St. Clair County Obits

CHARLES EUGENE HOOPER

Charles Eugene Hooper, the eldest son of B.F. and Mary E. Robertson Hooper, was born Oct. 19, 1877 in St. Clair County near Osceola, Missouri and departed this life on September 20, 1955 at the Butler Memorial Hospital at the age of 77 years, 11 months and 1 day.
He grew to young manhood on a farm near Osceola and received his education in the rural schools of St. Clair County. On Nov. 12, 1902 he was united in marriage with Ola d. York of near Johnstown, Missouri. Miss York had formerly been a resident of Osceola, moving to Bates County with her parents in 1901. They went to St. Clair County where they made their home on a farm for two years, moving to Bates County in the spring of 1904, settling on a farm near Ballard.
In the fall of 1915 Mr. Hooper bought a farm near Ballard and built a house, moving his family there in the spring of 1916. And it is there Mr. and Mrs. Hooper reared their family of three sons and seven daughters. One daughter, Mary E., died in infancy and one son, Francis M., passed away at the age of seven years.
It is at the hold home where many family reunions and other happy gatherings have been enjoyed among which was the celebration of Mr. & Mrs. Hooper's golden wedding anniversary on Nov. 12, 1952.
Mr. Hooper was converted in 1912, uniting with the Oak Hill Methodist Church, later transferring his membership to the Walnut Grove Presbyterian Church where he remained a faithful member until his death, attending services as long as his health permitted.
Mr. Hooper was especially fond of the little children of the Church and the community and many of them called him the "Chewing Gum Man" as he never was without this small favor to pass out to each child he met. Mr. Hooper was a kind husband, a loving father, a good neighbor and a progressive citizen, being especially interested in good roads and better schools for the community. He retired from farming about eight years ago when his health began to fail but was a zealous gardner and he worked at this hobby as long as his health permitted. He planted his garden this spring but was never able to tend it. He was patient during his enitre illness, never losing faith, nor doubting but that he would recover.
Mr. Hooper was preceded in death, besides the son and daughter mentioned above, by his parents, and a sister, Daisy who passed away in infancy.
Survivors are: His wife of the home; three sons, Nathan F., Charles E. Jr., and Russell K., all of Kansas City, Mo.; seven daughters, Mrs. H.H. Hoover and Mrs. Orva Grasshart of Urich, R.F.D., Mrs. Harley Hoover, Clinton, Mrs. Guy Hendrickson and Mrs. Phyllis Hawley of Independence, Mrs. Sherman Martin, Kansas City and Mrs. John Hayden of Gardner, Kansas; twenty-one grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; four brothers, A.F. Hooper, Adrian, S.E. Hooper, Butler, J.C. Hooper, Osceola and Manuel Hooper, Ballard; one sister, Mrs. Virgil Higgins, Appleton City. A great number of nieces and nephews, besides other relatives and a host of friends.

 Charles Eugene Hooper (1877 - 1955)
In Memory of Charles Eugene Hooper - Funeral Services were held in the Presbyterian Church at Walnut Grove, Mo. on Friday, September 23rd, at 2:00 P.M.
Dr. Christian A. Wright, Minister of the Fairmount Christian Church, 641 Sough Ash Avenue, Kansas City 22, Mo., officiated.
Mr. & Mrs. Walter Barth, of Urich, Mo. sang "Beyond the Sunset", and "In the Upper Garden".
Mr. David Keirsey of Adrian, Mo. sang "Good Night, Good Morning".
Mrs. Wilbur Barth, of Urich, Mo. was the accompanist.
The Pall Bearers were all grandsons: Francis Hoover, Galen Hoover, Delbert Hoover, Dale Hendrickson, Bobby G. Martin, and Junior Grosshart.
Interment was in Walnut Grove Cemetery.