Cletis Gilles

Cletis Odie Gilles, 93, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, at Heartland Care and Rehab in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Aug. 17, 1919, in Bell City, Mo., son of Leonard and Threesa McIntosh Gilles. He and Myrtle Goode were married July 27, 1940. She died Sept. 30, 1999. On Aug. 27, 2005, he married Emma Meyer, who died April 11, 2009.

Cletis attended Bell City School and was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau. Cletis first worked in the CCC Camps, and then he worked for the United States Cartridge Co. in St. Louis. In 1944, he entered the U.S. Army, and after his military service Cletis moved back to Cape Girardeau and worked at Superior Electric, where he was lead man in the plating department. After Superior Electric closed, he worked as a custodian at Trinity Lutheran School and Cape Girardeau Central School systems. He also was a barber in his spare time, cutting hair in the evenings and on Saturdays at his home. His hobbies included camping at Sam A. Baker Park, gardening and working on his farm and photography. He was a member of Altenthal-Joerns Post 158 American Legion of Jackson, Cape Girardeau Aerie Eagles No. 3775, the TPA, and a member and past steward with the IBEW 1601 of Cape Girardeau.

He is survived by a grandson, Ronald W. (Rhonda) Poe II of Cape Girardeau; a granddaughter, Robyn (Bruce) Taylor of Scott City; a great-grandson, Rodney W. Poe of Cape Girardeau; a son-in-law, Ronald W. Poe of Cape Girardeau; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Carolyn Sue Poe; three brothers, Aaron, Ivan and Tom; a sister, Geneva Dunlap; and a great-grandson, Ryan W. Poe.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jim Matthews officiating. Burial will be in Lorimier Cemetery in Cape Girardeau with full military honors.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Cape Girardeau Senior Center.

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