Obituary - Richard Gregory Henderson

Richard Gregory Henderson

Richard Gregory Henderson, 86, formerly of Nevada, MO passed away Sunday, February 19, 2017 at Carriage Square in St. Joseph, MO. Richard was born in St. Louis, MO on April 1, 1930 to Charles Bernard and Elizabeth Antoinette (Wapelhorst) Henderson. He was united in marriage to Jane F. Murray on March 31, 1951 and she preceded him in death on January 19, 2006.

Richard graduated from DeAndreis High School in St. Louis with the Class of 1948. He served with the United States Navy on board the USS Oriskany and the USS Princeton during the Korean Conflict. He served two tours of duty and was discharged in 1954. Richard received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1957 from the University of Missouri in Columbia where he became a General Botany Lab Instructor for several years. Richard taught Honors Biology at Hickman High School in Columbia from 1963-1990 where he sponsored the Biology Club. Richard received numerous awards including the Columbia Public School Teacher of the Year 1975-1976, Missouri Science Teacher of the year 1976-1977, National Association of Biology Teacher’s Outstanding Biology Teacher for the State of Missouri in 1968. He was appointed Chairman of Secondary Science Department for Columbia Public School System. Before moving to Nevada, Richard called the Hallsville/ Columbia area home for 55 years. He was an avid gardener who enjoyed the outdoors and was a CPR instructor for a number of years. He was a member of the Newman Center in Columbia and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nevada.

Survivors include his children, Mary Kohne and husband Kevin, Festus, MO, Lisa Signori and Carlos Mentley, Mt. Pleasant, SC, Chris Henderson and wife Dawn, Voltaire, ND, Jean Foster and husband John, St. Joseph, MO; 11 grandchildren, Mike Kohne and wife Maddie, Claire Kohne, Ethan Signori, Erin Signori, Toni Perry and husband Kyle, Kathleen Reilly and friend Wes Decoteau, Sean Riley, Caitlin Vore and friend Mitch Tucker, Hannah Vore, William Vore, Marissa Foster and several great-grandchildren, Aliah, Kayden and Kaylee. He was preceded in death by his step-father James O’Leary and mother Elizabeth O’Leary; his wife Jane; and one sister, Dorothy Whatley.

In Lieu of flowers, the family suggests planting daffodils, one of his favorite flowers, in the fall or donations may be made in memory of Richard Henderson to “The Kewpienet Scholarship Fund”. Donations may be mailed c/o Charley Blackmore, 2312 Deer Creek Court, Columbia, MO 65201. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, February 23, 2017 at Our Lady Catholic Church in Festus, MO. The family will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. until the hour of service. Interment with Military Honors will follow 10:00 a.m. Friday at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St Louis, MO.