Cloyd Walker

DEXTER, Mo. -- Cloyd Walker, 93, a man about town who lived a most remarkable and joyful life, passed away Saturday, March 20, 2010, in Dexter.

Cloyd was born Sept. 8, 1916, at Sturdivant, Mo., to Eugene and Mary Jane Walker. He was the sixth child with nine brothers and sisters: Paul, Jessie, Cledis "Joe," Truman, Wilburn, Georgie, Wanda, Harold and Mary Lou.

Of his siblings, Cloyd is survived by his youngest sister, Mary Lou Kinder of Essex, Mo.

As a boy, he worked at his father's general store and sawmill, and passed his time playing baseball. In 1935 Cloyd pitched for the Poplar Bluff All-Stars against Satchel Paige's Bismarck Churchills. Of that game, Cloyd was proud to say that "Satchel Paige struck me out three times on nine pitches."

Cloyd was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943, and he served his country as staff sergeant in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign. He received a Bronze Star medal for bravery April 28, 1944.

Shortly after returning to Missouri from his military service, Cloyd met and married his wife of 63 years, Easter Lorene Hardgrave, who survives him. Together they had three children, Myron, Myla and Riche.

For the first nine years of his farm business career, Cloyd managed the Farm Bureau in Advance, Mo. He then began his own business, Missouri Delta Chemical Co. in 1960, and made it into the largest distributor of anhydrous ammonia in the state of Missouri. He later retired as branch manager of Dexter Southeast Co-Op in 1984.

He lived an active life in those years that followed. He accompanied other World War II veterans on an Honor Tour of Washington, D.C., attended ball games with his sons and grandsons at the new Busch Stadium, and visited the World War II Museum in New Orleans just this past year.

And though he traveled, Cloyd never needed to go far from Dexter to find happiness. He loved nothing more than sitting next to someone, a total stranger even, and sharing stories.

Cloyd will be best remembered for his stories, his passion for living and his endless jokes. When asked what he wanted his grandson to say at his funeral, Cloyd said earnestly, pointing toward an imaginary casket, "Hey, look, everybody! He moved!"

In addition to his wife and sister, Cloyd is survived by his children and their spouses, Myron and Marsha Walker of Dexter, Myla and Garry Randolph of Columbia, Mo., Riche and Donna Walker of Advance; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

His memory lives on within us all.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Morgan Funeral Home in Advance.

A memorial service will be held at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with Garry Randolph officiating. Burial will be in Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield, with full military rites.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the OAKS Center of Dexter, 23 W. Stoddard St., Dexter, MO 63841.