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Friend remembered

Dear Editor:

This past week the Sikeston area lost an outstanding Bootheel individual, a person who was born here 80 years ago, attended local schools here, spent years during World War II in Europe defending this great nation, then returned to the Bootheel to live, work and play with the people he loved.

He loved to attend the Bootheel Rodeo every night each year and ride in the parade. He loved to attend local high school ballgames; he loved to hitch up his mules to a wagon and join local parades; he loved his family; he loved his church; he loved going to the Sikeston Kindergarten when they had their "Pet's Day" and take the children riding in a red wagon pulled by his mini-mules. He loved his local and civic club; he loved giving a live pig, calf, turkey, guinea or puppy dog as a door prize at the Farmer's Banquet every year.

He loved his career being a financial officer for a company that helps farmers have and enjoy a better way of life here in the Bootheel. He loved improving his own farms so they will be more productive. He loved to tell stories about earlier farmers and how they cleared trees and drained this "Swamp East Missouri" so we all can have a better place to live.

Wallace Earl Waters, better known as "Scott," could have gone to any other part of this country and done well. Instead, he chose to stay here and share early morning coffee time with his many friends. One of his favorite sayings was, "I own the U.S. Federal Building in Matthews" (the post office).

Scott was a real good friend. We are all glad he chose Sikeston as the place to spend his 80 fruitful years.

- A Friend