J. ELGIN MCMIKLE, age 88, a resident of Charleston, died at 9:30 p.m., Sunday, January 26, 2014, at the Charleston Manor.

He was born December 11, 1925, in the Mississippi County community called Yellow Dog, to the late Joseph Bernie and Sally Katherine Black McMikle. He lived in Scott and Mississippi Counties his entire life. At age 14, he embarked on his career journey as he began working at the Orville Taylor Funeral Home in Sikeston. He enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and while stationed at Camp LeJeune was honored with being attached to a marine battalion serving in the Asiatic Pacific campaign during WW II. Following his military service, he enrolled in the St. Louis School of Mortuary Science and received his Mortuary Science degree in 1947. He returned to the Orville Taylor Funeral Home in Sikeston where he was employed as a licensed embalmer and funeral director. In 1951, he and his wife, Sue, completed the building of McMikle Funeral Home in East Prairie then expanded their funeral business in 1954 to Charleston. In addition to the operation of two funeral homes and an ambulance service, they owned and operated the McMikle Florist and Gift shop in East Prairie. He was elected Mississippi County Coroner in 1956 and served in that position until choosing to retire in 1984. In 1990, the decision was made to consolidate their funeral business to the Charleston location. In 1992, Elgin and Sue donated the former East Prairie facility to the Missouri Baptist Children's Home.

Elgin was dedicated to providing a high level of professionalism and service to bereaving families. Elgin and Sue were honored as Business of the Year in 2000, and Charleston honored Elgin as the 2008 Man of the Year. In 2011, he was presented a certificate of appreciation by the Missouri Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors for his commitment to the funeral service industry.

Known as a perfectionist in his work, anyone working with him would quickly find that for any task, "there is only one way to do it and that is the right way"...which most often just happened to be his way.

In addition to his membership in the National, the Missouri, and the Southeast Missouri Funeral Directors and Embalmers Associations, he was member of the First Baptist Church in Charleston, former member of the Charleston Kiwanis club having served that organization as a former Vice President, President, held the position of procurement chairman for over 30 years and was their top ticket salesman for fundraising events. He was a member of the American Legion, Charleston V.F.W. Post #4294, Charleston Masonic Lodge #407 AF and AM, a 33rd degree Mason of the Scottish Rite, a Shriner of the St. Louis Moolah Temple, and served as a charter board member of the Charleston Nutrition Center. In addition to his work in his chosen career, he was an advocate of wildlife conservation and was an avid golfer and bird hunter.

On March 5, 1949, he married Sue Anna Allen who survives of the home. Also surviving are one daughter and son-in-law, Mary Katherine and Bill Branum of Charleston; four grandsons and one granddaughter, Joshua Adam McMikle of St. Louis, Matthew Elgin (Kimberly) Branum of Charleston; Blake Allen Branum of Memphis, Tennessee; Nelson Andrew (Nicki) McMikle of East Prairie; and Jennie-Claire McMikle of Hurst, IL; one sister, Margariete Shibley of Piperton, TN; two great grandchildren, Brooklyn Shae Irby and Aubreigh Nicole McMikle; also several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by one son, John Allen McMikle, two brothers, Billy McMikle and Willard McMikle, and two sisters, Eldoris McMikle Daniel and Leola McMikle Roach.

Visitation was held on Friday, January 31, 2014 at the First Baptist Church in Charleston where Masonic Rites were conducted  7:30 p.m. Funeral Services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2014. The Rev. Michael Brewer, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Charleston, officiated.

Military Graveside Rites were conducted at IOOF Cemetery followed by interment.

Pallbearers were Josh McMikle, Matthew Branum, Blake Branum, Nelson McMikle, Clinton Graham and Clayton Key.

Memorial Contributions may be made to:

The First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 442, Charleston, Missouri 63834

or

St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.