Benjamin Rooker

NEW MADRID -- Benjamin James Rooker, 80, died April 18, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.

Born Dec. 22, 1923, in East Prairie, son of the late Clifford Elwood and Eva Belle Ferry Rooker, he was a retired teacher and a Boy Scout leader. A past master of the Masonic Lodge in Portageville, he was a current member of New Madrid Masonic Lodge 495.

On June 11, 1943, in Portageville, he married Ruby Ellen House who survives of the home.

Other survivors include: four daughters and one son-in-law, Sandra Rooker of St. Louis, Kathy Marvin of Bossier City, La., Mary Margaret and Jack Akins of Fort Collins, Colo., and Eva Laurie Rennier of Sikeston; two sons, Robert Daniel Rooker of New Madrid and Benjamin James Rooker Jr., who has been missing since Oct. 31, 1974; two sisters, Alice Nicastro of St. Louis and Eva Golightly of Flint, Mich.; one brother, Lloyd Rooker of Sun City, Ariz.; and 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one son, Jimmy Allen Rooker; three sisters, Laura Bell McBride, Evelyn Goellner and Margaret Fisher; two brothers, Jack Rooker and Clifford Earl Rooker; and one grandchild, LeAnn Rooker.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Richards Funeral Home in New Madrid with a Masonic service scheduled for 7:30 pm.

Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the United Methodist Church in New Madrid with the Rev. Leland Butler officiating.

Burial will follow at Mounds Cemetery near Lilbourn.

Paid obituary