Howard Dean Gilgour

Howard Dean Gilgour Howard Dean Gilgour, age 87, a resident of Bethany, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, May 29, 2014, with family members at his side at Harrison County Group Home, Bethany, Missouri, after several months of declining health. Howard Dean Gilgour was the oldest of nine children of Clyde and LouEtta (Stout) Gilgour, born on April 15, 1927, in Gallatin, Missouri. Howard Dean attended grade school in Breckenridge, where a lifelong friendship developed with Lloyd Hargrave. Lloyd was younger, but big enough and strong enough to stop any bully giving Howard a hard time. At a young age, Howard Dean had polio which had a crippling effect on his right arm and leg, but did not cripple his determination to do his share of work with his dad and brothers. Whether it was clipping grass around tombstones when they maintained Rose Hill Cemetery, helping with the men's butchering operation, or mowing the well-kept lawn at their home in Breckenridge - he always wanted to help. After the death of his mother, he became a resident at the first Harrison County Group Home in Bethany, Missouri, for men and women. He began employment at the Harrison County Sheltered Workshop in May of 1981. His desire to be a productive working man gained the respect of supervisors, caregivers, and housemates for the following 30 plus years. About a year ago, due to declining health, he accepted full retirement. He attended the First Baptist Church in Bethany, where he was baptized on November 11, 1984. Howard Dean had the honor of being named and Employee of the Month at a Bethany Chamber of Commerce banquet in 1991. Still employed at the Sheltered Workshop when he turned 80 in 2007, he enjoyed a birthday celebration with co-workers, supervisors, and family. It is often said that everyone in Breckenridge has a nickname. More often than not, friends and family called him Chukus and Chuckie. He had few material wants - except for watches, thermometers, cigarettes and lighters, fried chicken and pie. He loved birthdays and family reunions. Last Saturday, he was the center of attention at the annual Gilgour family reunion and received a few of his favorite things in a belated birthday gift. Survivors include three sisters, Carolyn Mueller and husband Don of Green Cove Springs, Florida, Janett "Molly" Holbrook of Chillicothe, Missouri, and Brenda June Thompson of Sturtevant, Wisconsin; two brothers, John Henry Gilgour and wife Judy of Blue Springs, Missouri, and Jarrett "Tim" Gilgour and wife Carolyn of Chillicothe, Missouri; three sisters-in-law, Norma Gilgour, Dixie Gilgour, and Irene Gilgour all of Chillicothe, Missouri; fourteen nieces; and ten nephews. He was preceded in death by his father in 1966 and mother in 1980; and three brothers, Gene "Churn" Gilgour, James Gilgour, and Danny "Boone" Gilgour. Funeral services will be held at the Pitts Funeral Home, Breckenridge, Missouri, on Monday, June 2, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. A scheduled family visitation will be held at the Pitts Funeral Home, Breckenridge, Missouri, on Monday, June 2, 2014, from 12 noon until 1:00 p.m. Friends may call at the Pitts Funeral Home, Breckenridge, Missouri, on Sunday, June 1, 2014, from 12 noon until 8:00 p.m. Burial will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery, Breckenridge, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to Donor's Choice and/or the Tina Mapel Memorial Dog Park and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com . Arrangements are under the direction of Pitts Funeral Home, Breckenridge, Missouri.