Eugene Pressly Richardson, 98, of Marceline, Missouri, formerly of Kirksville, passed away Saturday, (July 25, 2015) at the Pioneer Skilled Nursing Center in Marceline.

Eugene was born August 6, 1916 in Putnam County near Worthington, MO, the fifth of seven sons and three daughters born to William B. and Phoebe E. (Sparks) Richardson. On May 20, 1939 in Kirksville, Missouri, Eugene was united in marriage to Mabel Ialene Hatfield who preceded him in death on July 29, 1997.

Eugene is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Neta and Gary Glahn of Marceline, MO; two grandchildren, Jennifer (JR) Elam of Marceline, MO and Darren Glahn of Grants Pass, OR; two great grandchildren, Jordan and Jenna Elam. Also surviving are one brother, William J. (Doris) Richardson of Unionville, MO; two sisters, LaVena Mitchell of Greentop, MO, Mary Virginia (Billie) Coy of Apache Junction, AZ; sister-in-law, Evelyn Richardson of Unionville, MO; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, Eugene was preceded in death by his son, Allen Lee, in 1997; brothers, Jesse Melvin in infancy, Noah P. "Doc", Nova Howard, Aurville Berdean, George Lee; sister, Genevieve Butler; sisters-in-law, Mrs. Noah P. (Dorothy) Richardson, Mrs. Nova H. (Maxine) Richardson, Mrs. A. Berdean (Willia) Richardson; brothers-in-law, Edward Cowell, Doris Butler, and Robert Mitchell.

Eugene attended elementary school at Martinstown, MO and graduated from Unionville High School in 1934 riding there on the first county school bus. He was a 1941 graduate of Kirksville State Teachers College. While attending college he also taught at Martinstown and later a term at the Shelby school in Linn County. Eugene continued his education with post-graduate work at the University of Missouri.

A veteran of World War II, Eugene served in the U.S. Army from April, 1943 to January, 1946 attaining the rank of Sergeant. Overseas duty station was on Leyte Island in the Philippines.

In 1949 Eugene and Mabel bought a farm in western Putnam County near Lucerne, MO where they raised their two children and were active in school and community affairs. Eugene was a 4-H leader and involved in extension work and Balanced Farming programs. He also served on the county school board and the first nursing home board. Eugene and Mabel spent forty-two years on their farm working to improve the land, maintaining the farm buildings, raising crops and livestock, and enjoyed the friendship of many good neighbors in the Jones and Hill communities. In 1991 they retired to a home on a small acreage near Kirksville. Following Mabel's death in 1997, Eugene moved to Marceline in 2001 to be near his daughter and family.

Eugene valued his education and continued his desire to learn throughout his life primarily through reading. In his retirement he enjoyed gardening and shared his harvest freely. He particularly looked forward to family reunions and visiting with his many relatives.

Eugene was a member of the Brookfield, MO Church of Christ, Marceline American Legion Post #264, and the Putnam County Historical Society.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday (July 31, 2015) at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, MO, with D.D. Russell officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at Martinstown Cemetery in Martinstown, MO.

Family will receive friends Friday (July 31, 2015) for one hour before the service in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Patrick Richardson, Gary Cowell, Bill Mitchell, Fred Richardson, Mike Richardson, and Kirk Richardson. Honorary pallbearers will be Max Richardson, Barry Richardson, Jim Butler, Edward Cowell, Jr., Larry Mitchell, Bob Richardson and John Richardson.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Eugene Richardson may be made to Marceline First Responders or to the Martinstown School Community Building. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.