LILLIAN HATLER

PATTON, Mo. -- Lillian Ruby (nee Perry) Hatler died at 4:30 a.m., June 17, 2001, at Camelot Nursing Center in Farmington, Mo. She was formerly from Cape Girar-deau.

She was born February 19, 1920, in McBride, Mo., daughter of Clarence and Myrdie Mae (nee Swan) Perry. She first married Vincent Lee Clark and they had two children, a daughter, Patricia E. Bell of Patton, and a deceased son. She later married Henry Hatler, and they had two sons, Robert Hatler, St. Louis, and Billy Hatler, Pevely. Also surviving are four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one sister, Norma Grebe of Fredericktown.

She had worked as a waitress at the Hotel Marquette, Idan-ha Hotel, Curve Cafe and the Bridge Cafe, all of Cape Girardeau. She moved to St. Louis in 1971 and was well known throughout the greater St. Louis area on radio station WGNU as "Diamond Lil," where she won many awards and was well known for her special songs of yesteryear and her wide knowledge of Sports Antics on KMOX.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, parents and five brothers.

Visitation will be today from noon to 2 at the Bethlehem Baptist Church at Crosstown, Mo. Funeral services will be today at 2 p.m. at the church, with burial in the church cemetery.

Liley Funeral Home in Patton is in charge of arrangements.