Paul Leroy Hitt, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, at Chateau Gardens in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Sept. 27, 1934, in Morley, Missouri, the son of Grover Benjamin Leander and Esther Ellen Snider Hitt.

In 1939, the family moved to Commerce, Missouri. He attended Commerce Grade School and graduated from Benton (Missouri) High School in 1952. He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 until 1958, stationed at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas; Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Fort Hood, Texas; Camp Polk, Louisiana; and Verdun, France. His rank at discharge was SP 2 E5, Personnel.

On March 8, 1959, Paul married Mary Jean Koch at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Commerce.

He farmed near Commerce until 1969, when at Sikeston, Missouri, he began a 27-year career with the Missouri Division of Employment Security, serving as a job placement interviewer, supervisor and program coordinator for the Southeast Missouri Work Incentive Program. In 1980, he was appointed manager of the Dexter, Missouri, local office, and in 1982 he became manager of Cape Girardeau local office. In 1988, Paul was appointed manager of the Springfield, Missouri, local office. He retired from Springfield in October 1996.

Paul was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church, past president of Sikeston (Missouri) Lions Club and past president of Methodist Men of Sikeston United Methodist Church. He was a member of the private industry councils, chambers of commerce and United Way in Dexter, Cape Girardeau and Springfield.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; a sister, Marie Allene (Charles) Stalon of Cape Girardeau; two sisters-in-law, Peggy Hitt of Cape Girardeau and Golda Johnson of Commerce; and several nieces and nephews.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Earnest, Eugene, Herschel (Mary), Leon (Thelma), Cecil (Leona), Herman and Roby (Vernetta "Babe") Hitt; and sisters, Leatha (Ebert) Rister and Myrtle (Ed) Reed.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Amick-Burnett Chapel in Scott City.

The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the chapel, with the Rev. Dave Conley officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hills Cemetery near Morley with full military honors.

Memorial may be given to Centenary United Methodist Church, 300 N. Ellis St., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701; The Chateau Foundation, 3120 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO 63703; or the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be shared at www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.