Harry Froman Jr.

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Harry Froman Jr., 90, went to be with our Lord on Tuesday, July 21, 2020.

Harry was born Nov. 29, 1929, in Flint, Michigan, to Grace Gribler and Harry Froman Sr.

After working various jobs as a young man, he joined the Marine Corps in 1950. Harry did his boot camp training at Parris Island and was immediately deployed to Korea, coming home in 1952 when the war ended. After discharge, Harry stayed and worked in California. While there, he met the love of his life, Barbara. The couple married Feb. 10, 1956, and moved to Puxico, Missouri. They later moved to St. Louis, where their only daughter, Cheryl, was born. They finally settled near Zalma, Missouri.

Harry led a full and interesting life. He worked and traveled with a carnival company, picked cotton, baled and hauled hay, worked in several factories, drove semi-trucks, managed two restaurants, managed a shoe store, cut and hauled ties and logs, owned and operated a sawmill, worked at Cape Girardeau Airport, was part of the management team at McDonald-Douglas Aircraft (now Boeing) and raised and sold hogs.

If that wasn't enough, he earned a pilot's license, merchant marine license, A & P mechanic license (federal license to work on airplanes), and an auctioneer's license. He worked as an auxiliary policeman in Arnold, Missouri, and a deputy sheriff in Jefferson County, St. Louis and Bollinger County. He was a self-described "Jack of All Trades -- Master of a Few."

Harry was an active member of Brush Creek Baptist Church for many years, serving as a trustee and Sunday school teacher. He belonged to Marine Corp League in Cape Girardeau, Masonic Lodge in Zalma and St. Mark's Order of the Eastern Star in Cape Girardeau and Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He achieved the 32nd-degree in the Scottish Rite and was a lifetime member of VFW Post 5900 of Marble Hill, Missouri.

Harry is survived by his daughter, Cheryl Macke; "adopted" daughter, Deidre Owen; "adopted" son, Jeffrey Owen; grandchildren, Ryan Macke, Barbara Schroeppel and Kelly Macke; and great-grandchildren, Ryan Preston Macke, Hailey Macke, Makayla Macke, Christian Tyler Schroeppel and Hunter Souron. He is also survived by a brother, Mitchell (Sandy) Froman; brothers-in-law, Fred (Linda) Kelly, Mickey Kelly and Robert Kelly; sisters-in-law Shirley (John) Moncrief and Mary Lou (James) Kelly; and many nieces and nephews.

Harry was preceded in death by his wife, parents, parents-in-law, one brother, three sisters-in-law and three brothers-in-law.

Visitation was held Thursday at Morgan Funeral Home in Advance with funeral held immediately following. Interment was at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Harry will always be remembered for his sense of humor, ability to talk to anyone about anything and wonderful singing voice. And for the doubters, yes, he really was offered a singing contract in Branson!