Gerald Voorhees

Gerald "Jerry" Dean Voorhees 88 of Lamar, MO passed away after an extended illness, Wednesday, May 11th 2016, at the Barton County Memorial Hospital. Jerry was born August 26, 1927 near Golden City, MO, to Frank and Myrtle May (Francis) Voorhees. He was the second youngest of 9 children in the family. After High School Jerry married Eva Fanning daughter of Joe and Eula Fanning of Lamar. He went to work for the San Francisco Rail Road as a trackman and in 1951 he went into the Navy serving in the Pacific during the Korean War. He was a Machinist First Mate. When he came home he went to work for Charles Schultz who had an appliance store on the Lamar square. While working for Schultz Appliance he went back to School at PSU and received a degree in industrial mechanical engineering. At the same time he and Eva and his brother Ivan Voorhees SR took care of their parents. With his degree he soon went to work for Lawn Boy Tool and Die, working there until they closed in 1963. He then went to work for Fairchild Printing in Joplin, which later became King Press and was a machine shop supervisor until he retired at age 62. Jerry was close to his brothers and sisters and their families. Though Jerry and Eva did not have children of their own he was an uncle to many nieces and nephews who remember him fondly. He was always around at Christmas and was known to take them sledding on the hood of an old car. They knew that they could always count on him if they needed him. He pursued retirement with equal zeal enjoying traveling and fishing and bowling with his family. His wife Eva passed away Nov. 1, 2002. He later met and married Nell Finley and they continued to fish, eat out and enjoyed their retirement together. He was a very active member of the VFW Post 3691, participating in many Veterans Honors services at the graveside of his comrades in arms. He was a member of the First Baptist Church. Jerry is survived by his wife Nell Voorhees of the home, a step daughter in law Lynn Finley, a Brother in law, Floyd Dale Moore, a sister in law Edith Voorhees, and nieces and nephews, too numerous to mention. Visitation will be Monday, May 16th 1:00 pm and service 2:00 pm Monday, May 16th at Konantz Warden Funeral Home with Pastor Robb Hodson officiating. Committal service and burial will follow at the Howell Cemetery with full military honors. Memorial donations preferred by the family include The Barton County Senior Citizens Center and Nathans Place.