Cape lawyer Jeff Maguire killed when tractor overturns

Jeff Maguire, a quiet, versatile and talented community servant, died Wednesday, the day after a tractor overturned on him at his farm near Fredericktown, Mo.

Maguire, husband of Donna and father of three grown children, was 49 years old.

A Cape Girardeau lawyer, Maguire was respected by the local law community. He was appreciated by many others for his deep involvement in Cape Girardeau civic and church organizations. He was an active member of First Christian Church, secretary of the local arts council, a musician and a runner.

All three of his children -- daughters, Courtney and Jean, and son, Sam -- were avid swimmers in high school, and Maguire volunteered much of his time in helping the school and recreational swimming programs.

Courtney Maguire, the oldest daughter, is attending medical school. Jean Maguire just graduated from a university in St. Louis and Sam Maguire is a 2004 graduate of Central High School.

Steve Limbaugh, a Missouri Supreme Court judge, admired Maguire for his professional integrity and for being a good neighbor. Limbaugh and the Maguires own historic houses on Bellevue Street.

"He was an excellent lawyer," Limbaugh said. "He enjoyed the highest reputation, not only in the immediate community but throughout Southeast Missouri and even the state."

Limbaugh said Maguire served on the blue ribbon committee on appellate practice and was a hearing officer for the Supreme Court's lawyer discipline system.

His law firm partners say he had a brilliant mind, a relentless work ethic and a compassion for people.

Maguire led the church choir and was a trustee and elder in the church.

"He's a wonderful man of faith," fellow church member and friend David Giles said. "Many people know him through his profession and know that he's a person of great intellect. But the church sees him as a man of his faith, his family and his church."

Rebecca Fulgham, the executive director of the arts council, is a close family friend. She gave Maguire's daughters piano lessons, then taught Maguire, who also played the guitar and mandolin.

"He was very proud of his daughters' accomplishments," she said.

Maguire and his son played music at the library during a poetry coffee house event. He also helped the public library draw up a contract to hire a consultant for the building expansion.

Donna Maguire is on the library board.

Dana Powell, long-time Central High School swimming coach, coached all three of Maguire's children.

"Combined, there were 11 years of Maguire swimming," she said. "Rarely was there ever a meet where Jeff wasn't officiating or running the timing system. He was so helpful to me and did so many things not only for me but for Franklin School, the PTA ... . He was such a consistently nice person to visit with."

Madison County Sheriff David Lewis said the accident occurred at about 4:27 p.m. Tuesday, off County Road 511. He said it appeared that Maguire was trying to pull out another tractor when the tractor he was operating overturned.

Donna Maguire drove her husband to the Madison County Medical Center in Fredericktown where he was stabilized. He was transported to Barnes Hospital in St. Louis where he later died.

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635