R. Clell Wade

After a short illness, R. Clell "Little Red" Wade passed away Saturday, May 16, 2009. He was born January 16, 1923, in Manes, Mo., to Emma and Tom Wade. He spent his life as a teacher, coach, entrepreneur, father, husband and youngest son of five. Preceding him in death was his sister, Mabel Osborn; and brothers, Lowell Wade, Omar Wade and Maurice "Red" Wade. He is survived by his wife, Alicia (Chumbley) Wade; and three children. The first born son died at the age of 51 in 2003. Surviving are daughters, Karan Wade and Kim Wade; son Kelly Wade; and grandchildren, Chris Nickle and Stacy Watson. He started his career early in life as a football and basketball player for the Ozark Panthers at Mountain Grove High School, playing in a Bowl Game, and continued with that through higher education at the University of Missouri for two years, where he played football. He left to serve in the Navy in World War II, then back to school at SMS, playing in another Bowl Game, and going on to receive a Bachelors Degree in Education and a Masters from Northeast Missouri State. He started his coaching career in Cassville, proceeded to Aurora, Marshall, and then for 25 years where he left a large footprint with his athletic career in Quincy, Ill. He became the athletic director and P.E. director of the school system, after spending many years developing a winning football team. He developed winning football teams in all places he coached. All the while he was developing and building his own business (on the sidelines) called Clell Wade Coaches Directory, a publishing company, where he made a home run again as an entrepreneur. He retired from Quincy High School at age 57, moving his family back to Cassville, Mo., where he continued to build the Coaching Directory. He spent his alone and quiet time fly fishing at Roaring River State Park, his other love. Clell Wade lived a full work, family and fun life, which included his involvement with the Masonic Lodge, the High 12 and Shrine Temple. He was blessed with many honors in all things that he was and that he did, from his works and loves in life, being Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge to Rajah of the Shrine Club, President of the High 12 of the State of Arizona. He was also part of the White Mustangs of Abou Ben Adam Temple. He was also a member of the Jesters in Springfield, and Arizona, as well as the Billicans of Arizona. In 2003, he was honored by the Quincy Blue Devils, by being inducted into their Hall of Fame, because of his achievements as head coach while there. He was honored to be part of the All-State Football Board for Illinois. One of his proudest moments was after the School Board in Quincy decided to drop athletics for financial reasons. Clell Wade, with the help of other local businessmen, organized committees and raised enough revenue to fund the schools athletic programs, plus concluded the year with surplus funds. He was acknowledged for initiating a policy within his publishing company of hiring the developmentally handicapped for doing manual work with mailings, which included stuffing of envelopes, stamping, etc. He was a member of Kingsway United Methodist Church. He was also a member of Twin Oaks Country Club, where he enjoyed golfing. Donations may be made to The Shrine Temple, for the preservation of the Temple, or Kingsway United Methodist Church. A visitation for Clell Wade will be Monday, May 18, from 5 to 7 p.m., in Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at Rivermonte. Services will be Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at 3 p.m., in Klingner-Cope at Rivermonte Chapel. There will also be a Masonic service scheduled. Online condolences may be made at www.klingnerfuneralhome.com.