Elmer Frederick List

E. Frederick “Fred” List, professor emeritus at the University of Missouri-Columbia, passed away Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, one month before his 98th birthday, at Stuart House, Centralia, where he had lived the past year. Fred was married to the late Mary Alice (Paris) List for 62 years and is survived by their three children: Frederick List of Branson, Elaine Kent of Centralia and Lucia Quearry of Australia. Also surviving are four grandchildren: Ethan List and Evan List of the Columbus, Ohio, area, Abigail Kent of Alexandria, Va., and Nathan Kent of Erie, Colo.; and four great-grandchildren. Fred was born in Weehawken, N.J., on Nov. 13, 1917, to Myrtle (Flint) List, originally of Rolla, and Elmer List, originally of Cape Girardeau. His lifelong love of music and interest and participation in athletics began in his youth in Alton, Ill., where he graduated from Alton High School in 1936. He proceeded to Shurtleff College and completed a Bachelor of Arts in music, English and Education in 1940. He earned master’s degrees in music from the University of Illinois and in education from Washington University, where he was a charter member of Phi Delta Kappa. During World War II, Fred served in the Army Air Corps as chief weather observer at Orlando, Fla., and as an instructor at weather observation school in Chanute Field, Rantoul, Ill. While in the military, he married Mary Alice Paris in 1943; they raised three children and were married for 62 years. After the war, Fred joined the Shurtleff College administrative staff as public relations director. After serving as a consultant in the Department of Community Development at SIU-Carbondale for six years, he joined the Department of Regional and Community Affairs-Community Development at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1962. Twenty-six years later, in 1988, he retired. Civic responsibilities were an important part of Fred’s life. Through the years he served in PTA, Community Concert Association, Community Chest and the March of Dimes. As a member of Kiwanis he was often the song leader for the meetings and also served as president. Upon their retirement, Fred and Mary Alice traveled the world, but he always found time for music. He was a frequent soloist for the Alton Municipal Band and a choir director in churches, schools and barbershop groups. When Fred wasn’t directing, he was singing. In addition to his lifelong commitment to his church choirs, Fred was active in the Barbershop Society for more than 35 years. He was a charter member of the Boonslick Chordbusters, and as a member of The Overtones quartet, delivered singing valentines across Central Missouri. During his tenure, The Overtones were invited and performed in “The Music Man” an amazing 40 times as a featured quartet. Trains fascinated Fred since childhood; he rode and photographed them all over the world. He thoroughly enjoyed “playing trains” with his friends from the Mid-Missouri Railfans Club and built an impressive model layout in his home. His love of music, his love of mountains, camping and hiking, his love of books and wordsmithing and his endless curiosity about other peoples and places are priceless legacies he passed to his family and friends. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at First Christian Church, Tenth and Walnut streets in Columbia, with visitation following next door in Bethany Hall. Memorials can be made to the organization of your choice.