PAUL FLEURDELYS

CHARLESTON -- Paul Roy Fleurdelys, 78, of Charleston died Wednesday, May 3, 2000, at his home.

He was born March 12, 1922, in Hannibal, son of John and Daisy Purcell Fleurdelys. He and Georgia Thurman McNutt were married July 3, 1947. She died July 16, 1975. He and Patricia Reece were married May 24, 1977.

Fleurdelys had lived in Charleston since 1931. He was educated at Charleston Public Schools, Southeast Missouri State University, and Chicago University. He held degrees of chartered life underwriter and chartered financial consultant from the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pa.

He began work with New York Life Insurance Co. in November 1956.

Fleurdelys joined Southeast Missouri Life Underwriters Association in April 1957, and became president in 1958. He served as board member and advisory board member of State Life Underwriters Association from 1968-71.

He helped organize Sikeston Life Underwriters in 1975. He served as national committeeman 15 years of the Southeast Missouri and Sikeston associations. He was named Life Underwriter of the Year in 1985 by Missouri Association of Life Underwriters.

Fleurdelys was a member of the United Methodist Church, served as chairman and vice chairman of the administrative board and as a lay leader.

As a member of the Kiwanis Club he was organizer and chairman of the first Kiwanis-sponsored Polio Bowl Football Game. He was instrumental in getting the Veterans of Foreign Wars to sponsor the first Little League baseball program in Mississippi County in 1952, and remained active in management and funding 33 years.

He was inducted in the Missouri Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.

Fleurdelys had served as post commander, post adjutant, assistant quartermaster, district quartermaster, district commander, junior and senior vice commander, and state commander of the VFW during a 25-year period.

He served as chairman of the VFW State Finance Committee 18 years, member and vice chairman of the National Committee on Finance and Internal Organization 12 years, and served 29 years as chairman of the Out State Political Caucus.

Fleurdelys served 43 months with the U.S. Air Force in China, Burma and India during World War II.

Survivors include his wife; a son, James Fleurdelys of Fort Worth, Texas; two stepsons, Mark Reece of Rolla, Lauren Reece of Cape Girardeau; a stepdaughter, Beverly Reece of Cape Girardeau; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother.

Friends may call at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston from 5-8 p.m. today, and Friday after 9 a.m. at the United Methodist Church. Masonic rites will be at 7 tonight.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church. The Rev. Rick White will officiate. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery.