Kathrine Lamkin

Kathrine Porter Russell Lamkin, one of Cape Girardeau's least politically correct residents, died Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, at Southeast Missouri Hospital, a few days before her 83rd birthday.

She was the daughter of Richard B. and Florence Hein Russell, whose ancestors settled here by 1797. Last year she and husband John T. "Jack" Lamkin celebrated 60 years of marriage at a series of events attended by all of her six children, 18 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

The families include: John T. and Kathleen Lamkin from the blue states, Walter R. and the late Linda Lamkin of St. Louis, Richard B. and Sue Lamkin of Montgomery, Ala., Dr. Vic and Kathrine P. Trammell of Broken Arrow Okla., Thomas and Melissa L. O'Connor of West Hartford, Conn., and Clayton W. Lamkin of Quincy Ill.

Mrs. Lamkin's father, a lawyer in Cape Girardeau, died in 1932 from a World War I-related illness. She and her mother then joined her mother's family in St. Louis where she was a Veiled Prophet maid of honor in 1946 and a Washington University graduate in 1948.

She married Mr. Lamkin that same year, and returned to Cape Girardeau which has been her home since.

In addition to raising six children, Po, as her friends knew her, served on many boards and clubs including: the DAR, Sesquicentennial Committee, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cape Girardeau Schools Review Committee, Glenn House, Jaycee Follies, Cape Girardeau Historical Society, CGCC Pool Committee and Southeast Missouri Hospital Auxiliary.

She war-whooped at Houck for the Parsley-era Indians and set many an ambitious bidder in the several renowned bridge clubs of which she was a member. Lately she had been captain of the volunteer fire department at the couple's summer residence in Wik-a-te-wa, Mich.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Paul Kabo officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, please enjoy a fine dinner out and recall her warmly at her favorite table where she presided over so many events, as we forever will.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.