Robert "Harper" Mowell

Robert “Harper” Mowell, age 96, passed away on Monday, February 5, 2018, at Shirkey Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Richmond, Missouri. Harper was born on July 7, 1921 in Warsaw, Missouri to George Robert (Rob) Mowell and Laura Frances Harper Mowell. He was a 1939 graduate of Warsaw High School. He was united in marriage to Grace C. Roark on June 7, 1947 in Kansas City, Kansas. Harper served proudly in the United States Army Air Corp from 1942 to 1946. He retired from the United States Post Office in 1984. Harper taught himself electronics, building the family’s first TV set and radio. He had a life-long interest in computers and was responsible for helping install the first computerized systems used in the Kansas City post office. He enjoyed attending his daughters’, granddaughters’ and great-grandchildren’s’ activities, his stamp collection, genealogy, square dancing, woodworking, and traveling with Grace. Harper was an elder in the Presbyterian Church. Survivors include his wife, Grace; two daughters, Linda Lee Black and husband Roland of North Kansas City, Mo; Mary Grace Riegel of Excelsior Springs, Mo; two granddaughters, Shelley Richards and husband Todd and Kimberly Black; two great-grandchildren Tyler Richards and Morgan Richards; one sister Bernice Raymer and husband Harold of Springfield, MO. and many loved nieces and nephews.There are others Harper loved who were honored to call him Grandpa: Kenney Riegel and wife Abby, Beverly Riegel Springer, James Ray Riegel, Jamie Riegel Parsons, Alex Springer, Kaycie Springer, Malissa Riehl, Joanna Grote and husband Mark, Debi Bennett and husband Shawn, Darcy BeDell and husband Alex, Payton Bennett, Tristan Bennett, Taylor Black BeDell. Harper was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Emogene Mowell Meier, his brother, Ernest Mowell, and his son-in-law, Gary Riegel.

Memories We Treasure

Of Our Brother, Dad, Grandpa

SOME CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF MY BROTHER ….

Harper was 6 years older than me, he was my hero, always there for me and helped so much in providing for the family, as well as helping our elderly grandparents who lived nearby.

I entered first grade at the age of 4 ½ one winter, I especially remember the snow being so deep – Harper carried me on his back the mile to school as the snow was deeper than my 4 ½ year old legs!

He taught me to ride a bike – placed me on the bike and gave a shove, going downhill – I was getting close to some “BIG” objects in my path and he kept yelling “Put on the brakes” – I didn’t know it had brakes and my 6 year old legs couldn’t reach them anyway! The bike survived without a scratch and I still have scars on two ribs that were fractured. Later I did learn to ride a bike.

He dared me to jump from the barn loft door when I was about 6 years old, and I did! These and many other episodes probably stunted my growth!

Before he went to Kansas City and into the US Air Corp, he worked at Warsaw, MO. I was in High School there and on Friday evenings during basketball season when our basketball team had a game, our school bus didn’t take us home until after the games. Harper was always there when school let out at 4pm to make sure I had money to get into the game and something to eat before the game.

The Lord blessed me with such a great brother.

OUR DADDY WAS A COWBOY ….

Linda Lee and Mary Grace each have early memories of their dad riding a quarter horse named Old Colt. Dad would ride out to check the fence line with his cowboy hat perched on his head, back straight and a wave to his girls. When he came back to the house Mary Grace would rush out to ride Old Colt from the gate to the barn, but one day he shied and Mary Grace was dumped on the ground. She said Old Colt hit a bump then wanted back on to finish the ride. Linda didn’t particularly like to ride as she felt the horse was too high off the ground. She would rather sit on the top rail of the cattle pen and tell her Dad the names of all the cattle going into the barn.

They remember their dad as always being there for them no matter what. He was always there to listen to their joys and woes, lend a hand at making Kleenex flowers for a homecoming escort car, drive all over town to find just the right pair of shoes, teach them to drive, take them to football games, made sure their boyfriends always came to the door so he could meet them, walked them down the aisle to give them away, proud of their every accomplishment, guided them, set an example of how to be productive, principled adults.

GRANDDAUGHTERS, SHELLEY AND KIM, think their grandpa was the best playmate, fixer of toys, reader of books.

Shelley says grandpa would play office with her and let her use his big desk and type on his typewriter. Shelley lived with grandpa and grandma for four years while attending college. She most remembers that her grandpa always listened and without saying anything would lead her to solve whatever problem she brought to him.

Kimberly remembers one specific event when grandpa said “don’t kick the cactus”. Get her to tell you the story.

He was always ready to step in when a dad was needed. Shelley remembers when her dad was unable to be her dance partner for a recital. She called her grandpa and he agreed to learn the dance, wear the costume and perform in front of a large auditorium of people.

When Kimberly qualified for the Science Olympiad and traveled to Pennsylvania she knew her grandpa would go to cheer her on. He was very proud of her Silver Medal.

Both granddaughters knew their grandpa would be in the audience at all their activities; he’d be their greatest cheerleader.

Kimberly likes to tell people about her grandpa’s favorite two pies --- hot and cold. Both Shelley and Kimberly knew dinner wasn’t over until grandpa had dessert. Kimberly could count on grandpa to eat her crust so grandma would give her pie…she liked pie, just not the crust. Shelley recalls that when she lived with them during college grandpa and she would have ice cream at the breakfast room table before going to bed even if they had dessert at dinner.

After a family gathering to celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary in 2007 each of us got an email from Dad that tells how much we were loved:

We just have to say THANK YOU again for our day today. The world does have

many nice people in it; and we have been blessed with the world's very best

family. We are very proud of you all. Too, we always leave with a good

feeling any time we get together from time to time with all the family and

their circle of friends.

Love, Mom & Dad, G-Ma & G-Pa, G-G-Ma & G-G-Pa

Harper Mowell was a brother, a dad, a grandfather, an uncle who loved his family dearly. He relished spending time with his family, encouraging them, helping them. He was a quiet man with a great sense of humor who was ALWAYS there for them in times of disappointment and in times of joy. No matter what the difficulty might be Harper would say “there will always be a way”. He was kind, gentle, courtly, a true gentleman.

All of us, his family, are better people from having him in our lives. Each of us will miss him, but will have him in our hearts forever.