Floyd “Ron” Booher
Floyd “Ron” Booher, 85, of Sullivan, MO, passed away at his home on Saturday, April 1, 2023.
Floyd Ronald Booher born April 3, 1937, in St. Louis, MO to Floyd Easton and Ruth (Kaufmann) Booher. Ron grew up in Overland and spent time as a child helping his father with his plumbing business and learning the trade. He graduated from Ferguson High School in 1955. During high school, he played football and ran track. His favorite memory of high school was learning auto body building and how impressed the teachers were after he made the needed repairs. His favorite phrase listed in his year book is, “Every day is a holiday”. In 1955, he joined the US Naval Reserves and spent the next eight years as a flight mechanic before receiving an honorable discharge in 1963. He always said he would do it again if he could. He joined the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 as a journeyman plumber in 1960, retired in 2002, remaining an active member for 63 years. Living in St. Louis until 1976 when he moved to Sullivan, Missouri with his family. Dad dearly loved Sullivan and the Missouri backwoods.
He passed away peacefully with his daughter and family by his side. Dad spoke to the Chaplin many times over these past few months and accepted Jesus as his Savior and made it clear to the Chaplin, his nurses, doctor and myself what his wishes were regarding his final days and left specific instructions on what he wanted. I am blessed to honor Daddy in his journey home to Jesus.
He was preceded in death by his parents Floyd Easton and Ruth Nora (Kaufmann), his brother Wayne Eldon Booher, wives: Jeannie Ennis Booher and Colleen Harris Booher.
He is survived by daughters Cathleen (Robert) Reed of Herculaneum, Ronda Booher of St. Louis, MO, Tina Overshon of Palm Coast, Florida, Nicole Davis of Palm Coast, Florida and Lisa Diester of Missouri; grandchildren: Annelouise (Annie June) Gibson, Michelle Rogers, Jacob Reed, Kaylee Reed, Shruthi Reed, Christopher Brinkley, Shawn Booher, Joshua Moses, Michael Davis and Cole Davis; great grandchildren Jordan Arndt, Adrianna Rogers, and Tim Brinkley.
Ron was blessed with five daughters from two of his marriages. After three failed marriages, Ron met the love of his life and soul mate Jeannie Ennis Booher and they were blessed with ten wonderful years before her passing in 2006. Together they enjoyed all their kids and grandchildren. They loved bird watching, playing music, fishing, planning fishing tournaments, antiques, real estate, auctions and being outside. Ron married his friend Colleen Harris Booher in 2009 and together they enjoyed music, fishing, building bird houses, art, puzzles and the outdoors until her passing in 2022.
Dad had many passions throughout his life. Building and racing stock cars in the sixties until an accident made it impossible to continue. Dad was an avid bowler who played on many leagues throughout the years. Over the years, Dad loved building houses, rehabbing and teaching others. He always had a plan in place should anyone need help with projects. Dad loved fishing and was a member of MBAA Missouri District-49 since 1990 and the MBBA Missouri director for three years. He was named MBAA Angler of the year in 2001. He loved planning tournaments and managing the anglers.
In the past year, Dad spent his time with his oldest daughter Cathy, grandkids and friends. He enjoyed cooking lessons, road trips, gardening, hanging out, rock hunting, wood burning, going to music shows, grandkids and building things. Dad and I would talk for hours and laugh about both of us being seniors. He was quick to sing his favorite songs to me just to see me smile. Some of his favorite songs to sing to me were old time gospel songs. He sat for hours doing puzzles no matter the difficulty and then head straight to the basement to show me how to make a wood frame. He was quick to tell me “You can’t” (because after all I am a girl) and when it came to manly work, like mower repair, he had a fit, but was surprised when I did fix the mower! He appreciated so much of life. When I would say, “I love you Daddy”, he always said, “I love you more and more and more”. He wrote many notes placing them in an envelope and leaving them on my pillow, such sweetness and memories I will forever hold dear. There was never a day that went by when he didn’t tell me how proud he was of me, something I have cherished throughout my life. He was the kind of man who wore a hard shell, but was a very sensitive guy inside. He believed in working for want you want and that should be your life motto and he set that example. Unless you really got to know him, you did not realize what a tender heart he had. He had a wonderful scene of humor and when asked, how are you, always replied, “Old, Fat, Tired and Ugly”. Or scream right before his granddaughter Kaylee was ready to stick him for his shot, scarring her to death, or sending grandson Jacob on a wild goose chase looking for a tool that didn’t exist, asking granddaughter Shruthi if she wanted to have a “cane” race or flashing the neighbor Brady just to see his face and clowning around with his son-in-law Bob who dad lovingly called “Elmer Fud”.
Dad would never let you know he was hurting or sad, but would only say “whatever, I’m fine”. Dad loved building things for the grandkids and would not stop until it was perfect, such as a special oak box he made for his oldest great grandson Jordan to keep his figures in. It had to be perfect and Jordan loved the detail his Paw put into it. He also loved doing puzzles and loved when his youngest great grandson Tim came to help Paw with a difficult puzzle.
Dad loved taking his grandkids fishing, showing them the ropes on how to “catch the whale in the pond” even if it meant him getting stuck by a hook from a wild cast. The girls could always talk him into baiting their hook. He loved helping granddaughter Shruthi with baiting and fish removal just to have her out fish him. He loved the kid’s fishing tournaments in the summer and would spend weeks with his grandkids practicing casting, or taking his oldest granddaughter rock hunting out in the woods and the creeks. There was even a time he and I visited Meramec and he chose rocks for Annie June (his nick name for her), his rock hound, because he wanted to “impress her with the rocks he found”. Dad was not always patient and at times no filter, like the time the bank wanted to verify his identity, he loudly gave them his underwear size, or slamming his cane on the counter while the poor checker tried to help him, claiming he was going to be dead before she found the information.
He was the sort of person who wanted to take care of everything so others did not have to worry. He always had big shoulders to carry others on but would get his feelings hurt (they never knew) when they would not call him. He was always the first person to volunteer to help a neighbor and it didn’t matter what needed to be done, dad was there. Dad enjoyed helping his friend and neighbor Linda Schafer with her horses or other things and cherished her friendship.
Dad leaves behind his best friend Frank Chlipala. Dad and Frank are closer than any brothers could be, always there for each other through thick and thin for many years. They were either loving or arguing. Frank called dad “BOO”, Dad called Frank “Polock” but never mess with either of them because they would fight for each other. They are the real-life version of the Grumpy Old Men movie and it has been such a blessing watching the two of them over the years.
Dad's four-legged friend Mr. Kitty, sticks to dad like glue and has never left daddy’s side. So much love from such a special kitty.
The family would like to thank Dr. Andrea Schuster and staff, Mercy Hospice nurses, Chaplin, social workers and volunteers for helping him make his journey home, helping me honor his wishes and keep his journey his, making him comfortable and guiding our family through this difficult time no matter what others thought, this was dads’ journey.
Love you Daddy, and see you again one day.
Services will be 12:00 PM, Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan with Pastor John Blackmore officiating. Following the service cremation will take place.
Visitation will be 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at the Eaton Funeral Home.
Friends may send online condolences to the Booher family at www.eatonfuneralhome.com.
All arrangements were under the care of the Eaton Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Sullivan, MO.