Joel Savell

EAST PRAIRIE -- Joel M. Savell, 88, died at 5:25 p.m. Feb. 10, 2007, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

Born April 18, 1918, in Nashville, Tenn., son of the late James and Bessie Savell, he was raised in Tennessee until the age of 12, when he moved to New York City. On July 15, 1941, while on vacation back in Nashville, he enlisted in the U.S. Marines Corps, serving during World War II in the Pacific Theatre of War. After his discharge from the Marines, he joined his father and moved to East Prairie, purchasing The East Prairie Eagle from his brother-in-law, Art Wallhausen Sr. He was the former owner/editor of The East Prairie Eagle. He was a member of the East Prairie Board of Aldermen, Police Judge and Law Enforcement Assistance Council. He organized the Auxiliary Police and was Civil Defense Director. A member of the Lions Club, he served as secretary. He was a charter member of the East Prairie Housing Authority board and a member and past master of the Masonic Lodge No. 384. He was a member of the Nelson Memorial United Methodist Church where he served as Sunday school superintendent and Sunday school teacher.

In December 1948, at the Lilbourn Methodist Church, he married Harriet Riley, who survives of the home.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Julia Elizabeth Savell Harter and her husband, Glen, of Cape Girardeau, and Jean Riley Savell Thresher and her husband, Gene, of East Prairie; three grandchildren, Breanna Jean Harter Munoz and her husband, Alvaro, and Dominique "Nick" Harter, all of Cape Girardeau; and Brittany Jean Thresher of East Prairie; and one great-

granddaughter, Camryn Lea Munoz; half brother, Bill Vernon of Franklin, Tenn.; and his adopted sister, Mildred Savell Wallhausen of East Prairie.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Flora Mae Crosby.

Visitation is from noon Tuesday until service time at 2 p.m. at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie with the Rev. Dan Usher, pastor of the Nelson United Methodist Church, officiating.

Burial will follow in the Riley family plot in Memorial Park Cemetery at Sikeston.

Pallbearers will be: Mike Hogan, Bill Brewer, Ed McWilliams, Joe Sorrells and Alvaro Munoz.

Paid obituary