Richard Rene Rousselot

Richard Rene Rousselot, 81, of Jefferson City, died Thursday, July 26, 2012, at University Hospital, Columbia, Mo. He was born on July 4, 1931, in Noel, Mo., the son of the late Lelia Verne Howard Rousselot and Edward Thomas Rousselot. Dick attended schools in Joplin and Noel. After having a serious accident with electricity 12 days after his 17th birthday, he attended St. Peter Catholic School in Joplin and graduated in a class of 15. He attended Joplin Junior College for two years then received his Bachelors degree in 1954 from the University of Arkansas. On February 1, 1955, he arrived in Jefferson City with his mother, grandmother, and younger sister taking a new position as a supervisor for the Board Rehabilitation at Worker's Compensation. In 1970 he was appointed Director of the Division of Worker's Compensation, a position he held for 22 years. After two years of retirement he was employed by Cannon Cochrane Management Services for seven years. Mr. Rousselot joined the Jaycees working on many projects and was the Cole County Fair Chairman in 1964. He was a member of the Lions where he chaired the Ham and Bean Dinner. He taught Sunday School, coached the First United Methodist Church girls softball team and coached Little League for three years. He was a member of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commission in 1958 and was President of I.A.I.A.B.C. in 1976-1977. Dick worked on the IAIABC's Board of Regents for the Worker's Comp College for eight years. He served on the Presidents committee for Hiring the Handicapped for several years, budget committee for the United Community Fund, and was a member and past president of the Missouri Employee's Credit Union Board. Dick received the Distinguished Service Award in 1965 for outstanding community service. He worked on the industrial bond campaign which made possible the Chesebrough-Ponds plant in Jefferson City, was an officer for the Cole County University of Missouri Extension Council, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Survivors include his wife, Mariula Ann Nickell Rousselot whom he married January 12, 1957, in Joplin; one daughter, Mary Rachelle Rousselot (Larry) Masters, and one son, Edward William Rousselot, both of Jefferson City; one granddaughter, Melissa Ann Presley Rivers; one grandson, Richard Wesley Hays; one step-grandson, Ethan Patrick Masters; one great-grandson, Aden Michael Hoelscher; one great-granddaughter, Annelise Gale Rivers; two step-great-grandsons, Logan Rivers and Liam Rivers; one sister, Leona Maria Rousselot Kelly, Fayetteville, Ark.; one sister-in-law, Annabell Holbrook, Wagoner, Okla.; one brother-in-law, John Davis, Noel, Mo.; four nephews, Alexander Kendrick, Robert Davis, Richard Davis, Wade Rousselot; and four nieces, Christine Kendrick Solomon, Ann Davis Otterstedt, Kimberly Kelly Shaver, and Karl Kelly Peck; seven great-nephews; and six great-nieces. He was preceded in death by one brother, Robert Edward Rousselot; two sisters, Dorothy Elizabeth Rousselot Davis and Caroline Ruth Rousselot Kendrick; and one nephew, Jason Rousselot. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. on Friday, August 3, 2012, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home with the Rev. Keith Vessell officiating. Burial will be in Hawthorn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Thursday, August 2, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home. Memorials are suggest to Special Learning Center, 1115 Fairgrounds Road, Jefferson City, MO 65109; or an educational fund for his great-grandchildren. Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.