Vernon Floyd Raines, 82, of Scott City, died Tues., Feb. 3, 2015 at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born April 2, 1932 in Scott City, the son of Jesse Joseph and Hattie Belle Cook Raines. He married Peggy Lorraine Leist on Oct. 21, 1954 at Scott City. She preceded him in death on Aug. 27, 2009. Vernon worked as a Riverboat Captain with Luhr Brothers for over 30 years. He started his career and love affair with the river at the age of 14. He loved the challenges that the river presented him and loved to try something that no one else had done on the river or with a tow boat. He was affectionately called "The Mule" by his "Bosses" and colleagues at Luhr. He was always willing to take the call no matter how big the task and he would "get her done". He loved his family and friends and would do anything in the world for them. He also loved to sit and talk with his morning coffee buddies. The congregating place changed over the years but the friendships and stories likely did not. He was a loving generous man but also demanded perfection from those who he worked with. He loved his wife and was proud of his children. He adored and spoiled his 2 grand daughters. We see his sly grin in the smile of one of his great grandsons and am sure we will find other traits in them both that he will live on through them. In his youth he was a paratrooper with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. As war does with many, it left its marks on his soul. He is survived by; a son Charlie Raines of Baltimore, Md.; two daughters, Beverly (Bob) Hess of St. Louis, Mo. And Mary Beth (Grant) Cagle of Brentwood, Calif.; two granddaughters, Meghan (Jason) Stevens and Eryn Hess; 2 great grandsons, Landry and Lincoln Stevens; three brothers, Cleatus Raines of Tucson, Ariz., Jim Raines of Decatur, Ind. and David Raines of Fort Wayne, Ind.; two sisters, Mary Alice Knecht and Linda Needham, both of Tucson, Ariz. He was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters. Visitation will be Friday from 4 - 8:00 p.m. at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City. Funeral service will be Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the chapel with Rev. Oliver Clavin officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Lightner Memorial Cemetery in Scott City. In lieu of flowers Vernon would want you to take someone to breakfast or a cup of coffee or make a donation to the Scott City Food Pantry c/o Dorothy Dees 900 Scott Avenue Scott City, Mo. 63780.
