Obituaries

Jesse Trower

Photo of Jesse Trower
Jesse Joseph Trower, 78, of Jefferson City, died Monday, January 18, 2010, at St. Mary's Health Center. He was born March 4, 1931, in Bellflower, Missouri, the third of five children born to William Sterling and Margueritte Parsons Trower. He graduated as valedictorian from Bellflower High School in 1949, and received his B.A. degree from Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, in 1953. He received his Bachelor of Divinity from the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1956, and was ordained as a minister of the Presbyterian Church on June 3, 1956, by the Presbytery of Kirk. He was married on September 1, 1956, to Golda Louise Winders, who preceded him in death. They had four children, Samuel Trower of New York, New York; Sara Trower of Lawrence, Kansas; Stephen Trower of Jefferson City, Missouri; and Suzanna Trower King of Albany, Ohio. In 1966, after serving as Pastor of the Memphis, Missouri Presbyterian Church, he moved to Jefferson City where he became Regional Director for CROP (Church World Service/Community Rural Overseas Program) in which capacity he served for approximately 30 years until retirement. In 1966, he also became pastor of Salem Presbyterian Church, Hope, Missouri, where he served until his death. He served as Stated Clerk of the Missouri Union Presbytery for 28 years from 1961-1997. In 1992, he served as Moderator of the Synod of Mid-America. In 2008, he received the John Bennett Award for Ministry in Church and Community from the Missouri School of Religion Center for Rural Ministry in recognition for his many years to Bethel Salem Presbyterian Church, Festival of Sharing, the Missouri School of Religion, and the local and global community. He was a 35 year member and a past president of Kiwanis Club of Jefferson City. He was an active volunteer for the Festival of Sharing, Westminster Heritage, and Amtrak. He enjoyed quilting, history and genealogy. He continued his lifelong devotion to others even in death by donating his body to the University of Missouri School of Medicine for medical research. He is survived by his sister, Mary Holmes of Washington, Iowa; brother, James Frank Trower of Pasco, Washington; his sister Mildred Ramsey and her husband Tom of Louisville, Tennessee; and four grandchildren: Samantha, Alexandria and Johnathan Trower of Jefferson City, Missouri, and Zachary King of Albany, Ohio. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 22, 2010, at the First Presbyterian Church, 324 Madison St., Jefferson City, where a celebration of his life will follow at 7:00 p.m. with Rev. Dr. Wallis Landrum, Pastor of Cotes Street Presbyterian Church in Moberly, officiating. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Church World Service, 28606 Phillips St., Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515, or Heifer International, 1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202. Arrangements are under the direction of HOUSER-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 2613 W. Main, (573) 636-3838. Condolences may be sent to the family online at millardfamilychapels.com

Published January 20, 2010