Near-capacity crowd in Charleston pays respects to former governor Warren Hearnes

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Former Missouri governor Warren Hearnes was remembered for his dedication to education and the mentally ill during a funeral Friday morning.

A near-capacity crowd of political leaders, family, friends and others from the community dressed in their Sunday best filled the sanctuary at First Baptist Church to pay respect to Missouri's first governor to serve two consecutive terms. Hearnes died late Sunday evening at his home in Charleston. He was 86.

The service included music by Jerry Ford, Southeast Missouri State University associate dean of liberal arts Dr. Gary Miller and Southeast music department chair Dr. Christopher Goeke. First Baptist pastor the Rev. Michael Brewer read Scripture and offered a prayer, and Gov. Jay Nixon delivered the memorial message.

Throughout the service, Hearnes' flag-draped coffin lay at the forefront of the sanctuary. Members of the Missouri National Guard, Missouri Air Guard and Missouri State Highway Patrol waited near the coffin since it was transferred Wednesday from Jefferson City, Mo., the site of Hearnes' memorial service.

In a 15-minute message, Nixon praised Hearnes for his years of public service to Charleston and the state.

"Gov. Warren Hearnes was a steadfast member of the community," Nixon said. "In return, this community loved him."

Nixon later said that Hearnes was instrumental in furthering the cause of education in the state. Hearnes' accomplishments, he said, included making mental-health programs for people with disabilities and mental disorders a priority, helping establish one of the nation's top retirement programs for public school employees and boosting state aid for the state's schools.

"He did what all great men do," Nixon said. "He honored that belief with action. ... Warren Hearnes valued public education."

After the service a procession of about 60 cars made its way to the grave site, where military honors were conducted. Children from area schools were let out during the funeral and bused to North Main Street, where the procession began. Some of the children waved flags as Hearnes' casket

passed.

Most downtown businesses -- some with memorial wreathes attached to their doors -- were also closed during the

funeral.

Cordelia Conn of Charleston, whose late husband David was a classmate of Betty Hearnes, the late governor's widow, said she'll remember Hearnes for his commitment to the community.

"He wanted to make the world a better place," Conn said. "He set a goal for others to reach for. He was open, honest and dedicated to a whole state in his efforts to improve it."

Before the funeral began Betty Hearnes said turnout at Wednesday's memorial service, visitation Thursday and Friday's funeral was a fitting tribute to the legacy her husband left behind. About 300 people attended the memorial service, 250 showed up for the visitation and 350 were present for the

funeral.

"He was in government for so long, and people showing up for the services is important to us," said Betty Hearnes, a former music director at First Baptist Church.

A native of Moline, Ill., Warren Hearnes spent most of his childhood and teenage years in Charleston. A year after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., he married Betty Hearnes on July 2, 1947.

Hearnes was elected majority floor leader of the Missouri House by fellow Democrats in 1957 and 1959. A year later, Hearnes was elected secretary of state.

In 1964 Hearnes was elected governor, a position he held until 1973. His final run for office was in 1980, when he lost the Democratic primary for circuit judge in Mississippi and Scott counties.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628

Pertinent addresses:

Jefferson City, MO

301 Main St., Charleston, MO

VIDEO

Funeral for former Gov. Warren E. Hearnes

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