Edwin Denham

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Edwin Gene Denham, age 82, passed away August 20, 2014, at National Health Care after an illness.

 He was born May 18, 1932 to Edwin and Pearl Denham. They lived in Branson, Missouri. After a few years the Denham family moved to a small farm southeast of Joplin where Gene attended a one room school through the third grade. The family then moved to Joplin and Gene attended Joplin public schools. He was a trumpet player active in band and orchestra and graduated in 1949. 

In 1952 Gene married Virginia Quigg shortly before leaving for the US Air Force. Afre basic training they settled in Denver, Colorado, where Gene was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base. They lived in Denver for four years and a daughter, Deborah Ann, was born there at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital. After his tour of Air Force duty, Gene attended the University of Missouri at Columbia, Missouri, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in accounting. While in college, Gene was employed by the Missouri State Division of Insurance, and was also relief operator at the theaters in Jefferson City. A second child, a son, Edwin Kyle, was born in Jefferson City, Mo. Gene and family then moved to Fayetteville, Ark where Gene worked in a Public Accounting firm. After a few years they were transferred to Joplin where Gene was made partner in the firm later to be known as Myers, Baker, Rife and Denham. He worked for this firm for 43 years. A third child, a daughter, Carol Diane, was born in Joplin and all three children attended Joplin Public Schools.

 Gene was very active in many accounting areas, member and president of the Southwest Chapter of the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants, member and president of the Board of Directors of the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants, and member and past president of the Missouri State Board of Accountancy. Gene served on the board of Oak Hill Hospital and Freeman Hospital. He was a long-time member of the Joplin Kiwanis Club, and the Roughneck Club, and a recent member of the Elks Club. He was proud to be a Lionbacker for Southern and loved the basketball games and the spirit band. Gene served on the Board of Directors of Cerebral Palsy of Tri-County for over forty years, was a treasurer of the Kiwanis club for several years, and was on the Board of Directors of the Joplin Public Library. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Joplin, and the TRI-M Sunday School Class. Gene enjoyed listening to music, playing tennis, antique autos, and collecting copies of favorite movies. He loved God, his family, his church and his country. 

Survivors include his wife Virginia; daughter, Debbie Denham of Bartlesville, OK; son, Kyle and wife Kathy of Joplin; daughter, Carol Mailes and husband Dennis of Joplin; grandchildren Ryan, Kyla, and Emily Denham, and Alex and Nick Mailes; sisters-in-law Marilyn Davis, Millie Quigg and Linda Tiffany; nieces Pam Henrickson, Peggy Quigg, Phyllis Edson, and Diana Davis; nephews Bill Quigg, Doug Davis, and Zack Davis, and many grand nieces and nephews . Gene was preceded in addition to his parents by brother-in-law Bill Quigg, and Bill’s wife Shirley and their granddaughter, Amanda Henrickson; and brother-in-law Harry Davis. 

Private family interment will be in Ozark Memorial Cemetery. A Celebration of Life services will be held in the First United Methodist Church, 4th & Byers, Joplin at 2:00 p.m. with visitation following in the Family Life Center. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Cerebral Palsy Center or scholarship fund for the First Methodist Pre-School.