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Jonathan Perry (J. P.) Childers

Jonathan Perry (J. P.) Childers   Jonathan Perry (J. P.) Childers, 94, of Memphis, formerly of Rutledge, Missouri died on May 12, 2013 at the Scotland County Care Center in Memphis, Missouri.

The son of Hugh Perry and Amy Edith (McClamroch) Childers, he was born on July 27, 1918 at Rutledge, Missouri.

On April 23, 1944 at Memphis, Missouri he was united in marriage to Mary Evelyn Padgett of Memphis, Missouri. For 80 years, he lived and farmed near Rutledge until they moved to the Scotland County Residential Terrace in 1998 due to Mary Evelyn’s declining health.

J. P. was a life-long resident of Scotland County. He attended Hendricks Grade School and graduated from Rutledge High School in 1936. He attended Kirksville State Teachers College for one year and then returned home to teach school and help his parents on the farm. During this time he taught school for one year at Fabius and three years at Hendricks rural schools. In addition to farming, he also served as manager of the Scotland County USDA-ASCS office for several years. J. P. was a member of the MFA Cooperative and delegate to the MFA Oil Company conventions for many years. J. P. was a long time member of the Rutledge Methodist Church and later served as elder and Sunday school teacher at the Rutledge New Testament Church, where he often liked to remind his class that “It is one’s attitude, not one’s aptitude that determines one’s altitude in life”. He is also remembered for giving a red delicious apple to each person attending Christmas Eve services.

He is survived by his son, Jonathan (Jon) Childers and wife Jan of Eagan, Minnesota; one grandson, Jason Jonathan Childers Meeuwen & wife Jennifer and two great-grandsons, Garrett and Isaac of Belle Plaine, Minnesota. He is also survived by sister-in-laws Barbara (Padgett) Briggs and Roger, and LeGene Padgett; cousins Victor Childers, Lola (Childers) Slater & Paul, Charles Childers & Lorraine, Robert McClamroch & Jenny, LeRoy Huff & Jane, Arlene (Huff) Holden, Catherine (McClamroch) Nulliner, and Bernice Forrester; and many nieces and nephews including Bob Neese, Sam Padgett, Nanette (Padgett) Young, David Padgett, Whitney (Padgett) Bucci, Hal Padgett, Heather (Briggs) Farris, Nathan Briggs, and Byron Briggs.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Mary Evelyn Childers in 2005; his parents, Hugh & Amy Childers; brother-in-laws, Joe Neese Jr., Clifford Padgett and Dick Padgett; sister-in-law, Jacquelyn Neese; niece, Susan Neese; cousins, Hillis & Elizabeth McClamroch, Denver McClamroch, Melba Huff, and Virgil Woehrle.

Funeral Services were held at the Rutledge New Testament Church on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 10 AM, with Rev Charles Hammack officiating. Interment followed in the Memphis Cemetery east of Memphis. Pall Bearers were Bob Neese, Sam Padgett, David Padgett, Nathan Briggs, John Cole, and Jamie Triplett. Honorary Pall Bearers were John Tippett, LeRoy Huff, and Roger Briggs.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Rutledge School Restoration Society, or the Alzheimer’s Association, and may be left at or mailed to the Payne Funeral Chapel, 202 East Madison Street, Memphis, Missouri 63555.

Payne Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with arrangements.