Jeff Stallings

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Martin Jeffrey "Jeff" Stallings, 47, died Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010, at his residence in Charleston.

He was born Feb. 10, 1962, in Sikeston, Mo., to Martin and Cora Sue Hutcheson Stallings, who survive in Charleston. A graduate of Charleston High School, Jeff received a degree in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri in Columbia.

He was a member of St. Henry Catholic Church in Charleston and a board member of the Texas Bend Cemetery Association. A strong supporter of St. Henry Catholic School in Charleston and Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau, he unselfishly volunteered his time and had a way of making everyone he came in contact with feel valuable.

On Aug. 12, 1989, he married Lisa Carman, who survives of the home. Also surviving are three children, Catherine Jane, Mollina Marie and Frank Lee Stallings, all of Charleston; a brother and sister-in-law, Bart and Lorraine Stallings of Charleston; a sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Andy Wolfe of St. Louis; three nieces; and two nephews.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Marshall and Nellie Stallings, and his maternal grandparents, J.R. and Jannie Hutcheson.

Friends may call from 5 until 8 p.m. today at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. Prayers will be recited at 7 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Henry Catholic Church in Charleston, with the Rev. Glenn Eftink serving as celebrant.

Interment will follow in Texas Bend Cemetery under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Stephen Burke, Mark Stallings, Boyd French, William Glass, Charles Moxley and Jason Bledsoe.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Henry Catholic School at 306 Court Street, Charleston, and Notre Dame Regional High School at 265 Notre Dame Drive, Cape Girardeau.