CHARLESTON -- Lanie G. "Leather" Black, 84, died at 8:20 a.m. Feb. 8, 2003, at the East Prairie Nursing Center.
Born July 9, 1918, in Naylor, son of the late Lanie G. and Sara Oliver Black Sr., he had lived most of his life in Mississippi County where he was engaged in farming and cotton ginning until his retirement in 1978. A member of the United Methodist Church in Charleston, he was a former member of the Charleston Lions Club. An active business and civic leader in the community, he was a charter member of the Citizens Bank in Charleston where he had served on the board of directors several years and was also a charter member of the Charleston Country Club. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps as an air traffic controller in numerous places throughout Europe. An avid outdoorsman, he had a love for quail hunting and golfing.
On July 11, 1945, he married Sue Belle Whitehead who preceded him in death on Oct. 5, 1973.
Survivors include: two sons and daughters-in-law, State Rep. Lanie G. and Ann Black III and Monroe and Martha Ellen Black of Charleston; two sisters, Caroline Morgan of Denver, Colo., and Sally Looms of Taos, N.M.; and two grandsons, U.S. Naval aviator L.G. Black IV who is currently serving on active duty in the Middle East and J.J. Black of Charleston.
One brother, John Oliver Black, and one sister, Elizabeth Yates, preceded him in death.
Services were conducted today at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. The Rev. Roger Jespersen, pastor of the United Methodist Church in Charleston, officiated and Blair Moran of Sikeston served as eulogist.
Burial followed in the IOOF Cemetery near Charleston.
Pallbearers were: Stotts Burnett, Sam Babb, Charlie Grau, Brad Warren, Bill Brown and Elott Raffety.
Honorary pallbearers were: Al Stotts Burnett, Elgin McMikle, Reginald Young, Lloyd Wade, Ervin Cates and Charles F. "Buck" Farmer.
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Memorial contributions may be sent to:
Charleston Country Club PO Box 301 Charleston, Mo. 63834
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