Herbert Gwinn Stover lll (Smokey), 90, of Thayer, Missouri passed peacefully from this earth on November 13, 2020. Smokey was born at home on June 11, 1930 in Baltimore, Maryland to Herbert Gwinn Stover ll (Jr) and Margaret B. Weibe Stover. He had a beautiful baby sister, Diane Robin, that he called “Princess”.
People often ask how he got the nickname “Smokey”. It was from a syndicated comic strip in the Baltimore Sun of a fireman, full of antics, named Smokey Stover.
After he finished high school, he enlisted in the US Air Force and served proudly in the Korean War. The Good Conduct Medal and the Korean Service Metal were among the 12 military decorations he received.
On December 31, 1949 he married Doris June Bueble. Their children are: Diane Robin who went by “Robin” on August 7, 1953; Herbert Gwinn Stover lV who went by “Mark” on March 10, 1955; Dawn Melody Stover born August 14, 1956; Marna Capri Stover who goes by “Capri” on March 19, 1962. He began his own trucking company and became financially secure and successful through his hard work and business savvy.
In 1966, he suddenly became a widower when his wife died and he was at quite a loss on how to manage 4 children, one still only a baby.
In 1967, while spending an afternoon tinkering on his boat at the marina in southern Florida, he stopped by a beach-side bar for a quick beer on his way home. When he went in he spied a true-beauty and asked the bar-keep who she was. She said, “Her name is Pam, she’s a friend from England and is here for a short holiday.” He promptly asked her to the dance floor and swept her off her feet. They were married on April 26, 1968 in Hollywood, Florida.
This was the true beginning of our family transformation. We have a new mom, she came with a lovely English accent, a huge golden dog named Sam and she was gentle and kind. She became the “peace-maker” that transformed our house into our home.
Daddy was a pilot and had many different airplanes over the years. I think his favorite was the twin-engine Aero Commander. I liked that one because it had room for all 6 of us, plus our large dog, Sam!
Mom and dad decided 3 teenagers in the city was a recipe for disaster, and so we came to a small town in the middle of no-where called Thayer, MO. Dad said he selected the 300 acre farm he found in Trade-a-Plane magazine, known as “The Old Ray Best Place”, which abutted the airport, so he could fly right off his own property.
After the 3 older children were grown and gone, they moved back to Florida and built their “dream home” on Sugarloaf Key. Although they were happy there, it wasn’t a farm and there were no horses to ride, cows to feed, fences to build, deer to hunt, nor neighbors far enough away you couldn’t see them. It was just too “civilized” for a country girl at heart like mom. And so, they returned to Thayer, buying the 400 acre Foster farm to live out the rest of their days.
There were many adventures over the years and a few extremely sad times as well. They lost their daughter Robin in February 2000, and lost their son Mark in December 2008.
Smokey was the last living FOUNDING member of the Alton/Thayer Elks Lodge 2545 and he achieved 32nd degree Mason as a member of the Clifton Masonic Lodge.
He is survived by his wife Pamela H Stover, 2 Children: Dawn M and husband Rodger T McPherson and M Capri and husband David Roepnack; 5 Grandchildren: Shane Paul Madden, Alison Dawn & husband Declan DuFrain, Melody Marie & husband Tony Mallamas, Capri R Bristow and Cheyenne Monet Shoeman; 14 Great-grandchildren and 2 Great-great-grandchildren; his beloved dog Eboni and dearest friends Cathy and her late husband Randy McPherson.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Diane, his first wife Doris, his eldest daughter Robin and only son, Mark “Smokey Jr”.
Funeral services for Herbert Stover will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Thayer, Missouri with Erman Croney officiating.
Burial will be on November 17, 2020 in Thayer Cemetery in Thayer, Missouri with services under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer, Missouri.
