H. Roy Meier

H. "Roy" Meier, 88, of Jackson passed away Friday, May 6, 2005, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Friends may call at the McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4 to 8 p.m. today.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, May 9, at the funeral home, followed by interment in Russell Heights Cemetery. The Rev. David Johnson will officiate.

He was born March 23, 1917, at the farm on which he resided, son of Henry R. and Annie Wettengel Meier. He and Rosemond Oberbeck were married Oct. 31, 1937. Two children were born to this union, Robin Ann and Karen Kay. Rosemond passed away Nov. 12, 1969.

On April 3, 1971, he was united in marriage with the former Betty Ann Grossheider Smith. She survives.

Roy's farm, near the Highway 34 and 72 junction, was purchased by his grandfather in 1892. Meier Angus Farms, founded by Roy, is synonomous with top Angus cattle that were shown all over the United States. Known as one of the pioneer breeders of Aberdeen Angus cattle in Southeast Missouri, Roy started his herd in 1940, with the purchase of one heifer. He was elected to the Missouri Angus board of directors, serving a total of 35 years with one term as president and two terms as vice president.

On Dec. 2, 1969, he was elected to the National Angus Association board of directors. After serving five years as a director he was elected vice president in 1974, and in 1975 was elected president of the association.

Serving 10 years as secretary for the SEMO Angus Association, Roy was instrumental in establishing the SEMO Junior Angus Association. He was a longtime member of the American Angus Association, a member of the SEMO Fair Association since 1940 and a nine-year board member. He was also a member of the Jackson Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow; a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels and was known as a developer of Meier Meadows Subdivision, Meier Lake Estates and Indian Spring Subdivision.

Roy was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson and served as treasurer in earlier years.

In addition to his wife, Betty, loving survivors include three daughters, Robin Ann Meier McQuay, Karen Kay Meier (Ron) Huffman of Jackson, Beth Annette (Robert) Armstrong of Kansas City, Mo.; a stepson, Jory Len Smith of Jackson.

Also surviving are six grandchildren, Haley Elizabeth, Jessica Rene, Laura Leigh and Andrew Robert Armstrong of Kansas City, Mo., Kaitlyn Rose McQuay and William Angus Huffman of Jackson; three stepgrandchildren, Shaelyne McQuay, Cory and Samantha Woods; and a nephew, Michael Meier of Clarendon Hills, Ill.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Gilbert Meier and a half- brother, Oscar Meier.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to St. Paul Lutheran School.