Richard Myer

Richard Dean "Dick" Myer, 68, of Jackson passed away Wednesday, April 23, 2003, at the home of a friend. Friends may call between 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 28, at the McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. A Knights of Columbus service will be held at 7 p.m. and an American Legion service at 7:30 p.m. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 29, at the funeral home, with Monsignor Edward Eftink officiating. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery with U.S. Navy military honors.

Dick was born Sept. 30, 1934, in Jackson, son of Joe W. and Josephine Nitsch Myer. He and Jill Evans were married Sept. 6, 1958. She passed away Jan. 4, 1999.

Loving survivors include three sons and daughters-in-law, Travis and Sheri Myer of Millersville, Mo., Trevor and Lisa Myer of Marble Hill, Mo., and Trent and Tracy Myer of Fort Drum, N.Y.; nine grandchildren, Samantha and Ethan Myer, Jason and Jamie Smith, and Hunter, McKenzie, Lauren, Madison and Landon Myer; a great-grandson, Alex T. Smith; and two sisters, Daisy Koch of Cape Girardeau and Mildred Abbot and husband Bill of Perryville, Mo.

In addition to his wife, Jill, he was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and two sisters.

Upon graduating from Jackson High School and prior to his marriage, Dick began his military career in the U.S. Navy. He was inducted Sept. 9, 1953, in St. Louis, Mo., serving during both the Korean and Vietnam wars, and retired June 29, 1979, as a first class hospital corpsman. The family then moved to Springfield, Mo., where Dick graduated with honors from Rutledge College in 1983.

When the Myers moved to Jackson, Dick worked several years as a custodian at the high school. In 1999, he retired as a medical technician from the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, where he also assisted in coordinating activities for the residents.

He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and responsible for offering communion at the Veterans Home. He was a fourth-degree knight in the Bishop Timon Knights of Columbus Council 6405 in Jackson and a member of the Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 and its honor guard in Jackson, where he volunteered in all activities.

Never meeting a stranger, Dick was a friend to all and well-known in the community for his willingness to work and serve wherever he could. An avid fisherman when time permitted, he could be found fishing one of the many local ponds.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Missouri Veterans Home Foundation, and noted for "activities."