Obituary of Alma Richards

Alma Lee Richards Funeral services for Alma Lee Richards of Elsberry, MO were held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 31, 2003 at the Elsberry United Methodist Church in Elsberry. Rev. Marvin Braungardt, former church pastor, officiated with burial in the Elsberry City Cemetery. Peggy Stonebraker and Betty Witt provided the music for the service. Serving as pallbearers were Terry Pollard, Gerry Pollard, Mike Terry, Steve Damron, Eugene Rogers, Bob Rogers, Dave Taubig and Mark Schumacher. Mrs. Richards, 78, died Sunday morning, December 28, 2003 at the Jonesburg Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jonesburg, MO. Born December 11, 1925 in Lincoln County, MO, she was the daughter of the late Noah Robert and Minnie Lee Lawson Damron. She was a 1943 graduate of Elsberry High School and earned an Associates Degree from Hannibal LaGrange College in Hannibal, MO in 1945. She was united in marriage on September 21, 1945 in Elsberry to Milford Lee Richards. She received her teaching certificate from Northeast Missouri Teachers College in Kirksville, MO, and taught for several years in country schools in eastern Lincoln County. Mrs. Richards later became a hairdresser and operated the Country House of Beauty from her home north of Elsberry for many years before retiring in 1988. She was also employed for several years as a seamstress at the Bobbin Along garment factory in Elsberry, retiring in 1980. She was a former member of the Jessie Black Club in Elsberry. She was a member of the Smith Chapel United Methodist Church and a former member of the Smith Chapel United Methodist Women. Besides her parents, Robert and Minnie Damron, she was preceded in death by three sisters: Helen Terry, Laura Emerick and M. Evlyn Pollard Briscoe; one brother, Robert Cornelius Damron who died as in infant; two brothers-in-law: Warren Rogers and Tom Terry; one sister-in-law, Bonnie Damron; one great-grandchild, Dustin Lee Cooper-Teasley; and her beloved husband of 31 years, Milford Richards, who died June 14, 1977. Survivors include two daughters: Bonnie Marie Schumacher and her husband, Gene, of Winfield, MO, and Alma Louise Davis and her husband, Rod, of St. Charles, MO; two grandchildren: Tammie Taubig and her husband, Dave, of Elsberry, and Tonia Cooper of St. Charles; and three great-grandchildren: Brendan, Breonna and Brittney Taubig all of Elsberry. She also leaves one brother, Norman "Bud" Damron of Troy, MO; two sisters: Dona Thurman and her husband, Howard, of Elsberry, and Jeane Rogers of O'Fallon; two brothers-in-law: Esthol Emerick of O'Fallon, and Jackie Briscoe of Elsberry; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. Visitation was held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2003 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be given to the Smith Chapel United Methodist Church in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343.