Pickering Funeral Home

Paul F. Cherches, 77, of Mexico, died at 9:20 a.m., Monday, February 10, 2003, at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2003, at 2 p.m. at the Missouri Military Academy Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Robert Kerr officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6 until 8 p.m. at Pickering Funeral Home. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.

Mr. Cherches was born on April 7, 1925, in Fulton, the son of Christ Andreas and Dorothy Elizabeth Hinderer Cherches. He was a graduate of Hickman High School and received a BS in Education with a Masters in Music Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He served in the U.S. Navy from June 1943 until June 1952. During his military career, he was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation Korean Service medal, the United Nations medal, China Service medal and the Victory medal. On Dec. 21, 1949, in Columbia, he married Alyce Elizabeth Lewis, who died on Aug. 20, 2002.

He was a member of the Mexico Lions Club and had served as treasurer from 1991 until 1993, and President from 1993 until 1994. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and had served as choir director for several years.

Mr. Cherches was the Director of Music for Missouri Military Academy where he had taught for forty years until his retirement. He was also staff arranger for the University of Missouri Marching Band as well as the University of Wisconsin band. He arranged music for numerous celebrity appearances. Under his directorship, the Missouri Military Academy Marching Band performed for many Presidential inaugurations and Missouri gubernatorial inaugurations.

He was awarded “Twenty Years of Excellence” from the Missouri Music Educators Association. He organized and performed with many of his own Jazz Bands from his high school days until recently. He had been an adjudicator at many band festivals throughout Missouri and the Midwest.

One son, Michael A. Cherches and his wife Katherine, Marietta, Ga.; a brother, Chris E. Cherches and wife Susan, Wichita, Kans.; a sister, D. Patricia Atlee and husband Kipling of Maryland; four grandchildren, Christopher L. Cherches, Patrick M. Cherches, and Jason S. Cherches, Marietta, Ga., and William W. Wayland, Priest River, Idaho; seventeen nieces and nephews and six great nieces and nephews survive him.

In addition to his wife, one son, Howard L. Wayland, a grandson, Warren W. Wayland, and a brother, Charles W. Cherches, preceded him in death.

The family suggests memorials in his honor to the Missouri Military Academy or the American Cancer Society. They may be sent in care of Pickering Funeral Home, 403 N. Western, Mexico, MO 65265.