I grew up on a farm in rural Cooper county south of Boonville and graduated from Bunceton High School. I continued my education at Calvary Bible College in Kansas City, receiving a B.A. in Education. While in college, I met my wife to be, Raycene Frazier, who was, herself raised in Columbia, and is a graduate of Hickman High School. In 1970, Raycene and I were married and have lived in Columbia ever since, with Raycene losing her battle with cancer in May of 2014.
I was raised on a farm north of Centralia, Missouri and attended Centralia public schools. I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science Education from Truman State University. My funeral service career began as a part-time assistant at a funeral home in my hometown. I later graduated with honors from Kansas City Kansas Community College with a Mortuary Science Degree. I was honored by fellow classmates and mortuary science instructors with the Robert Todd Award for the graduating senior demonstrating the highest level of professional development and academics in the graduating class.