Levi Ham

KELSO, Mo. -- Clarence Levi Ham, 89, of Kelso died Monday, March 23, 2015, at Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee, Missouri.

He was born Nov. 28, 1925, in Illmo, to Thomas Everett and Emma Lee Kent Ham. He and Helen Knight were married Nov. 5, 1949, at Illmo Baptist Church. They were blessed with 65 years of marriage and a wonderful daughter, Peggy.

He was called Levi by all his young friends and classmates but answered to Clarence when his elders called. He also was known as Clarence where he worked for 33 years at American Steel Foundries in Granite City, Illinois, retiring in 1983 at age 57.

Levi was a member of Illmo Baptist Church, Son of the Confederates and American Steel 30-year Club. In February 1949, Clarence made history at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis when he was one of the first to have an aorta repaired without a heart-lung machine.

Survivors include his wife, Helen; a daughter, Peggy (James) Tucker of O'Fallon, Missouri; two grandchildren, Erin (Matt) King of Florissant, Missouri, and Justin (Melissa) Tucker of Dallas; two great-grandchildren, Everett and Eleanor King; a nephew, John Paul (Lisa) Ham of Scott City; three nieces, Carron (Leon) Sander, Linda (Kenneth) Burger of Scott City and Dr. Patricia Wicks of Omaha, Nebraska.

He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Hermon, Leonard, Harvey, Paul and Thomas; and three nephews, David, Harvey Dean and Ralph Ham.

A memorial service will be at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Illmo Baptist Church, with the Rev. Bob Herring officiating.

Memorials may be made to Illmo Baptist Church, 802 2nd St. East, Scott City, MO 63780, or Baptist Children's Home, 11300 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044.

Online condolences may be shared at amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.