STACI UNDERWOOD

Staci Lea Underwood, 30, of Nashville, Tenn., died Sunday, Aug. 13, 2000, at her home.

She was born Jan. 7, 1970, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Ronald and Sandy Morse Underwood.

Underwood was a graduate of Central High School and attended Southeast Missouri State University where she was an honor student.

She owned and operated her own independent record and publishing company, "Footwork Records," and also wrote Christian and country songs.

Underwood recorded "Rebel With A Cause" in 1996. She received the 1997 European Country Music Award for Independent Album of the Year for "Rebel With A Cause."

Underwood was a member of First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau; American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; and past vice president of the European Country Music Awards.

Survivors include her father and stepmother, Ron and Dana Underwood of Cape Girardeau; her mother and stepfather, Sandy and Don Burton of Wickliffe, Ky.; four stepsisters, Tracy Jumps of Ballwin, Mo., Terri Simons and Tracy Murphy of Paducah, Ky., Tammy Burton of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Al Underwood of Jackson, Mo., and Helen Morse of Cape Girardeau; and great-grandmother, Nell Keller of Cape Girardeau.

Private service will be held today at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. Ron Watts will officiate. Entombment will be in Cape County Park Mausoleum.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.