JOHN NUNNELEE JR.

SIKESTON -- John Fred Nunnelee Jr., 84, of Sikeston died Monday, Sept. 27, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center.

He was born Dec. 19, 1914, at Charleston, son of John Fred and Audrey Vivian Moxley Nunnelee Sr. He and Myrtle M. Rogers were married April 7, 1934, at Benton.

Nunnelee was a 1933 graduate of Blodgett High School, and 1935 graduate of Hohenschuh-Carpenter College of Embalming in St. Louis.

He was a funeral director and embalmer at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Blodgett. He moved to Charleston in 1937 and the family purchased the Frank Lair Undertaking Co. The business was known as Lair-Nunnelee Mortuary until 1955 when it became Nunnelee Funeral Chapel Inc. at Charleston and Sikeston.

He operated the funeral home at Charleston until 1970, then moved to Sikeston and worked at the funeral home there until retiring in 1974.

He served as Scott County coroner, and had been a realtor with O'Neal-Nunnelee Real Estate Co.

Nunnelee was a member of First Baptist Church, a choir member, and a former deacon. He served on the board of Sikeston Rescue Mission, and was a member of Gideons International.

He was a member and past president of Missouri Funeral Directors Association, and was a member of Southeast Missouri Funeral Directors Association and served as president six years. He was a pilot and member of the Flying Funeral Directors of America.

Nunnelee was a life member of Kiwanis Club in Charleston and Sikeston and served two terms as lieutenant governor of Missouri-Arkansas District.

He was a member and past worthy patron of Order of Eastern Star 122 at Charleston and a member of Order of Eastern Star Chapter 137 in Sikeston. He was a member of International Order of Odd Fellows Lodge, and was a 32nd Degree member of Sikeston Masonic Lodge.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Rod Nunnelee of Batavia, Ill.; a daughter, Judy Leigh of Sikeston; a brother, Joe Nunnelee of Matthews; five grandchildren; and two great-grandsons.

He was preceded in death by a brother.

Friends may call at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel from 5-8 p.m. Thursday.

Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church. Dr. Jim Guffie will officiate. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery at Charleston.