Randolph County mourns the death of four teachers

In the last week, Randolph County has lost four of its most dedicated and influential teachers.

Robert Smith

Robert Smith, long-time Moberly band director, died September 6. A generation of students learned to play a musical instrument, follow directions and how to get along with each other under his direction. He is remembered, not just for his work in the classroom, but also the extra attention he gave his students after school and in the summer through extra lessons. He retired from fulltime teaching in 2001 but stayed active with the Smith Music Store in downtown Moberly. He was a member of the Hall of Fame of Missouri Bandmasters.

Even in death, Mr. Smith will continue to help students as memorials were requested for the moberly High School Instrumental Music Department.

Jordan Perry, current MHS band director, told the Moberly School Board at its meeting Monday night that a special tribute will be made to Mr. Smith during the September 24 halftime Homecoming festivites. Perry said Smith’s family would be honored also because of the sacrifice they made due to the long hours Mr. Smith had put in to help others during his career.

Dora May Craven

On Friday, September 10, Dora May Craven died. Dora May found her first job out of college at Westran and that is where she remained for her career, 20 years as a home economics teacher and 10 years as the school librarian. Retirement allowed her to become even more involved in the Huntsville community. She served as a school board member, Huntsville Park Board, secretary of the Randolph County American Cancer Society Board, the 4-H leader for the Westran Ramblers, president of the Stubbins Auxiliary and advisory board, and she was very active in her church – Huntsville First Baptist.

She became president of the Huntsville Historical Society, making plans for presentations, meetings and media coverage up to the time she last entered the hospital. She used her interior design skills to remodel the Historical Society museum to make it more visitor friendly and she was working to update the history of Huntsville. She was on the State board for the Potawatomi Trail of Death Association and worked tirelessly to get historical markers placed along the 660-mile trail from Indiana to Kansas. Two markers – one at the Huntsville courthouse and one at the Hutsell Roadside park, denote two area Trail of Death campsites.

Dora May worked to help students further their education by serving on the Living Memorial Scholarship Association. This organization started in 1985 with only one scholarship and now it awards over 50 to students in Huntsville, Moberly and Higbee.

Linda Keen

Linda Keen died Sunday, September 12, of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident August 8 near Kansas City.

Linda was dedicated to helping children. She taught in Cairo, Moberly and most recently Westran. Her daughter, Molly, became a passionate supporter of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life when her son Spencer was diagnosed with cancer as a baby. Molly chaired the annual event in Randolph County and Linda could always be seen helping out behind the scenes. Many persons in Randolph County were touched in or outside the classroom by Linda or by her husband Noel, who taught social studies at MHS for many years. Noel is also battling injuries sustained in the August accident.

Robert Wiseman

Robert Wiseman also died Sunday, September 12. Mr. Wiseman had a 50-year career as a history professor, most recently at Moberly Area Community College. His family remembers his skills as a storyteller. Daughter Jonna, a former actress and now a teacher herself at Stephens College, says the family comes from vaudeville stock – the Wiseman Players.

Randolph County pays tribute to these teachers who gave so much of themselves to help others build better lives for themselves.