Chleo Alexander

Chleo Sue (Hardy) Alexander, 87, of Sullivan, MO, passed away on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at her home. She was surrounded by her family as she transitioned to her eternal home in Heaven. 

Chleo Sue was born in Sullivan, MO, on September 20, 1933, to Charles and Edna “Pearl” (Adams) Hardy. She grew up in Sullivan, graduated with the Sullivan High School class of 1951, and remained in Sullivan until her death. 

Chleo married her sweetheart, Curtis Neal Alexander, of Bourbon, MO, on February 9, 1951. They were blessed with six children: Curt, Cris, Clay, Cathy, Cheri and Caren.

Chleo graciously balanced her devotion to her family and her work. Through the years, she used her skills of detail and bookkeeping to help her husband run the family business, Sullivan Propane, for 30 years. She then helped her daughter at Pro-Tec Mechanical for 13 years, followed by helping her son at Alexander Propane for 7 years. Chleo then retired to a life of full-time leisure – managing a rigorous schedule of card games and dominos with her many friends. She accomplished all of this while still prioritizing her role as a full-time mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. 

Travel was also a regular part of Chleo’s life, which brought many fond memories for her and her family. Though she trekked all across the country and beyond, perhaps most memorable, were the memories made, over nearly 60 years, at her log cabin on the Meramec River. Among the cabin traditions, most prized by family was Chleo serving up her famous homemade ice cream and her made-from-scratch buttermilk pancakes.

Over the past 45 years, her spare time was devoted to what might be her most enduring act of love – hand stitching her “Loving Hands Quilt” – a treasured gift she would create for each grandchild and great-grandchild, which featured the handprints of each child’s family. There was rarely a time when she didn’t have a new quilt in the works.

Chleo is survived by three sons: Curtis J. Alexander and wife, Carole (Dace), of Bourbon, Christopher Alexander and wife, Marjean (Hickinbotham), of Bourbon, and Clay Alexander and wife, Cheryl (Laubinger), of Lampe, MO; three daughters: Cathy Alexander of Sullivan, Cheri Weggenmann and husband, Jerry, of Fenton, MO, and Caren Waldo and husband, Darren, of St. Clair, MO; seventeen grandchildren: C. Jason Alexander and wife, Holly, Curtis Neal Alexander II and wife, Lorie, Jennell Wallis and husband, Randy, Craig Alexander and wife, Marisa, Tashia Bryant and husband, Jeremiah,  Cyrus J. Dace Alexander and wife, Rebecca, Jeremy Alexander and wife, Maggie, Nathan Beers and wife, Lindsay, Charla Brewer and husband, Shannon, Casandra Wofford and husband, Israel, Tara Czarnecki and husband, Todd, Tamrin Brooks and husband, Brad, Warren Byington and wife, Lauren, Tiana Benningfield and husband, Nick, Tawny Taylor and husband, Joe, and Kyler Waldo; forty-eight great-grandchildren; special friends, Joan Matthews and Jim Minx; and many other beloved relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis N. Alexander; her parents, Charles and Edna “Pearl” (Adams) Hardy; a granddaughter, Christina Renee Alexander; two brothers, Charles “Bill” and James “Jim” Hardy; and one infant sister, Betty Zoe Hardy. 

Visitation was 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan. 

Funeral services were 1 p.m., Thursday, April 1, 2021 at New Testament Baptist Church in Sullivan, with Pastors Josh and Dave Wright officiating. Interment followed in Crossroads Cemetery in Leasburg.

All arrangements were under the care of the Eaton Funeral Home of Sullivan, MO.