Louise Eileen Paul Sykes

Louise Eileen Paul Sykes lived an exemplary Christian life throughout her 90 years. She started reaping the ultimate reward for that life when her soul was released from her cancer-ridden body on April 1, 2006, at the Lutheran Home, where she had resided for the past three months.

Louise was born on Aug. 21, 1915, in Vanduser, Mo., to Lynn Paul and Clara Armstrong Paul. In 1923, her mother married Charles Sykes, and in 1928 their combined families moved to Cape Girardeau. She graduated from Central High School in 1933. That same year, she married Lee Roy Sykes, who preceded her in death in 1992.

She was employed as office manager of J.C. Penney Co. for 30 years, retiring in 1973. She was past president of the Professional Secretaries Association, and Past Noble Grand of the Rebecah Lodge. She served many years as a member of the Saint Francis Medical Center Auxiliary. She was a member of Red Star Baptist Church until moving to Mississippi in 1993. In 2002, she moved to New York to be near her niece/foster daughter, Judith Farris, with whom she moved back to Cape Girardeau in 2005.

Besides Ms. Farris and her son Matthew Piazzi of New York City, she is survived by a sister, Frankie Jane Curtner of Stanton, Calif., and several nieces and nephews, including Rhonda Young and Gina Suchman of Cape Girardeau.

Her sister, Desha Day, and brother, James Sykes, preceded her in death.

The family would like to express its utmost gratitude for the wonderful staff and hospice of the Lutheran Home.

There will be graveside rites at a future date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Department of Theatre and Dance Scholarship Fund, Southeast Missouri State University, One University Plaza, MS2800, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701.