Former Sikeston mayor Frank Ferrell dies

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Those who knew Frank Ferrell talk about his passion, love and commitment to his family, the numerous organizations he belonged to, his church, the city of Sikeston and politics.

John Franklin "Frank" Ferrell, a former Sikeston mayor, died Sunday at age 87. He was buried Wednesday.

"He was always a hard worker for his community," friend Dennis Ziegenhorn said. "He was definitely a community leader, and he thought a lot of Sikeston."

Ferrell was a former city councilman and mayor of Sikeston in the 1970s. He operated a Missouri license fee office from 1953 through 1973. He served as chairman of the Sikeston Industrial Development Corp., as a deputy sheriff in Scott County, and was the first director of civil defense for Scott County. He was owner and operator of Ferrell Excavating Co. and Ferrell Oil Co.

Ferrell belonged to the Sikeston Lions Club, the Sikeston Jaycees, American Legion Post 114, Sikeston Masonic Lodge 310 and the Sikeston Elks Lodge. He was a Shriner, a member of the SEMO Shrine Mounted Patrol and the Moolah Shrine Temple in St. Louis. He was a former volunteer fireman for the Sikeston Volunteer Fire Department.

In recognition of his efforts, Ferrell was named "Man of the Year" in 1985. He also received the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ferrell was politically active as well. Former state Rep. Betty Hearnes of Charleston, wife of former Gov. Warren Hearnes, called Ferrell "a good Democrat." He was active in her husband's campaigns, helping with dinners, passing out materials and other tasks, she said.

"The first thing you think about when you think of Frank Ferrell is that he was interested in improving Sikeston, building it and bringing industry in," she said.

At Monday night's city council meeting, Mayor Mike Marshall described Ferrell as "chairman of the board of the Greatest Generation."

He helped organize the Sheriff's Posse when it formed more than 30 years ago.

He was mayor during the development of the Sikeston Sports Complex. Ferrell also was historian of the Sikeston Veterans Park Committee.

He is survived by his wife, Henrietta, two sons, two sisters, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. One of his sons, William F. "Bill" Ferrell, is the former Scott County sheriff.