Gregory Branum

Gregory Clay Branum, 52, a resident of Columbia, Mo., formerly of Sikeston, Mo., and Cape Girardeau, died Tuesday evening, Oct. 23, 2007, near East Prairie, Mo.

He was born Dec. 16, 1954, in Sikeston, to Emma Jean Branum Van Duson who survives of Sikeston, and the late Bill Branum.

He graduated from Sikeston High School in 1973 and from Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor's degree in agriculture. He was active in farming in Scott and Stoddard counties during his high school and college years and continued after college until March 1981 when he became a congressional aide for the late U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson. Following Emerson's death in 1996, he continued his work in the office of U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson as special projects manager.

On March 18, 2001, President George W. Bush appointed him Missouri state director for USDA Rural Development, a position he held at the time of his death. Greg was a member of First United Methodist Church in Sikeston and an avid sportsman with membership in Ducks Unlimited and the NRA.

In 2006 he was honored as the recipient of "Outstanding Agriculturist of the Year" award by Southeast Missouri State University.

On July 24, 1976, he married Jeanie Finley who survives of the home.

In addition to his mother and wife, he is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Alisa and Brad Haertling of Raleigh, N.C., Kristin and Tony Riley of Cape Girardeau; a brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Mary Katherine Branum of Charleston, Mo.; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Julie and Randy Norman of Judsonia, Ark., Mona and Rob Porter of Cape Girardeau; also several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. The Rev. Grant Gillard, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, will officiate. Rep. Emerson will serve as eulogist.

Arrangements are under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston and Ford and Sons Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions to: Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45250-0301, attention Gift Processing, or to VFW Foundation, 406 West 34th St., Kansas City, Mo., 64111.