VERNON V. FEE

Former businessman and civic leader, Vernon V. Fee, 83, of Cape Girardeau, died Sunday, July 11, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was born June 18, 1910, in Cape Girardeau, son of Ira and Nevada Gaines Fee. He and the former Florence Hirsch were married in 1931. She died Jan. 6, 1988.

Fee began working at Hirsch Brothers store while in high school. He then sold insurance with Metropolitan Life for 15 years, and then re-joined Hirsch's grocery business in 1951.

After several years, he became owner of Hirsch's Thriftway Inc., and remained active until it closed in 1977. He was then a real estate agent and broker, retiring in the mid 1980s.

Fee was a founder of Cape Girardeau Police Auxiliary in 1945, and retired as a colonel in 1985. He was a member of Cape Girardeau Charter Commission, former member of Planning and Zoning Commission, Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, and Cape County Board of Realtors. He was also a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, and had served on various church committees.

Survivors include a son, Robert Fee of Cape Girardeau; a sister, LaVern Griffaw of Cape Girardeau; four brothers, Lawrence and Donald Fee of Cape Girardeau, Albert Fee of Marble Hill, Ronald Fee of Jefferson City; two granddaughters, and two great-granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by three brothers.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church. The Rev. Steven MacDougall will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel from 4-8 p.m. today.