Truman Cato

DEXTER, Mo. -- Truman Sanford Cato passed away Sunday morning, June 11, 2017, at Dexter at the age of 96.

He was born June 25, 1920, to Louis Wesley "Bud" and Valley May Hughes Cato at Greenbrier, Missouri. He and Roma Lee Delay were married March 1, 1946, at Cape Girardeau. She preceded him in death Oct. 3, 2002, after 56 years of marriage.

He was a member of Bethel General Baptist Church, where he and Roma Lee served the Lord and his church family. He taught his family to love Christ and love others both in his words and, more importantly, in the way he lived his life.

He proudly served his country in World War II, from October 1941 to December 1945, serving in the European Theater. Truman entered combat on Omaha Beach in Normandy on June 16, 1944 -- "D +10" -- and earned Bronze Service stars and a Purple Heart for his service to his county. He received a battlefield commission from Gen. George S. Patton on June 9, 1945.

Truman began working with the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service in 1954 and served as the Bollinger County executive director of the ASCS until his retirement in 1983. He was also a part-time farmer and served a number of terms on the Zalma (Missouri) School Board. He was instrumental in the formation of Cross Trails Medical Center, where he served on the board of directors since its inception in 1995.

Survivors include his daughter, Debra Cato Dove and husband, Gene, of Highlandville, Missouri; his son, Edwin T. "Eddie" Cato and wife, Jeannie, of Dexter; four grandchildren, Jaime Bernhardt and husband, Mark, of Republic, Missouri, Chase Ridings and wife, Chelsea, of Nixa, Missouri, Bailey Cato Czupryk and husband, Josh, of Memphis, Tennessee, and Andrew Cato and Elyce Cagle of Columbia, Missouri; and two great-grandchildren, Faith Romalee Bernhardt and Grayson Tadeusz Czupryk.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and two brothers, Dale W. Cato and Ale C. Cato.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Morgan Funeral Home in Advance, Missouri.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with Brothers Jeff Roth and Ray Placher officiating. Interment will follow in the Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery in Marble Hill, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethel General Baptist Church at Advance.