In Memoriam
Keith Jennings Keith Jennings, 79, of New Franklin passed away unexpectedly August 25, 2020, at his home in New Franklin. Funeral services were August 29 at the Immanuel United Church of Christ with Rev. Tim Fairley officiating. Burial followed in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Keith was born October 22, 1940, in Fayette, Mo., the son of Oscar C. Jennings and Marvel Struchtemeyer Jennings. He was a lifelong resident of New Franklin and a pillar of the community. He attended Central Methodist University, where he continued his basketball career and fell in love with Carol Sue Harper. They were married during Spring Break of 1964 at the Immanuel United Church of Christ in New Franklin. He finished his degree in secondary education and went on to teach and coach at Malta Bend schools. While at Malta Bend, he coached boys and girls baseball/softball and basketball and track and drove a school bus. Although he was there only three years, the students he impacted continued to reach out to him throughout his life. In 1968, his father convinced him to come back to New Franklin and join him at the New Franklin
1940s
Marian March Kuster ‘43 of Jefferson City, Mo., died May 23, 2020. Stanley K. Thurston Jr. ‘44 of Virginia Beach, Va., died Apr. 3, 2020. Eva L. Hensley Steger ‘47 of Urbana, Ill., died Oct. 27, 2020.
32 The Talon | Fall 2020
Locker Plant. Keith’s ambitions led to several expansions of the plant in order to offer retail and wholesale services along with custom processing. In December of 1992, the plant burned and was a total loss. True to his character, Keith was determined to rebuild in New Franklin, and with the help of the plant’s staff and community, the plant was rebuilt as Jennings Premium Meats. Keith retired in 2006, but he continued to be ever-present at the plant, gladly lending a hand whenever help was needed. For those who knew Keith, he was always busy, whether coaching multiple youth baseball or softball teams, working in his yard, or walking his beloved dog, Oliver. Throughout his life, he was an active participant in the New Franklin community. He served as president of the New Franklin Businessmen’s Association and was instrumental in the first Santa Fe Trail Days. He served numerous terms on the UCC Church Council and was a long-term member of the New Franklin School Board. He was also active in the meat processing industry serving as President of the Missouri Association of Meat Processors in 1980 and inducted in the Missouri Association of Meat Processors Hall of Fame in 1996. Keith is survived by his wife, Sue, of the home, son, Jason (Stephanie) Jennings of New Franklin, and daughter, Reachel (Doug) Beichley of Prairie Village, KS. He will be dearly missed by his grandsons, Grant Beichley, and Tyler Jennings.
Everett D. Johnson Everett D. Johnson ’86, a former Central Methodist football player, passed away Friday, October 30, 2020. Visitation and services were Monday, November 9, 2020, at Layne Renaissance Chapel in St. Louis. He will be cremated. Helen L. Johnson Matkins ‘48 of Meadville, Mo., died Oct. 30, 2020. Patricia N. Sasse Kirby ‘48 of Columbia, Mo., died Oct. 15, 2020. Mary Emily Story ‘48 of Dodd City, Tex., died Apr. 19, 2020. Nora Hebel Brizendine ‘49 of Jefferson City, Mo., died Aug. 28, 2020.
Gerald M. Hoxworth ‘49 of Pasadena, Calif., died Jul. 8, 2020. Ralph E. Knowles Jr. ‘49 of Pensacola, Fla., died Jul. 18, 2020.
1950s
Margaret Rich Cook ‘50 of Wilmington, N.C., died Apr. 6, 2020. Robert L. Sears ‘50 of Fennville, Mich., died Oct. 18, 2020. Mary E. Brady Smith ‘50 of Ozark, Mo., died Sep. 16, 2020. Marshall William Gillette ‘50 of Middletown, R.I., died Aug. 24, 2020. Mary E. Brady Smith ‘50 of Ozark, Mo., died Sep. 16, 2020. Rosemary Vineyard Richardson ‘51 of Desloge, Mo., died Apr. 3, 2020. Dorothy Storer Schnell ‘51 of Fayette, Mo., died Aug. 29, 2020. Robert Edward Swafford ‘51 of Richmond, Mo., died Apr. 27, 2020. James Lanier Byrd III ‘52 of Charleston, Mo., died Oct. 9, 2020. Doris Wilkerson Viertel ‘52 of Boonville, Mo., died Oct. 31, 2020. Robert R. Zahnweh ‘52 of Kirkwood, Mo., died Jul. 16, 2020. Cleo Robert Colville ‘53 of Amazonia, Mo., died Oct. 11, 2020. Robert L. Hemmerla ‘53 of Wentzville, Mo., died Jul. 1, 2020. Lloyd Oliver Summers ‘53 of Huntsville, Mo., died Sep. 12, 2020. Eugene Joseph Westhues ‘53 of Jefferson City, Mo., died May 15, 2020. Velma Fae Ragsdle Felt ‘54 of Saint Charles, Mo., died May 17, 2020. Paula Moore Ludwick ‘54 of Kahoka, Mo., died May 1, 2020. Barbara A. Steele Bregant ‘55 of Manchester, Mo., died Sep. 18, 2020. Mary Lu Graves ‘55 of Wellman, Iowa, died Apr. 29, 2020. Henrietta June Marshall ‘55 of Pilot Grove, Mo., died Aug. 13, 2020. Lorene Joan Tappmeyer ‘55 of Owensville, Mo., died Aug. 19, 2020. Donald K. Lemon ‘56 of Tampa, Fla., died Jun. 22, 2020. Alvin Lee Mershon ‘56 of Kansas City, Mo., died Apr. 25, 2020. Robert D. Hunsaker ‘57 of Gainesville, Fla. ,died May 5, 2020. C. Alan Brueggemann ‘59 of St. Louis, Mo., died Aug. 19, 2020.
