Frank Ferrell

SIKESTON - A former Sikeston mayor, city councilman and business leader died Sunday.

John Franklin "Frank" Ferrell, 87, died at 6:35 p.m. Jan. 7, 2007, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

Born Oct. 21, 1919, at Randolph, Tenn., son of the late J.V. and Thelma Jane Lanier Ferrell, he served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II as a pilot. He took his military pilot training at the Sikeston Airport Training Facility. The owner and operator of Ferrell Excavating Company in Sikeston for 62 years, he had previously co-owned and operated Ferrell Oil Company in Sikeston. He served as a deputy sheriff in Scott County and was the first director of civil defense for Scott County. He had served as a volunteer fireman for the Sikeston Volunteer Fire Department and was a member and former president of the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce.

In 1985, he was named "Man of the Year." He also received the Chamber Lifetime Achievement Award. A former chairman of the Sikeston Industrial Development Corporation, he was a former city councilman and former mayor of the city of Sikeston. He was also a member of the Sikeston Lion's Club, American Legion Post 114, Sikeston Jaycees, Sikeston Masonic Lodge 310 and the Sikeston Elks Lodge. He was a Shriner, member of the Moolah Temple in St. Louis and a member of the Semo Shrine Mounted Patrol for many years. From 1953 until 1973 he operated a Missouri license fee agent office in Sikeston. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Sikeston.

On Dec. 10, 1938, at Blandville, Ky., he married Henrietta Steinbeck who survives of the home.

Other survivors include: two sons and daughters-in-law, William F. "Bill" and Sharon Ferrell and John Steven and Frannie Ferrell of Sikeston; two sisters, Nadine Shuppert of the state of Florida and Barbara Wilkins of Paducah, Ky.; six grandchildren, Buzz Ferrell, Ty Ferrell, Chase Ferrell and Nikki Ferrell of Sikeston, John Ferrell of Lexington, Ky., and Lee Ferrell of Washington, D.C.; and four great-grandchildren, Jordi Ferrell, J.V. Ferrell, Wyn Roberds and Conner Wallace of Sikeston.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, J.V. Ferrell, Jimmy Ferrell and Billy Ferrell.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the First Baptist Church in Sikeston where services are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Rev. Jim Matthews of the Cape County Cowboy Church of Jackson will officiate. He will be assisted by the Rev. Rick Ramsey, pastor of First Baptist Church.

Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Sikeston with the Rev. David Jackson of First Baptist Church officiating. Full military honors will be conducted by the Missouri Military Honor Guard Unit from Jefferson City.

Pallbearers will be his grandchildren: Buzz Ferrell, Ty Ferrell, Chase Ferrell, John Ferrell, Lee Ferrell and Nikki Ferrell.

Honorary pallbearers will be: Bert Johnson, Ray Clinton, Joel Montgomery, E.R. "Dick" Inman, Sonny Johnson, David Matthews, Bill Burch and Jim Robison.

Nunnelee Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.