Patricia Harpole
As one of seven girls, Patricia Harpole of Columbia grew up knowing the importance of family. As a mother, nothing meant more to her than the safety and happiness of those she loved.
“I’ve never met a woman who loved and protected her family more than my mother,” said her daughter Michelle Harpole.
Mrs. Harpole showed her devotion to her family by always being there for them. Mrs. Harpole faced her fear of flying and got onto a plane for the first time to be at Michelle Harpole's bedside while she was in labor, Michelle Harpole said.
Michelle Harpole said that another time, Mrs. Harpole bought plane tickets for Michelle and her daughters and gave them a place to stay after Michelle left her ex-husband.
“I had $20, two suitcases, two kids and two parents who loved me enough to take me in until I got on my feet,” Michelle Harpole said.
Patricia Harpole died Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. She was 78.
She was born Sept. 30, 1931, in St. Louis, to George and Mary (Eads) Fischer. She was married at 15 to Edward Harpole, who died in 1992. She moved to Columbia in 1997 to be with her partner, John Cuellar.
After graduating eighth grade, Mrs. Harpole went on to work as a meat wrapper. She spent more than 40 years working at Schnucks before retiring. After retirement, she returned to the meat-wrapping industry at Heavenly Ham in Columbia, where she worked until she became sick with cancer.
Mrs. Harpole’s sisters, Helen Copeland and Vertress Kerley, died earlier. She is survived by her son, Edward Harpole of Bowling Green, Mo.; three daughters, Laura Sauget of Chesterfield, Michelle Harpole of Las Vegas and Nina Jaggie of Bowling Green; her companion John Cuellar of Columbia; 14 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial will be held in the spring at Parker Funeral Home, 22 N. 10th St.
Mrs. Harpole tried to be as philanthropic in her life as possible. To honor this, the family is asking for donations to the MS Society and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in lieu of flowers.
