|
|
Welcome to the new home of Lee's Summit Tribune. We are dedicated to providing you the most current and accurate news and events in Lee's Summit
 | |  |
|
ARTHUR E. BERRIER
ARTHUR E. BERRIER
Dec. 1, 1903 to Feb. 15, 2010
The oldest resident at John Knox Village in Lee's Summit has passed away at age 106. Arthur E. Berrier was born on a farm in Caroll County Missouri on December 1, 1903, approximately two weeks before the Wright brothers made their famous flight at Kitty Hawk. When Arthur was three years old, his parents purchased a farm in Carroll County, where we grew up with his younger sister and two younger brothers. It is often said that great character can come from coping with the challenges brought on by events beyond one's control. Planning for life as a farmer, Arthur married in 1928, and approximately one year later tragedy struck when his young wife and unborn child died just at the onset of the Great Depression. In debt and emotionally distraught, Arthur persevered by taking a job working on highway construction projects ten hours a day, six days a week, for 25 cents an hour. It was while working on the highway some five years later that he met Esther Knierim, a teacher at a one-room country school in Henry County. They were married in 1935, forming a union that lasted over 60 years, and produced two children.
Arthur and his new wife, along with her brother, John, pooled their resources and went into business operating a country store, first in rural Henry County, and later in a larger store in the small town of Spruce, in Bates, County. World War II broke up the partnership, and following the war, Arthur sold the store and took his young family to Northern California where he worked a short time in a lumber mill. A mere two years later, the family returned to Missouri and purchased the same country store they operated before. Arthur continued as the proprietor of the Spruce store until he sold it in 1960 for the second time, moving to Lee's Summit. Both Arthur and Esther took jobs with the Hickman Mills School District, she as an elementary school teacher and he as a school custodian. Arthur remained in that role until he retired in 1978, shortly after the two of them moved into John Knox Village. While living in the Village, Arthur became the consummate volunteer, serving at the hospital, the care center, the ice cream shop, and other locations. He continued in that role until he reached age 100, when he decided that it was time to turn the duties over to the younger generation.
Arthur earned many accolades during his long life, both in his work life and in his volunteer role. Supervisors praised him for the high quality of his work, for his cooperative attitude and his strong work ethic. He was active in the Village and a regular at the Lee's Summit Baptist Church until moving to the Care Center shortly after his 106th birthday. His 92 year-old "kid brother" summed it up best, attributing Arthur's longevity to his "faith and living a clean life, while always determining to do what is right."
Arthur has a 94 year old sister living in John Knox East, and a 92 year old brother in Columbia, MO. He leaves a son, Bill, in California, and a daughter, Judy Marrs, from Lee's Summit, along with five grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. Services were at 2:30 p.m., at the First Baptist Church of Lee's Summit, on Saturday, February 20, preceded by viewing. The church is located at 2 NE Douglas in Lee's Summit. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those who wish may make a donation to the First Baptist Church of Lee's Summit, in Arthur's memory. Burial in Lee's Summit Cemetery.
Arr. Langsford Funeral Home, 115 SW 3rd St., Lee's Summit, MO; (816) 524- 3700.
| |
 | |  |
| | |
|
Other Recent Articles from the Obituaries Category:
| |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basketball: Lee's Summit West Women and Lee's Summit North Men in Sectionals(Correction)
|
|
|
