Charlene Weller

Vera Charlene Weller, 79, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, June 6, 2024, at 10:55 a.m.

A Valentine’s baby, she was “born in the holler” in Ross County, Ohio, Feb. 14, 1945, to Raymond and Ruth Taylor. The youngest of seven children, who all lived in a two-bedroom log cabin, the family had little money, but their home was filled with love. She often told stories of how several of the sisters and brothers had to share a single pair of sneakers for their respective gym classes and how her tall, thin, red-headed father walked around on the roof of their home every Christmas Eve as Santa, delivering fruit and presents to the delight of his doe-eyed children.

While in high school, Charlene fell in love with Larry E. Weller, a local boy with big dreams, and the couple married on April 29, 1962.

Charlene’s favorite roles were wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, who affectionately called her “Grandma Charlie.” Throughout her life, she was a kid at heart and loved, loved, loved her children, playing games, celebrating holidays, reading them stories, watching the “Sound of Music” and singing Doris Day’s “Whatever Will Be, Will Be” and “A Bushel and a Peck”. She was never happier than when cooking large family meals (her deviled eggs made with Miracle Whip were legendary), but she was a light eater, preferring a hot cup of coffee to food.

She also loved animals, particularly her kitty, Zola; her new puppy, Romeo, and all the birds and squirrels and her raccoon, Rocky, and her albino deer, Maggie, who still live in the woods behind her home. Baby elephants were her favorite at the zoo, but it must be noted she was not a fan of snakes.

She never played sports, but she loved the Olympics, and in her last year of life, she became a fan of Caitlin Clark and women’s basketball. Throughout her life, she was a servant to others and would do anything for anyone, often ignoring her own desires and needs. She was very proud of the university scholarship in Larry’s and her name, and her favorite charities were Southeast Missouri Pets and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

She took great pride at having worked at Procter & Gamble’s Cape Girardeau plant for more than 20 years (she was a line safety officer and could drive a mean forklift), and after retirement, she traveled with Larry to antique car shows, airport fly-ins and auctions (she was a licensed auctioneer). She enjoyed serving as a Girl Scout leader and classroom helper for her granddaughter. In her spare time, she loved “going to the boat” and playing the slots, watching her favorite actor, Ice-T, in “Law & Order” marathons and seeing her children's art and musicals at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus.

Always humble, she lived a full life and had a positive impact on everyone she knew.

Survivors include her three daughters, Rhonda (Kenn) Weller-Stilson of Cape Girardeau, Melanie (Jason) Leonard of Fort Worth, Texas, and Laura Weller of Cape Girardeau; three grandchildren, Robbie (Megan) Kerchoff, Lauren (Mike Lawson) Kerchoff and Emma Weller-Stilson; three great-grandchildren, Rylee and Noah Kerchoff and River Lawson; sisters, Wanda Fox and Chloe Blazer of Dayton, Ohio; brother-in-law, George Phillip Weller of Washington Courthouse, Ohio; sister-in-law, Louise Weller of St. Louis; a multitude of nieces and nephews; and the scores of people she considered her adopted family.

Charlene was preceded in death by her husband, parents, four brothers and sisters, and her in-laws.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 13, at Ford and Sons Funeral Home, 1001 N. Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau. A celebration of life will immediately follow at noon at the funeral home, with Pastor Eric McGruder presiding.

The family will have a private committal at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a memorial contribution to the Larry Elmin and Vera Charlene Weller Theatre Scholarship at semo.edu/giving or give to Southeast Missouri Pets at semopets.org/donate.

The family wishes to thank Mercy Hospice for its love and support over the past several months and to Auburn Creek Assisted Living staff for its kind care.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.