Foote, Clyde L.(C.L.) June 17, 1929 - May 23, 2014

Clyde Leo Foote, C. L., was born June 17, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Leo and Nellie Vannice Foote, He passed away May 23, 2014, at Sac-Osage Hospital, in Osceola, Missouri, after a short illness.

His work and work ethic characterized C.L.’s life. C.L. began working as a young teenager, before he could legally drive, running an ice route for his family across St. Clair County. After graduating from Osceola High School in 1947, he worked for a sign company in Kansasa City. Within a short time, C.L. met a man named Charles Novak in Osceola. Charles encouraged C.L. to begin working for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey and to accompany him to northern Kansas to meet his younger sister. It was there that he met his life’s partner, Ila Lee Novak; and they were married on July 22, 1950. C. L. and Ila then began criss-crossing the United States with survey crews, including C.L.’s work in Alaska, until 1957.

It was at this time that they returned to St. Clair County where C. L. began farming and later owned and operated Foote Fertilizer as well as Foote Trash Service. He worked tirelessly at these jobs, and even after selling the trash service, he always had to have a project, whether it be working on his farm or building another house; being idle was never a part of his life.

Preceding C.L. in death were his parents, Leo and Nellie; two brothers, Ed and Bill, both of Osceola; and his sister, Betty Freeman Jewell, of Overland Park, Kansas; and one brother-in-law, Jim Novak, of Swanton, Nebraska.

C. L. is survived by his precious wife, Ila; brothers and sisters-in-law, Donna Collins, Osceola, Missouri, Peggy Morgan, Plymouth, Nebraska; Charles and Jean Novak, Ashburn, Virginia; Verlin and Linda Novak, Swanton, Nebraska; and Dan and Barbara Novak, Lexington, South Carolina; several cousins, loving nieces and nephews, and a host of friends and neighbors in the surrounding area.

C. L. opened his heart and their home to countless family, including cousins, nieces and nephews. His warmth, humor, and example will never be forgotten.