Fred William Lemley, age 76, Joplin, passed away on Thursday, April 16, 2020 surrounded by loved ones after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Fred was born May 17, 1943 in Columbus, Kansas, son of the late William Calvin Lemley and Doris Mae Winters Lemley. He grew up attending school in Columbus and Joplin prior to moving to St. Louis where he graduated from Ferguson High School in 1961. While in St. Louis he worked for the Stix Baer & Fuller Department Store.
He returned to Joplin in 1963, and married his high school sweetheart, Sharron L. Schimmel, in 1966. Shortly after, he served his country in Vietnam in the United States Army.
Fred’s worked for KUHI Channel 16 as a commercial artist, then went to work for Newman’s Department Store where he worked for 17 years as a Visual Merchandise Director. He was instrumental in all the stores themed displays, photography, commercial and fashion show productions. He was proud of being asked to create the City of Joplin Christmas Display at the City Hall (the former Newman’s Building) where he exhibited his design talents used at the store years ago. His display at the City Hall earned first place for best window display in 2010 with the State of Missouri Tourism Department.
Fred was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Joplin where he served as a Deacon. He was a self taught artisan. A real jack of all trades. His creative talent’s ranged from sketching/watercolor, building/designing various projects to photography/video productions. He was a car and train enthusiast; loved to cook and entertain. He and wife Sharron loved to travel. For their 50th wedding anniversary they took a trip to Paris, France. Fred was a loving husband and father and will be sorely missed by all.
Fred’s worked for KUHI Channel 16 as a commercial artist, then went to work for Newman’s Department Store where he worked for 17 years as a Visual Merchandise Director. He was instrumental in all the stores themed displays, photography, commercial and fashion show productions. He was proud of being asked to create the City of Joplin Christmas Display at the City Hall (the former Newman’s Building) where he exhibited his design talents used at the store years ago. His display at the City Hall earned first place for best window display in 2010 with the State of Missouri Tourism Department.
Fred was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Joplin where he served as a Deacon. He was a self taught artisan. A real jack of all trades. His creative talent’s ranged from sketching/watercolor, building/designing various projects to photography/video productions. He was a car and train enthusiast; loved to cook and entertain. He and wife Sharron loved to travel. For their 50th wedding anniversary they took a trip to Paris, France. Fred was a loving husband and father and will be sorely missed by all.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Sharron Lemley; daughters, Debra Lee Lowry of Boise, Idaho, Sherry Lyn Davis and husband Jonathon of St. Louis, Missouri; grandchildren, Amber Mohr, Skyler Lowry and Cooper Lowry all of Boise; Alex Davis and Landon Davis both of St. Louis; brother, William Winters Lemley, D.O. and wife Marta of Roanoke, Virginia; nieces, Missy Lemley and Casey Lemley; niece, Sara Watters.
Funeral service will be Tuesday, 12:00 Noon, at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. John Anderson officiating. Interment will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery with full Military Honors, and family serving as pallbearers.
Due to the restrictions in place because of the pandemic, the service is limited to immediate family only at the church.
Friends are encouraged to come by the funeral home to sign the book, and/or go to his obituary page on our website to leave condolences for the family.
Family requests that memorial contributions be made to First Presbyterian Church.
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