia, and Harold Smith of Rocky Mount; two daughters, Ruby Perkins and Vera Mae Shaw, both of Columbia; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Her husband, two sons, a daughter, four brothers, four sisters and two grandchildren died earlier.
Donations may be made in Mrs. Smith's name to a charity of the donor's choice.
Mary Frances Nall
Mary Frances Nall lived in Boone County her entire life, but she enjoyed traveling with her husband, who was a photographer for MU. Memorable trips included visits to Washington, D.C., and Hawaii.
"She just loved life," Robert E. "Bob" Grant, her brother, said.
Mrs. Nall died Feb. 5, 2001, at The Williamsburg retirement home. She was 84.
She was born March 10, 1914, in Columbia to James Dorsey and Lillie Dee Jacobs Grant. Mrs. Nall married H. Russell Nall Sept. 30, 1949, in Columbia.
"She and Russ were a wonderful couple," said Betty Smith, Mrs. Nall's niece. "Their lives centered around the church."
Mrs. Nall was a member of Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women, as well as the Deborah Circle at the church.
Mrs. Nall also enjoyed sewing, her niece said, and made many of the outfits she wore when she worked in the business office at Stephens College and later at MU.
"She took a great deal of pride in her work," Smith said.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 West. Services, conducted by the Rev. Michael Keith, will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Survivors include two brothers, David Grant and Robert E. Grant, both of Columbia; and one sister, Beatrice Smith of Columbia.
One daughter, two brothers and one sister died earlier.
Memorials can be sent to Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church, 702 Wilkes Blvd., Columbia, Mo. 65201.
Wilson Carlos
Wilson Carlos of Columbia died Sunday, Feb. 4, 2001. He was 83.
Mr. Carlos was a lifelong Columbia resident. He always enjoyed living in the area, his sister, Camilla Thurston, said.
Mr. Carlos was born April 17, 1917, to Robert Don and Lena Frank Lewis Carlos.
"He was always a good kid," Thurston said. "He had lots of friends."
Mr. Carlos married Edith Mildred Sims Aug. 6, 1938, in Columbia.
Mr. Carlos worked as a cement mason and retired in 1982. He was a member of Nashville Baptist Church.
Thurston said her brother was "an awfully good father to his children."
Visitation for Mr. Carlos will be from 1 to 2 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 West. Services, conducted by the Rev. Kevin Collins, will follow at 2 p.m.
Mr. Carlos is survived by his wife; two sons, Leroy Wilson Carlos of Harrisburg and Ernest Vest Carlos of Columbia; two daughters, Betty Lou Smith of Ashland and Lena Wessing of Pilot Grove; one sister, Thurston of Columbia; 12 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Four brothers and two sisters died earlier.
Johnny Laguna
Johnny Laguna of Columbia died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, at his home. He was 60.
Mr. Laguna was born Jan. 12, 1941, in New York City, to Pedro and Isabel Rivera Laguna.
Visitation for Mr. Laguna will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road. Services, conducted by the Rev. Fred Martie, will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Nilson Funeral Home. Burial services will be held at Valley Springs Cemetery near Huntsdale.
Mr. Laguna is survived by three sons, Peter Laguna of Olathe, Kan., Michael Laguna of Los Angeles, Calif., and Matthew Laguna of Columbia; one daughter, Charise Albritton of Columbia; a sister, Carmen Siebert of Greenville, N.Y.; and seven grandchildren.
Raymond Watson
Raymond Frank Watson of Columbia died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 82.
Mr. Watson was born Aug. 11, 1918, in Boone County to Tyre Thomas Watson and Alva Mae Wilcox Watson. He married Erma Rawlings on Jan. 15, 1939, in Fulton. He served in the Army in World War II.
Visitation for Mr. Watson will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Road. Services, conducted by the Rev. John Foley, will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Dripping Spring Christian Church, 2701 W. Dripping Springs Road. Mr. Watson will be buried at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Watson is survived by his wife; one son, Robert Lewis Watson of Columbia; one daughter, Delores Fern Tewilliger of Florida; one sister, Treva Murry of Columbia; five grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and one great-great grandson.
Memorials may be sent to the Dripping Spring Christian Church, 2701 W. Dripping Springs Road, Columbia, Mo. 65202.
William K. Patton
William K. Patton missed his daughters.
The retired chauffeur and former Negro League baseball player had outlived his four daughters and told friends he felt alone without them and wanted to be with them someday.
Mr. Patton died Monday, Jan. 29, 2001, at the Veterans' Home in Warrensburg. He was 88.
Born Oct. 25, 1912, in Windsor, Mr. Patton was a lifelong sports lover. He played on small Negro League baseball teams in Jefferson City and Minnesota, then umpired baseball and softball games until his mid-70s.
Visitation was held Saturday at the H.T. May and Son Funeral Home at 400 W. Cooper in Sedalia. Services, conducted by Bishop E.T. Sims, will be at 2:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Mr. Patton is survived by a son, James Cochran of Texas; a son-in-law, Kenneth Bruce of Kansas City; five grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Dorothy J. Shores
Dorothy Juanita Shores of Columbia died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2001, in Columbia. She was 73.
Mrs. Shores was born March 18, 1927, in Columbia to Samuel and Myrtle R. Kemper Ott.
She married William L. Shores on Oct. 30, 1943, in Columbia. Mrs. Shores was an Avon representative for a number of years and a member of Community United Methodist Church.
Visitation and services were held Saturday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. They were conducted by her son, the Rev. Larry V. Shores. Mrs. Shores will be buried in Chapel Grove Cemetary in Clark.
Mrs. Shores is survived by two sisters, Mary Belle Perkins and Lorene Stone, both of Columbia; two sons, the Rev. Larry V. Shores of Austin, Texas, and James L. Shores of Warrenton; two daughters, Donna J. Morehead of Jacksonville, Fla., and Sharon D. Smith of Denton, Texas; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Two brothers and three sisters died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the Lenoir Healthcare Center, 3612 Lenoir St., Columbia, Mo. 65201.
Ruby M. Neal
Ruby M. Neal of Harrisburg died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2001, in Columbia. She was 73.
Born Oct. 26, 1927, in Audrain County, Mrs. Neal was the daughter of John and Ruth Rockwood Wright. She married Charles Neal Jr. on Nov. 28, 1945. Mrs. Neal and her husband first met at the Empire Roller Rink in Columbia when they were both 17.
A former neighbor of Mrs. Neal in Mexico, Mo., Evelyn Pulis, said she and Mrs. Neal were good friends.
"We loved each other just like sisters," Pulis said. "I missed her so much when she moved away and I'll miss her even more now."
Mrs. Neal moved to Columbia with her family in 1963 and worked in the admissions office in Jesse Hall at MU.
Mrs. Neal was a member of Kentucky Road Christian Church in Mexico. She also was a member of the American Business Women's Association, an organization that provides business education, workplace skills and career-development training for its members. Her true love was collecting antiques.
Visitation for Mrs. Neal will be held prior to services from 1 to 2:30 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services will be conducted by the Rev. Eldon Wilson at 2:30 p.m. at the same location. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Mrs. Neal is survived by one son, John F. Neal of Columbia; one daughter, Kathryn Wilhite of Harrisburg; one sister, Opal O'Toole of Mexico; and five grandchildren.
Two brothers and her husband died earlier.
Memorials may be sent to the American Diabetes Association, 1316 Parkade Blvd., Columbia, Mo. 65202.
