Ken Apperson

KEN APPERSON Kenneth Dean Apperson was born October 17, 1933 in Barnumton, Missouri, the only child of Tommy and Bernice Apperson. He departed this life, Monday, November 5, 2007, with his family by his side in his home in Climax Springs, Missouri at the age of seventy four years and nineteen days. On June 11, 1955 in Kansas City, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Carolee Roe and to this union three children were born. Together they shared the past fifty-two years. He was preceded in death by his parents; Survivors include his wife Carolee of the home; three children, Deanna Burns and husband Jeffrey of Blue Springs, Missouri, Cyndi Latimer and husband Rusty of Centerville, Iowa, and Jeff Apperson and wife Tanya of Climax Springs, Missouri; eight grandchildren, J.J. Burns and wife Andrea of Kansas City, Missouri, Jennifer, Justin, Jacob, Jordan and Jackson Burns all of Blue Springs, Missouri, and Jordan Shepard and Mason Apperson both of Climax Springs, Missouri, as well as a host of friends. He was raised in the Climax Springs area and attended Climax Springs High School for three years. He spent his senior year at Warsaw High School and graduated in the class of 1951. He was a member of the Warsaw High School basketball team which won the state title that same year. After high school he moved to Kansas City and worked for Country Club Dairy before being drafted into the U.S. Navy. He served his country proudly in the Navy aboard the aircraft carrier Bon Homme Richard until he was honorably discharged in 1961. In 1959 he began his career with Missouri State Parks as an Assistant Park Superintendent at Roaring River State Park in Cassville, Missouri; he would go on to serve as Park Superintendent at Johnson Shut-Ins Sate Park, Graham Cave State Park, Pomme De Terre State Park and Roaring River Sate Park. He was promoted to Regional Supervisor over Region I and moved to Festus, Missouri in 1972. He later became Regional Supervisor over Region III and lived in Lebanon, Missouri from 1980 to 1987. He then moved to Brookfield, Missouri to reassume his position as Region I Supervisor. In 1988, after thirty-two years of service, he retired from Missouri State Parks and moved to his parent's farm near Climax Springs, Missouri. He received a Senate Resolution congratulating him on his many years of service. In 1988, he began a second career as a horticulture specialist with the University of Missouri Extension service. He started a call-in radio program on KRMS in 1990 where he answered lawn and garden questions. Ken received many awards and recognition during his career including, Superintendent of the year for 1969 and 1970, Vocational Service Award from the Camdenton Rotary in 1998, Outdoor Writer Award in 1971, Small Farm Publicity Award from Lincoln University in 2001, was Grand Marshall of the Dogwood Festival Parade in 2005 and was on the Camden County Soil and Water Department Board. He was an ordained Baptist Deacon and later was ordained as an Elder in the Climax Springs Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed coon hunting with his dad and his other hunting buddies, fishing for crappie as often as possible and rising at 4:00 a.m. to turkey hunt and deer hunt with his son Jeff. He loved basketball and perfected the art of listening to games on the radio while watching another game on television. He also found time to attend countless basketball, soccer, softball, basketball and football games and tennis matches, watching his eight grandchildren play. He was able to attend the World Series game in St. Louis when the Cardinal beat the Detroit tigers. He had a bear paw handshake that often served as a friendly warning to potential suitors of his daughters. He was a man who enjoyed his food, especially his mother's fried chicken and hot rolls that she prepared for Sunday dinners and her big popcorn balls that she made every Christmas season. He was known for his incredible blackberry cobbler (made from fresh handpicked wild blackberries) and homemade ice cream that his grandchildren were always begging him to make. He was very proud of his garden and especially his tomatoes which were known for miles around. Ken was a loving husband, father and grandfather and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his many accomplishments and will treasure the memories he created for his family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 9, 2007 in Ozark Bethel Chapel Assembly of God Church with Pastor Alonzo Thomas officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Mose Clark Cemetery, Climax Springs, Missouri under the direction of Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Camdenton. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Thursday in the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to Hope Lodge and left at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Camdenton.