LaRue Sauers, 91, of Jefferson City, Missouri, formerly of Sedalia, passed away Friday, September 25, 2009, at Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City.
He was born February 21, 1918, in Dawson, IL, a son of Ernest Ritter and Freda Lamkey Sauers. On August 25, 1940, in Williamsville, IL, he married Dorothy Van Meter, who died October 7, 1990.
Mr. Sauers earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He taught school for one and half years, teaching agriculture, chemistry, zoology, and botany. He left teaching to sell livestock for Producers Livestock Association, working in Decatur, IL, and St. Joseph, MO. He also worked for Cassidy Commission Company in St. Louis before returning to Missouri in Sedalia to manage the 4-Square Livestock Market at Marshall Junction.
LaRue and Dorothy loved quarter horses and worked tirelessly with the Missouri Quarter Horse Association, in which he held many leadership positions, including president. He served as superintendent of the Quarter Horse, Mule, Draft Horse and 4-H shows at the Missouri State Fair for over 30 years. He and Dorothy founded the Maple Leaf Circuit Quarter Horse Show, which is held annually in May. He has also received numerous awards, serving on the board of directors and as Honorary Vice President of the American Quarter Horse Association.
He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Sedalia.
Survivors include a son, Barry L. Sauers, of Sedalia; three daughters, Juanita Zimmerman (Charles), of Sedalia, Daryl Dority (Larry), of Jefferson City, and Susan M. Kohl (Duane), of Kokomo, IN; five grandchildren, Eric England, Matthew Dority, Lyssa Surface, Justin Kohl, and Kourtney Kohl; eight great-grandchildren; a brother, Robert Sauers, and a sister, Ida Mae Beck, both of Riverton, IL.
He was predeceased by three brothers; and a sister.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 28, at Heckart Funeral Home in Sedalia, with the Rev. Jim Mueller officiating.
Casket bearers will be Larry Dority, Duane Kohl, Matthew Dority, Spc. Justin Kohl, Bryan Surface, and Homer Stude.
Honorary bearers will be Wayne Dority, Milton Kohl, Robert Sauers, A.D. Van Meter, and Steve Sauers.
Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 29, in Mechanicsburg Cemetery in Mechanicsburg, IL.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Sunday at Heckart Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Missouri Junior Quarter Horse Association or the Parkinson’s Foundation.
