Edward Speakman

Edward D. Speakman, 65, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

He was born Dec. 3, 1946, in Cape Girardeau, to Henry Curtis and Della Estelle Waddle Speakman. He and Sherry Sue Ernst were married Sept. 28, 1968, in Sikeston.

Ed graduated from Sikeston High School in 1964 and Southeast Missouri State University in 1989.

He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and was also in the National Guard and Army Reserve. Upon his retirement from the military, he had achieved the rank of captain.

Ed was a St. Louis County police officer, Sikeston Department of Public Safety crime scene investigator and sheriff at Bertrand, Mo. In addition, he owned photography studios Photography Unlimited and Speakman Studio in Sikeston. He also worked as a design technician and bridge inspector for Missouri Department of Transportation.

He moved to Cape Girardeau from Sikeston in 2008. He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and Fr. Marquette Council 11205 Knights of Columbus.

Survivors include his wife, Sherry Sue Speakman of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Debra (Raymond P.) Enderle of Cape Girardeau, Christie (Jim) Utterback of Kingsport, Tenn.; a brother, Aaron Thomas Speakman of Sikeston; five grandchildren, Collin and Maria Enderle, Andrew, Alex and Abigail Utterback.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends may call 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home. A Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 8.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Vincent de Paul Church, with the Rev. Kizito Wenani officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given to the American Diabetes Association, 10820 Sunset Office Drive, Suite 220, St. Louis, MO 63127, or Birthright, 2633 Hopper Road, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

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