Claris Schneider

Claris Evelyn Schneider of Cape Girardeau, passed away at the Lutheran Home on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2002. She lived 89 years, seven months and five days.

Mrs. Schneider was born June 21, 1912, in London, Ky. She was the daughter of Christopher Columbus and Minnie Sherman Tipton. After her mother's death, she became the daughter of her beloved second mother, Ethel Baldwin Tipton, whom her father married when Claris was 3 years old.

In her youth, she resided at Dupo, Ill., and graduated from Dupo Community High School in 1932. She married Ebert Edward Schneider Sr. of Cape Girardeau on Feb. 14, 1935, in Dupo. The Schneiders lived near Chaffee, Mo., until moving to the Gordonville, Mo., and Cape Girardeau areas in 1941. They were dairy farmers.

Mrs. Schneider was a member of Zion Lutheran Church located south of Gordonville after being confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Chaffee in September 1935. She was an active member of Zion Lutheran Ladies Aid, LWML and Zion Quilters.

Her dedication to community service was typical of her unselfish nature. She was a 40-year member of the Missouri Home Economics Extension Clubs (now University of Missouri Extension Clubs), also Campster and Oak Grove Clubs and served as president of the County Council for two terms. She was also a leader of 4-H Club activities for more than 25 years and served as president of the county council for several years. She served as a charter member of the Agricultural Extension Council and as a member of the Cape County Farm Bureau. She was a member of the Oak Grove Homemakers Club and the County Extension Club for many years, serving as an officer numerous times.

As a lifelong seamstress, she worked at the former Fab-N-Trim in Cape Girardeau.

Loving survivors are five children, Edna Lee Slinkard of Cape Girardeau, Rose Marie Meadows and her husband, Howard, of Manchester, Mo., June E. Borgfield and her husband, Don, of Jackson, Mo., Ebert E. Jr. "Butch" and Sharon Schneider of Gordonville, the Rev. Jack. A Schneider and his wife, Carolyn, of Plano, Texas; and a foster daughter, Oma Dell Clark of Lindenhurst, Ill.

Also surviving are 14 grandchildren, Robin White and her husband, Drew, of Cape Girardeau, Christy Montgomery of Plano, John David Slinkard II and his wife, Tami, of Holland, Mich., Kelly Slinkard-Ard of Cape Girardeau, Scott Meadows and his wife, Regina, of Arnold, Mo., Kim Hodo and her husband, Rob, and Penny King and her husband, Greg, all of Jackson, Kevin Schneider and his wife, Jennifer, and Brett Schneider and his wife, Holly, all of Cape Girardeau, Todd Schneider and his wife, Karen, and Stephanie Schneider, all of Jackson, Aaron Schneider of San Diego, Calif., Marc Schneider of Benbrook, Texas, and Karen Lusk of Plano.

Surviving great-grandchildren include Jacob and Chelsea White of Cape Girardeau, Melanie and Erich Montgomery of Plano, Trista and Wesley Anderson of Holland, Nicholas and Daniel Slinkard of Cape Girardeau, Alesha Meadows of Arnold, Lacie Hodo of St. Louis, Mo., Rachel Hodo of Jackson, Brandee Reagan and her husband, Chris, of Fredericktown, Mo., Danielle King of Jackson, Zachary and Nathan Schneider of Cape Girardeau, Michael Schneider of Jackson and Adriana Schneider of southwest Fort Worth, Texas.

Also surviving is a sister and brother-in-law, Lee and Larry Wirth of St. Louis; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Harold and Pearl Mueller of Columbia, Ill.; two sisters-in-law, Margaret Tipton of North Little Rock, Ark., and Fannie Tipton of Dupo; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Norman and Jeannette Schneider of Bedford, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ebert E. Schneider Sr. in 1980; her parents; two sisters; three brothers; and son-in-law, John D. Slinkard.

Friends may call Monday, Jan. 28, between 4-8 p.m., at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. Funeral service will be Tuesday, Jan. 29, at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home followed by interment in Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau with a gazebo committal service. The Rev. Wayne Schwiesow will officiate.

Vocal soloists will be Greg King and Bruce Dockins. Serving as pallbearers are John David Slinkard II, Rob Hodo, Kevin, Brett and Todd Schneider and Scott Meadows.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Zion Lutheran Church Organ Fund or the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.