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Submitted: 3/1/23 • Approved: 3/1/23 • Last Updated: 3/4/23 • R829663-G799193-S3
Charles
Aug 13, 1935
Jul 22, 2016
Rita
Mar 27, 1941
Oct 19, 2022
Charles Royce Fugate, Sr., 80, West Plains, Missouri, passed away on July 22, 2016, at his home in West Plains, Missouri, after a brief illness. He was surrounded by his family. Royce was born on August 13, 1935, in Pomona, Missouri, the only child of Charles "Ted" and Margaret Fugate. He was raised both in Kansas City, Missouri and on the farm of his maternal grandparents, George and Marcella Eidson. He attended St. Joseph grade school in White Church, where he first noticed his future spouse and partner in life, Rita. Royce attended Rockhurst High School and Rockhurst College in Kansas City Missouri and received a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kansas in 1959. Two days after graduation, he began in Kansas City a 38-year career with the Missouri Department of Transportation, eventually holding the key positions of Division Engineer for Research, Development, and Technology; District Engineer for District 9 Willow Springs; Assistant District Engineer for District 4 Kansas City; and the first Value Engineering Administrator for the state. On July 10, 1965, he married Rita Sharon Gilliam at St. Joseph Church in White Church. His career took them to homes around the state (Jefferson City, Macon, Independence, Blue Springs, Willow Springs). In 1996 Royce "retired" to a second, 15-year career as City Administrator/City Engineer for the City of West Plains. Under his direction, the city undertook numerous major accomplishments and upgrades, including: expansion of the wastewater treatment plant, new aquatic center and public library, additions to the West Plains Civic Center, construction/expansion of a new City Hall, a new central water treatment plant, and installation of two peaking power generators which provide essential and surplus power to the community. Royce loved the City of West Plains and continued to be its promoter, champion, and friend after retiring in 2011. He served one term on the City Council. Among his many professional and civic accomplishments: membership and leadership roles in Missouri Society of Professional Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, Missouri Municipal League, Missouri Public Utility Alliance (recipient of Distinguished Service Award 2011), Rotary (West Plains, Willow Springs, Jefferson City), Advisory Committee for Ozarks Medical Center, and many more. In 2005, Royce was appointed by the governor to the Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors, and Landscape Architects, where he served for eight years. He was a mentor to countless people in engineering, civic work, leadership, and life. In April of this year, he was inducted into the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers Hall of Fame. Royce was a devoted lifelong Catholic and a current member of St. Mary's Parish in West Plains. He served on church councils in nearly every city in which he resided. He was a Life Member of the Knights of Columbus, a charter member of Assembly 3196, a past Faithful Navigator in Fourth Degree and past Grand Knight. He was an avid quail hunter, bird dog enthusiast, golfer, and KU fan.
He is preceded in death by his mother and father.
Survivors include his wife, Rita Fugate; his son Charles Fugate and son-in-law Joseph O'Malley; as well as several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law.
Burial in the Howell Memorial Park Cemetery. [Springfield News-Leader, Jul 24, 2016]
Funeral services for Rita Sharon (Gilliam) Fugate, 81, Overland Park, Kansas, formerly of West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, October 24, 2022 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mrs. Fugate passed away at 8:10 p.m., Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at her home.
She was born in Tama County, Iowa on March 27, 1941, to Ted and Jeanette Gilliam. Rita grew up in Peace Valley, Missouri and attended St. Joseph's grade school in White Church, and later West Plains High School. She earned a bachelor's degree in Mathematics Education from Southwest Missouri State University in 1962. She began her education career in Houston, Missouri in the fall of 1962. In July 1965 she married her husband and lifelong best friend and partner Royce Fugate. In April of 1967 their only son Charles was born. Rita was passionate about teaching and education. She taught for fifteen years in the Jefferson City School System, earned a Master's Degree in Math Education from the University of Missouri, taught for two years in the Metropolitan Community Colleges of Kansas City, and served as an educational consultant for IBM, before arriving in 1993 at Missouri State University in West Plains. There she eventually served as Department Head of Math & Science and Interim Acting Dean, but the classroom was what she loved best, and she always found her way back to teaching students. She retired from teaching in 2009. Rita was always active in the Catholic parishes she attended. She belonged to and supported many civic organizations: she was a founding member of Willow Springs Community Foundation and West Plains Community Foundation, and a member of Mountain View's St. Francis Hospital Auxiliary Foundation, Willow Springs Rotary (first female member), and Habitat For Humanity. Awards and honors she received included Willow Springs Woman Of The Year, West Plains Educator of the Year, MSU Excellence in Community Service, MSU Distinguished Faculty/Staff Award, and with Royce was inducted into MSU Founders Club. Throughout her life she took great joy from vegetable gardening, needlework, and cards (bridge and pitch–Peace Valley Rules). She enjoyed yearly lake vacations skiing and fishing, as well as time spent traveling and attending professional events with Royce at her side.
She is preceded in death by her husband Royce, parents Ted and Jeanette Gilliam, three brothers, John (and wife Lu), Mick, and Dennis Gilliam, one sister, Karen (Gilliam) Jones, and nephew Kyle Gilliam.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Sunday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery.
Contributed on 3/1/23 by mjrwag
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Record #: 829663