Bill Myers

Charles "Bill" Myers, 77, of Jackson and formerly of Willow Springs, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Cape Girardeau, surrounded by loved ones.

Bill was born Dec. 11, 1945, in Cape Girardeau, and grew up in Oak Ridge.

He was the youngest of six and was incredibly close with his siblings — Gene (Jeanie), Dale (Judy), Mary Robinson and Ruth (Larry) Barks, as well as Greta's family — brother-in-law Rodney (Jan) Miller; aunt, Rada Kamp; and cousin, Lee Fronabarger. He cherished his many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and -nephews.

Bill graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1963 and then attended Southeast Missouri State University, where he was a Phi Kappa Alpha fraternity brother. He graduated in 1967, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and married Greta in 1969. A lifelong educator and mentor, Bill worked in many Missouri school districts as a teacher, coach and administrator. He retired as principal from Willow Springs High School in 2004. He is fondly remembered by hundreds of former colleagues, students and their families, and he stayed in touch with many. It brought him great joy to continue to attend sporting events of his former schools and students.

Bill never met a stranger, he loved chatting with everyone he met, and he always asked after his daughters' friends and families. Greta and Bill loved to travel across the United States and in Europe, often visiting Houston and New York City for his girls; many fun trips were with his niece, Amy and her husband, Steve Dustmann. He loved the St. Louis Cardinals and the Mizzou Tigers, and attended home and away games in multiple states. His smoked meat was some of the best around and was his signature home-closing gift during his time as a real estate agent.

He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Greta (nee Miller); daughters, Celeste Myers of Jackson, Jessica (Laura Sciavolino) Myers of Houston and Kirsten (Kathryn Prybylski) Myers of Brooklyn, New York; and grandchildren, Owen DeMarco of Austin, Texas, and Nadia Myers of Cape Girardeau.

He is predeceased by his parents, Paul and Hester Myers; brother, Dr. Donald Dean Myers; brother-in-law Harold Robinson; and son-in-law, Todd Naeter.

Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, and from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Funeral will be 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, at the funeral home, with Charles Mangels officiating. Burial will be held at a later date.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Goshen Cemetery or to Hester Myers Scholarship Fund at Oak Ridge High School.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute tab of Bill's obituary page at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.