Judge JOHN AKERS
Judge John Akers Dies Saturday; Death Is Sudden
Presiding Judge of County Court Dies Suddenly at Farm Home.
Relatives and friends of Presiding Judge JOHN F. AKERS were shocked when it became known that he had died very suddenly that morning at his farm home, southeast of Albany.
Judge AKERS death occurred at 9:30 o'clock and death came peacefully as he was sitting in his home, apparently looking at a tax receipt he had received the day before his death.
Judge AKERS had not been well and on Saturday night, December 24, he had visited the office of Dr. F.H. Rose. Dr. Rose found an aggravated heart condition and had advised Judge AKERS to go to bed and take life easy for an extended period of time. But there were two days left of court matters before Judge AKERS finished his duties as the presiding judge of the county court. He attended a meeting of the court last Thrusday afternoon and again last Friday morning. He signed many warrants last Friday and told a group of friends who inquired as to his health that he felt "pretty good."
Early Friday afternoon he had gone to pay his taxes and at about 2 o'clock that afternoon he left the county clerk's office for the last time. He had been rather jovial in both of his apperances at the courthouse on Thursday and Friday.
Judge AKERS, who was almost 69 years old, had served this county as an associate judge of the court and later as presding judge. He was defeated for the Democratic nomination for presiding judge in the August primary. Judge Hilbert Holeman, winning the nomination and later in November, winning the office.
Judge AKERS was a kindly man. Many persons who appeared before the court for varoius requests can attest to the fact that he always was ready to listen to any request, thought he knew the request could not be granted due to a lack of funds. Judges Akers, Gray and Brady worked in complete harmony as menber fo the court.
The following obituary has been furnished this newspaper:
JOHN FLOYD AKERS, son of JAMES and ELECTRO ANN MOORE AKERS, was born in Tazewell County, VA., on January 19, 1882. He passed away at his farm home on December 30, 1950, at the age of 68 years, 11 months and 11 days.
Judge AKERS came to Missouri when he was 18 years old and he had spent the rest of his life within the confines of this county.
He was united in marriage on April 27, 1904, with FANNIE VANCE, who survives him. To that union the following children were born: LEWIS H. nad ERMAL AKERS of Marshaltown, IA., VERNON AKERS, of Des Moines, IA., and Mrs. FRED NEWMAN and Mrs. HOMER TAYLOR, both of Albany.
He also survived by 14 grand children. There are three sisters and one brother, who are: Mrs. GRACE ROSE, of McDowell, W. VA., Mrs. OLLIE ARMSTRONG, of Banner, VA., Mrs. Nellie Davidson, of Logan, W. VA., and HENRY AKERS, of Slab Fork, W. VA., CARROL AKERS, of east Albany, is a cousin.
Twenty-seven years ago, Judge AKERS united with the New Castle Christian Chruch. The day he waas baptized he was ordained an elder bu the Rev. J.T. Alsup. He had remained an elder ever since and served his church faithfully. He had attended Sunday School on the Sunday before his Death.
Besides being a good husband, father, neighbor and friend, he had served as a county judge of Gentry County for 10 years.
Fueral services were held at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon from the Christian Church, conducted by the Rev. O.D. Hedges, of Martinsville, MO., and the Rev. George W. Manning, pastor of the Christian Church here. Interment was in the Grandview Cemetery under the direction of Clifford Brooks.
The following men were active pallbearers: Judges Leslie Gray and Thomas F. Brady, County Clerk, Oliver (Doc) Thompson, Deputy County Clerk, Clarence Wilson, Circuit Clerk, Irvin Laughlin, Sheriff Everett Bowman and county Treasure Caryl E. Hager.