Obituary of James Placker

James L. Placker Funeral services for James Leggett Placker of Elsberry, MO were held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 31, 2004 at Mt. Zion AR Presbyterian Church near Elsberry. Rev. Conrad Cheetham officiated with burial in Elsberry City Cemetery in Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers were Larry Black, Doran Black, Scott Black, David Housewright, Keith Cowee, Michael Broyles, Rick Heitman, Tom Vitro, Bobby Broyles, and Kevin Broyles. Mr. Placker, 84, died Friday afternoon, May 28, 2004 at St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles, MO. Born October 6, 1919 in Menard, TX, he was the son of the late Billie Benjamin and Zula Dora Willhelm Placker. A veteran of World War II, he served in country as a flight engineer in the U.S. Army Air Corp. While stationed in Europe, he was united in marriage on January 5, 1945 in Preston, England to Elsie Woodruff. Following the war, they returned to the states where he first worked for Bethlehem Steel in Baltimore, MD, later moving to Pennsylvania where he was employed by Beech Aircraft. He was employed as a machinist at McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft in St. Louis for over 28 years, retiring December 1, 1981. He was a member of the I.A.M. Machinists Local #837 in St. Louis. Elsie Placker, his wife of 32 years, died on September 13, 1977. He was married again on November 17, 1979 in Elsberry to Vera Broyles Wells and they have made their home in rural Lincoln County for over 20 years. He was a member of the Mt. Zion AR Presbyterian Church near Elsberry where he served as an Elder and Sunday School Teacher. Besides his parents, Billie and Zula Placker and his first wife, he was preceded in death by his brother, Arvy Gene Placker; and one great-grandson, Steven Chase Black. Survivors include his beloved wife of almost 25 years, Vera Placker of Elsberry; one daughter, Faye Cowee and her husband, Keith, of Kansas City, MO; one step-daughter, Carolyn Black and her husband, Larry, of Elsberry; seven grandchildren: Christina Housewright and her husband, David, Doran Black, Scott Black, Melinda Eads and her husband, John, Regina Brady and her husband, James, Kelly Bray and Erin Trog; and eleven great-grandchildren. He also leaves one sister, Sue Sims of Jacksonville, FL; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sunday, May 30, 2004 at Carter Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be given to the Mt. Zion AR Presbyterian Church in care of Carter Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343.