Ralph E. Summers

Ralph Edward Summers, Jr., 75, formerly of Little Rock, St. Louis and Farmington, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 26 at Fountainbleau Lodge in Cape Girardeau. He was born May 19, 1939 in Little Rock, Arkansas to the late Ralph Edward, Sr. and Frances (McDougal) Summers. After ending active service in the U.S. Army in 1964, Ralph was an electrician for 35 years at Ford Motor Company in St. Louis, where he was a member of the United Auto Workers Local 325. He was a certified SCUBA diver and tree farmer, and an accomplished pilot � flying Cessna airplanes was his hobby for several years. He was an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, and spent time fishing, hunting and farming. He was a member of the Freemasons Tyro Lodge No. 12 A.F. & A.M. in Caledonia. Family life Ralph met Mary Hinkle in mid-1971, and asked her to marry him late that year. After a few days� deliberation (which he never let her forget about), she agreed. They were married at Mary�s parents� home in Gipsy, Mo. on February 26, 1972. They honeymooned in Jamaica, and spent most of their married life and raised their three children in the St. Louis area, before moving to Farmington in 1995. Ralph said that his greatest joy was spending time with his family. Ralph was fun-loving and had a playful sense of humor, and thoroughly enjoyed being a father. He was a very involved father. He won acclaim for his rich, multi-character readings of children�s books, including Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries. He liked playing baseball and softball with his children � he built and invented a �swingball� to aid their batting practice � and taught them to ride a bicycle. He was a fantastic sled-rider. Survivors Survivors include his wife, Mary Summers of Cape Girardeau; their son, Matthew (Carolee) Summers-Sparks of London; their daughters, Miranda (fianc�, Alex Batts) Summers of New York City, Molly (James) Samons of Cape Girardeau; siblings, Ann Roos, and Susan, Jonathan, Stephen and James Summers; grandchildren, Orson Summers-Sparks and Charlotte Samons; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ralph�s wife, children, future son-in-law and his sister Susan Summers were present at his death. Visitation will be Wednesday, October 29, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. A celebration of life including Masonic services will begin at 1 p.m. with Rev. Stan Hargis officiating. Private burial will be at a later date at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Parkinson�s Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018. Online condolences may be shared at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com

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Ralph E. Summers

October 26, 2014