Louis Sewell

Louis Barfield Sewell, 88, of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. He was born April 12, 1925, in Hornersville, Mo, to William R. and Bess Barfield Sewell. In 1943, during his senior year of high school in Doniphan, Mo., Lou joined the Army Air Corps. He served as a navigator on a B17 during World War II. After military service, he began to pursue a career in education having been inspired by his father who was a superintendent of schools. Lou received his B. S. degree from Southeast Missouri State College in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He also attended the University of Cincinnati and Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. under a National Science Foundation grant. He received his M.A. Degree from Washington University. Additional post-graduate work was done at the University of Missouri-Columbia and at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Mr. Sewell taught mathematics at the high school in Poplar Bluff, Mo. from 1956 to 1961. From 1961 through 1986,he taught in the Mathematics Department at Southeast Missouri State College (later University) in Cape Girardeau. A devoted and active member of the Presbyterian Church in Doniphan, Poplar Bluff and Cape Girardeau, Lou could be found singing in the choir, teaching youth and adult Sunday School classes, speaking as a lay pastor, serving as a church camp counselor or as a youth group advisor and fulfilling duties as a Deacon and Elder. A ruling Elder of the Presbyterian Church since 1957, Lou served in leadership positions not just locally but also at the regional and national levels including his election as Moderator of the Southeast Presbytery (PCUS) in the 1970s and his election twice as a General Assembly Commissioner. He also served several years on this Presbytery's Nominating Committee. As an Elder at First Presbyterian Church in Cape, Lou was instrumental in the development of Chateau Girardeau beginning with a feasibility study in 1973, and continuing with its incorporation as the Cape Retirement Community, Inc. in 1975, and the completion of its construction in 1979. He was a member of the original Chateau Girardeau Board of Directors and served on the Board until 1990 when he became a resident. Since then, he has served often on the Residents' Council and the Chateau Foundation Board. Lou also served as District Chairman of the Osage District, Boy Scouts of America and has been a devoted supporter of Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services of Missouri. Surviving is his wife Betty Norman Sewell whom he married May 11, 1996. Other survivors include nephew Robert L. Schram (Cathy) of Ellisville, Mo; niece and great-niece Stephanie and Staciana Stock of Wildwood, Mo; nephew J. B. Weilepp of Springfield, Va; nieces Victoria Baker (Jim) of Almond, N.C. and Susie Weilepp of Fairfield, Calif. Lou was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Sara Lawrence Sewell, sister-in-law Corinne Schram, brother Bill Sewell and sisters Mary Sewell and Anna Ruth Porter. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb 24, 2014, at the First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau. A memorial service will follow at the church at 11a.m. with the Reverend Dr. Kim L. Nelson officiating. A committal service will take place the same day at 2 p. m. in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield. Full military honors will be provided by the Missouri Honors Team. Memorials may be sent to the Chateau Girardeau Foundation, 3120 Independence, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 or First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 477, Cape Girardeau, MO 63702.

Tributes

Louis Sewell

February 19, 2014