Robert Hemperley Jr.

Robert Franklin "Bob" Hemperley Jr., 79, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007, at his home.

He was born Aug. 11, 1927, in Shreveport, La., son of Robert Franklin and Jewell Brooks Hemperley. He and Nelle Benson were married March 15, 1952, in Cape Girardeau.

Bob graduated from high school at Swanee Military Academy and junior college from Kemper Military Academy. After graduating from Kemper at the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and served during World War II.

He graduated from Tulane University in 1949. He moved to Cape Girardeau and operated St. Louis-Cape Bus Line, which his father started here in 1944. His father died in 1945 at the age of 45.

In 1952 he served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict.

He was a 50-year member of Lions Club International and a past president.

He served as state representative from Cape Girardeau County in the Missouri Legislature during the term 1961 through 1962.

Bob served as chairman of the Cape Girardeau Republicans five years and also served as chairman of the 10th District Republicans five years.

He served as president of the Cape Girardeau, Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Shawnee District Boy Scouts of America.

Bob was a member of Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission 13 years and acted as secretary most of that time. He also was a 50-year plus member of Cape Girardeau Country Club and served on the board. During that period he was an avid golfer and was a seven-time member of the Hole-in-One Club.

He was a member of Lynwood Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife of almost 55 years, Nelle Benson Hemperley; two sons, Robert Franklin Hemperley III of St. Petersburg Beach, Fla., John Lawton Hemperley of Vienna, Va.; a sister, Dorothy Dean Hemperley Pelton of Sulphur Springs, Texas; two granddaughters, Tara and Leigh Anne of Lafayette, La.; and a great-granddaughter of Lafayette.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Gary Belcher officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to Teen Challenge International Mid-America and American Heart Association.