The Twenty-Third Psalm 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul;
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil for thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of mine enemies.
Thou anointest my head with oil;
My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
for ever.

    Muriel Oglesby Safford, 92, of Centralia, died at 2:40 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 6, 2004, at Heritage Hall Nursing Center in Centralia where she had resided since August of 2003.

Mrs. Safford was born Apr. 10, 1911 in Poole Kentucky, a daughter of William D. and Eva (Overfield) Oglesby. On May 19, 1930, in Metropolis, Ill. She married Carl A. Safford Sr. who died Feb. 27, 1991. 

She had attended Murray State University in Kentucky. In 1939 Mrs. Safford and her late husband opened their first shoe store in Hannibal, Mo., and in 1944 they moved to Mexico and purchased the Wilkins Brothers Shoe Store on the east side of the square where it is still in operation and managed by her grandson Monte C. Safford. They also owned and operated the Family Shoe Store on the west side of the square in Mexico, and stores in Moberly and Kirksville, Missouri and Oskaloosa and Charles City, Iowa.

Mrs. Safford was a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club and was a 58-year member of the First Baptist Church of Mexico. She was also a member of the Eastern Star and the PEO sisterhood.

Survivors include a daughter, Virginia and husband Robert Strain of Laguna Woods, Calif.; a son, Carl A. Safford, Jr. and wife Mildred of Mexico; a sister-in-law, June T. Oglesby of Hannibal; grandchildren including, Dr. Robert L. Strain, John E. Strain, Karen Bauer, and Karyl Owen all of the state of Calif., Cathy Safford of Kansas City, Mo., Daniel A. Safford, Stephen A. Safford and Monte C. Safford and wife Ellen of Mexico; nephews, William Oglesby of Hannibal, Mark Oglesby and Kent David Oglesby of Springfield, Mo.; nieces, Kim Oglesby Birney of Hannibal and June Oglesby Hause of Galveston, Tex. Mrs. Safford also has 21 great-grandchildren and numerous great-great-grandchildren and great nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband she was preceded in death by a son, Ralph O. Safford and a brother, William D. Oglesby, Jr.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m.  Wednesday, March 10, 2004, at Shady Grove Cemetery in Poole, Kentucky. There will be no visitation.

The family suggests memorials be made to the First Baptist Church Youth Center Building Fund. They may be sent in care of Pickering Funeral Home, 403 N. Western, Mexico, MO 65265.

 Pickering Funeral Home  
Caring Service Since 1884