Ralph Myers

CAIRO -- Ralph J. Myers, 87, of St. Louis, formerly of Cairo, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013.

Born Oct. 20, 1925, in Carbondale to Lawrence Emery Myers (Satch) and Bertha Constance Miller (Mimi), he was the youngest of five children and was preceded in death by siblings Eileen Myers Douglass, James Emery Myers, John Dillon Myers and Mary Myers Winter.

He graduated from Karnak High School, and earned his bachelor's in education (1950) and his master's in education (1977) from SIU Carbondale.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945 at Fort Knox, Ky., and again from 1954 to 1959 in the Special Services Recreation Division in Nurnberg, Germany, and from 1960 to 1962 in Panama and Puerto Rico.

His career included high school English and art teacher in Vandalia, admissions counselor at Christian College in Columbia, Mo, Junior Achievement in Augusta, Ga., and Oklahoma City, Okla., college textbook publisher Appleton-Century-Croft in Illinois and Missouri, principal at Emerson School in Cairo and as a compliance and hearing officer for Illinois Department of Labor, from which he retired in 2005 to "enjoy the good life at The Dorchester" in St. Louis. He was truly a bon vivant who possessed and generously shared his joie de vivre with many, most recently his good friends at John's Town Hall in The Dorchester, earning him the title of "Mayor of The Dorchester."

His love of art moved him early on to produce numerous oil and watercolor paintings, which adorned the walls of his family home. His love of music sent him to the Fox, Muny and the Cathedral Basilica in St. Louis for numerous theatrical performances and concerts. His love of wine found him in attendance at his nephew Bill's annual wine tour in northern California for many years. His love of good food encouraged his talents as a gourmet cook, host of many gatherings (family, social and political), especially his Christmas parties and monthly luncheons for the staff at The Dorchester. He passed his love of education and reading by sending books to his great-nieces and nephews on their special occasions in their formative years. His love of travel took him many places, both overseas and in the continental U.S., and provided him many great life experiences.

His love of family defined him as a loving and dutiful son, a caring brother, an attentive and fun uncle and a special "grandfather" figure to his many great-nieces and great-nephews. Left to mourn his passing and cherish his memory are his sister-in-law, Joan Reichert Myers; his nephews Bill Winter (Mia) and David Mattern (Megan); nieces, Judi Winter Childers (Donnie), Carol Myers Martz (Jim), Connie Myers and Carla Myers Polizzi (Rick); numerous great-nephews and great-nieces; and many dear friends and colleagues. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. Uncle Ralph, God bless.

His final wishes were to be cremated, with burial alongside his family in Pleasant Grove Memorial Park, 31 Memorial Drive, Murphysboro, IL 62966. Graveside services will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb 23.

Arrangements are by Crain Pleasant Grove-Murdale Funeral Home.

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