Lester Stowers

Lester Samuel Stowers, 90, of Mexico, died at 4:50 a.m., today, Jan. 3, 2008, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mexico where he had been a resident for a short time. Prior to that he was a resident of Golden Living/Pin Oaks.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008, at 2 p.m. at Pickering Funeral Home with the Rev. Randy Jones officiating. Visitation will be on Saturday from noon until the time of the service at the funeral home. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.

Mr. Stowers was born on Feb. 16, 1917, in Centralia, a son of John Harrison and Rose Ellen (Scott) Stowers. He moved with his family to a farm near Mexico at the age of two. From June 1940 until August 1945, he served in the U.S. Army. On May 14, 1972, in Utica, he married Wanda Fern Keeling, who died on Dec. 2, 2005.

He worked for 48 ½ years as manager of Mattingly s in Mexico. Following its closing, he worked for two years with Coast to Coast, one year with Wal-Mart, and 16 years at Darby s. He also worked as manager of the Matco store in Macon, and for a pest control business in Macon for 12 years. He loved to fish and hunt, and was skilled in making wood crafts. He was a Past President of the Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees, and a previous member of the Kiwanis Club.

Survivors include three sons, Lester Samuel Sam Stowers Jr., Columbia, John Stowers and wife Jeanne, Highland Park, Calif., and Keith Durham Sr. and wife Brenda, Mexico; two daughters, Dee Dee Peters and husband Wayne, Graham, Texas, and Cathy Mills, Mexico; one sister, Nettie Jane and husband J. W. Given Jr., Mexico; six grandchildren, Matthew Peters, Graham, Texas, Denver and Tracy Durham, Mexico, Zach and Rachel Mills, Fort Sill, Okla., and Cody Durham, Mexico; four great grandchildren, Alexis Marie Durham, Mercedes Arin Durham, Tyler Mills and Keighlie Mills; two cousins Russ Stowers and wife Gerri, and Robert Stowers, all of Coloma, Mich.

In addition to his wife, one brother, Oscar Virgil Stowers, one sister, Frances Marie Levingston, one grandson, Aaron Peters, one niece, Jeaneale Smith and one nephew, Phillip Keeling, preceded him in death.

Memorials may be given to the Lockewood Park Baptist Church or the Missouri Veterans Home and may be sent in care of Pickering Funeral Home, 403 N. Western, Mexico, MO 65265.