Introduction

John Tucker Lamkin, died Mother's Day a few weeks before his 95th birthday. While a January stroke stemming from a 2014 auto accident deprived him of much, he knew his name and that he was a Marine.

He was the younger of the two sons of Robert E. Lee and Floy V. Tucker Lamkin, both of old Virginia families removed to the heart of Missouri’s “Little Dixie." In 1907 the father came to Cape Girardeau to open the Buckner-Ragsdale Clothing Company at the Quality Corner of Broadway & Main. With his sons and grandson it became the family’s business for the next 75 years.

Jack, as he was more familiarly known, was born June 11, 1922 in Cape and was a lifelong resident. He was the oldest surviving member of the Themis Street Gang that included his closest friends, Jack Berhans and Merit Leming, who were last together at a 90th birthday Cape Girardeau Country Club gala.

About 1932 Jack began spending summers at Cheley Colorado Camps. It was with great reluctance that he gave up his Pish-Posh companions for school, career and family in Missouri. In 1989 the old camper helped found the John Austin Cheley Foundation, the board upon which two of his children have subsequently served.

Perhaps it was the train trips to and from camp or the trip around the West that created a life-long fascination with the rails. The latter in the private car of Southeast Missouri State president and Missouri Pacific Chairman, Russell Dearmont, occurred during what should have been Jack’s last semester at the original Central High.

Unsolved mystery aside, assumedly Jack graduated from Central as three colleges regularly send requests for donations: Westminster, SEMO, and Washington University for a bachelor program stretching 7 years including an interruption for World War II service. Family connections might have kept him out of the fighting, but Jack enlisted in the Marines, incurring the formidable displeasure of his mother. She was not mollified when long-time friend, Fred Groves, head of the local draft board and WWI officer, gave Jack his .45.

An acquaintance with engines gained in Central’s shops resulted in an assignment as aircraft mechanic in VMF 121 . The unit took part in the extremely costly and unnecessary invasion of Pelilieu Island. There Jack was wounded by a Japanese sniper. Before returning to the States after the August 1945 surrender he served a tour in China developing a taste for pigeon blood and Tsingtao beer.

Back state-side and on campus, Jack became reacquainted with a former neighbor girl who had moved to St. Louis. In November 1948 he married Kathrine Porter Russell there and brought her back to Cape in time for the May 1949 tornado. A half-dozen model children quickly followed, closing the trap and dashing all thoughts of a Rocky Mountain high.

In addition to the family business, he: helped build the JC golf course; flipped pancakes for the Lion's Club; war-hooped for the Parsley & Shumate Indians; did his bit with the Chamber of Commerce; tried (unsuccessfully) to counter-balance the doctors on the Southeast Missouri Hospital Board; won the 1956 Sesquicentennial Brother of the Brush beard contest; drove the Cape bobsled; humiliated himself in the humidity on the CGCC golf course; and was a life-long member of the First Presbyterian Church.

Jack's friendly nature is well known, and it extended even to carnies. No one with him ever left the SEMO District Fair empty handed.

Prior to the accident he attended the daily supreme court sessions on Kingshighway. And most recently he taught underwater swimming at Healthpoint and proudly served as Grand Marshall of the Wik-a-Te-Wa Fourth of July parade.

No vignette would be complete without a mention of Jack's dogs - Skippy, Gizmo, Tinkerbell, Jenny (ratdog), Andy, Shadow, Spanky, and Beau. They were true companions.

The above recall a Buckner's shoe-dog, Charlie Wade. Together they hand-dyed more bridesmaid slippers than any store in Missouri. Charlie then played his trumpet at many of the weddings.

After Buckner's closed, the Lamkin association with Main Street continued into the 21st century as Jack and Po built and lived in the first of the residential renovations overlooking the Mississippi. And, although all six of children call Cape home, none reside in town. They include: six children, one of whom has died; at last count there were18 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and one great great grandson with another scheduled for Jack's birthday, all of whom but the last two attended the Sixtieth Wedding Anniversary.

Jack gave up his dreams so that we could pursue ours. The Lamkin children wish to apologize to those inconvenienced by his driving. We should have insisted, but in conscience could not, that he surrender his last bit of independence. We now pay the bill. With that ends the 110 year run of the Lamkins in Cape. We have many, many memories.

Remember Jack as he would want, over a good meal out, but if that is not enough, consider the John Austin Cheley Foundation.

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