Busy SEMO Shriners hope to add more members to ranks

Chester Morrow prepares to cook up more fish for one of the SEMO Shriners Friday Nigh Fish Fry Fundraisers. The fundraisers will continue each Friday through Lent, ending April 18. Bob Greenlee, staff

SIKESTON -- Chester Morrow drops fish in the bubbling hot oil and watches it turn a crispy brown.

Tonight Morrow and his crew of SEMO Shriners will serve up some 125 pounds of fish and 60 to 70 pounds of french fries. The Shriner Cook Team stirred up bowls of cole slaw along with pans of baked beans and plenty of white beans seasoned with ham.

The cooks work hard over several hours, ensuring everyone gets plenty to eat at the SEMO Shriners Friday Night Fish Fry. When the cooking is done and the last pan clean, they start planning for next Friday's fish fry.

The SEMO Shriners are marking their third year of hosting fish fry Fridays through Lent. This year they will welcome diners and those picking up carry-out meals at the SEMO Shrine Building, 1806 Garwood Ave., through April 18.

Morrow suggested hosting a fish fry as a fundraiser. "We decided to give it a try and have been building on it ever since," he said.

Morrow assisted by one or two other Shriners begins the preparations on Thursday. Friday morning members of the Cook Team return and begin cooking the beans. As the dinner hour nears, other members arrive adding their assistance in cooking, serving and filling in where needed.

"We don't want nobody going home hungry," Morrow said.

Formed in 1942, the SEMO Shriners numbers about 70 members, ranging in age from 21 to 75 and occupations from city employees to lawyers to retirees. The members divide their time serving on the Shriner Cook Team or as the Shriner Clowns.

According to Shriner Gregg Price, as the SEMO Shriners become more involved in the community, they are now looking for ways to increase the membership.

For more on the story see an upcoming edition of the Standard Democrat